Opinion I've lost my faith in Ken Hinkley

[El Zorro]

I'll give him the 5 years he deserves and then we'll reassess. Being so successful in turning things around so quickly now works against him as we were expecting a premiership in 2015. But I think overall we are tracking fine. We need to improve next year though.

I still trust Ken. And to be pragmatic, who else would you have if it wasn't him?

 

[Wargreymon90]

I'll give him the 5 years he deserves and then we'll reassess. Being so successful in turning things around so quickly now works against him as we were expecting a premiership in 2015. But I think overall we are tracking fine. We need to improve next year though.

I still trust Ken. And to be pragmatic, who else would you have if it wasn't him?

I think 5 years is a minimum in gauging a coach, unless it is clear that they have no clue (Primus) or they have lost the playing group completely.

 

[Steve Dore]

do you mean #keepthefaith?

No



#keepthefate

 

[1954]

Applause....I hate to say it but I agree with all of this. Except the bit about Mitchell. I'll still go into bat for him and Sammy G.

Agreed on virtually every point, maybe Mitchell could have been cut a bit of slack, but that's my only criticism.

 

[ab56452001]

I think 5 years is a minimum in gauging a coach, unless it is clear that they have no clue (Primus) or they have lost the playing group completely.

Most of the group will stick by the coach come what may , especially if you guarantee them a spot !

 

[El Zorro]

No

View attachment 162231

#keepthefate

Thanks, I had missed that fantastic piece of "journalism".

 

[Sewer de Lance]

I have a few major issues with Ken this year, tactics, selection and treatment of player group.

Tactics
It has been blatantly clear that we have been comprehensively beaten in the coaches box all year. You can blame the players all you want but I think they have completely lost faith in the system and I think rightfully so. Teams have completely worked out that to stop Port you just clog the corridor and make sure you are spread across the ground in the "web" like formation. If you watch closely when we try and switch the ball regularity the opposition has more playing on the other side of the ground waiting for it. What this forces us to do is to kick to packs where we are quite frankly useless. So how do we adapt to this situation which has not worked in the first half of the year? We don't because Ken has decided this is it, there is no plan B. That is just generally what is frustrating.

More specifically our forward line is an absolute mess, we rely on individual brilliance from either Gray or Wingard to create or kick us goals with the occasional cameo from Ryder. We have consistently played behind the player and either tried to kick it over the top or to a contested situation. Now I am no expert but I am sure this play is much lower percentage than kicking it to the chest of a leading forward? Have we changed this? Maybe slightly in the past few weeks, but the damage was done and Ken stubbornly did not change for 15+ weeks.

Midfield tactics? Well we have been consistently beaten through the middle of the field, not even so much in the clearances but generally our midfielders have been slaughtered by oppositions. Have we tried anything different? Not really, because our game plan works, it is what we are sticking with and the players have full confidence in the game plan!


Selection and Treatment of players
On numerous occasions this year I have been absolutely irate about the decisions at the selection table. We have the golden 18 or so who'm can play about 15 terrible games in a row before they are dropped. Lets look at someone like the Bulldogs, they have dropped anyone and everyone that has not performed in the AFL team for a month or so and just look how well they are going. The prime example of this is Jonas, I mean how this man was not dropped at least 6 weeks before he was actually dropped is just mind blowing. I am not sure if I have seen worse games of football from an AFL footballer than some of the ones Jonas dished up this year. How he is back in the side without starring in the SANFL is just a perfect example of the major issue with selection. Players that needed a kick up the backside this year: Hammer, Westhoff, Lobbe, Schultz, Jonas and Monfries. It may be harsh but if you are trying to build a winning and successful culture, having these golden passes just destroys it. Yes 3 of them eventually got dropped, but the season was over. It was too late.

Now this is my major issue with Ken as a coach at the moment. The last 4 or so spots in our 22 have been a revolving door all year. Now you could argue sure pressure for positions is great but is there actually pressure on players or is there just enormous pressure of a few of the players? Some players react well knowing that if they fu** up they will be dropped, most players stop taking risks, try and be safe and not get dropped. We have developed a culture where these last few players come in with ZERO confidence and they are clearly not supported by the Coaching staff. I am going to start with Ah Chee. We have been crying out for a midfielder who can win some tough ball, hit the packs hard and take a contested mark. Ah Chee is not polished no but he is what we have lacked all year, but has he been given a real chance to prove his worth? No. He has been sub on multiple occasions and for me you cannot base an opinion on a player coming on as a sub, its just showing you have no faith in them. Here's a vest, you get a quarter, don't play well, back to the Magies. However one time Ah Chee started :O but where was he played, I tell you where it wasn't, it wasn't in the middle of the ground where he actually plays! Shock horror the guy who you have shown no faith in all year, and then play him out of position plays poorly.

Another example. Hoon was pretty good, definitely good enough to keep his spot against the Saints, he was one of our best users of the ball that day. Next week sub. Plays poorly as sub. Dropped. If i was Hoon I would be asking for a one way ticket to Melbourne because that is just completely unfair. Another example: Correct me if I am wrong but Clurey has been dropped twice now I believe. Did he deserve it either time? No, definitely not. However Clurey is not in the chosen few so for some reason he's part of the revolving door. Wouldn't be surprised if he asks to leave as well. Krak is another example. Krak was so much better than Pittard when playing off half back this year but once again, not one of the golden few so he was relegated back to the Magies. I understand that he was not fit enough but I wouldn't say the rest of the team busted their asses this year? Completely outworked by the opposition. Anyway Krak can also be a dangerous forward, should have played all games this year. Absolute joke whats happened to him.

Another clear player management issue has been with Schultz. Now Schultzy has been a brilliant player for this club since he has got here and I am sure he wouldn't have been on much when he first got to the power. Treating great players for the club the way he has been treated is just so bad for culture it is just stupid. I am not sure how many saw my post about Wingards reaction to being asked if he'd be a one club player. It was along the lines of "if the club treats me right, should be." The players would look at the way Schultzy has been treated and will ask themselves, will I be treated the same way. Port have made a mess of this.

Now the season is over, lets play some youth, give them a go see how they go against the big boys of the AFL. No lets not do that lets bring back Kane Fu**ing Mitchell and Jonas. I cannot comprehend what the club were thinking when they did the changes for this week. Our season is over and we drop 4 young players and replace them with older ones. I can't explain my anger over this. This was it for me, I am done with Ken and the coaching staff.

I know it won't happen but I think for the club to be successful we need to move in another direction. Hinkley, Voss etc have had a poor year and unless they change their mindset dramatically I can see a repeat in 2016.

Rant over

This is a good post that raises some valid questions about some of the problems that have plagued our terrible season. Love him or hate him, Ken has brought so many good things to the club over the past few years. However, this doesn't mean he is, or should be immune from criticism. Great leaders welcome criticism, they don't shun it. Precious metals are refined in red hot fires, not luke warm bath tubs.

Having passed through the AFL fire, our flaws have been severely exposed this year. We have been weighed upon the highest professional footy scales, and found wanting. Making excuses for Ken and the rest of the coaching team is a recipe for disaster. They must be held to the same high standards we expect of every 40 or so players on our list.

I eagerly look forward to the months ahead, and how the club responds. I expect major changes if we are to go forward next year.

 

[Byrons Firen]

Most of the group will stick by the coach come what may , especially if you guarantee them a spot !

Out of curiousity were Jonas and Lobbe like Ken offered contract extensions this year?

 

[Doctor Feel]

Out of curiousity were Jonas and Lobbe like Ken offered contract extensions this year?

Yes. They were all in the same room and conspired to play shit.

 

[Boss351]

do you mean #keepthefaith?

"Hope & faith are not tactics & strategies – they're strippers from Albuquerque." -David Lee Roth

 

[SureBuddy]

Look this year has been a disaster, but it is exactly what we needed. It will be a massive kick up the ass for the coaches and the players. There will be no complacency next year.

We now get a full month extra pre season from the top teams and on top of that potentially a super easy draw. I would love if somehow we could slip from 12th to 13th and fall into the lower 6 bracket and get that draw. Currently sitting in 12th we get the same level of draw as the team who finishes 7th. Even then, that draw is much easier than the nightmare we copped this year.

If we can somehow snare a big recruit like Dixon, have a solid pre season and start the season with less players under an injury cloud, big things will come.

 

[dinger]

Ken on the podium next year...

"And to all the flogs on BigFooty... I DISAGREE WITH YOUR POSITION ON THE MATTER."

He'll come out with a keyboard and wrap the cord around his neck in a choking manner I reckon.

 

[edgie]

I think 5 years is a minimum in gauging a coach, unless it is clear that they have no clue (Primus) or they have lost the playing group completely.

As I posted elsewhere, how many games were we still in at 3/4 time in 2012 before falling away?

Primus was no messiah, but he was severely hindered by substandard fitness and football department.

 

[theteamtobeat]

Hey, guys I know exactly why you guys are going terrible. It's because of Vossy. He left Brisbane in shambles and the moment he moves to Adelaide as a coach, you guys have gone backwards.

 

[Rexie J]

As I posted elsewhere, how many games where we still in at 3/4 time in 2012 before falling away?

Primus was no messiah, but he was severely hindered by substandard fitness and football department.

Perhaps poor player commitment and or attitude be added. Apparently taking/using mobile phones during training. Lack of all round discipline. Players shouldn't need to be told how to train and behave. This attitude, 'if someone gets their act together' I will be alright' can be quite destructive.

 

[edgie]

Hey, guys I know exactly why you guys are going terrible. It's because of Vossy. He left Brisbane in shambles and the moment he moves to Adelaide as a coach, you guys have gone backwards.

I'd suggest one win away from finals, says he left Brisbane in better shape than it is now.

 

[bomberclifford]

Hey, guys I know exactly why you guys are going terrible. It's because of Vossy. He left Brisbane in shambles and the moment he moves to Adelaide as a coach, you guys have gone backwards.

Cheers. We'll got onto it right away.

 

[Byrons Firen]

Hey, guys I know exactly why you guys are going terrible. It's because of Vossy. He left Brisbane in shambles and the moment he moves to Adelaide as a coach, you guys have gone backwards.

Some on here have wondered but with so many targets for our anger/frustration Voss has not been front n centre.
There has been times this year when our BF board has been a pretty dismal place so thanks for your tip.
Even if he was a large part of our fall Ken will probably stick by him

 

[1954]

Hey, guys I know exactly why you guys are going terrible. It's because of Vossy. He left Brisbane in shambles and the moment he moves to Adelaide as a coach, you guys have gone backwards.

I fear you may not be that far off the mark.

 

[ab56452001]

One of the main factors behind poor skills is fatigue. I'm of the belief our poor skills come back to our poor physical preparation for the season.

I don't reckon a player would be fatigued 1 minute into the game , the lake of will by some speaks for itself.

 

[Kerleys Ghost]

Which is good for us as a club, far healthier than sliding into Hird or Walsh style idol worship.

"In Ken we trust"...

 

[Robbie4PM]

This is a good post that raises some valid questions about some of the problems that have plagued our terrible season. Love him or hate him, Ken has brought so many good things to the club over the past few years. However, this doesn't mean he is, or should be immune from criticism. Great leaders welcome criticism, they don't shun it. Precious metals are refined in red hot fires, not luke warm bath tubs.

Having passed through the AFL fire, our flaws have been severely exposed this year. We have been weighed upon the highest professional footy scales, and found wanting. Making excuses for Ken and the rest of the coaching team is a recipe for disaster. They must be held to the same high standards we expect of every 40 or so players on our list.

I eagerly look forward to the months ahead, and how the club responds. I expect major changes if we are to go forward next year.

Firsts things first this idea of kens favourites should not even be a thing. There is no guaranteed selections even if you are the captain.... Like ive said he has faith in about 18 and zero faith in the rest, its destroying us.

 

[Robbie4PM]

We have literally got zero out of this year as a football club. We have found 1 new player that is a solid starter for us and he is being payed about 700k. No club can afford to just throw a year out the window with not a single player coming through the system to strengthen the team. Not only have we not developed a single player from Magies to full time Power, a lot of the golden boys are playing much worse football than they were last year. I assume we would be the only club in the AFL with not a single kid cemented in the 22. I am scared for next year

 

[Macca19]

Hey, guys I know exactly why you guys are going terrible. It's because of Vossy. He left Brisbane in shambles and the moment he moves to Adelaide as a coach, you guys have gone backwards.

Shit....didn't think of that!

 

[Robbie4PM]

I fear you may not be that far off the mark.

Voss obviously has to cop some of the blame, as our midfield has gone to shi* but I think where he has let the club down more is letting Ken get away with playing these golden boys who have not deserved a game. The whole coaching staff has had a shocker really, fitness, midfield, forward, ruck and head coach have not had good seasons.