Ken Hinkley's presser after Bulldogs game

[Us against the rest]

He was quick to scarper from the grilling too. Hard for him, and I hope the players are feeling it too.

Now, my danger antennae were raised very early in the season in the first practice match against another team, and I keep on seeing the same problems.

1. When placed under pressure our guys seem to have very slow reactions or have not practiced for that situation or don't know what they are supposed to do. Compare our use of handball to the Dogs aggressive and exact use yesterday. Positioning around the contest seems wrong to me as well. Perhaps Nicks was right when he said earlier this this year that they had practiced defense so much he was concerned the players might have difficulty playing attacking footy. This is a coaching problem.

2. Other teams tackle differently to us, though I do see signs of change. The good teams tackle the arms or body hard in such a way that the player drops the ball, which they then whisk away because that is what the whole team is prepared for. This is a coaching problem.

3. What has bothered me all year is players not presenting, due to game plan or fitness or laziness or a combination. If there is no one available to receive the ball then the player with the ball has a problem. Oftentimes when Pittard looks stupid part of the problem is because no one is presenting - obvious at the game but not on TV. Most of these are coaching issues.

So I believe that the coaches are the main culprits this year, and that the above are the real issues.

Ken may have berated the players over work rate, and no doubt that was deserved, but I really hope he is looking inwards as well. So far I have not seen any indication though.

Nevertheless, I really rate Ken and have little doubt he has the ability and cajones to fight his way through this year's setback.

I keep hanging on to the hope that the year was planned this way, to build up the players' bodies and defensive experience. Well, I can hope.

Excellent post.

 

[Pt Augusta Power]

Hinkley was intense last year. He was a determined and you could see his passion and energy.

This year he looks flat, quiet. A little too composed.

 

[edgie]

Hinkley was intense last year. He was a determined and you could see his passion and energy.

This year he looks flat, quiet. A little too composed.

You get that sometimes when you spend the nab challenge sitting in a lawn chair with a dilligaf expression whilst the team selected gets hammered.

 

[1954]

Hinkley was intense last year. He was a determined and you could see his passion and energy.

This year he looks flat, quiet. A little too composed.

Begs the question as to what has happened to the intense Kenny who threatened to punch Hart last year, has he been de-balled for public relations reasons because we want everyone to like us?

I much prefer last year's Kenny to the cardboard cut out we appear to have today.

 

[PAFC66]

Hinkley was intense last year. He was a determined and you could see his passion and energy.

This year he looks flat, quiet. A little too composed.

Sedated and Medicated

 

[sog35]

Begs the question as to what has happened to the intense Kenny who threatened to punch Hart last year, has he been de-balled for public relations reasons because we want everyone to like us?

I much prefer last year's Kenny to the cardboard cut out we appear to have today.

I think it's more likely to be a health / stress concern than PR.

 

[PA88]

Begs the question as to what has happened to the intense Kenny who threatened to punch Hart last year, has he been de-balled for public relations reasons because we want everyone to like us?

I much prefer last year's Kenny to the cardboard cut out we appear to have today.

Oh I hope not. It probably isn't the case but if it was ... add an instant image of Koch's shoulder over Chapman ... I'd be seething.

 

[Power Pete]

Ken, it's time you took this off certain players.

 

[Power Raid]

I just hope Ken backs up the talk with team selections

 

[Power Raid]

Ken, it's time you took this off certain players.

View attachment 160599

I hope he gives a few of those to our fringe youth players. no matter how they go, get some time into them to develop or cull.

 

[BIG MATTY WHITE]

Where was this press conference before

 

[Papa G]

*Back on my soapbox re: Walsh.*

This may be true but it's not about losing Walsh. It's about not having a right hand man that stepped up to the plate like Walsh did when we lost Richardson.

One of the roles Walsh and Richo would have performed would be studying and getting ready for the opposition team. This is an area we have failed dismally in.

This year we have looked as if we just went out there to do our thing without caring who the opposition would be or what they would bring to the plate. That total lack of respect for the opposition is just not good enough at this level.

It may be that Ken has taken that role on himself, on top of everything else he has to do, or that we haven't bothered to replace that role, however both of these options are unlikely.

Who that person is meant to be I wouldn't have a clue but something has gone wrong, and gone wrong in a big way. It could be as simple as a bad communication strategy, be it between the assistant and head coach or coaching team and players, but whatever it is it needs to be fixed and fixed before anything else.

Yeah I kinda wish everybody would shut the **** up about Walsh. As it stands Camporeale as a coach has had more impressive wins, so feeding this bullshit Walsh is some sort of coaching genius is incredibly irritating and mainly useless.

 

[klem22]

He was quick to scarper from the grilling too. Hard for him, and I hope the players are feeling it too.

Now, my danger antennae were raised very early in the season in the first practice match against another team, and I keep on seeing the same problems.

1. When placed under pressure our guys seem to have very slow reactions or have not practiced for that situation or don't know what they are supposed to do. Compare our use of handball to the Dogs aggressive and exact use yesterday. Positioning around the contest seems wrong to me as well. Perhaps Nicks was right when he said earlier this this year that they had practiced defense so much he was concerned the players might have difficulty playing attacking footy. This is a coaching problem.

2. Other teams tackle differently to us, though I do see signs of change. The good teams tackle the arms or body hard in such a way that the player drops the ball, which they then whisk away because that is what the whole team is prepared for. This is a coaching problem.

3. What has bothered me all year is players not presenting, due to game plan or fitness or laziness or a combination. If there is no one available to receive the ball then the player with the ball has a problem. Oftentimes when Pittard looks stupid part of the problem is because no one is presenting - obvious at the game but not on TV. Most of these are coaching issues.

So I believe that the coaches are the main culprits this year, and that the above are the real issues.

Ken may have berated the players over work rate, and no doubt that was deserved, but I really hope he is looking inwards as well. So far I have not seen any indication though.

Nevertheless, I really rate Ken and have little doubt he has the ability and cajones to fight his way through this year's setback.

I keep hanging on to the hope that the year was planned this way, to build up the players' bodies and defensive experience. Well, I can hope.

At the moment we are one trick ponies and the coach has to take the blame for this as he is at the head of it all.
The only thing standing with ken atm is time and AFL coaches know that time can quickly turn against you.
I hope for all concerned that Ken can become a great coach here at Port but there are serious questions there to be answered yet.

 

[edgie]

I hope he gives a few of those to our fringe youth players. no matter how they go, get some time into them to develop or cull.

You mean like John Butcher?

 

[JimmyWhitesmith]

I'm convinced Ken knows he and Burgess made mistakes during the pre season. Allowing Nicks to coach was a mistake which appeared too complacent and influenced the playing group.

I also believe his and Burgess' desire for speed and endurance over cooked the players early and lead to lighter bodies.

He's also aware that the loss of Walsh has been significant.

This is why Ken is keeping his cool when we all want to see his ruthless 2014 style.

While the players are also responsible for a terrible season I believe Ken realises he has let them down and is cutting them some slack.

This pre season will be brutal again but Ken and Burgess will be wiser.

That's it (wiser) ! I want to see smart footy with less turnovers, rather than relentless exhaustion. I hate watching Port run themselves ragged.. Matt White is a machine but, even machines have breaking points.

 

[Smithy7]

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/po...ment-to-disaster/story-fndv8s6g-1227476389301
Port Adelaide will miss finals but must avoid going from disappointment to disaster
As Hinkley said on Saturday night, he can learn a lot more about his players when the chips are down than when everything’s rosy.
“You know what? I’m actually looking forward to the next four weeks to see how tough we really want to be,” Hinkley said.
“Because in my short time here ... we’ve been tough on our terms a bit too often and not when it’s going against us.
“I want to see who wants to stand up when there appears to be little light. Let’s see if you really want to come and compete every week of the year because that’s what happens.
“You’ve got to want to compete for every minute in this game, otherwise you’re no good.
“I hope and I know that won’t be the signs for next week. We’ve got to come back, stand back up next week and play proper footy.”
more...
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/po...ment-to-disaster/story-fndv8s6g-1227476389301

 

[Malibu#27]

What really worries me is that all this sounds a lot like a Primus press conference after any given loss in those dark years.

When was Primus ever clear an articulate in an interview ever. Ken an Primus are miles apart.

 

[PowerBaz]

Poor Ken, look how much those spuds have aged him in two shirt years. This from things were rosy... I think we forget how far we came in two short years, really this was always going to happen when you think about it. Next year it's up to the playing group.

 

[PowerBaz]

Ken, it's time you took this off certain players.

View attachment 160599

It's shiny though

 

[JayPea14]

Too little too late.

Mate I'd prefer for him not to divulge too much to the media throughout the year as he has done...if he does reveal alot of what he is thinking they will take any little statement he makes and blow it up to make a story out of nothing.

All in all I think he handles himself really well in pressers and people should realise that he puts on a front to the media to try and keep the team level headed win, lose or draw.

 

[JayPea14]

You mean like John Butcher?

Butcher is done...can't cut it at SANFL level and would even struggle for a contract there! His skills are poor and is mentally very very weak

 

[PAFC04]

The man clearly didn't want to be there answering stupid questions after a game that broke his heart with some players efforts.

My faith is with Ken, not with the players atm perhaps except for a few.

If the Bulldogs are the new Port, then where did our Port go?

I will tell you where, our mind set around the whole club went into the land of premature expectations after a stellar year in 2014. After the Bulldogs game, we are no where near in being pretenders let alone being possible contenders.

In the next four weeks hopefully we will see some young talent rise above the efforts that has been put on the park thus far.

Ken has a lot of shuffling to do this year, and it isn't going to be pretty for some.

 

[Macca19]

Success isnt often linear. I still have faith we can come out better than ever next year.

 

[PepeSilvia]

Butcher is done...can't cut it at SANFL level and would even struggle for a contract there! His skills are poor and is mentally very very weak

 

[Portology]

I'm convinced Ken knows he and Burgess made mistakes during the pre season. Allowing Nicks to coach was a mistake which appeared too complacent and influenced the playing group.

I also believe his and Burgess' desire for speed and endurance over cooked the players early and lead to lighter bodies.

He's also aware that the loss of Walsh has been significant.

This is why Ken is keeping his cool when we all want to see his ruthless 2014 style.

While the players are also responsible for a terrible season I believe Ken realises he has let them down and is cutting them some slack.

This pre season will be brutal again but Ken and Burgess will be wiser.

Could it really be that simple loss of the tactical, head to head nous in the middle compounding everything else - the physical conditioning going wrong, a few critical injuries to key outside mids, the 'getting ahead of themselves' mentally? In another thread someone posted a comment from a player or ex player re the difference between Walsh and Voss in terms of 'show' (this is what I want you to do) and 'tell' (what to look out for, this is how the other guys setup). That Voss does more of the former and little of the latter. It would result in us going out blind and relatively unprepared in every way to turn games that weren't going our way from the start.