Autopsy Swans end our 2024 season

[JakeNeadeFan]

I thought the three turnovers in the first quarter that led to Swan's goals killed our confidence. A world where those turnovers don't happen and we probably go into quarter time with a lead.

Who knows what direction the game goes from that point, but it was noticeable from that point onward the ball use became a lot more tentative.

 

[rogerjames]

Now I'm in my own ' morning after ' mode after being blindsided by the loss yesterday, I'm better placed to offer an opinion on this one. I'm not sure a public rally against your club administration is the way to go. Yes I agree that you guys have every right and reason to rail against Koch et al, but two things - a\ I don't think that's the bulk of the issue, and b\ this has been going on since well before Koch - Greg Boulton was piss weak and too scared to stand up to the powerbrokers at AFL house as well, and allowed the club to be effectively emasculated in his reign. The only official I can ever recall having any balls in your AFL sojourn so far is Brian Cunningham.

In my view, the AFL is the main culprit. It is a totally corrupt organisation with its pernicious agendas set in stone, and changing the guard down at Alberton will have little or no effect.
A better tactic is to boycott the AFL entirely. Don't buy memberships, AFL approved merchandise, pay TV subscriptions to AFL specific channels, etc and don't attend the games. Realise that's hard for diehard supporters and long time members to do, but it's the only way the message will get across.

The AFL has two main agendas that are obvious if you think about it. It has its mind hell bent on cracking the lucrative populous, cashed up NSW market and dominating Rugby League in that State. Why else would they have rescued a dead duck from the jaws of the creditors five times in the last 40 years and introduce a second into an area with a massive NESBy demographic with no interest in Australian football?
South Australia is just nuisance value. Guaranteed revenue stream due to the same level of football tribalism as Victoria but on a much smaller scale. Same goes for WA. Let them have a token flag every so often, and build up their supporters hopes just enough to keep them hanging in there.

On the other side of the ledger, the AFL has to balance this out by assuaging the Victorian ' heartland ' . In other words, they can't afford to shit in their own nest and cut off the huge revenue stream from the Victorian football public spread across 10 clubs. Example - the reluctance to get rid of North Melbourne. North have been a parasite club for decades. There has been perfect opportunities to shunt them off to Canberra, Gold Coast, Western Sydney and , now, Tasmania. But it won't happen.
Hence, the graded draw system, that seems to favour the big Vic clubs to a ridiculous extent, the criminal concessions given to the NSW clubs ( such as COLA, academy development etc ), ridiculously long suspensions handed out to players of the genuine interstate clubs and a gazillion other anomalies too many in number to list here and chew up bandwidth.

The reason for the rant? Well, we wake up this morning and have a Grand Final between two clubs transplanted in rugby cities. The AFL can trumpet loud and long about how its' national league concept has been a huge success because this years' Grand Final is contested between teams based in NSW & Queensland - rugby heartland states - and can claim a double win as this decider is actually contested by the remnants of two foundation VFL clubs - South Melbourne & Fitzroy - two clubs that were by and large bottom two for most of their time in the 1900s and who still have a solid foundation supporter base in Melbourne.
In summary - The AFL have got their all interstate final, while not actually having an all interstate final, it's an all Victorian final. Win win.

Stop and think about the Grand Finals since the birth of the national competition in 1987. How many genuine ' all non Victorian finals ' have we seen, despite all the hype and irrational fear coming out of Victoria in the early 90s about the Eagles and Crows being an omnipotent force within a handful of years and dominating the competition, and again in the early 2010s with the concessions and draft leg ups that were given to Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney?

2004 - Port Adelaide v Brisbane ( Fitzroy )
2005 - West Coast vs Sydney ( South Melbourne )
2006 - West Coast vs Sydney ( South Melbourne )
2024 - Brisbane ( Fitzroy ) vs Sydney ( South Melbourne )

Then there's the ones that have been all Victorian by stealth:

1996 - North Melbourne vs Sydney ( South Melbourne )
2001 - Essendon vs Brisbane ( Fitzroy )
2002 - Collingwood vs Brisbane ( Fitzroy )
2003 - Collingwood vs Brisbane ( Fitzroy )
2012 - Hawthorn vs Sydney ( South Melbourne )
2014 - Hawthorn vs Sydney ( South Melbourne )
2016 - Footscray vs Sydney ( South Melbourne )
2022 - Geelong vs Sydney ( South Melbourne )
2023 - Collingwood vs Brisbane ( Fitzroy )

I totally agree with what has been written in these threads about dead wood at Alberton and the need to clear it out, but in reality the problem goes much further than that. I've long held the view that the genuine interstate clubs should form a ' bloc ' or ' cartel ' to fight the AFL and its' agendas. After all they comprise one third of the member clubs and numbers are about to be increased.

Thanks for the detail. 100% agree with all your points. I'm very close to giving the game away for all the above reasons.

 

[Windy Cindy]

I don't think we had a real crack at all, Hinkley is delusional. Swans players everywhere getting uncontested posessions most of the game. Too many Port players were lazy & played their one & only final against the Hawks.

Score flattered us.. they put the cue in the rack very early.

 

[Windy Cindy]

I thought the three turnovers in the first quarter that led to Swan's goals killed our confidence. A world where those turnovers don't happen and we probably go into quarter time with a lead.

Who knows what direction the game goes from that point, but it was noticeable from that point onward the ball use became a lot more tentative.

The trouble with our players is soon as this happens it’s like we drop our bundle and drop away.

Apart from JHF we have no players who can grab the group and lift the team.

 

[rogerjames]

Horne-Francis had a crack

Some players did for sure but nowhere near enuf. Job was done mentality we see all too often.

 

[Waspy79]

The trouble with our players is soon as this happens it’s like we drop our bundle and drop away.

Apart from JHF we have no players who can grab the group and lift the team.

I thought Jordan Sweet was quite inspirational both last week and this week. But you are right, it’s slim pickings. Powell-Pepper would have been handy instead of a spud like Francis Evans or Meade.

 

[FishingRick04]

If we kept Cahill, we might have lost Tredrea.

Maybe, I suspect we would have been better with Cahill, Tredrea only one part of many cogs

 

[Harlott]

Because Cahill didn't rate him. Tredrea has spoken openly about it and was close to asking for a trade.

Is this anecdotal or a fact? Hard to believe he didn’t rate him. Played 16 games averaging over two goals a game and probably missed the other games due to that knee injury in 1998.

 

[Powerage]

If I played a quick thinking word association game & Boaks name was mentioned the first word I think of is FAILURE. That's on him. He should of led his team to a flag but he wasn't mentally strong enough & his disposal has always been diabolical (not interested in what the stats say, I use my eyes).

He sooked when the teams performance was criticised by Koch (forget the year) instead of acknowledging it. He's not a leader, never has been. In fact we haven't developed one decent leader under Hinkleys tenure & that's no coincidence. Weak, unaccountable coaches breed weak uncountable leaders.

The only two real opportunities we have to win a premiership were in 2014 and 2020 when we lost the prelims by under a goal and the teams we lost to went on to be premiers. Lo and behold who was AA in both years and runner up in the brownlow in 2020. Travis Boak. In both prelims he did everything in his power to drag Port across the line but as anyone with half a brain realises it is a team game with 22 players. If you look at those games and the reasons why we lost it had nothing to do with Boaks disposal or lack of leadership.

First to admit that his disposals in the last prelim were shocking and even though he tried his guts out and was a leading possession getter it is probably time for him to hang up the boots. He will never win a premiership with this coach and under Hinkley.

When I read posts like this I wish Boak had gone to Geelong where he would have been played in position, be comfortably sitting on at least two premierships and likely have more than three AA guernseys and be safely out of the reach of loser posts like this one.

 

[backtozero]

Is this anecdotal or a fact? Hard to believe he didn’t rate him. Played 16 games averaging over two goals a game and probably missed the other games due to that knee injury in 1998.

Pretty sure it was spoken about on Open Mike, if you're able to track down that episode.

 

[Lighthouse End]

Is this anecdotal or a fact? Hard to believe he didn’t rate him. Played 16 games averaging over two goals a game and probably missed the other games due to that knee injury in 1998.

Fact.
As mentioned in another post, the story I heard at the time, from a very good source, was that Tredrea approached the board and demanded Cahill be moved on or he was going to request a trade to Carlton. Maybe someone here with intimate knowledge of board machinations can either refute or confirm this definitively.
Cahill didn't see Tredrea in the same light as Williams, i.e a carbon copy of Wayne Carey who he could build a ' Pagan's Paddock ' style game plan around. In Cahill's game plan he was a cog in a multi pronged attack with Cummings, Lockwood, Paul Evans with Chad Cornes (as development projects ) with Morton, Heaver ( later Naish ) and Peter Burgoyne et al as smalls. His first choice for spearhead was Hodges, but injuries and scarring from his treatment by the Cows finished him off prematurely, a real tragedy. I am going to risk ruffling many feathers here with this, and I apologise in advance, but in my view Tredrea had the attitude he was bigger than the club and had a willing ally in Williams in unseating Cahill.

 

[bow and arrow]

This is spot on. Dixon or Ratugolea should have been subbed off for a small player by HT.

I would have subbed them both off and played with 1 less player. I was so mad!

On SM-S711B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Duck Farmer]

Hinkley and Rozee will take a lot out of our last quarter effort as a springboard into 2025.

 

[Shaucob_Burjan]

The self praising from everyone and no jealous/hungry for next year comments is so ****ing weird

 

[DSL64]

Did you watch the game, or just read the stats at the end?

It's easy for a centre square midfielder to rack up tackle stats, there's a lot of stationary opponents around stoppages.

If you look at the game, there were at least 3 occasions in open play where Connor was stepped way too easily - he puts out an arm and falls over. That's not how to tackle, ask any rugby player - you tackle with your shoulder, not your forearm.

"Did you watch the game, or just read the stats at the end?"

How long did it take you to come up with that retort?
And after coming up with it, did you chuckle to yourself typing it in?

Now, let's pull apart your reply.
If it's all so easy for a centre square midfielder to rack up tackle stats, HOW COME NONE OF OUR OTHER CENTRE SQUARE MIDFIELDERS HAVE RACKED UP THESE EASY TACKLE STATS? Or is it only easy for Connor to racked them up?
I did read somewhere that there's a lot of stationary opponents around stoppages.

Also, seeing you've watched game and I haven't because I just look at the stats, can you tell me how many other Port players missed tackles? Because from where I'm sitting (not in front of a TV, obviously) if every other Port player out there nailed their tackles, we probably don't lose by 36 points...

You posted he can't lay a tackle. But the truth is, he can. He laid 20 of them in the last 3 weeks - more than any other Port player in this finals series. Now, is he a perfect tackler? Hell no, but I think it's a bit rich when you highlight ONE player.


Maybe, you didn't watch the game either...

 

[FishingRick04]

Fact.
As mentioned in another post, the story I heard at the time, from a very good source, was that Tredrea approached the board and demanded Cahill be moved on or he was going to request a trade to Carlton. Maybe someone here with intimate knowledge of board machinations can either refute or confirm this definitively.
Cahill didn't see Tredrea in the same light as Williams, i.e a carbon copy of Wayne Carey who he could build a ' Pagan's Paddock ' style game plan around. In Cahill's game plan he was a cog in a multi pronged attack with Cummings, Lockwood, Paul Evans with Chad Cornes (as development projects ) with Morton, Heaver ( later Naish ) and Peter Burgoyne et al as smalls. His first choice for spearhead was Hodges, but injuries and scarring from his treatment by the Cows finished him off prematurely, a real tragedy. I am going to risk ruffling many feathers here with this, and I apologise in advance, but in my view Tredrea had the attitude he was bigger than the club and had a willing ally in Williams in unseating Cahill.

I think that is a fair assessment to make and personally, I’d back Cahill in to make calls on players. If players are going to ask to be traded because they aren’t getting their way, seeya!

As good as they are.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Is this anecdotal or a fact? Hard to believe he didn’t rate him. Played 16 games averaging over two goals a game and probably missed the other games due to that knee injury in 1998.

Pretty sure it was spoken about on Open Mike, if you're able to track down that episode.

Warren was also quoted in an Advertiser article back in 2016, he said he felt he didn't have the backing of John Cahill and was contemplating a move interstate.

 

[Schulzenfest]

2014 PA had a hell of a lot more talent than Hawthorn 2024.

Hawthorn 2024 were Adelaide 2023, at least that’s my hope.

Agree. People talk about our list? Hawthorn played Jai Serong, Calsher Dear and Finn Maginess in a final, Gunston and Breust are as cooked as Boak and Dixon, and their best key forward is Mabior Chol.

 

[Rash]

Agree. People talk about our list? Hawthorn played Jai Serong, Calsher Dear and Finn Maginess in a final, Gunston and Breust are as cooked as Boak and Dixon, and their best key forward is Mabior Chol.

Fin Manginess was very good in that semi final against us

 

[Harlott]

Fact.
As mentioned in another post, the story I heard at the time, from a very good source, was that Tredrea approached the board and demanded Cahill be moved on or he was going to request a trade to Carlton. Maybe someone here with intimate knowledge of board machinations can either refute or confirm this definitively.
Cahill didn't see Tredrea in the same light as Williams, i.e a carbon copy of Wayne Carey who he could build a ' Pagan's Paddock ' style game plan around. In Cahill's game plan he was a cog in a multi pronged attack with Cummings, Lockwood, Paul Evans with Chad Cornes (as development projects ) with Morton, Heaver ( later Naish ) and Peter Burgoyne et al as smalls. His first choice for spearhead was Hodges, but injuries and scarring from his treatment by the Cows finished him off prematurely, a real tragedy. I am going to risk ruffling many feathers here with this, and I apologise in advance, but in my view Tredrea had the attitude he was bigger than the club and had a willing ally in Williams in unseating Cahill.

Fact. The story I heard from a very good source….
I think one doesn’t equate to the other.

 

[Lefti93]

Loling at the thought of us losing to a forward line with McLean, McDonald and Amartey, after hearing we have holes in our list.

 

[Harlott]

Warren was also quoted in an Advertiser article back in 2016, he said he felt he didn't have the backing of John Cahill and was contemplating a move interstate.

This could also have been a tactic that Jack was wanting more out of him to reach his potential. I can’t recall whether it was Cahill, or Tredrea talking about Cahill, it was quite a while ago but I got the sense it was about him being a young forward that wasn’t living up to his potential and Cahill wanting him to pull his finger out and do the work.

 

[rogerjames]

The only two real opportunities we have to win a premiership were in 2014 and 2020 when we lost the prelims by under a goal and the teams we lost to went on to be premiers. Lo and behold who was AA in both years and runner up in the brownlow in 2020. Travis Boak. In both prelims he did everything in his power to drag Port across the line but as anyone with half a brain realises it is a team game with 22 players. If you look at those games and the reasons why we lost it had nothing to do with Boaks disposal or lack of leadership.

First to admit that his disposals in the last prelim were shocking and even though he tried his guts out and was a leading possession getter it is probably time for him to hang up the boots. He will never win a premiership with this coach and under Hinkley.

When I read posts like this I wish Boak had gone to Geelong where he would have been played in position, be comfortably sitting on at least two premierships and likely have more than three AA guernseys and be safely out of the reach of loser posts like this one.

I'll stand by my opinion despite its harshness but acknowledge the valid points you made & why you would be very unhappy with my stance. I'm sure my opinion will be unpopular with many Port supporters.

 

[GremioPower]

and reason to rail against Koch et al, but two things - a\ I don't think that's the bulk of the issue, and b\ this has been going on since well before Koch - Greg Boulton was piss weak and too scared to stand up to the powerbrokers at AFL house as well, and allowed the club to be effectively emasculated in his reign. The only official I can ever recall having any balls in your AFL sojourn so far is Brian Cunningham.

Interesting take. Really interesting, indeed.

 

[Lighthouse End]

Interesting take. Really interesting, indeed.

Met and had discussions with both at various times when Port played away and had after match functions at Bells Hotel in Sth Melb. Cunningham was your quintessential Port man, was always talking in terms of the best deal for Port and very candid about issues he thought were bollocks. Boulton, on the other hand, when questioned on issues of ridiculous suspensions to handed to players for miniscule infractions, the Eddie vs Prison Bars saga, the compromised fixturing that saw Nth Melbourne, Sydney and St Kilda not come to Adelaide for 5 consecutive years, etc etc, exhibited the gormless attitude that the club has to roll over and say Uncle and not make waves. As a result the AFL has been wiping its feet on Port practically since day one.