Forum topic

Watched the 2nd half on tv and looked like Port were good but like the week before vs Casey just ran out of legs 

it’s Port’s equal worst start to a season at 0-4 only other time it happened was 1908 when Port started season 0-7

Club wanted to have a 150th year that stood out but not in this manner !!! It didn't seem possible with the recruiting we had made - Digs even said we would win it but it's gone from bad to worse, something is not right. Like to hear from any Port fans or anybody for that matter who are optimistic that better days are coming and where they can see future improvements.

I'll get the ball rolling, won't use the gelling excuse as the lads have played 8 games together and have had enough gelling time. Won't use the injury excuse as the injury list is not significant.  What I will say from what I heard (didn't watch the game yesterday) we are moving the ball alot better, if we can further improve in this area then perhaps we can be more dangerous and win a few games? Maybe? I hope ? I pray !!! 

It's honestly concerning to see what's happening at Port. I've always seen then as one of the untouchable powerhouses but it seems like they're failing to get the results they should without any obvious cause, and it seems like morale is extremely low. Worrying to see even one of the stronger standalone clubs in such a bad way.

Totally agree upthedolphins. Recruitment wasn't perfect but it was good, the squad itself isn't exceptional but on paper good enough to be competitive with most sides. Part of the frustration is that we know we should be doing better, not just the opinion of a football layman like myself but those of football experts who just like last year predicted Port to be big improvers due to their signings. Had we of recruited unknown players and relied on optimism that those players would blossom then it would be justified that we were not winning as we wouldn't have the cattle but to underperform with this side is a definite concern when you consider not all seasons will have this kind of recruitment, thell be off seasons that experience and quality will be hard to come by.

It's such an X factor MegaA......you go out and recruit, and it looks like you have a very dangerous combo, and then somehow they just don't gel quickly. Obviously the performances are improving, and I've got no doubt your first win is just around the corner. Finals might be a big ask from here, but not impossible if it clicks shortly. I hope the powerbrokers don't sh.t themselves and go making drastic changes (ie Coach). I'm sure it is going to fix itself and when it does you'll be a big problem.

Btw, what on earth is going on with Archi Manton? He looked like a star last season.

AJ.. with a list as strong as that but unable to win then the focus has to be on the coach. They are not buying what he's selling.  Disappointing last year and worse this year. It's not like he's been a successful coach having a bad trot - Dud at Frankston - sacked at St.Kilda - Dud at Port.

The irony is they have a very good coach at the club working as an assistant,

Re Manton - Ive seen him a few times this year and no doubt he is carrying an injury. When he played against Frankston he spent more time with the trainers on the sidelines than on the ground.

Maybe Port can turn it around soon, I hope they do, but as you say if they cant beat the Suns this week then it's season kaput...

Hi Mega,

Nice to think you are still thinking of me.

My comment may have been a little tongue in cheek taking the pi55 out of the annual boom recruits at Port.

Are you still in love with the coach ?

Don't miss a chance do ya Digs? Hahaha

I've got a lot of good friends at Port AJ !

Aj - Archi is a very good forward and i can understand why you said he looked like a star when he played one of his best games of 2023 against you. Having only taken up the game at 19 though he is yet to find the consistency that will make him a league leading goal kicker, at the moment he is out injured. Your opinion of getting rid of the coach being a drastic change and unnecessary is one your entitled to however if the club was to make such a change I don't think many would be overly suprised, It will be far from the uproar that was heard when Ayres left. The facts are that the club aimed for finals last year and recruited well, they failed miserably, the club and coach said that this year we were not just aiming for finals but aiming to do some damage once there. Sitting at 0 - 4 I'ld say we are going to fail again. Most of the players have changed, some of the coaching staff has changed but theirs a common factor here which ild think is now under the microscope. I know many who were surprised with the reappointment and thought that the re appointment would need to be justified with impressive results which we clearly have not gotten so although some may call a coaching change drastic I think the majority would agree with Bearsman and class it as justified.

Digs - Yes I know that you were being sarcastic, im smarter than I look (i desperately hope) but I thought i would throw that in for a little amusement. It was up there with your comment of "that function centre is the best in the competition".

Regarding your question - Am i in love with the coach ? Lets wait until he lives up to the goals he stated were a major priority, namely, not just getting into finals but going far when qualifying.... then we can talk about how much we love the coach. 

Yeah, I realise the banter is friendly....ish :)

MegaA, I'm not so much trying to defend the coach as asking if Port need to be a little more patient? With an influx of new blokes of any quality, there can be a teething period and it can get ugly during that time. I think you have some quality footballers there, but if they're not gelling quickly then I don't always think getting rid of the coach is the right answer. Against us, I thought the game plan looked reasonable, but your blokes just weren't executing well. You would know much better than me of course, I'm just asking.

For the record, I'm no rap for the coach and was pretty stunned when he was appointed. If he goes I frankly think you need to look outside your current staff too, for what that's worth.

Many surprised by the re appointment but I think it's due to lowering standards at Port Melbourne, a example of this is describing on the radio our last two performances which were losses against winless sides as playing exceptional! When did Port Melbourne begin to settle for such complacency, would the Lakers or Celtics who coincidentally also have 17 titles accept and describe losses to winless sides as playing exceptional ? The values of the club I had a re kinded love with a tad over 10 years ago is changing most particularly the value of excelling in all areas but foremost on field. 

Aj (or anybody else) at what point do you say enough is enough) as we stand the club is 0-4 giving us the worst start in well over 100 years (116 to be exact) do you persevere until seasons end or take the risk by making personnel changes with the aim of a finals charge ? 

Im aware of the tone of this post but I feel like I'm not the only one. In a couple of hours i feel the small crowd turnout at Northport will reflect these sentiments. 

I absolutely get you MegaA and do understand your frustration. I follow Carlton in the "other" comp, had always wanted Voss coaching us.....but halfway through last season thought I had got it way wrong and that he was toothless as a coach. I wanted his head on a platter. How wrong was I proven to be thinking that way? That was my only question. But, Skrobolak isn't Voss, is he.....

As to your 0-4 start.....I know Port are accustomed to success, and cellar dwelling isn't your thing, but it's inevitable that it will happen to everyone eventually. We all must take our medicine eventually, just ask us Blues supporters, haha

Far out, what a finish at North Port, GCS hit the front with a goal at the 31 min mark and hung on for another 90 seconds to get the points - the commentators claimed there was blatant throw by a GCS defender close to the Port goal that wasn't paid in the last few frantic moments

I thought Wally that the 2nd and 3rd last goals of gold Coast could have been free kicks to us but ah well it is what it is, 2024 isn't the fairytale year 2017 was. Season over, onwards and upwards (it can't get much worse).

very pragmatic, Mega, but not what u want in your 150 year celebrations, puts a decided dampener on things, sadly 

Definitely Wally, worse start since 1908 absolutely puts a dampener on things. I've had a look at the replay and their was a definite throw only 15 metres out from goal, we score that and we win the game. The last quarter officiating favoured gold Coast, when you consider that one, Casbolts push of his opponent to win the mark that had him score the 2nd last goal of the game and the push to.prevent us intercepting the last gold Coast goal which could and should have been paid to us. Theirs a list now of free kicks and bad officiating towards games end vs AFL clubs that has cost us games. Not that it matters too much, even if we won season was already over.