AFL icons slam David Koch’s scathing Port Adelaide attack
DAVID Koch was the predator but he quickly became the prey as footy icons slammed his “infuriating” comments about Port Adelaide.
AFL icons have slammed Port Adelaide chairman David Koch for his scathing criticism of the side after its heartbreaking elimination final loss to West Coast on Saturday night.
A Luke Shuey goal after the siren in extra time ended the Power’s season and Koch issued a blunt warning for players at a supporters’ function after the match.
“We don’t want players who are living their dream just by playing AFL footy. We want players who want to win a premiership,” Koch said.
“If they’re not prepared, if they’re just playing for us because they love to play AFL, they’re not players that we want.
“If they’re not prepared to win a premiership for this club, we basically don’t want them. Let us know and we’ll trade them.”
Former Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams and ex-St Kilda and North Melbourne star Nick Dal Santo both lashed Koch for his comments.
“He’s (Koch) wrong and he’s got to increase his knowledge of what goes on at football clubs,” Williams said on SEN Afternoons. “Don’t doubt the people and their efforts.
“That’s why I was disappointed with Kochie because there is no doubt the players are there to win premierships and not just rack up numbers and get paid.
“They aren’t getting any satisfaction out of having a great year and not winning finals.”
Dal Santo was even more scathing in his criticism of Koch’s remarks.
“I absolutely hated it,” he told SEN Afternoons. “You bust your backside, your whole life is dedicated to this. Whatever it is, you are dedicated to what you do.
“To then say that post a devastating loss baffles me. I’m infuriated and I’m not part of that club at all.
“It’s staggering. As if the players are not trying anymore because they just enjoy being there. It doesn’t make any sense to me, I can’t get my head around it.”
Koch doubled down on his attack on Monday, saying he didn’t regret his honest assessment of Saturday’s performance.
“We’re very open about what we do,” Koch told FiveAA radio. “I’m completely upfront and say exactly what I’m thinking. (Our members) deserve to know how we’re thinking and what a devastating loss it was.
“We know we blew it. We all know we blew it. The players knew we blew it, I knew we blew it, our members knew we blew it.
“From halfway through the second quarter we dominated the game, but we didn’t have the composure to make the most of the big moments and when you kick 10.16 in an elimination final you’re never going to win.
“We shouldn’t have been in that position and it has been a trait that we’ve had for a lot of the year, that in big moments the team doesn’t follow (coach) Ken (Hinkley’s) plan.”
Koch also blasted rumours Hinkley would need to find a new home in 2018, saying he was keen on extending the coach’s contract.
“I don’t know why there’s talk about Ken going to the Gold Coast because there’s another year to go on his contract,” Koch said.
“Over the summer we’ll talk about extending that because that’s the timetable Ken Hinkley wanted and we have such respect for Ken Hinkley that that’s exactly what we’re going to do.
“I’ve often said my job is to try and make Ken Hinkley a 10-year coach and give him all the resources to be that.
“If you look at successful AFL clubs, it’s all based around the stability of the coach, the stability of the chief executive and the board.”
— wth AAP
Originally published as AFL icons slam David Koch’s scathing Port Adelaide attack