Kane Cornes: What battling Blues can learn from toxic Power era
Carlton might be losing, but there is hope. Kane Cornes feels the situation isn’t as bad as the awful period at Port Adelaide in 2011-12 which fractured players, coaches, staff and the board.
Kane Cornes
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During the week, I contacted a former Port Adelaide team-mate who now works at Carlton to see how he was feeling during this challenging period.
His response was short but powerful and left me feeling the Blues may just be able to work themselves through the media hurricane and supporter backlash.
“We will work hard and refuse to blame others,” the text read.
I’m sure the now Carlton employee is referring to the era at the Power in which the team won a combined eight games in the 2011 and 2012 season, ultimately costing coach Matthew Primus his job.
The lack of on-field success gave birth to an awful era at the club and fractures appeared between the players, coaches, staff and the board.
There was a clear divide between the senior and junior players which emerged from a belief among many of the veterans that games were being gifted and not earned by some of the new players.
At the time there was an acceptance among some players these selection calls were being manipulated by the board of the football club, a theory that some years down the track was proven to be correct.
At any official team functions or player dinners, the toxic atmosphere was highlighted by segregation of the playing squad as team members only mixed in their own like-minded groups.
The coaching panel also poured fuel on the fire as they were quick to blame the fortunes of the team on specific individuals.
As two first-year players were completing their post-match pool recovery alongside a more experienced and highly-respected team member, one assistant coach offered some scathing advice to the two rookies. “Don’t catch his disease, boys,” he growled.
On one away trip to Darwin the same coach, along with a number of staff and injured players, hit the town for a night out on game eve. This resulted in the CEO holding an all staff team meeting the following Monday and laying down the law that no Port Adelaide employee was to be out drinking before any game.
The usual Monday schedule after a beating on the weekend was to meet at the beach for a 5am punishment session during the bitterly cold and dark winter. We would brace the freezing surf for about half an hour before it was back to the club to dust off the boxing gloves.
It was during these boxing bouts the players were encouraged to knock each other’s heads off and often our frustrations boiled over, resulting in fiery consequences.
After the blood was wiped from your nose, it was off to the lecture theatre for the video game review. The clips were usually watched from the behind-the-goals camera angle, meaning everyone’s flaws were laid bare.
No one was spared and the coaches’ dreaded red laser beam often highlighted a player’s lack of workrate, accountability, real intent or selfishness. It’s a lonely place when you know you have let the team down and all you can do is sink into your seat.
The emotions also spilt onto the training track. One regretful incident occurred when I exchanged a spiteful war of words with one assistant coach over a positioning disagreement. We traded personal barbs with several teammates looking on. The incident was never addressed or resolved. This toxic environment started at the top and filtered all the way through the club until, ultimately, massive change was inevitable.
Primus left in 2012 after an embarrassing defeat to newbies GWS, the tearful president departed on the same day and several players were moved on at the end of the season.
Luckily for Port Adelaide, the club found an outstanding leader in chief executive Keith Thomas to steer the club out of the mess.
Thomas then appointed Ken Hinkley as a coach who raised the standards and brought the playing group back together.
Remarkably, Hinkley piloted the team back to the finals the following year. With Carlton’s talent laden list, this is a possibility in 2020.
It was a forgettable time in Port Adelaide’s short AFL history and one the under-fire Carlton Football Club can learn from.
Carlton must stay united and realise everyone is to blame and only collectively can you get out of the mess and through to the other side.
Kane’s winners and losers after Round 9
Winners
Crucial result
Port Adelaide’s win over Gold Coast should not be undersold.
With eight players who had played 10 games or less and 12 players aged 23 or under it was a significant result that should set the team up for a serious tilt at the finals when the injured cavalry return.
Kelly’s class
Geelong’s Tim Kelly has the perfect technique when it comes to the crucial midfield art of gathering a ground ball in congestion. The second-year Cat doesn’t have a weakness in his game.
Brown for Blues?
Speculation has begun on who might succeed Brendon Bolton as Carlton coach in 2020.
Brisbane triple premiership player and media personality Jonathan Brown would make an outstanding coach. I hope he puts his hand up.
Sir Doug Nicholls Round
This special round always gets me thinking about my favourite indigenous team-mates and toughest opponents.
For the record, Andrew McLeod was my hardest opponent and Byron Pickett my favourite team-mate.
BT nails it
Brian Taylor’s call of the Liam Ryan hanger on Friday night was commentary perfection. Taylor identified Ryan’s positioning as the ball came in long and then rose to the crescendo with perfect timing.
I’m sure Bruce would have been proud.
LIAM RYAN FLIES HIGH‼ï¸
— 7AFL (@7AFL) May 17, 2019
Watch #AFLEaglesDees on 7. pic.twitter.com/jcDdWp8CqQ
Losers
Selfish mids
Adelaide’s lack of midfield accountability has cost the Crows victory for the second time this year.
In Round 3 Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield had 32 disposals and 10 clearances, this time it was Brownlow Medal favourite Lachie Neale.
It was a selfish display with not one player prepared to sacrifice their game to nullify him. Neale’s 39 disposals and 12 clearances was the difference between the teams.
Taunting
West Coast coach Adam Simpson didn’t like his player Nathan Vardy’s taunt of a defenceless Max Gawn as he lay face down on the ground.
Perhaps it’s time for the AFL to award a free kick against any player who taunts an opponent.
Hardly funny
Geelong coach Chris Scott appeared to take aim at Patrick Dangerfield’s carry-on after he hurt his ankle on Saturday night.
“Don’t worry about the crutches it’s all part of the Danger Show,” Scott said. He now claims his comments were said in jest but I wonder whether Dangerfield had voiced his disapproval to the coach as the remarks were anything but funny.
Curnow woes
At times last year Carlton’s Charlie Curnow was the most exciting player in the game.
His form was off from the time he laced up his boots in the JLT series this year and with just four goals from six games a spell in the twos is looming.
King hit for Kangas
North Melbourne has Carlton to thank that it isn’t firmly in the gun this week. Former champion Wayne Carey labelled the Roos a shambles. I agree.
Crows are not a ‘destination’ club for returning talent
The Crows have always failed to get local talent back home. That’s something they have to fix, writes Kane Cornes.
Shaw decision puts spotlight on AFL coaches’ support
The fine line between success and failure has never been so close and the recent decision by North Melbourne’s Rhyce Shaw to take extended leave has highlighted why coaches need more support.