Peter Malinauskas, Bruce Djite and other high profile Port Adelaide supporters urge fans to get behind the club

High profile Power supporters are talking up their club’s chances and embracing the underdog status ahead of the do-or-die semi final against Hawthorn.

Former Socceroo and Adelaide United premiership player Bruce Djite, who played in front of 50,000 fans in a winning grand final at Adelaide Oval in 2016, says fans and players will need to lift each other next week.

“The team will need support more so than when things are going well,’’ said Djite who was at the game on Thursday.

“It’s really important that the fans keep the faith because it impacts the players,’’ he said.

Power supporter and former Adelaide United premiership player, Bruce Djite Picture: Tom Huntley

Djite said when Western Sydney scored a goal to reduce the Reds’ lead in the 2016 Grand Final the players felt “the energy in the stadium shift straight away’’.

“But the players on the pitch also need to give the fans a reason to cheer’’.

Diehard Port fan Premier Peter Malinauskas was at a dinner at The Lodge in Canberra with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other state premiers but also said he believed the team could bounce back.

“My focus has been on National Cabinet deliberations. That said, I maintain the faith,’’ Mr Malinauskas said.

Premier Peter Malinauskas and noted ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ enjoyer at Adelaide Oval for Gather Round. Picture: Facebook

Transport Minister Tom ‘Mario from Doncaster’ Koutsantonis. Picture: Matt Loxton

State Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis gave a more colourful reply.

“I feel like Mario from Doncaster,’’ was his cryptic response. Mario from Doncaster being a famous Victorian talkback caller who once said after Richmond lost to Sydney by 113 points in 2016: “When Richmond was down by 130 points — no, listen — I vomited all over myself. And I haven’t taken it off.’’

Adelaide singer Rachael Leahcar, a Port ambassador, was a true believer that “until five minutes before the end I was thinking we could win’’.

Leahcar was confident the Power could bounce back next week.

“The best is yet to come,’’ she said. “They are now the underdogs and everybody loves an underdog,’’ she said.

Kane Cornes has torn his former club to shreds on radio. Picture: Channel 9.

Earlier, former Port Adelaide champion Kane Cornes lashed his old side for lacking “resilience’’ in Thursday’s night’s qualifying final thrashing by Geelong at Adelaide Oval.

On his SEN Breakfast show, the media commentator said it was “nothing short of a pathetic performance’’.

“There was many, many times last night where Port Adelaide players last night made a decision to give up. When things get hard, they aren’t prepared to dig in and get momentum back.”

Cornes said there were “probably 10 players’’ who let the side down, naming Jase Burgoyne, Lachie Jones, Esava Ratugolea, Charlie Dixon, Jed McEntee, Francis Evans and captain Connor Rozee.

“You can’t have that from Connor Rozee last night. You’re the captain of the footy club. He’s had a disappointing year, Rozee.’’

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley during the 2024 AFL Second Qualifying Final match against Geelong. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

His comments come as the knives for coach Ken Hinkley were sharpened all over again in the wake of the Power’s second largest finals loss in the club’s history.

“Sack Hinkley” and “Hinkley out” stickers were stuck on signs at the club’s home base at Alberton.

In a cruel coincidence, many Port Adelaide members on Friday received their renewal forms for the 2025 season.