Kane Cornes on what makes Power and Crows fans different, plus this week’s winners and losers
Port Adelaide’s win over Melbourne on Thursday was 150 years to the day since the club’s first-ever game. The AFL erred by not letting the Power host the milestone match at Adelaide Oval in front of their fans, writes Kane Cornes.
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There is one significant difference between Adelaide and Port Adelaide fans, and it has been accentuated this season.
In their worst start to a season, the Crows were defeated by three points against Essendon on Sunday at Adelaide Oval.
But observing the team on the changeroom cameras, you couldn’t tell.
I watched Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks comfort his players with a reassuring tap on the back as they walked past him to the briefing room to gather behind closed doors away from the prying cameras.
It didn’t look like a shattered coach whose team just coughed up a gold-clad opportunity to secure its first win against an injury-riddled Essendon side missing seven of its best 22 players.
There were no visible signs of anger, frustration or disappointment from the coach or the players over the club’s worsening plight.
My suspicion was reinforced later that night while scrolling through hundreds of comments from Adelaide fans on Facebook. In response to the club’s usual post-game wrap on social media, there were 570 comments predominantly from proud Crows supporters.
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Here’s a snapshot of the tone of the comments.
“So extremely proud of their efforts today. Well done boys ...”
“That last quarter was so exciting, that was a great game to watch, a few more minutes and I think the win was ours. It was a win in my eyes, well-done Crows.”
“Really proud to be a Crows supporter, great effort boys a win is not too far away.”
Despite Adelaide being winless after eight rounds and succumbing to its worst start to a season in the club’s history, the overwhelming emotion from the fans wasn’t frustration, embarrassment or anger; it was pride.
As deep and bitter as the rivalry is between the two South Australian teams, one supporter group accepts losing, as we witnessed by the satisfied Adelaide fans last Sunday, and the other doesn’t.
That’s the difference between Adelaide and Port Adelaide supporters.
You only need to cast your mind back to 2012 when Port Adelaide coach Matthew Primus was into his second year as coach.
Similarly, he was trying to rebuild a fractured playing group as Nicks is endeavouring to do at the Crows.
Heading into round 18 against Fremantle at Football Park the Power possessed a 5-11 record.
The impatient Power fans had already voted with their feet with a season-low 14,000 in attendance. While at the game Power supporters were audibly irate with the style of play their team was producing, it was noticeable as a player and off-putting.
Port Adelaide lost by 27 points and had you checked Facebook that night, despite the team already recording five wins for the year and only 18 months into a significant rebuild, there would have been no pats on the back nor any understanding from the fans.
There certainly wouldn’t have been pride in that performance.
The following week the Power lost to GWS Giants and Primus was removed as coach.
Port Adelaide’s mantra is “we exist to win premierships”, a catch-cry that is embraced by the old-school supporter base who had become accustomed to winning premierships in the SANFL.
That attitude filters down from the top, club chairman David Koch said any time his side missed the finals it is a failed season.
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley also embraces the expectations of winning.
“I love this club, and I love the history of this club and this club’s history is premierships, so that’s what we’re starting out to try and do. We’re going to start this year wanting to win the premiership in our 150th year,” Hinkley said in February of this year.
Had Port Adelaide started the season 0-8, just as Adelaide has done, its fans would be demanding answers and an extensive review.
There would be anger and venom directed towards the players, coach and administrators. They would be demanding change just as they did in 2012.
It’s a stark difference to the attitude we are seeing coming out of the following at West Lakes. There would be no pride in honourable losses or small improvements from a handful of players. Embarrassment would be the prominent emotion.
That’s the difference between the two supporter groups in this state. One accepts losing, the other doesn’t.
THIS WEEK’S WINNERS AND LOSERS
Winners
1. All Hail Hamill
One of Adelaide’s only shining lights this year has been the emergence of exciting half back Will Hamill. Hamill has the skill, flair and toughness that will see him become a future All Australian for the Crows.
2. Trade win
In 2007 Carlton sent young forward Josh Kennedy to West Coast as steak knives in the trade to lure Chris Judd to the Blues. Thirteen years on and Kennedy had kicked 618 goals for the Eagles including seven against Coll
last week, what a recruit.
3. Toby’s Number 1
Only last year Toby Greene was one of the most unpopular players in the AFL. Through Greene’s sheer brilliance this season that attitude has shifted significantly. He is currently the best player in the AFL.
4. Coaches Call
Brett Ratten, Alistair Clarkson and Ken Hinkley all expressed their frustrations and confusion over the standard of umpiring and interruption of the rules last week. Hinkley was correct in his assessment of the poor umpiring in his side loss to St. Kilda on Saturday night and as much as the AFL hate it, he had every right to express his concerns.
5. Long Live Longmire
There is something to love about the no nonsense approach of Sydney coach John Longmire. “Don’t talk about opposition players and club’s” Longmire reinforced after Hawthorn coach Alistair Clarkson accused Swans small forward Tom Papley of milking free kicks.
Losers
1. Midfield Mess
Adelaide’s midfield has gone from being the envy of opposition clubs to a laughing stock within two years. The Crows are last in the competition for all the vital midfield stats and the club clearly underestimated the influence former midfield coach Scott Camporeale had on the group.
2. Grand Final Push
Queensland and South Australian are the only viable states left in Australia which can realistically host the AFL Grand Final; however, the Marshall government doesn’t seem to care. Why they aren’t pushing harder to host Australia’s biggest sporting evert is perplexing.
3. Lacklustre Lynch
Tom Lynch has arguably been Adelaide’s most important player for the last four seasons; however, he is badly out of form this season. He has kicked just five goals from eight games and is down on all key stats from last year including disposals, marks, tackles and inside 50’s.
4. Party Pooper
It was exactly 150 years to the day that Port Adelaide played its first game on Thursday, and the game against Melbourne should have been scheduled at Adelaide Oval to recognise this significant moment.
5. Selection Integrity
Confusingly Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks keeps handing games to out-of-form midfielder Chayce Jones. Jones averages just nine disposals and two tackles in his eight appearances this year and continuing to play him is doing more harm than good.
Originally published as Kane Cornes on what makes Power and Crows fans different, plus this week’s winners and losers