AFL news 2025: Port Adelaide coaches engage in crisis meeting after latest heavy defeat

After another dismal display, Port Adelaide’s coaching staff have sat down for a ‘robust’ meeting at Alberton with change on the agenda.

Port Adelaide’s coaching staff had “frank conversations” around its game plan and philosophy for this year, assistant Tyson Goldsack has revealed.

In the wake of the Power’s 76-point loss to Geelong on Saturday leaving Port 15th with a percentage of just 82 per cent after 10 games, Goldsack said coaches had a robust meeting at Alberton on Monday in which the question ‘do we need to make changes’ to the game plan was thrown up.

“We think we have the players to play a really good brand of footy, we think we can turn up on our day,” he said.

“The consistency throughout a game from week to week is what we are striving for.

The Power coaches have discussed making changes to the game plan. Picture: Michael Klein

“That was our question within the coaches meeting, do we need to make changes?

“Do we require change is the main question and going through are we just not executing what we plan to do consistently enough in the game?

“That was the frank conversations we had today, “do we believe in” got thrown around the room.

“Do we believe in the offence? The contest aspects? The defensive methods? And then we had to come to an agreement that we are all on the same page and we do believe in it.

“So what we did roll out in pre-season and the early part of this year we still believe that will work it is just finding the way to make sure we can educate well enough from week-to-week and the players can ultimately execute on game day.”

Goldsack said the coaching group was united in that the game plan and philosophy was the right one for the Power.

Port Adelaide were smashed by Geelong. Picture: Getty Images

That was what today was all about, put it on the table and if you don’t believe in something then say it but we are on the same page and believe it can work,” he said.

But the Power need to find a way of stopping sides piling on the goals after a third heavy defeat of the season against the Cats.

The 76-point loss follows on from the Power losing to Collingwood in Round 1 by 91-points and to the Western Bulldogs by 90-points in Round 8.

The effort of the Power when it is losing in what end up being heavy losses has again been questioned in the fallout of the loss to the Cats.

Goldsack said players weren’t throwing in the towel, but were getting “deflated” when things weren’t going their way.

“We want to be exciting but we want to be able to defend teams as well,” he said.

“We are not talking about putting white flags up or turning our toes up, we’re talking more about not being deflated when it doesn’t go your way.

“When we think there’s a brand and offence we want to play and we don’t get the outcome, can we still go back to the well with it? Knowing that it’s going to work more times than not if we play it the right way.

Ken Hinkley has just 13 games left as Port Adelaide coach. Picture: Getty Images

“They’re probably the questions, and the consistency, that we are trying to achieve in that phase of the game and that asking players do you believe in this brand of football?

“Do you enjoy this brand of football? And the answer is yes then well let’s keep going after it.

“And then we’ll make adjustments to make sure that we can either set up behind the ball well or our contest stands up when it needs to.

“It’s hard, you aren’t going to throw players under the bus and say they give up but it is deflating when you don’t execute when you know maybe you should have.

“So can you still go for the same kick you took last time even though you turned the one over before? We’re really encouraging of them to do that.

“Let’s not go into our shell, let’s play the brand of football that you enjoy playing and that way at least they’ve got something to strive for.

“It’s just when it goes against us can we stand up and shut the game down when we need to? All the little things in football games when you lose momentum and be able to quell that and get that back on your terms.”

PORT INJURY CARNAGE OPENS DOOR

Port Adelaide star Jason Horne-Francis is set to be on the sidelines for a month with his hamstring injury, while a young defender has been ruled out for the rest of the season that could allow the Power to jump into the mid-season draft.

And the Power could even have two list spots available for extra reinforcements.

An already big injury list at Alberton was added to on Saturday in the Power’s heavy loss to Geelong.

Horne-Francis went down with a hamstring injury in the first quarter, while defender Lachie Jones also suffered a hamstring injury in the second quarter - which came in the midst of a solid game on Cats star Jeremy Cameron who would go onto kick seven goals for the match.

The pair of hamstring injuries came after Josh Sinn was subbed out of the match in the first quarter after copping a knee to the hip.

Power defence coach Tyson Goldsack said Horne-Francis’ hamstring injury wasn’t too severe and he could be back after the bye.

Jason Horne-Francis is set to have a stint on the sidelines. Picture: Getty Images

But the news wasn’t as good for Jones.

“So Hornet’s (Horne-Francis) not terrible but it’s a hamstring and it is looking like a month, maybe less if the next few days go well for us and for him,” he said.

“So post bye more than likely.

“Lachie Jones’ is a bit more sinister, he will be more eight weeks than four.

“So six to eight is around the mark, but it is early stages and we know that it’s not a great result for us and he was playing some really good footy unfortunately.”

Jones has had a history of hamstring injuries and while it didn’t look as bad as Horne-Francis’ at the time, Goldsack said it wasn’t surprising that it was a bad one for the tough defender.

“Last time he did his hamstring he thought he had a hamstring cramp and it was basically torn off the bone,” he said.

“Then the next time he thought he’d tore it but it was just a cramp.

“Either way they are not great results for us.”

Sinn could actually take on Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Saturday with the Power’s injury report listing him as a test.

But given scans showed significant bruising to the hip, he is considered unlikely to play.

“Sinner is sore but there’s nothing, no cracked bones, he had scans, he went to the hospital after the game but it’s more of just a contusion bleeding,” Goldsack said.

“So he’ll be stiff and sore for the next couple of days and then we’ll just see how he progresses.

Josh Sinn’s injury isn’t too serious. Picture: Getty Images

“But he’s a test for this week depending on his pain.”

Forward Todd Marshall now has a timeframe for his achilles injury with Power listing him as 14-16 weeks.

Marshall has bulked up significantly in his time injured and the Power were yet to rule him out for the season and open up a list spot in the mid-season draft next week.

But the Power can now open up a list spot with second-year defender Xavier Walsh ruled out of the season after he aggravated an old shoulder injury and will have reconstructive surgery this week.

The Power could even have a second spot opened up with rookie Tom Cochrane listed as TBC because of a foot injury but that is considered unlikely at the moment.

The Power having a pick in the mid-season draft could be good news for former North Melbourne VFL captain Jack Watkins who has been impressing for the Magpies at SANFL level this year.

Watkins, a good friend of star vice-captain Zak Butters, trialled for the final spot on the Power’s list in pre-season but Port went with speedster Josh Lai.

But since then he has averaged 29.7 disposals, four clearances and five marks for Port in the SANFL and was part of the South Australia state team that played Western Australia on Saturday.

Last year the Power used its mid-season draft pick on Logan Evans who was playing for the Magpies.

Originally published as AFL news 2025: Port Adelaide coaches engage in crisis meeting after latest heavy defeat