Port Adelaide: Hamish Hartlett contemplates his future in the AFL

Departing Power favourite Hamish Hartlett reflects on his career as he faces the cold truth about his playing chances in the future.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 11: Zak Butters of the Power with Aliir Aliir in the background after the loss during the 2021 AFL Second Preliminary Final match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval on September 11, 2021 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Departing Port Adelaide star Hamish Hartlett looks off into the distance and then speaks frankly about his chances of playing elsewhere in the AFL.

“I wouldn’t say I’m entirely confident,” Hartlett tells News Corp candidly.

“It’s only been a few days post-announcement but it’s not like my manager’s phone is blowing off the hook with clubs wanting me from a playing point of view.

Watch Fox Footy’s massive line-up of Grand Final week coverage on Kayo including live pre-game, halftime and post-game coverage with full analysis from the best team in the business. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free >

Hamish Hartlett celebrates the Power’s 2020 QF win. Picture: Getty Images

“There’s still a fair bit to play out over the coming weeks with trades and that sort of stuff so it might be something that’s very last minute.

“Or maybe they’re waiting for the dust to settle a little bit more.

“I’m a bit uncertain about how all that stuff plays out.

“Potentially wrapping my head around the fact I have maybe played my last game of AFL footy is an unusual thought.”

Last week, the Power axed the 31-year-old leadership group member after 193 matches in 13 seasons.

Hartlett’s most recent AFL game was against the Gold Coast in Round 14 on June 19, when he came on as the medical substitute and registered 12 disposals.

The Suns are a club the half-back flanker and his manager have reached out to in the hope they may be interested in signing him as a delisted free agent.

Gold Coast has said it will keep the idea in mind but it is not yet convinced.

“Nothing has changed with the Suns – it’s still a waiting game,” he says.

“I would have loved to have finished my playing days at Port Adelaide but that wasn’t to be.

“I feel like I’ve still got a bit left to give in the tank so I’ll be having a crack elsewhere.”

Hartlett ideally wants a list spot where he can use his experience to mentor younger players and then transition into development coaching once he retires.

“There’s not too many getting around but if anyone’s ears prick up at the sound of that, give us a buzz,” he says.

Hartlett, who sits 10th on Port Adelaide’s all-time AFL games list, is yet to envisage himself in a rival club’s guernsey.

Alberton Oval has been his football home since being taken at pick No. 4 in the 2008 national draft – the Power’s highest ever selection.

Hartlett takes on the Crows in Showdown XXVIII.

He left the ground for the last time on Monday after coach Ken Hinkley broke the news that he would not be offered a new contract and Hartlett had cleaned out his locker.

It was an unusual exit.

“I literally probably looked like a thief in the night,” Hartlett says with a laugh.

“We’d organised for me to sneak out the back of the club and TJ (Power captain Tom Jonas) was parked about 50m from the door.

“I had a big garbage bag with all my (locker) crap, was running down the road, whacked it all in his car then went off to the pub.”

Hartlett’s departure was emotional but not unexpected.

Hinkley rang him last Sunday afternoon – the day after the Power’s 71-point preliminary final hammering by the Western Bulldogs – and asked him to come to the club on Monday, rather than Tuesday.

“From there I had an inkling of what was about to unfold,” he says.

Hinkley delivered the bad news in his office in a 15 or 20-minute meeting with Hartlett and Power football manager Chris Davies.

“That was a really respectful thing for Kenny to do – he didn’t want to sit me down in a room surrounded by six or seven coaches and list management guys, and have that conversation public,” Hartlett says.

“He gave his reasons as to why I wasn’t going to be there next year.

“From a physical point of view, Kenny didn’t believe I was capable of playing particularly this half-back role which requires you to be able to run really well from a speed and change of direction point of view.

“That combined with the fact that half-back role has now been filled by some younger guys who are playing good footy and other guys – Lachie Jones, Miles (Bergman), Jackson Mead – are going to assume those roles in the coming years.

“I held it all together up in the office and then as soon as I got downstairs to the boys, the tears come thick and fast.”

The first teammate Hartlett ran into was his best friend Jonas.

Hamish Hartlett and best mate Tom Jonas. Picture: Sarah Reed

Jonas drove him to the club that morning, time spent chatting about what call might be made.

“He didn’t know, otherwise he probably would’ve told me first,” Hartlett says.

“We caught eyes and I gave him a shake of the head and then a big embrace followed.

“He was pretty upset about it purely from the fact he lost Ebo (Brad Ebert) last year, one of his best mates, and now me this year.

“He’s pretty shattered for me but he’ll always be one of my best mates and he said if nothing works out he’s got a job for me at Hey Diddle (Jonas’s wine label with Ebert).”

Hugs followed with the other 10 or so other teammates who were there.

After emptying his locker, Hartlett did not want to leave.

He sat in the change rooms for about 20 minutes, chatting to his teammates.

“I just wanted to stay in there forever,” he says.

“The boys came up and just said ‘thanks’ or ‘congratulations’ or ‘sorry’, but from my end I was trying to change the conversation so I’d stop crying.

“There’s still a few boys I haven’t caught up with yet but basically the entire playing group has flicked me a message and I’ve been very, very grateful for their support.”

On his way out, Hartlett also chatted to some of the club’s medical staff.

“I’ve spent a fair bit of time with them over the 13 years,” he says with a laugh.

Hartlett, who ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in 2018 and battled shoulder, knee and hamstring problems during his career, only twice played every game in a season – in 2015 and 2020.

Injuries hampered him again this season.

He underwent knee surgery in October, putting him behind for the start of the campaign, then missed Round 1 and essentially dropped himself for Round 11 as a “circuit-breaker”.

Battling a negative mindset, Hartlett increased internal pressure to perform with each game because he was not meeting his own expectations.

Hartlett working out in the gym as he recovers from an ACL injury. Picture SARAH REED

In hindsight, the West Adelaide product concedes he was a bit harsh on himself.

“For a long period of time you’re seen as being a great player and I had never decreased those expectations of myself I suppose, I wanted to be great regardless of being banged up, age, whatever,” he says.

“I fell into the trap of comparing myself to other guys of my age that were still playing really well at AFL level.

“I look at (Brisbane’s) Daniel Rich for example – he’s my age, plays my position, had probably his career-best year – and (Collingwood’s) Steele Sidebottom is still playing really good football.”

Hartlett fought back and returned to the Power line-up to face the Suns, coming on for the injured Robbie Gray.

But a quad issue “out of nowhere” at training days later caused Hartlett to be a late withdrawal the next game.

He tried to play through the discomfort in a midfield role in the SANFL, only to require knee surgery in August.

“It’s been a bit of a torturous few months,” he says.

Hartlett only featured once more for the season – for the Magpies against Glenelg in the state league’s final minor round.

Hinkley never ruled him out of a finals call-up, privately telling him to get fit and give himself a chance.

“That was the hope I was hanging onto for the last few weeks of the season,” he says.

Hartlett thought he had a slight chance of being named as the medical substitute for the preliminary final.

When he was not even chosen among the emergencies he was frustrated because it meant he could not be in the change rooms pre-game.

“That was a tough one to take,” he says.

“It would’ve been nice to have that feeling again with the boys one last time, although I didn’t think it was one last time then.

“I probably didn’t want to believe it but I think by then decisions (about his delisting) had already been made.

“Being the sub, coming on against the Gold Coast in Round 14 and doing your job, you don’t think it’s going to be the last time you play for an AFL team.”

Hamish Hartlett handballs during a Port Adelaide finals training session. Picture: Getty Images

Hartlett watched the Power’s horror loss from a players’ media box behind the southern goals.

“Even though I wasn’t part of it in a physical sense, I was still barracking as hard as anyone in the stadium,” he says.

“But you could see in the first five or 10 minutes the Bulldogs’ intent around the ball was far greater than ours.

“I was always hoping there would be some sort of shift in momentum and the guys could wrestle that discrepancy back but it never came to be.”

Hartlett describes the time since then as a whirlwind.

He has caught up with plenty of people, including his manager, received hundreds of messages of support and attended the Balaklava Cup with Power players.

For most of the 80-minute bus ride to the race meeting on Wednesday, Hartlett was quiet and reflective.

“You’re in this sense of limbo where all of a sudden you’re not really part of that group anymore but they’re all still your very good mates,” he says.

Hartlett has several other events with his Power friends on the horizon.

First, he will be attending the Brownlow Medal in Perth on Sunday as Aliir Aliir’s plus one.

Jonas, Travis Boak and Karl Amon are also taking teammates, ensuring a players-only table, apart from the girlfriend of count favourite Ollie Wines.

Hamish Hartlett celebrates with Ryan Burton. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s going to be a pretty rowdy table, which we’re looking forward to, and hopefully the big fella (Wines) is sitting at the top,” says Hartlett, who has only been to one Brownlow night.

Next week Hartlett and a Port Adelaide contingent are heading to Tasmania to play golf at Barnbougle Dunes.

“A few of us will lose plenty of golf balls over there but it’ll be a bit of fun,” he says.

Hartlett will remain in constant contact with his manager, remaining hopeful about what his future holds.

“There hasn’t been many real easy chapters in my AFL book so far but it’s not an easy industry,” he says.

“It’s nerve-racking, it’s exciting but we’ll get through it all over the next month or so.

“My last footy payment comes through in October and beyond that it’ll be time to sit down with the right people and set myself up for life beyond Port Adelaide.

“Lots of clubs haven’t finalised their lists at the moment and are waiting on certain decisions from certain people.

“There’s no date set in stone.”

If an interstate club recruits him, Hartlett and his partner realise they may have to embark on a long-term relationship for a time.

But Hartlett is not going to be picky if a team comes calling.

“Whoever is interested in throwing us a lifeline, that offer will certainly be entertained,” he says.

Although sad to be departing the Power, Hartlett says he is incredibly thankful for his time at Alberton and the outpouring of support during the past week.

Hartlett is still receiving messages from fans, former teammates and a host of others.

Just as he is about to meet departing Power midfielder Tom Rockliff for lunch, he gets another wellwishing text.

It is from Port Adelaide great Scott Hodges.

“Support’s come from far and wide and I’ve been grateful for every bit of it,” Hartlett says.

“The best and fairest (on September 30) when the whole footy club’s there, supporters, the full playing squad, that’ll be a night where I can be at ease with the decision and say my goodbyes to everyone.” 

Tredrea: Where do Port go from here?

Now the anger is subsiding for Port fans following their disastrous 71-point car crash preliminary final loss to the Bulldogs, the question that must be asked is “where do we go to from here, and how do we get better?”.

It’s not a question that’s easily answered.

A dejected Charlie Dixon after the Powers preliminary final loss. Picture: Getty Images

After last year’s preliminary final loss to eventual Premier Richmond by six points, the focus was clear, Port had glaring issues with their list that needed to be fixed.

Enter Port’s gun list manager Jason Cripps and recruiting manager Geoff Parker.

No sooner had the trade window closed Port Adelaide had acquired the two key focuses of the trade a period, a key defender in Aliir Aliir from Sydney and a small forward in Essendon’s Orazio Fantasia.

Both were overwhelming successes in 2021.

Aliir was named All-Australian centre half-back and Fantasia kicked 28 goals in 15 games which would have been more had it not been for mid-season knee surgery.

Throw in the recruitment of academy young gun Lachie Jones and Port had ticked three very important list replenishing boxes.

Last Saturday’s horror prelim final identified once again the Power midfield is too similar. Brownlow favourite Ollie Wines, Travis Boak, Wilem Drew and Sam Powell Pepper are all tough as nails but lack poise and precision with their disposal under pressure.

And if you take a closer look at the club’s list dynamics you soon realise, they have five players in the ilk of Boak, Robbie Gray, Tom Jonas, Steven Motlop and Charlie Dixon who are already into their 30s, while Trent McKenzie turns 30 early next year.

They also possess young guns in Connor Rozee, Zak Butters, Xavier Duursma, Miles Bergmann and Lachie Jones.

Aliir Aliir was an incredible recruit for the Power. Picture: Getty Images

But they don’t have not enough key players in the 24-28 year age bracket who dominate the competition week in week out – except for Wines, Karl Amon and Aliir.

Because of this, it puts an unhealthy strain on those thirty year-olds to carry the load with the game’s demands constantly increasing.

In comparison, grand finalist Melbourne’s best players are in the 24- 28 age bracket and are stars of the competition. Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver, Jake Lever, Ed Langdon, Christian Salem, Jack Viney, Angus Brayshaw and Bailey Fritsch are all in career best form.

Their opponents the Western Bulldogs are also blessed with Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae, Bailey Dale, Caleb Daniel, Josh Dunkley, Lachie Hunter and Adam Treloar.

These list dynamics require Port to reboot once again on the run.

Jordan Dawson has had an interview and undergone a medical at both Adelaide clubs over the past few days, and he’s expected to finalise his decision of where he wants to play over the weekend.

The silky left footer, finished third in Sydney’s best and fairest in 2021 and the Swans are filthy to be losing him. He’s a star on the rise and sits comfortably in the perfect age demographic at 24, with huge upside.

The Power have their eyes set on Jordan Dawson. Picture: Getty Images

Aside from list managements acquisitions and departures, for Port to fly, they must put the acid on their young guns of Butters, Rozee and co to get better and challenge them to become fitter over the break and dangle a carrot of guaranteed midfield time.

Much like what Richmond did with Dustin Martin and more recently what Melbourne have done with Petracca, when they went from inconsistent bit part role players to game breaking superstars of the competition.

To be fair Butters was well on his way after an electric start to 2021 before he was struck down with the dreaded syndesmosis ankle sprain injury which resulted in nerve complications.

We can’t see Butters and Rozee wasted as half-forward flankers when they have the attributes and game breaking ability to play and develop as superstar midfielders of the future.

Dan Houston must also be reassigned into the midfield rotation. Only two years ago he excelled in the role when injuries struck.

Port can do with his run, carry and elite execution by foot.

There is also early draft pick Jackson Mead who remains untried at the senior level after serious injuries and Dylan Williams who has had a taste of the big time.

Unfortunately for every player that comes in others must fall out.

And great a warrior as Travis Boak has been over 300 games, I can see him adopting a similar role to how Shane Crawford was used by Hawthorn by coach Alistair Clarkson in the final years of his career.

Travis Boak could be transitioned out of the midfield. Picture: Michael Klein

Boak must be moved out of the centre square to create space for others to flourish and be realigned as a high half forward/wingman or even in a run with role.

It doesn’t sound sexy, but a bold move like this could be the moment when Port’s talented kids emerge from the shadows of superstars Gray and Boak and make them even stronger.

Footy boss Chris Davies, list manager Jason Cripps and recruiter Geoff Parker have made the right calls at the right time in the past and the Power faithful must let them go to work again.

Much like they did last year, Port’s list bosses were able to successfully acquire Aliir, Fantasia, Jones and co while also reducing the average age of the Preliminary final team from 28.4 years of age in 2020 to 23.2 years of age in 2021.

The retirements of 2020 club’s stalwarts Brad Ebert and Justin Westhoff have already been followed by Tom Rockliff hanging up his boots in 2021 and leadership member Hamish Hartlett was told on Monday his contract wouldn’t be renewed.

Tough calls are often unpopular but must be made.

If Port can restock their list with a couple of other gems over the next month all the while reducing their list age demographics.

Who knows they could go one better in 2022.

Originally published as Port Adelaide: Hamish Hartlett contemplates his future in the AFL