PAFC - 2012/2013 off season - training, drafts etc..

[RustyCage]

this is the first year in a while that I can't really see any list cloggers, people you know won't be getting a game in the AFL any time soon and are just seeing out their contract waiting for the chopping block.

[GWW]

Fair point, although I think it will be Kane Cornes' last year. Admittedly, he will play quite a bit of AFL this year, but is only on the list because of a multiple year contract signed a few years ago.

[Pistol Pete]

Thats what a clean out is. Remove the list cloggers.

Although Hitchcock is still on the list the coaches must see something there and well he has time on his side being young. Hopefully he takes his chances.

[Perfect Drug]

Thats what a clean out is. Remove the list cloggers.

Although Hitchcock is still on the list the coaches must see something there and well he has time on his side being young. Hopefully he takes his chances.

And now he is bloody injured again

[Booney]

Nick Salter injured again too. Stress fractures in his foot again, the other foot this time!

[Matty Thomas]

Fair point, although I think it will be Kane Cornes' last year. Admittedly, he will play quite a bit of AFL this year, but is only on the list because of a multiple year contract signed a few years ago.

"only on the list because of a multiple year contract signed a few years ago" ?
So your saying if his contract was up we would not have offered our reigning B&F a 1 year deal ?

[GWW]

I don't think the club would have, no.

[Perfect Drug]

Fair point, although I think it will be Kane Cornes' last year. Admittedly, he will play quite a bit of AFL this year, but is only on the list because of a multiple year contract signed a few years ago.

So your saying if his contract was up we would not have offered our reigning B&F a 1 year deal ?

I don't think the club would have, no.

I can see what you are saying there GWW, but that would have been madness imo. I agree that coming into this last season gone he was there on the back of having an existing contract only, and was clearly having problems getting a game. Surely he turned himself around again in 2012 though, enough to earn a 1 year extension had it been required.

Blowing off "another" "loved" player of our history in order to bring in another kid (when we have so many already) would not have been a good PR exercise. That does sit with many decisions made in the last 3 or so years however. I am hoping they have learned a little from these previous actions though!!

[GWW]

Ken Hinkley was on 5AA, he is quite impressive.

http://www.fiveaa.com.au/audio_pafc-coa ... one_106141

http://www.fiveaa.com.au/audio_pafc-coa ... two_106142

He's yet to coach us in a game, but I think he was the best possible candidate we could have had. Leon Cameron may have been ok, but I'm pleased with who we appointed.

[valleys07]

Thanks for posting that GWW.

Most Port fans that i've spoken to since Hinkley's appointment have done nothing but sing his praises, and listening to that interview is exactly the reason why.

Im not going to s*** on Primus because he was fed to the sharks really, but the players are even saying Ken has turned the place on its head, port is conforming to the Ken Hinkley way, which is exactly what I had hoped for.

Just listening to him speak is most impressive. He has been open since day 1 that there will be no ceiling on what this group can achieve, he is composed when counteracting any negative questions or publicity and most of all, he is quite confident that with the resources we have available, he has a coaching panel and executive board working together towards improving the off field circumstance, and has a playing group willing to do everything possible with the resources they have available to achieve success. Talk is cheap, but I genuinely believe that Ken will deliver on his goals.

Cant wait until the NAB cup, im not expecting finals or anything like we have seen with the west coasts and the crows of previous seasons, but i do want to see significant signs of improvement, which im very confident that Ken and the boys will deliver upon.

[Booney]

On Cornes : Primus put him back into his most familiar and succesful role last year as a run with player. This was one of Primus' few succesful moves. Cassisi has lost significant leg speed in the last two years and as he was our go to man with run with roles, Primus' and the coaching staff ( who had tried to get Kane to be more offensive ) put Kane back into this role and it proved very succesful. I would expect Kane to once again play that role this year with either Moore or an impressive Kane Mitchell ( who surely must be elevated ) as the back ups. Who else in our group can do the close checking job?

On Hinkley : As I noted in my training feedback, I couldn't be more impressed with Kenny and it seems to a man around the club the opinion is the same.

Dont underestimate the impact Richardson has had on the discipline side of things either. Very stern looking character.

[GWW]

I suspect a few blokes from the Choco era wouldn't know what had hit them, now that Hinkley and Richardson are running the show.

Not that thats a bad thing though

[Booney]

I suspect two blokes from the Choco era who had some idea what was coming decided to split.

[valleys07]

Dont underestimate the impact Richardson has had on the discipline side of things either. Very stern looking character.

Yes I perhaps should have mentioned Richardson also. Very good inclusion to the coaching panel.

[GWW]

I suspect two blokes from the Choco era who had some idea what was coming decided to split.

Perhaps both thought they would likely be playing a few games with Sturt this year if they stayed.

[Ruben Carter]

Whoah back there fellas... Let's not get too excited yet.
I agree everything does look very positive & I expect dramatic improvement like everyone else. But, it's only January and we haven't played a match yet - Primus looked ok on paper for the first 2-3 months after he took over. I think the key will be if our guns (Boak, Hartlett, Schulz, Gray and Brad E) can all stay healthy and play every game or close to it. Don't want to be a party pooper but unfortunately we're still 3-4 years away from being a top 4 prospect. However it's going to be great to watch the development and see consistent improvement.

[Knackers]

Whoah back there fellas... Let's not get too excited yet.
I agree everything does look very positive & I expect dramatic improvement like everyone else. But, it's only January and we haven't played a match yet - Primus looked ok on paper for the first 2-3 months after he took over. I think the key will be if our guns (Boak, Hartlett, Schulz, Gray and Brad E) can all stay healthy and play every game or close to it. Don't want to be a party pooper but unfortunately we're still 3-4 years away from being a top 4 prospect. However it's going to be great to watch the development and see consistent improvement.

I hate this time of year having no Friday night footy to come home to after a hard week at work.
The only thing that keeps me from doing myself in is reading these posts and getting excited about the year ahead.
It cannot come quick enough!!

[GWW]

Whoah back there fellas... Let's not get too excited yet.
I agree everything does look very positive & I expect dramatic improvement like everyone else. But, it's only January and we haven't played a match yet - Primus looked ok on paper for the first 2-3 months after he took over. I think the key will be if our guns (Boak, Hartlett, Schulz, Gray and Brad E) can all stay healthy and play every game or close to it. Don't want to be a party pooper but unfortunately we're still 3-4 years away from being a top 4 prospect. However it's going to be great to watch the development and see consistent improvement.

I"m not expecting finals in 2013, but it is exciting that we have a decent set up now, and it is the START of a long haul up the ladder. Hinkley sounds great, but I don't think too many Port supporters are under any illusions about how difficult it will be to make a significant climb up the ladder in the short term.

As much as I liked Primus as a player, I was never particularly happy that he was appointed coach. He was never going to succeed, admittedly some of that was because of reasons beyond his control.

Now with Hinkley and the rest of the set up - including Richardson and Burgess - we have what, should have been implemented 5 or so years ago.

[Hazbeen]

Can only improve on last years effort.

Competitive will be the first target led by disciplined attack on the ball and hard work when the other lot has it. (something that Chaplin and Pearce failed to show)

The whole squad must lift together not just leave it to a handful each game.

[Booney]

Boak our new captain. I like it.