Michelangelo Rucci

3 days ago | portadelaidefc.com.au | Michelangelo Rucci

"WE will never give up on the chase."As firm as Ken Hinkley was in starting as Port Adelaide senior coach in 2013 with his "We will never, ever give up" mantra, he remains resolute that his squad is not putting up any white flags after a tough first half to the AFL season. Port Adelaide resumes from its mid-season bye with Hinkley noting there is no margin for error - "none," he says - while the mathematics say there must be at least nine wins from the next 12 games to qualify for finals.

4 days ago | portadelaidefc.com.au | Michelangelo Rucci

CONTINUITY. If there is a buzz word in the AFL language today it is "continuity" - the theme of keeping a group of players together to develop familiarity, to embed a system of play ... Until recently, the simplest measure of such continuity was the "players used" count. The theory was: Less changes to a team line-up week by week, the more chance of success - more continuity, less disruption. It is more complicated today with the constant need to rotate the substitute in a 23-man line-up.

1 week ago | portadelaidefc.com.au | Michelangelo Rucci

PREPARE to work hard - harder than ever before. Port Adelaide is staring at the toughest hour it has known for more than a decade. The campaign to stay in the AFL finals race is on an edge, as it was for Brisbane at 4-1-6 before its premiership-winning run last season; and Sydney at 5-8 before it charged to the top eight in 2023. But the rebound will not just happen by looking at history. It will require hard, hard work.

2 weeks ago | portadelaidefc.com.au | Michelangelo Rucci

YARTAPUULTI has not won a last quarter of 10 this season - and at least breaking even with Walyalup is the non-negotiable demand at Perth Stadium in the second leg of Sir Doug Nicholls Round on Saturday night. "The results," says Yartapuulti senior coach Ken Hinkley, "say we need to be very sharp with what we are doing. Our last quarters are a great spot for us to start.

2 weeks ago | portadelaidefc.com.au | Michelangelo Rucci

SOME rivalries take time to nurture. The Showdown spirit was alive well before the SA Brewing Company came up with a theme for Yartapuulti's derby battle across West Lakes Boulevard in 1997. And then there is this week's opponent: Walyalup, south of the River Swan in Perth - in that football rich territory that had 24 of the first 34 WAFL premierships take pride of place in Fremantle-based football clubs during the 20th century.