Power midfielder Zak Butters has provided an insight into how Port Adelaide reviewed their disastrous 64-point loss to Hawthorn in Round 2.
Port Adelaide had their first game at home for the year and were also farewelling club great Russell Ebert, all signs pointing to them looking among the most likely winners of Round 2.
Hawthorn, in their first season under Sam Mitchell, won their Round 1 game against North Melbourne but weren’t expected to seriously challenge the top teams.
Despite that, what followed was a performance that will go down as one of the biggest upsets of the last decade, as Mitchell’s men didn’t just win, but put the Power to the sword in the massive victory.
An embarrassing review followed at Alberton on Monday, Butters revealing two major problems among others that the coaching staff identified.
“We had a pretty heavy review (on Monday) and probably one of the more brutal ones at the club since I’ve been there,” Butters told SEN SA’s The Run Home.
“It was quite embarrassing what we dished up and I think we just didn’t defend as well as we’d like to as a team.
“Similar to the Brisbane game (in Round 1) as well, when we died off for a bit there, we didn’t defend as a team and probably didn’t stay as connected as a team as we needed to win games of footy in the AFL.
“I think that’s what our main review was, it wasn’t the fundamentals and the kicks or whatever it was, it was the little things, the little team defensive things that win you games of footy at that level.
“As a playing group, the vision hurt a bit on Monday for everyone in the group. That’s what let us down on the weekend, and we’ve got to be better and it was a pretty embarrassing and bad performance.
“I'm not going to sit here and make excuses.”
While the Power won all the major stats, including disposals, inside 50s, contested possessions and clearances, Hawthorn consistently sliced through Ken Hinkley’s defensive structures to give themselves good looks on goal.
Butters also revealed the club found its aerial contests weren’t up to scratch, and that was a factor behind the Hawks consistently winning crucial contests.
“That’s one thing we discussed as well, when we don’t have a contest well enough up forward then they can mark it… footy these days, you need a contest every time,” Butters continued.
“First of all, you need to give your teammates a chance to actually get in and help defend and set up, it’s a matter of seconds.
“It’s a matter of getting that ball to the ground and getting an extra one or two seconds for your teammates to come to help you out or get in a better position to help you defend.
“I think when there’s not a good enough contest aerially all over the ground it’s very hard to get set up and get strong behind the ball.
“Aerial contests, we were absolutely shocking last week.”
Butters certainly played his role in the loss, gathering 29 disposals and laying 11 tackles as the Powers’ systems broke down.
His side now takes on Adelaide in the Showdown on Friday night, both sides desperate to avoid starting the season 0-3.
Listen to the full interview with Zak Buttters below