Kane Cornes has labelled Port Adelaide’s goalless first half against Melbourne as “the most disappointing first half of footy in the club’s history”, questioning whether it could be the beginning of the end of Ken Hinkley’s tenure at the club.
The Power – who entered Thursday night’s game without a win from three rounds – were always going to be up against it taking on Melbourne, but the manner in which they relented in the second quarter worried Cornes.
Port Adelaide could only muster five behinds in the first half against the Dees – the first time they have ever gone goalless in a half in their AFL history.
Speaking at half-time, Cornes said his former side appeared like a bottom four side and looked a shadow of the team that played in Preliminary Finals in 2020 and 2021.
“It’s awful isn’t it,” Cornes said on AFL Nation.
“You never want to see a coach’s tenure come to an end but it’s got that feel to it, I’m not saying anything drastic is going to happen in the next month or two months.
“I think they’ll need to methodically work through why this has broken down so badly and tonight has been a game plan issue for them.
“They just haven’t been good enough and look genuinely like a bottom four side tonight.
“Yes their opponents are powerful… I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of this crowd leaves at half-time.
“They’ll vote with their feet and it’s never nice to see your own players booed off the ground and that’s what is about to happen as Port Adelaide enter the changerooms to try and compose themselves.
“This has been the most disappointing first half of footy in the club’s history.”