HOW do you build a successful culture in a sporting team? Start with retaining players, the very men who ultimately need to define, live and embed this mystical concept that makes or breaks teams.
Since August 2011, when Victorian draftee Jackson Trengove ignored the temptation to return home to Melbourne while Port Adelaide was cast as a "basket case", there have been more choose to stay rather than leave Alberton.
Trengove's signature, at age 20, set off - just as he sought in the clubhouse - "a domino effect". The most-notable signature was sealed a year later with future captain Travis Boak, despite the "brass band" approach by Geelong to take the top-class midfielder to Corio Bay.
There was no exodus as many tipped at a club that had hit rock bottom and had its future caught in a political battle between the AFL and the licence holders at the SANFL. Rather, Trengove had many follow his lead in committing to a new future a Port Adelaide.
Along the path to the club's refit and quick rebound, Trengove became a spiritual leader creating the start of a meaningful and lasting culture at Alberton. This is more significant in an era when Port Adelaide has to work through a national draft for talent across Australia rather than within a local and country recruiting zone where "culture" is defined among would-be footballers who grow up knowing the club as a supporter.
Not every player has stayed at Port Adelaide. It is the reality of professional sport and an AFL system that introduced free agency in 2012 to encourage more player movement. Some who have left Alberton to accept "godfather deals" are quickly learning big money does not always bring happiness nor does it ensure a successful career.
Even Trengove ultimately, at the end of 2017, had to deal with the reality of free agency to find greater security with a long-term deal at the Western Bulldogs. But he left Alberton with total admiration and appreciation for his contribution, particularly from coach Ken Hinkley - and there is a monumental legacy, a culture that lives on well after Trengove departed.
This week, Port Adelaide put two big signings on the table to emphasise that there is one theme more meaningful than "destination club" - it is retention. And retaining players who draw interest from rival AFL clubs signals a strong culture among a well-connected team. Not having players "shop" themselves to new environments reaffirms the critical buy-in of a team to the coach, the game and the club.
Midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper, 22, has signed a three-year contract extension making it clear - after all the trade rumblings last year - he was "never going to leave" Port Adelaide.
Key forward Charlie Dixon, 29, also extended his contract by three seasons closing his negotiations last week when external commentary sought to bring into question Port Adelaide's ability to retain and re-contract star players.
"My first year here, my first winter," said Dixon, a Queenslander from sun-drenched Cairns, "I thought I'd do my five years and go back to the sun. But I've fallen in love with Adelaide; I love the club, I've made it my home and Port Adelaide is my family."
In the past decade, Port Adelaide has tested the strength of its culture with bold list-management calls - most notably asking current vice-captain Hamish Hartlett to look at his options, regardless of his contract at Alberton.
Despite persistent interest from Richmond and the eagerness of Essendon and St Kilda three years ago, Hartlett felt he could fulfill his ambitions at Port Adelaide: "I've got no reason to move anywhere," he said.
Nor has Dixon. Neither has another interstate recruit, Sam Powell-Pepper.
No one theme - such as loading up on early draft picks - ensures success in the chase for the AFL premiership. But retention underpins any successful team-building strategy - and creates the culture that defines a team and its football club.
And club includes members and fans, the heart and soul that has greater significance in a demanding season with AFL games played to locked gates and restricted access to honour COVID protocols.
Fans need/want heroes, as noted in the old era with the duffle coat carrying a favourite player's number and face badge - and in the current era with big revenue merchandise sales. A recent university paper listed "retaining players throughout the seasons" as critical to "maintaining a strong attachment to a team".
"With a revolving door of players, fans gets frustrated ...," wrote Victoria Wilkins at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas in 2012 - at the time Trengove's act of loyalty to Port Adelaide set the tone for a culture that has made for a stronger football club at Alberton.
Port Adelaide fans were given good reason to smile during the midweek bye of round 15 when their team kept top spot - and their club kept two valued players for another three seasons.
ROUND 16
North Melbourne v Port Adelaide
HOW do you avenge a dreadful loss that is more costly than four premiership points? A belting that ends a campaign to play finals - a dream left in ashes ...
At the end of round 21 last season, Port Adelaide held eighth spot - and a healthy percentage of 109 - after beating 15th-ranked Sydney by 47 points at Adelaide Oval in a Saturday afternoon clash.
A week later, Port Adelaide tumbled to 11th with its percentage cut to 103 after leaving the Docklands in Melbourne with an 86-point loss to the also-ran North Melbourne. Novice coach Rhyce Shaw had challenged his 14th-placed team to respond after taking a 55-point hit from Geelong.
The result is a scoreline that still carries a sting more than 12 months later - 22.12 (144) to 8.10 (58). North Melbourne had a phenomenal 514 disposals that night; key forward Ben Brown kicked 10.1.
It is a backdrop no-one can ignore (and few will forget).
Someone at AFL House has a warped sense of humour in taking Port Adelaide into the twilight zone in round 16. A week after beating Sydney at Adelaide Oval on a Saturday afternoon (this time by 26 points), Port Adelaide is again on the road to play an eliminated, 17th-ranked North Melbourne that collapsed to Gold Coast by 63 points last weekend. This time it is Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast, the ninth venue to host a Port Adelaide-North Melbourne clash since they first locked horns in AFL company at Princes Park, Carlton in May 1997.
In a season in which the Port Adelaide players have proven they are quick at learning lessons, there is the need to handle better the "long day" of match-day travel to Queensland for a night game (a note that lingers from the last attempt that ended poorly against Geelong in round 12 at Carrara).
At least there is no question of motivation to stir the emotions and thereby thwart any risk of the squad relaxing too deeply in the afternoon sun of south-east Queensland.
No two AFL games are ever the same. This time, Port Adelaide works Scott Lycett in the ruck against North Melbourne giant Todd Goldstein after last time preferring the Patrick Ryder-Peter Ladhams tandem.
This time, Port Adelaide plays on a deck where its aggressive defensive systems are less vulnerable than on the indoor track at the Melbourne Docklands. And there is no Brown at the end of the North Melbourne chain; the key forward has had his season called while the medicos assess his injured knee.
From the 22 tormented by North Melbourne last season, 18 had their names on the selection whiteboard this week (Ryder is now at St Kilda; Ladhams this weekend closes his three-game ban for a COVID protocol breach; Sam Gray has moved to Sydney and Matthew Broadbent is in the SANFL with South Adelaide).
So there is a large pack of Port Adelaide players carrying the scars of that brutal August night under a roof in west Melbourne where they had the ball 207 fewer times than their opponents. Defender Dan Houston, who returns after serving his two-game ban for ignoring COVID protocol, was the busiest Port Adelaide player that night with 29.
We have some terrible memories of what North Melbourne are capable of ... and enormous respect for the way Rhyce (Shaw) prepares them.
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley
How does the script change for a match Port Adelaide must win to continue to command top spot - and the right to opening its finals campaign at home at Adelaide Oval?
Critically, the Port Adelaide players cannot afford to be distracted by a North Melbourne group that has been charged to put heat into every contest - "a red-hot crack," says Shaw. The bumps, the blocks and the tackles will come from a team playing to restore pride rather than collect premiership points.
Once again, it comes down to the Port Adelaide midfield setting the agenda while being aware their North Melbourne opponents have been challenged (yet again) by coach Shaw to correct their ways - and that inevitably means the Kangaroos become more physical and ramp up their tackling. Brisbane felt that brunt just three weeks ago when Shaw took issue with collapsed standards.
The notable North Melbourne player for this theme is North Melbourne midfielder-forward Cameron Zurhaar. Any moment that puts this "Bull" on a collision path with his Port Adelaide equivalent Sam Powell-Pepper should be met with the television effects microphone turned up.
No Brown to spearhead the North Melbourne attack that now looks to 22-year-old Nick Larkey, who has been scoreless in his past two games against Collingwood and Gold Coast after causing some grief to the Brisbane defence.
Port Adelaide's attack - that again will build on the Charlie Dixon-Todd Marshall tandem - is averaging two more goals than its North Melbourne rivals. And the North Melbourne defence has had to deal with far more work this season - and this would not change if Port Adelaide's forwards work to their pressure game with manic tackling inside-50.
It has been a long wait for many Port Adelaide players to settle this score.
SEPTEMBER SHOW
IT is the first Saturday in September ... and the AFL grand final is to be at the Gabba in Brisbane (with Adelaide Oval as the alternate venue) on October 24.
Port Adelaide will play in September for the first time since 2017 - and that heartbreaking elimination final against West Coast that went to double extra time and was decided against Port Adelaide on Luke Shuey's kick after the siren from a free kick for a high tackle.
For the record, Port Adelaide's AFL count in September is:
ONE premiership (2004)
TWO grand finals (2004 and 2007)
FIRST AFL game at Adelaide Oval (in 2011 against Melbourne with a win)
ONE draw (2012 in the home-and-away closer against Richmond at the MCG)
THREE wins, one loss and one draw in home-and-away matches
ELEVEN wins and 12 losses in finals
And Port Adelaide's first AFL game in September was against - North Melbourne, while they were badged as the Kangaroos, in the elimination final at the MCG in 1999. North Melbourne won by 44 points in the first AFL final to feature Port Adelaide.
SELECTION TABLE
Port Adelaide
SPEED, flair and a player determined to earn back respect. Port Adelaide's selection calls this week have a varied agenda.
Defender-midfielder Dan Houston returns immediately on completing his two-game ban imposed by the AFL for breaching COVID protocols from last month's life lesson with inexperienced ruckman Peter Ladhams, who still has one match to serve on his penalty. Houston is challenged to make his football be part of his campaign to restore his professional image.
Long-kicking left-footer Kane Farrell gives Port Adelaide the speed to create invaluable space at Carrara. He too gets to make this recall count towards keeping a wing in the upcoming top-eight finals campaign. This will be Farrell's 10th AFL match of the season - and first since the round 12 loss to Geelong.
Midfielder-forward Steven Motlop has his confidence built up by his four goals and 23 touches in last week's scrimmage with Sydney at Alberton Oval. He too will be playing his 10th AFL game of the year and first since the round 13 win against Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval.
Port Adelaide's match committee has cut utility Justin Westhoff, defender Riley Bonner and former vice-captain Brett Ebert, who was cleared to play after taking a heavy knock to a cheek in a collision with Sydney forward Will Hayward in the third term of the win against Sydney on Saturday.
In: Farrell, Houston, Motlop
Out: Bonner, Ebert, Westhoff
It's a balance between freshening the guys both physically and mentally - and also preparing the guys for finals.
Port Adelaide midfield coach Jarrad Schofield
North Melbourne
A familiar face will be before the Port Adelaide players - former team-mate and wingman Jared Polec. He returns to the North Melbourne line-up after a chequered run in and out of the senior line-up recently - just two AFL games in his club's past six outings.
North Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell resumes after being sidelined since July 18 with a hamstring injury.
Rhyce Shaw has called up No.35 draftee, defender Flynn Perez who becomes the 1027th player to represent North Melbourne in senior football. The 19-year-old is the fourth player to make his AFL start at North Melbourne this season.
The hook at selection has pulled Majak Daw, Paul Ahern and Tom Murphy out of the match 22.
In: Perez, Polec, Ziebell
Out: Ahern, Daw, Murphy
BIRD SEED
(the little stuff that matters)
Where: Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast
When: Saturday, September 5
Time: 7.10pm SA time
Last time: Port Adelaide 8.10 (58) lost to North Melbourne 22.12 (144) at the Docklands in round 22, August 17, 2019
Overall: Port Adelaide 13, North Melbourne 22
Past five games (most recent first): L W W W W
Scoring average: Port Adelaide 93 points, North Melbourne 96
Tightest winning margin - Port Adelaide by two points (95-93) at Football Park in round 8, May 19, 2012; North Melbourne by two points (76-74) at Football Park in round 15, July 12, 2008.
Biggest winning margin - Port Adelaide by 87 points twice, (164-77) at the Docklands in the 2005 elimination final; (133-87) at Football Park in the 2007 preliminary final; North Melbourne by 92 points (140-48) at the Docklands in round 8, May 16, 2004.
By venues - Adelaide Oval (2-0), Football Park (6-6), MCG (1-2), Docklands (4-7), Princes Park, Carlton (0-2), SCG (0-1), Manuka Oval, Canberra (0-3), Bellerive Oval, Hobart (0-1).
By States and territories - South Australia (8-6), Victoria (5-11), New South Wales (0-1), Tasmania (0-1), Australian Capital Territory (0-3).
FORM LINES
Port Adelaide
BWWLWWWLWWLWWWW
NOT perfect, not complete but still winning - and leading the league. That 60-point loss to Geelong in round 12 in Queensland could have derailed a promising year by creating damaging self-doubt. And in past seasons, most notably 2018 when Port Adelaide lost six of its last seven games to turn an 11-4 start into a 12-10 early finish, cracks have turned into chasms at Alberton. So the past two wins against Hawthorn and Sydney need to be admired for the focus the team has kept on its play to score wins when not every gear is hitting the groove. The room for striking peak form when it counts most in September (now October) leaves optimism - and reason for coach Ken Hinkley to demand more.
North Melbourne
BLLLLLWLLLLLLWW
ONCE again North Melbourne coach Rhyce Shaw has described his team's performance - this time the 63-point belting from Gold Coast - as "unacceptable". He does get a reaction when he plays this card. Last time, an unacceptable 57-point loss to Melbourne at Adelaide Oval in round 11 was met with an ultra-competitive session and one-point defeat to Brisbane at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast.
North Melbourne's scoring has been erratic this season - and down in the past four games with returns of 5.5, 8.4, 5.5 and 4.4.
North Melbourne's lone win in the past three months was the 69-point thrashing of last-ranked Adelaide in round 9. The Kangaroos did open the season with consecutive wins against St Kilda and Greater Western Sydney ... but not lived up to that promise ever since.
KANGA HOPS
PORT Adelaide has the Creed. North Melbourne has the Shinboner spirit. Both clubs have reached their 150th anniversary recently - North Melbourne last year, Port Adelaide this season. The two clubs have had to rise from other competitions - North Melbourne from the VFA in 1921, Port Adelaide from the SANFL in 1997 - to be part of VFL and AFL expansion. Both have had to reaffirm their names - North Melbourne and Port Adelaide.
Perhaps this is why there is a long list of men who have called both Alberton and Arden Street their home.
Russell Ebert, Mark Dawson, Bruce Abernethy, Jeremy Clayton, Byron Pickett, Daniel Motlop, Ray Huppatz, Jared Polec, Jasper Pittard, Levi Greenwood, Stuart Cochrane, Paul Geister, Michael Stevens, Ben Jacobs ...
Russell Ebert's year at North Melbourne remains a season to be admired for his solid consistency while repeatedly travelling between Adelaide and Melbourne to establish his VFL career, his business and his family.
Port Adelaide conceded its captain for the 1979 season in exchange for Dawson and a $35,000 cash fund to cover Ebert's air travel to and from Melbourne.
At age 29 (plus 289 days) Ebert made his VFL debut on April 7, 1979 in North Melbourne's 20-point win against Essendon at Arden Street. He had 17 disposals - and kicked his first VFL goal.
Ebert finished his one-off VFL season playing all 25 games to North Melbourne's exit in the preliminary final against Collingwood.
The final count was 534 disposals, 15.17, six hit-outs, a strange free-kick balance of 34-43 against him and nine Brownlow Medal votes while wearing the No.7 jumper in 18 wins.
Ebert returned to Alberton in 1980 to complete his record run of four Magarey Medals.
QUOTES OF THE PRE-GAME
"As a football club we said a long time ago that we're getting ready, that we're coming at the competition. We're living up to our end of the bargain as best we can.
Now it is up to us to maximise and capitalise on that opportunity."
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley
"This week is going to show a lot and tell us a lot about what (the North Melbourne players) want to do."
North Melbourne coach Rhyce Shaw
"There is some light at the end of the tunnel with young players coming rough like Bailey Scott, Curtis Taylor and Jy Simpkin, but I won't lie ... it has been a disappointing season."
North Melbourne legend and assistant coach Brent Harvey
TIP
Port Adelaide by 37 points
