PORT ADELAIDE football boss Chris Davies has admitted he failed “miserably” at his main game-day job at the end of yesterday’s win over Carlton.
Normally composed regardless of the circumstances in a game, Davies was spotted during the broadcast celebrating the after the siren win with coach Ken Hinkley.
It was a heat of the moment reaction that showed how much it meant to everyone at the club.
“My job up the back there is to keep Ken calm so I failed miserably in that moment but obviously it was a great end to the day,” General Manager – Football, Davies said during a press conference on Monday.
“We felt like we were the better team but at the same time missed some opportunities towards the end of the game which meant that it looked like we were about to lose it so to be able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat was a really good effort.
“Clearly Robbie with his ability topped it off.”
Davies said while Gray was the star, winning the game with a pressure kick after the final siren, it was pleasing to see so many stand up in the three-point victory, which keeps the club top of the ladder.
“Such a humble character and he was so ice cold at the end,” Davies said of Gray’s composure.
“We wouldn’t have wanted the ball in anyone else’s hands in our team. He’s such a great person and great player at this club and deserves every accolade he’s getting at the moment.
“Our challenge over a period of time has been to be better without our stars needing to play well every week. Robbie has contributed every game that he’s played and he probably hasn’t lived up to the lofty standards he has set but what is clear is that he comes through for us in clutch moments.
“The growth of our group is coming from the fact that we’ve got other players that are able to take the mantle – Charlie has been fantastic, Sam Mayes coming in for his first game was outstanding, Pete Ladhams did a good job as well so it’s good to see an even spread.”
The game had a number of momentum swings, culminating in Port missing several chances to take the lead late in the game, before Gray’s heroics.
Davies admitted it would be a very different feeling around the club had the result gone the other way.
“It was a good game. Clearly Carlton have turned a bit of a corner with the way that they’re playing and are playing some good footy,” he said.
“We have been on the road for a long period of time, two weeks in a row up in Queensland, early starts, two players down by the end of the game and Connor (Rozee) not feeling great either, it was a really good win.
“We would be feeling differently if we’d lost it and the coaches are reviewing it. They’re comfortable with where we got to but still knowing that we’ve got some work to do.”
Davies said Ryan Burton (quad), Steven Motlop (ankle) and Connor Rozee (heel) would have scans on Monday and more information on their injuries would be known on Tuesday.
But he said the side had plenty of depth with Brad Ebert ready to return from suspension, and Riley Bonner, Miles Bergman, Tobin Cox and Boyd Woodcock all pushing for selection if injury replacements are needed.
