There have been a lot of changes at Port Adelaide in the off season, with a new head coach, a huge overhaul of the assistant coaching team, some new players and a new GM of football still to come. Understandably those in charge are taking a well earnt rest (and no doubt doing a lot of planning) before pre-season kicks back in again.
After a 20 year drought without a flag (much of which was overseen by Ken Hinkley) and a poor showing in 2025, the members are understandably impatient and keen to hear from the new coach about what will be different in 2026 and beyond.
So whilst we wait with baited breath for the real deal, here is a little glimpse of some of the words we hope to hear.
Mock Press Statement – Josh Carr, Senior Coach of the Port Adelaide Football Club
Today, I want to speak directly to the Port Adelaide people; our members, supporters, past players, and everyone who bleeds black, white and teal. This club has always stood for something more than just football. We stand for hard work, accountability, and an uncompromising pursuit of success. Those values have been the backbone of Port Adelaide for over 150 years, and they will remain at the heart of everything we do in 2026 and beyond.
When I accepted this role, I made it clear that I’m here to uphold the traditions of this great club, the prison bars, our heritage, and the people who built this place brick by brick. Every time our players pull on that jumper, they’re representing more than themselves. They’re playing for our members, for the generations that came before, and for the ones who’ll come next.
But tradition alone doesn’t win premierships, performance does. We exist to win premierships, and that’s the standard we’ll hold ourselves to. That means building a culture of genuine accountability. Every player, every coach, every staff member knows what’s expected: bring effort, bring intent, and deliver when it matters. Excuses don’t live here.
From a football point of view, you’ll see some changes. We’ve looked closely at the way we’ve been moving the ball and how we’ve been setting up forward of the contest. While our pressure game has been a hallmark, it’s time we turned that pressure into genuine scoreboard impact. We want to be more efficient going inside 50, to kick goals, not just create chaos. You’ll notice a shift away from the high forward press that often crowded our attacking space. We’re working to open up the forward line, give our key targets room to work, and make sure our effort translates into points on the board.
We’ve brought in new coaches and players who share that same Port Adelaide DNA. People who are hungry, honest, and ruthless in their pursuit of success. They’re here because they match our culture. They understand what it means to wear this jumper, and they’ll drive the standards we expect every day.
Our goal is simple, and it always has been: to make our people proud and to bring premiership success back to Alberton. That’s the Port Adelaide way.
Definitely NOT Josh Carr (Senior Coach, Port Adelaide Football Club)
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