Port Adelaide players felt 'lonely' in GWS loss, says Hamish Hartlett

Port Adelaide players felt shockingly lonely in their heavy AFL loss to Greater Western Sydney, says midfielder Hamish Hartlett. The Power vice-captain says Sunday’s 86-point away defeat is embarrassing for the club.

“It felt really lonely out there,” Hartlett told reporters on Monday. “And it felt similar to a game we played last year against the Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium (a 64-point loss). You just feel like you’re playing your own game and you have got no real support from the guys around you.”

“And that is a shocking place to be in a team sport. You’re not going to go anywhere if you’re in that frame of mind.”

Port has carpeted prized recruit Charlie Dixon for his cheap shot on Giant Phil Davis which led to a report, while Brownlow fancy Robbie Gray is being scrutinised for striking Callan Ward. “They are understanding of what they have done wrong,” Hartlett said. “We spoke to them in the team meeting, got shown in front of the entire group, and they were told that it wasn’t good enough.”

“So they have been put on notice. Probably big Dicko is the one that has got a bit of a fuse I think so we have just got to keep on top of him. He has got to make sure he’s making the right decisions for the team rather than himself.”

Meanwhile, Port president David Koch is demanding answers for the record loss, labelling it a “disgrace”. Koch says the defeat undermines the buzz from the club’s China announcement. “A disgrace. Rest assured questions are being asked & answers demanded. Undermines a historic week,” Koch tweeted.

The Power’s meek effort was rated by coach Ken Hinkley as the equal-worst of his four-year tenure. Hartlett said criticism from Koch and others was warranted of Port, now with a two-two win-loss record ahead of a Saturday night meeting with Geelong.

“Kochie will ask questions to the people that he needs to,” he said. “He hasn’t spoken to us as playing group but we know the pressure and the expectation that he has placed on us just purely for playing for this football club. When you play for the Port Adelaide Football Club, can’t play like you did yesterday... We need to live up to the expectations, and that is from Kochie, board members, it’s from ourselves and it’s from the guys from outside.”