Port Adelaide's monumental collapse creates AFL history

Port Adelaide have created AFL top-eight history with their monumental collapse from top-four hopefuls to non-finalists.

Seven weeks ago the Power were a game off the top of the ladder after a five-match winning streak that included victories over Richmond and Melbourne.

At the time they were one of three teams on 11 wins, one game behind the Tigers and one game clear of Sydney in fifth.

Just four weeks ago Port were fourth again, one game off second and behind Collingwood in third by only 1.9 per cent.

Now they’re in the history books for an unwanted reason.

Port Adelaide are the first team since the top eight was introduced in 1994 to fail to reach the finals after holding a 12-6 win-loss record.

They’ve also joined Essendon’s 2012 side in missing the top eight from 11-4. That was the season responsible for the Bombers’ doping scandal.

Perhaps thankfully for the Power, these are only top-eight records.

In 1992, Carlton went on a six-match winning streak to rise from 8-6 to 14-6 before missing what was then the top six after losing the last two games of the season.

North Melbourne also collapsed from 9-0, 10-1 and 12-6 to 12-10 in 2016 but scraped into eighth on percentage and avoided beating Port to the record by two years.

Port Adelaide’s off-season has already begun, with the club confirming on Saturday that assistant coach Brendon Lade had resigned from his position.

The Power are also bracing to lose Jared Polec to the Kangaroos, who have offered the running defender a rich five-year deal.

Senior coach Ken Hinkley is under contract for three more seasons and is already expecting more out of the team in 2019.

“It’s as wounded as I’ve felt, I reckon, in my time in footy,” Hinkley said.

“I’m not dead and I won’t be, but we’ve copped one as a team and we’re in it together.

“It’s not just me, it’s all the coaches, but gee, I look forward to it, I really look forward to it. I won’t go down easy.”