2010: Departure of Premiership Coach and Captain
The Power emerged from the preseason break and NAB Cup with a more contested and defensively-minded game plan and it was evident with the club winning five of its first seven round games, which included an impressive victory against the previously undefeated Saints, who had only lost three of their past 29 games before that. However, after that, the Power would then go on to lose a club record nine in a row, which included a loss against the then 16th placed Richmond Tigers who had yet to win a game. On 9 July 2010, Mark Williams stepped down as senior coach and coached his final game against Collingwood at Football Park, marking an end of an era for the club. Matthew Primus took over as caretaker coach for Port Adelaide a few days later after assistant coach Dean Laidley rejected the offer. In Showdown 29, Port Adelaide ended its nine game losing streak with a 19 point win over their crosstown rivals, the Adelaide Crows. It was also Matthew Primus's first win as head coach and by season's end he finished with a five wins and two losses record. The Power's administration board had started the search for a new coach and it was widely believed that the Power would appoint someone who had never been associated with the club before. However, on 9 September, Matthew Primus was appointed as the senior coach of the club for the next three years.
The club also saw the retirement of who many fans consider to be the Power's greatest AFL player, Warren Tredrea, as well as 2004 premiership player Josh Carr. The season saw the highs of many Port Adelaide players, such as utility Jackson Trengove who played in 19 games and earned a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination for his 23-possession game against West Coast in round 20. Jay Schulz, who was recruited in the 2009 AFL trade week, rewarded the club for its faith, topping the goalkicking with 33 goals, while many of the club's younger players, such as Andrew Moore, Mitchell Banner, Matthew Broadbent, Cameron Hitchcock and Daniel Stewart, were given valuable game time. Other players, such as Travis Boak and Danyle Pearce, continued their rise to an elite midfielder status, filling the void left by Shaun Burgoyne who had left the club, with Boak averaging 22 possessions, six tackles and one goal during the season. Pearce showed an improvement in consistency and the ability to deal with taggers. Other more experienced players, such as Kane Cornes, Troy Chaplin, Alipate Carlile and captain Domenic Cassisi, continued their good form from 2009. However, not all was positive for Port Adelaide players, with veterans Chad Cornes and Daniel Motlop both struggling to produce their best form this season and being sent to the SANFL at different stages. The club also lost Nathan Krakouer to the Gold Coast Football Club.
Read more about this topic: Power To Win, AFL History, 1999-2010: Mark "Choco" Williams Era
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