“Agreed we need to change”: How Port Adelaide is attacking season-defining week

Port Adelaide defender Miles Bergman has revealed how the playing group sat down on Monday afternoon and “agreed we need to change something”, following a third straight loss.

The Round 15 defeat to Brisbane on the weekend was the Power's worst of the season, going down by 79 points as the 2004 Port Adelaide side celebrated its 20-year premiership reunion in the stands.

Ken Hinkley’s men conceded a run of 12 goals either side of half-time, leaving Power fans fuming at the coach and club in the aftermath.

But to those booing the coach on Saturday afternoon, Bergman had a message.

“I think the main thing is we’re upset ourselves that we can’t get the wins we’re looking for and we want to play the best footy we possibly can like we have at the start of the year,” he pleaded on SEN SA’s The Run Home.

“We’re working as hard as we can to fix everything we need to get back to that form to push for finals and make it all the way.”

Since knocking off the Kangaroos in Round 11, Port Adelaide has lost to Carlton, GWS and now Brisbane by an average margin of 45 points.

It’s seen pressure rise on Hinkley in what is his 12th season without a Grand Final appearance. The 57-year-old signed a two-year contract extension in August last year.

“I think we all know exactly what Kenny wants from us and we know what we want from Ken and that’s pretty clear,” Bergman explained.

“We talk about it heaps and we’re good at communicating those things, it’s just making sure that we stay on top of being open and having those conversations even if they are hard.

“Kenny has been really good and continues to be bringing players into his office, keeping up to date with footy matters as well as personal, making sure everyone is feeling welcome, the young boys especially.”

But as to how the Power were going to turn around things on-field, Bergman hinted the playing group had moved to look at its off-field practices.

“We had a good chat today as a group about aspects of the game that maybe don’t involve the actually footy itself, stuff maybe we can help to build our on-field stuff,” the 22-year-old added.

Bergman added: “I think just being more open and building strong bonds with each other and amongst the whole club, not just the playing group but the staff and getting closer with people you might not have even met in the club.

“We sat down as a playing group and agreed we need to change something, starting by trying to expand and getting closer with different people.”

With the byes over, Port Adelaide has nowhere to hide when travelling to Marvel Stadium for a crunch clash with St Kilda on Sunday.

A fourth consecutive loss would almost certainly see Hinkley’s team fall out of the top eight for the first time this season.