TODD MARSHALL has become Ken Hinkley’s No.1 lucky charm.
Returning to the AFL side for last Friday night’s sensational win over premiers West Coast in Perth, Marshall is now the ‘winningest’ player in Port Adelaide’s AFL history.
He has a 11-2 win/loss record at an 84.6% strike rate to lead all players who have played more than five games.
Four others are above 70% - Damien Hardwick (43-11 at 79.6%), Byron Pickett (41-14 at 74.6%) and Brent Guerra (47-18 at 72.3%) and Che Cockatoo-Collins (53-22 at 70.7%) Next best among current players who have played more than five games are Riley Bonner (18-10 at 64.3%), Sam Powell-Pepper (27-16 at 62.8%), Tom Rockliff (14-9 at 60.9%), Tom Clurey (39-26 at 60.0%) and Aidyn Johnson (6-4 at 60.0%).
Marshall, with a 3-0 record this season after the Power’s first win in three visits to Optus Stadium in Perth, is one of three Port players with an unblemished 2019 record. Jack Watts and Karl Amon are both 2-0.
Among 185 Port AFL players, 10 have never played in a winning side – Mitch Farmer (0-3), Jarrad Irons (0-3), Ryan Williams (0-2), Mark Conway (0-1),Steve Brosnan (0-1), Paul Geister (0-1), Stephen Gilham (0-1), Cameron Cloke (0-1) and current players Trent McKenzie (0-1) and Billy Frampton (0-1).
Seven Port players have never played in a loss – Jaxon Crabb (4-), Chris Hall (2-0), Adam Cockshell (2-0), Wade Thompson (2-0), Tom Harley (1-0), Allan Murray (1-0) and Will Snelling (1-0).
The other statistical oddity to emerge from the Power’s Round 5 win wasn’t exactly an oddity. In fact it was almost the norm.
The win over the Eagles was the seventh time in coach Hinkley’s seven-year 142-game rein that he has beaten the reigning premiers.
In 2013, in his 11th game at the helm in Round 13, he masterminded an 18-point win over 2012 premiers Sydney at Football Park.
In 2014, Port beat 2013 premiers Hawthorn by 14 points at Adelaide Oval in Round 10 after having knocked off 2013 runners-up Fremantle by 18 points at Adelaide Oval at their previous outing in Round 8. They had a bye in Round 9.
In 2015 they beat 2014 premiers Hawthorn twice – by eight points at Adelaide Oval in Jay Schulz’ 100th Port game in Round 4, and by 22 points at Marvel Stadium in Round 21.
After missing out in 2016 they beat 2016 premiers Western Bulldogs in Ballarat in Round 22 2017 in Marshall’s debut, and beat 2017 premiers Richmond by 14 points at Adelaide Oval in Round 12 2018.
Trivia Question: Why was the Round 13 game in 2013, in Hinkley’s first season as coach, his 11th game at the helm? Because the Power had a bye in Round 11 and in Round 6 against North Melbourne in Hobart assistant-coach Alan Richardson took charge when Hinkley was ill.
Marshall: Port's 'winningest' Power player
An 11-2 win/loss record at an 84.6% strike rate to lead all players who have played more than five games.