Buddha: We're not good enough
Garry Hocking says his players aren't yet good enough to play four consistent quarters at AFL level
PORT Adelaide interim coach Garry Hocking admits the Power are sub-AFL standard and says the club's list will undergo heavy scrutiny over the pre-season.
The club slumped to its 16th loss of the year last weekend against the Brisbane Lions, ensuring that Hocking entered what looms as his last match in charge of the Power without a win.
"(The players) know they're not yet really up to AFL standard to play four consistent quarters and they've just got to put their head down, work extremely hard over the pre-season again," he said.
"We work extremely hard to get in front and then there might be an odd turnover or odd decision with the ball in hand or off the ball that continues to cost us.
"We've got to continue to look through the list, keep working out the players that can play at the level, and we've also got to keep pushing the players to high standards.
"Our players are certainly on notice and are really keen to get a win on the weekend and move forward into another strong pre-season."
While conceding the playing group was currently sub-par, Hocking said that could change quickly under a new coach.
He said he couldn't recommend sacked Carlton coach Brett Ratten as the man for the Power job because he didn't know the details of his coaching style, but said he had a huge amount of respect for him as a player.
Hocking was confident the foundations and support were in place to ensure the chosen new coach would be able to come straight in and make an impact.
"A new coach will come in and he'll put a little bit of a different spin on things and he'll bring some maybe new, exciting stuff [that] the players always respond to," he said.
"What excites me is that with the people here a new coach can come in and hit the ground running, I think that's important.
"He doesn't have to spend too much time looking at different stuff, he can really come in and get on with the work early."
Sunday's game against the Tigers may well be Hocking's last as senior coach, but regardless of who was permanently appointed, he said he wished to remain at Alberton.
Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry.