‘Rock bottom’ Port Adelaide urged to defy David Koch and fully embrace a rebuild

Channel 7 commentator Kane Cornes has declared Port Adelaide “rock bottom” and has urged them to fully embrace a rebuild.

The Power under new coach Josh Carr have slumped to a 1-2 start to the season after their shock loss at home to cellar dwellers West Coast on Sunday.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Port Adelaide’s rebuild denial under fire

Questions have been asked about the direction the club is going, but chairman David Koch insists they are “rebooting” rather than a traditional rebuild.

The outspoken boss has made it clear that finals remain the pass mark for the club that has made the business end of the season four times out of the past six years.

“It’s always finals, we ban the word ‘rebuild’, which is an excuse for failure,” he told 7NEWS at the start of the season.

Three weeks in after losses to North Melbourne and West Coast, Koch isn’t changing his tune.

“We’re rebooting, rather than rebuilding,” he said on Monday.

“Obviously new coach, new list, takes some time to settle in, we always have a pass mark for our season to make finals and this year is no different.”

Meanwhile, Carr conceded his side in a state of “transition” after their disappointing loss to West Coast.

Cornes said it’s time they fully embrace the rebuild or else they will slip further behind the rest of the competition.

The Power are set to land highly rated youngster Dougie Cochrane in the draft this year, while they also could get a bounty of high draft picks should Zak Butters depart.

“We’re splitting hairs aren’t we ... rebooting and transitioning, it’s the same thing (as rebuild),” Cornes said on The Agenda Setters.

“And it’s not a new list because they didn’t draft anyone, first club in history to not draft a player so it’s the same list they had last year plus a few list cloggers that I’ve been strong on and aren’t going to help the club move forward.

“Kochie has been unbelievable — I’m forever grateful for him making Port Adelaide relevant and successful again. He’s done an unbelievable job, but if you look him in the eye as a board and say ‘Kochie we have to rebuild and it has to start now’.

“It’ll start with some academy players, it’ll start when Zak Butters wants out and whatever you can get for him. This is a rebuilding club.”

Cornes went on to say that the Power are the worst-placed team in the competition, even worse than Essendon, Richmond and North Melbourne.

“In fact, I think they are rock bottom. Of all the 18 clubs, I think they are in the worst position because they haven’t started yet,” he continued.

“The Bombers have got (Nate) Caddy and (Isaac) Kako, Sullivan Robey, and they’ve been to the draft. They’ve got some youngsters coming through.

“Port haven’t been to that stage yet. West Coast have been there. Richmond have been there aggressively. They’re two years into that already. North Melbourne have been there four or five years into this rebuild.”

The likely departure of superstar free agent Butters could force Port Adelaide’s hand, but if Koch still refuses to embrace the rebuild then it might also be time for him to depart, according to Cornes.

“(Butters leaving) has to be the moment where you say to Kochie, ‘we’ve got three first-round picks for Zach if he wants out. We have to rebuild this club’,” Cornes said.

“If he’s not admitting that this club needs a rebuild, then yes I think it is (time he goes).”

Cornes then highlighted a series of players that “don’t deserve” to be getting games.

Recent recruits Will Brodie, Corey Durdin and Joe Richards all featured, along with first-team regulars Jackson Mead and Lachie Jones.

“The example of why their list is in so much trouble is because they’re gifting Port Adelaide jumpers to players that don’t deserve them,” he said.

“And there’s like nine of the 23 ... I don’t think they’re AFL players. Unfortunately, as hard as that sounds, great SANFL players, good at the next level, but they’re not going to take this club forward.

“And nine of them in a transitioning or rebooting phase are getting games that I don’t think they’re going to be there in two to three years.”

St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt agreed: “That’s the lost opportunity. That should be kids right now, getting 50 games into them.”