AN EMOTIONAL Matthew Primus was left shattered and his coaching future must be in extreme doubt following Port Adelaide's terrible 34-point loss to Greater Wester Sydney on Saturday.
The Power came into the clash with the AFL's cellar-dwellers with victories over North Melbourne, Carlton and St Kilda among five wins for the year and with the belief they were heading in the right direction.
Over the course of 120 minutes, Primus admits all that good work was undone and the club is now back at rock bottom following a shock defeat to a side that had just one win to its credit.
Primus at least seems to have the support of the playing group.
"It's really shattering. Matty has our total support," captain Dom Cassisi said.
"Me saying that doesn't have much substance with the way we played today as a group, but it comes down to us as a playing group.
"We need to lift."
Making things worse for Primus, he also was at the helm when Gold Coast picked up its first win last season.
His attachment and dedication to the club at least can't be questioned, as he choked back tears in the post match press conference, but it seems obvious many of his players don't share the same pride.
"We started a process a long time ago now of rebuilding this club," said Primus, who took over from Mark Williams midway through the 2010 season.
"At the moment, it's the lowest point it's ever been.
"We have to keep forging ahead and find out who is resilient, who wants to enjoy a challenge, who wants to play at an elite level, who wants to coach at elite level, and demand those standards.
"At the moment they're too far away.
"To come up here and put up the performance we did speaks about where we're at and how strong we are as a group.
"All year we've improved and now that sounds hollow and makes you feel sick saying that.
"The group has come on leaps and bounds from last year, but today just wipes all that out."
Heavily favoured coming into the match, Port was way below the level required to compete at AFL level from the opening bounce, conceding eight of the first nine goals and finding itself in a 44-point hole in the second term.
They fought back to trail by just five points late in the third quarter and appeared likely winners against a tiring Giants side that has been belted from pillar to post over the past six weeks.
It was indeed a one-sided final term, but it was GWS kicking six goals to two to steal the win and leave Primus stuck in a dreadful position.
He at least says he would still like to coach the side into next year, while conceding it isn't up to him.
"Personally I do, yeah," he said.
"I feel gutted and pretty emotional about it all, but I believe in the group and they've got some strong people in there and some strong will.
"But right now we're not seeing it. Why that is, who knows, but we'll keep delving into it and keep going."
Asked if Saturday's result had hurt his chances of coaching the Power into next year, he glumly replied: "I can't answer that. It's not for me to answer. We'll find out I suppose."
James Dampney covers Sydney AFL news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_JD
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the AFL or the clubs
