“I needed more experience”: Ex-Power coach opens up on baptism of fire

Port Adelaide legend Matthew Primus has opened up about key points of his playing and coaching career after being inducted into the Power's Hall of Fame during the week.

Primus was inducted alongside Russell Johnston at the club's season launch, following a career that transformed the ruck role and has already been recognised with induction into South Australia's football Hall of Fame.

“It's a great honour,” Primus told Zero Hanger.  “They've got a huge amount of people who are just outside the Hall of Fame so to be inducted with some of the most significant guys in the club's history was outstanding.

“I never took any season for granted even when I was comfortable playing AFL - you want to continue working hard and being a good teammate and once those things weren't achievable anymore is when I gave the game away.

"Sitting in the locker rooms with your teammates after a win, particularly a road win, were some of my greatest memories.

“I still follow them and hope they win a flag every year and am barracking for them to win more games than they lose. They're a terrific club that punches above their weight.”

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The 2002 John Cahill medallist skippered the Power from 2002 until 2005, which he reflects on as his prime years after being drafted as a mature-ager, but heartbreakingly missed out on the club's only flag in 2004 due to an ACL rupture.

With 22 years now separating the present day from the incident, Primus reflects on it pragmatically, grateful to be part of the club's most successful era in its AFL history.

“Twenty years on, it's no worries at all,” Primus said. “It took a little bit to (get to this point). 

“The journey of the rehab I didn't mind and as the season drew to a close, the feeling around the club internally, although we didn't talk about it publicly, we felt like it was our year and when the day came, the emotion was sadness of missing out but pure happiness to see the work that our staff and players and board had put in get rewarded with a premiership after we were under some heat for not winning one previously. 

“It probably took me a couple of years to not stew on the opportunity missed too much, but now whenever we catch up, I feel like I've played a small part in it knows its all encompassing and lots of people have an impact on a premiership.

“The key things were having an outstanding coach and high performance group, and a lot of talent and great maturity. We took some time to realise it takes a team to win a premiership, not just talent.”

Primus' dominance in the latter stages of his career led to a change in the AFL's ruck rules.

The 157-gamer's ability to nullify athletic rucks caused the rule change, but ironically, he played only limited matches following the adjustment, as injuries ended his career.

“I wasn't too fazed about it - it was just something I had to figure out in order to try and stay dominant,” Primus said of the rule change.

“Unfortunately, I didn't continue too much longer after that because of my body. It was disappointing because people making a judgment on it didn't totally understand it - I was still dominated by people who could jump, it wasn't as though I was totally dominant, it was just that I used that to beat other rucks that were good around that time. I had to deal with it and get on with it, and now they've brought in a different rule, so it changes back towards how it was. 

Following his playing career, Primus coached the Power during a tough period from 2010-2012, and is now serving as VFL club Southport's coach.

He led the Sharks to the VFL Grand Final last year after a stint as a Gold Coast assistant coach.

On reflection, Primus admits he was unprepared for the baptism of fire that the senior coaching role brought. 

“Looking back, I probably realise I needed more experience heading into the job, I was 34-35 and needed to experience other clubs,” Primus said.

“When the opportunity comes up, I was always going to take it. I thought I was ready at the time and I wasn't able to gain enough support around me, but I don't for a second regret it. 

“It was a proud moment of my life to coach an AFL club and I still love coaching.”