''Everyone is grumpy. Everyone is so serious,'' Koch said. ''We've lost sight of the magic that comes out of football clubs. Good things happen at footy clubs.'' Even as Koch was speaking, the AFL was releasing the charge sheet against Essendon.

Koch said that, perversely enough, the catalyst for all that has happened at Port was the tragedy of the death of John McCarthy. ''The loss of John seemed to put all our problems into perspective,'' he said. ''It's just footy. There are so many more important things. JMac brought out the best in us, because he made us look at who we are.'' Koch said he had sensed McCarthy's magical presence at Port this year. Pre-season, the board held a strategy meeting in Sorrento, McCarthy's home town. Done, all adjourned to the pub. It was a Friday night, and lively, until the wheel was spun to determine the winner of the meat tray. It stopped on 35, McCarthy's number. Koch said a deafening hush fell.

Koch even projected a part for McCarthy in Port's most stirring win for the year, from four goals behind with minutes to play against the Crows in the Showdown. ''You could almost imagine JMac's hand in that Monfries goal,'' he said. Best he say no more, or the AFL will conduct a retrospective score review!

Koch thinks of himself as not merely born to Port Adelaide, but initiated in it. His father played mostly for Central District, but for two years at Port under the legendary Fos Williams. For young Koch, Saturday afternoons were for the pilgrimage to Alberton, with Geof Motley's number on his back. ''It was something special to be part of the Port Adelaide tribe, to be hated by the rest of the competition, for the success you had and the way you played,'' he said.

Sundays were for black-and-white replays of Collingwood matches. Koch snr idolised Bob Rose, but for his son, it was his follicular opposite, Rene Kink.