AFL 2022: Port Adelaide showing interest in out-of-contract Eagle Junior Rioli

Key retirements and player movement further afield has left Port Adelaide light in its small forward stocks. Now Power have an experienced Eagle in their sights.

Ken Hinkley celebrates Port Adelaide’s win over Adelaide. Picture: Brake/Getty Images

Port Adelaide is eyeing a West Coast premiership player to help boost its small forward stocks as a second-year Power goalsneak looks set to earn a new deal.

Ken Hinkley’s side is interested in out-of-contract Eagle Junior Rioli, who has ties to the club through its SANFL mentor Matthew Lokan, his former coach at Glenelg.

Port Adelaide is also expected to retain 10-gamer Jed McEntee as a rookie.

West Coast has confidence it will re-sign Rioli, who has delayed making a decision on his future and has been grieving the death of his father, Willie Sr.

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Junior Rioli would be a handy addition to Port Adelaide’s depleted forward stocks.

This season, Rioli, 27, kicked 14.3 from 13 matches — his first games since the 2019 elimination final, having received a two-year ban for a doping violation.

Losing Robbie Gray and Steven Motlop to retirement, Orazio Fantasia not getting on the field for an AFL game this year and the midfield moves of Connor Rozee and Zak Butters have left the Power needing to recruit an experienced small forward.

West Coast coach Adam Simpson told SEN his club was discussing Rioli’s future on Friday.

“I’m hoping we can get it done in the next few weeks,” Simpson said.

“There’s always a bit to work through with Junior and where he’s at.

“What he’s gone through this year and the last three or four years has been a massive challenge for him and the footy club.

“It’s been a process that we’ve gone through together.”

Rioli played two seasons at Glenelg — both under Lokan — before being drafted to West Coast with pick 52 in 2016.

He kicked 46 goals from 38 games in 2018-19, including one major in the Eagles’ flag success four years ago.

McEntee stepped up in Motlop and Fantasia’s absence to play the final five games for the Power this season, among nine in 2022.

The 21-year-old, who arrived at Alberton from Sturt in the 2021 mid-season draft, booted two goals in each of the last two matches, against Essendon and Adelaide.

Kochie fires shot at Bombers as coach search begins

Port Adelaide chairman David Koch has fired a big shot at Essendon over reports they will target Power senior coach Ken Hinkley.

The Bombers are now on the hunt for a new senior coach after sacking Ben Rutten on Sunday.

News Corp reported yesterday the Bombers could attempt to prise Ken Hinkley out of his Port Adelaide contract while the spectre of James Hird once again hangs over the embattled club.

Ben Rutten’s sacking means the Bombers are on the lookout for a new coach. Picture: Getty Images

Hinkley has one year remaining on his deal at Alberton but it is now expected that the Bombers at least make a call to see if he is interested in taking up the senior coaching position at Essendon.

Koch said the Bombers shouldn’t bother.

“Tell ‘em they’re dreaming,” he said on Sunrise on Monday.

“And why would Ken go to a club like that, in such turmoil.”

Hinkley has had to answer questions over the last couple of weeks about whether he would be interested in the North Melbourne job, before the Kangaroos snared Alastair Clarkson.

When asked on Friday if Essendon could do anything to lure him out of Alberton Hinkley said: “With the greatest respect I’m not going to answer the question. I’ve tried to do it the best I can over the journey.”

The Power have their exit interviews with players on Monday.

Power head coach Ken Hinkley has one year remaining on his deal. Picture: Getty Images

On his usual breakfast radio slot on FiveAA Koch said he had never seen Hinkley so determined.

“Ken is even more determined than ever to coach next year,” Koch said.

“Not just for the fact that he’s got a contract for next year, but the list for the last two weeks we’ve had a pretty healthy list for the first time in a long time and you can see what we can do at our best.

“Ken is absolutely determined to bounce back next year.

“I’ve never seen him, in the rooms on Saturday night and speaking to him last week, never seen him in a better spot, happier and more determined to make up for the disappointment this year to our members.”

Originally published as AFL 2022: Port Adelaide showing interest in out-of-contract Eagle Junior Rioli