Port Adelaide great Warren Tredrea doubles down on Ken Hinkley coaching view

One win has not changed how Warren Tredrea feels about Ken Hinkley’s position at Port Adelaide. And he says he has the support of a number of ex-teammates.

Port Adelaide great Warren Tredrea has doubled down on his view that Ken Hinkley’s position at the club is “untenable” and says a number of former teammates quietly agree.

Hinkley led the Power to an upset two-point win over Sydney on Saturday night in what was the club’s second victory from four matches to start the year.

However, Tredrea said one win had not changed his view that Port Adelaide was staring down the barrel of another wasted year after an 11th-placed finish last season.

“It was an emotive win because there was a lot of talk and you could see the emotion after the game,” Tredrea said.

“It was a big celebration because they’d felt like it was backs against the wall. But that challenge awaits again this week taking on the Western Bulldogs at home, which is a game you must win to keep your season ticking along.

“Does it change my thinking? No, because I still think the situation is where it is. One win hasn’t changed that thinking.

“I said a mature discussion needs to be had as to where they’re going. It looks untenable. I’ll be the first to say, ‘I got it wrong’ if Port play finals and play really well. But to me, where they’re at is it looks like a year where you’re treading water. You’re not swimming anywhere.”

Warren Tredrea is refusing to back away from his comments. Picture: Ray Titus

Tredrea said he had been surprised by the “pleasing” support he had received after his war of words with Port Adelaide president David Koch last week.

But he added that many former Power players were unwilling to speak out publicly.

“I’m as loyal a Port person as there is, even though people want to question that the last couple of weeks,” Tredrea said on The Big Deal podcast.

“But I did that off the back of caring and wanting to care. I could have sat quiet like a lot of people who have messaged me and said, ‘Well done’. But none of them want to stand up because they’re not willing to take on the heat that comes with it.

“I’ve had discussions with a number of ex-Port Adelaide greats who have said, ‘Keep going’.”

The 2004 premiership captain said he was not naïve about the reasons why his bid to win a spot on the club’s board was recently rejected by Koch.

“(I have to call out) what I felt have been inconsistent decision making processes, which I don’t think have benefited the club over a period of time,” Tredrea said.

“If I don’t like that, I’ve said that privately to people. The fact I’ve said what I said in a podcast, it’s got out. That’s what they’re annoyed at. I said that to numerous people. To be fair, that’s probably why I didn’t fit their criteria to step up and help on the board. I’m not delusional. I’m aware of all this.”

Ken Hinkley is under pressure as Port Adelaide coach. Picture: Getty Images

IS THERE A HINKLEY SUCCESSION PLAN IN PLACE AT PORT?

Simeon Thomas-Wilson

Port Adelaide’s footy boss Chris Davies says he has never spoken to any of the Power’s assistant coaches regarding a plan to succeed Ken Hinkley as senior coach.

The Power claimed a vital victory over Sydney on Saturday night to even up their season at 2-2 after a week that was dominated by Hinkley’s future at the club being questioned by one of the club’s greatest players Warren Tredrea.

Hinkley is out of contract at the end of the season and he and the club have agreed to put off talks around his future until August.

It was reported last week on Channel 9 that there was a succession plan in place at Alberton where former player, and now the club’s midfield coach, Josh Carr would take over from Hinkley.

But on Monday, Davies categorically denied that this was the case.

“I have never spoken to anyone internally amongst our coaching group regarding a succession plan,” he said.

“So I don’t know where that came from, I don’t know who said it to be honest.

“There has been no discussions about that internally.”

Carr returned to Alberton this summer after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at Fremantle.

Port Adelaide players Travis Boak, Aliir Aliir, Jason Horne-Francis and Darcy Byrne-Jones celebrate with coach Ken Hinkley. Picture: Brendon Thorne/AFL Photos

After a week in which Hinkley’s position was publicly questioned, the Power pipped the Swans by two-points in a thriller.

Davies said the Power “just wanted to prove ourselves right”.

“I thought we defended far better in this game than what we had in the other games,” he said.

“Ken was really positive from minute one after the Adelaide game, the reality is that there was a lot of scrutiny on that game.

“We were disappointed to lose it but we had to focus really quickly on a really good opponent, who we had a good record against but ultimately we wanted a better performance than we had put in.

“Warren’s comments, I get along pretty well with Warren, and he obviously is more entitled to his opinion as both a media person and as a person who has been a fantastic player for the club.

“But we can’t be worried about what goes on in Warren’s mind, it is more important that we are worried about what we can do internally to be better.

“And a lot of Warren said was right, we had things that we needed to work on and we got back to that last week and I think the entire group, not just Ken, the entire coaching group and players did well.

“Now we need to back it up.”

Hinkley with assistants Nathan Bassett and Josh Carr during the win over Sydney. Picture: Brendon Thorne/AFL Photos

The Power take on the Western Bulldogs on Saturday at Adelaide Oval as part of Gather Round.

Ryan Burton will return after missing the last two weeks through suspension.

But Orazio Fantasia is unlikely to be available for selection as his horror run with injuries continues with a quad strain.

“I think he will be battling to be fit for this week to be honest,” Davies said.

“We will find out more when the guys come back to the club for training tomorrow.

“But I think the reality is that he is more unlikely than likely this week.

“It is a quad issue he has got so we will have to be mindful.”