Port Adelaide hall of famer George Fiacchi says Power should have waited on Hinkley contract

One of Port Adelaide’s most famous names has questioned the club’s decision to re-sign Ken Hinkley before the finals series, after their dismal semi-final loss to the Giants at home.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 16: Ken Hinkley coach of Port Adelaide leaves the ground after the AFL Second Semi Final match between Port Adelaide Power and Greater Western Sydney Giants at Adelaide Oval, on September 16, 2023, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Port Adelaide hall of famer George Fiacchi says the club should have waited until season’s end before re-signing coach Ken Hinkley, even if it ultimately decided to extend his contract.

The seven-time premiership player doesn‘t believe Power fans calling for Hinkley’s position to be re-examined are in the majority but urged the club to “stop promising the world and start delivering”.

The Power extended Hinkley‘s contract in August off the back of a stunning second half of the season where his side went on a 13 game winning streak but Fiacchi, who was also a Port Adelaide board member, it was a “strange decision” given the Power’s recent finals performances.

Pressure is set to mount once more at Alberton with Hinkley forced to defend his side‘s finals record with the loss to GWS on Saturday night their fifth sudden-death final defeat under Hinkley since 2014.

Ken Hinkley’s side were bounced out of the finals in straight sets. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

However, Fiacchi said he believed the main frustration among Power fans was at the lack of finals success and not at Hinkley himself.

“I have a theory on this, I have been around the footy club since I was 14 so it is a long time as a player and then an administrator,” he said.

“And the thing that I have learnt is that Port supporters don’t hate Ken Hinkley, they hate losing and it doesn’t matter who you drop in that role it could be George Fiacchi it could be Russell Ebert for example, it doesn’t matter who it is if you aren’t winning the fans expect you to win.

“That is what the problem is with the Port Adelaide Footy Club at the moment, we just need to win and no matter who is coaching they (the fans) will call for their head if they aren’t winning.

“Look I do think we probably should have waited until the end of the season but I’m sure they have other reasons why they did that.

“I think it was a strange decision to go so early before finals when finals have been our Achilles heel.”

Fiacchi said he didn’t buy the argument of removing a distraction prior to finals.

“Well what happened then is all I would ask, we didn’t have the distraction and this is what happened,” he said.

“So I think that is just an excuse to be honest with you, the guys need to stop promising the world and start delivering. That is what Port supporters expect.

“Unfortunately they came out a few years ago and said we were going to win three premierships in five years and have 100,000 supporters, members etc.

“Why would you come out and say that stuff? It is crazy and then if you don’t deliver who is responsible for making these outrageous statements and then all it is doing is just fanning the flames out there that cause this discontent.”

Port Adelaide hall of famer George Fiacchi. (Keryn Stevens/AAP)

2004 premiership player Dean Brogan said the Power “have had a good season” and the club made the right call with the decision to re-sign Hinkley but questions now have to be asked about how they “get over this hump”.

“I think they have made the right call for now in that space, to have some stability in a finals series with your coach and what not (is key),” Brogan said.

“He (Ken) puts that team in that position nearly every year. He has a great winning record but there has to be some questions now, they have to change some things and that has to be led from Kenny down and I’m sure they will,” he said.

“They definitely need to have a look at and improve in some of those areas,

“Their midfield is elite and will get better with more experience, they just need to tinker with a bit of stuff personnel wise.

“I think they are in a good spot but how do they get over this hump? One they have to go again and get in this position to obviously have another crack at it.

“They will be around the mark next year but we will have to see what they do over the summer and what they change.”

Power players react to the loss. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The Power have already had key defenders Esava Ratugolea, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and ruckman Jordon Sweet request moves to Alberton.

Fiacchi said that was a positive for the Power and would hold them in good stead despite the frustration of the loss to the Giants.

“Port supporters will group together, there is a minority that want Ken’s head but I don’t think there is a major push for that,” he said.

“Everyone is going to support the club as I will, I think we have a great list and I admire the players. I think we have some real talent in that team.”