Koch comments create added pressure, but he has Port Adelaide’s welfare at heart, says coach Ken Hinkley
Ken Hinkley admits that having Port Adelaide chairman David Koch be so public in his views of the club ‘does create pressure’ but understands where he is coming from.
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Ken Hinkley admits that having Port Adelaide chairman David Koch be so public in his views of the club “does create pressure” but understands where he is coming from.
And Hinkley has thrown his weight again behind assistant Michael Voss’ bid to return to senior coaching as speculation about his Carlton prospects heat up.
Koch has not been shy in airing his views about the Power in 2019, either on radio or on his Sunrise show.
Last week he said the Power’s 2019 season would be a failure if it did not make the finals, making the claim when the club had an 8-10 win-loss record.
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Brownlow medallist Gerard Healy has said the call was “unrealistic” while premiership-winning coach Paul Roos said he was “setting him (Hinkley) up to fail”.
On SEN on Tuesday, Hinkley said having Koch be so public in his views of the club did put the spotlight on him — but he said he and the Port chairman were in regular contact.
“Port Adelaide demand and want high level of performances, if we are inconsistent that opens me up for criticism that’s one part of it,” he said.
“There is no doubt that when David speaks people listen, he is on television every morning, so it can be a little bit of a challenge when he speaks but he comes from a place with the club at heart and he wants the best for the club.
“Sometimes it does create pressure for you but David and I talk regularly … we talk about it and we communicated well.”
Koch’s declaration last week came before Port chief executive Keith Thomas issued a bizarre statement to letters saying he was “to blame” for the woes at the club.
Hinkley said he had no problem with Thomas putting out the statement and he was just focusing on the Power’s final bid — which has been reinvigorated following their big win over Essendon on the weekend.
Hinkley also said Voss’ senior coach aspirations had his full backing, in wake of talk that the Brisbane Lions legend is the frontrunner for the vacant Carlton job.
“It’s a hard one for me, Michael has a big job for us at the moment he is sticking to that,” he said.
“(But) he deserves it and if he gets that opportunity he thoroughly have earnt it.
“We will support him whenever that time, or if that time emerges.”
Hinkley said club co-captain Ollie Wines will return to action this weekend, but the decision had not been made as to whether that would be at AFL or SANFL level.