Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley glad club sticking with him but understands why outsiders have had doubts about his position
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is aware of the doubters and those questioning his position. So he is grateful the club has guaranteed he will remain in charge for next season.
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Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley understands why some outsiders doubt he is the best person for the role but is thankful the club is continuing the “journey” with him.
Hinkley has been under increased scrutiny in recent weeks as the Power have slipped out of finals contention for a second consecutive season and there have been suggestions Port may look to part ways with the seven-year mentor ahead of the 2020 campaign despite him being contracted.
But Power chief executive Keith Thomas on Monday said Hinkley would “absolutely” be coaching next year, lauding him as an outstanding coach.
Hinkley told SEN SA radio on Tuesday morning he was always confident he would fulfil his contract but was grateful to get reassurance.
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“It makes you feel good to have total support and I’ve always had that,” said Hinkley, who guided 10th-placed Port to an 11-11 record this year.
“There’s been some challenges in that time and questions have been asked, and rightly so.
“We never shy away from that type of information or those types of questions.
“We understand what our job is and my job in particular, which is to guide this team and get this team in a position to win a premiership.
“You can understand the noise around and the doubters that were out there, questioning whether I was the right person to continue on or not to continue on.
“I’m just so thankful that the board and Keith and the team have seen (they want him to stay on) … and rightly so, we have a contract with them, it’s not like we’ve strayed too far from the journey, other than outside people were wanting us to stray.
“All good clubs great moments they stick together and sometimes the great moments are not as easy to see as you think.”
Hinkley said the industry’s volatility had been on show again this year because four coaches — Brad Scott (North Melbourne), Brendon Bolton (Carlton), Alan Richardson (St Kilda) and Ross Lyon (Fremantle) — lost their jobs.
“There’s big things that happen in this game and sometimes they come from nowhere … and that allows you to be eyes wide open as the person who’s involved with it,” he said.
“But did I always have and feel like I had the support of (Port president) David (Koch) and Keith and (Power football manager) Chris (Davies)? Absolutely, I did.”
Hinkley said the club “let ourselves down” by missing the finals but did not expect significant changes to the coaching group or for it to be very active during the trade period.
“We’ve made a lot of our changes in the last couple of years,” he said.
“There’s so many young people down underneath (the AFL team) … that if they improve we think we’ve got a lot of stuff that we need right here under our umbrella and we’ve got to maximise that.”
Hinkley said 2017 best and fairest Paddy Ryder was “probably looking at opportunities elsewhere” and there was “some risk” improved wingman Karl Amon could leave the club because he remained unsigned.
But Hinkley expected reigning best and fairest Justin Westhoff to re-sign.
“I’d be surprised on day one of pre-season if Westy isn’t running around like he always is.”