Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has heaped the pressure on himself and his playing group – and it’s refreshing to see
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley came out strong on Wednesday with comments about the club’s premiership prospects, and they were refreshing to hear, writes Jack Hudson.
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Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley came out on Wednesday with some of the strongest comments he’s had in years.
“We’re going to start this year wanting to win a premiership in our 150th year,” he said.
“We’re going to do everything we can to do that, and to do that you’ve got to qualify for finals.
“So look out, we’re coming.”
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It’s a massive statement coming from a coach who’s not only under the most pressure in the competition, but one who hasn’t won a final since the 2014 semi-final victory over Fremantle and is coming out of contract at the end of the season, with a finals berth the one thing which can trigger an extension.
It’s bold, but it’s brave because it’s a sense of belief, confidence and a sense of ‘pure Port Adelaide’.
The club’s motto is “we exist to win premierships and make our community proud”.
Hinkley has put that motto onto his playing group, and it’s massive pressure to take on, with the supporters starved of success for 16 years – a club-record drought.
He’s putting the expectation which Port Adelaide supporters expect to see each and every year – to contend for the premiership, both at AFL and SANFL level.
Many people over social media have laughed at the claims, and some have compared it to Carlton’s ‘they know we’re coming’ and ‘can you smell what the Blues are cooking?’ membership campaigns.
Remarkably, some of those coming from people who had previously criticised Hinkley for not going in strong enough on his comments regarding a flag.
The reality is – if you’re not in the competition to win the premiership, then what are you doing?
That goes for all 18 clubs from Richmond all the way down to the Gold Coast Suns, because if you aren’t winning the flag, then what do you have to claim? A good development year? A year of looking good in patches? You don’t get flags for those.
These comments will be brought up constantly throughout the season, and Ken Hinkley has put everything on the line by saying them, but they’re great to see from a coach with so much pressure and expectation on his shoulders … and really, what else did you expect him to say?
Round one could not come quick enough for Hinkley and his men – it’s time to walk the walk.