Port Adelaide president David Koch has Ken Hinkley and coach’s long-term tenure
PORT Adelaide president David Koch is ‘extremely comfortable’ with Ken Hinkley’s extended tenure at Alberton despite the Power staring down the barrel of an early summer break, saying he was seen as a ‘superhero’ after round 15.
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PORT Adelaide president David Koch is standing by Ken Hinkley and “extremely comfortable” with the coach’s extended tenure at Alberton despite the club’s slide from finals contention.
Port has tumbled from top-four status to ninth after a devastating 51-point capitulation against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday.
Port must topple Essendon on Friday night and hope other results go its way in the final round to make the eight.
“I can absolutely say there is no question about the future of Ken Hinkley whatsoever,’ said Koch.
Spooked by Gold Coast’s hard play for its head coach last September, Port extended Hinkley’s contract to 2021. However, missing the finals for the third time on Hinkley’s watch with recruits Tom Rockliff, Jack Watts and Steve Motlop has placed heat on Hinkley’s contract extension at Alberton.
Asked if Port was happy with its decision to extend Hinkley’s contract, Koch said: “Extremely comfortable. It is interesting how things change. At 11-4 Ken was seen as a superhero and everyone changes their mind so quickly.
“That is the brutality of AFL at the moment, so highly competitive.”
Koch conceded he was “certainly” open to criticism for handling Hinkley’s augmented deal but backed his belief in the man who transformed Port from a basket case in 2013.
“Leadership is all about backing your judgment. You analyse every successful sporting organisation and it is about stability from a management, football operations and coaching point of view,” Koch told FIVEaa.
“I remind people of the cycles clubs go through in terms of the finding the magic of a successful season. It boils down to pressure moments, injuries, psychology of team. You have to battle through that.”
Koch was measured in his reaction to Port’s 2018 blowout. Channel 7 Sunrise host Koch said players “blew it” in last year’s elimination final loss to West Coast and would be traded if they “were not prepared to win a premiership for this club”.
“Ollie Wines put it right, said he was a little embarrassed about the last six weeks. Unfortunately we lose control of what happens in some of the other games. We should never have let that control go,” said Koch.
“We hope everything falls our way this weekend and do our damnedest to play the best game we can against Essendon on Friday night.”
The Advertiser columnist Kane Cornes believes Port should look to recruit a senior assistant in Brett Ratten’s mould. Koch said Hinkley had enough senior, hardened figures around him given former Brisbane coach Matthew Voss’ presence.
Koch said fans shouldn’t underestimate the summer soul searching that would unfold at Alberton.
“You have to be ruthless to be elite,” said Koch.
“Don't think the entire club internally, off field and on field and board level. Don’t think they are not disappointed with the last six weeks and feel the pain of every member.”
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