‘You’re kidding’: Ken Hinkley comes clean after emotional scenes

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has opened up after his emotional reaction last weekend, but it’s also raised more questions.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley said the pressure is still on despite the club claiming a much needed win over St Kilda last weekend.

Hinkley has been under-fire in recent weeks, including getting booed by his own fans in the 79-point loss to the Lions at Adelaide Oval in round 15.

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It led to a week of controversy after Port Adelaide board member Warren Tredrea was slammed after guest hosting on Adelaide radio station 5AA last week.

After a caller went off on Hinkley, Tredrea replied “good call”.

He later explained it was an “acknowledgment” for the caller rather than an endorsement, but he was widely panned over the comments.

But for Hinkley already feeling the heat, it added a blowtorch.

A two-point win over the lowly Saints may have arrested a three-game losing streak but was far from convincing, but Hinkley was emotional post-game.

However, when Hinkley was asked on Wednesday if the win had relieved any pressure, he replied: “You’re kidding, aren’t you?

“Have a look at the competition and how close it is. It’s so tight,” Hinkley said.

“Every game is going to mean so much.

“You’re going to look at that ladder every week and it’s going to go everywhere, every week.

“The reality is there’s pressure in this game from now right to the very end and everyone who’s trying to compete in it would be feeling it.”

It clearly meant a lot. Picture: Fox Sport

Ken Hinkley was emotional. Photo: Fox Sports

Hinkley struggled to hold it together after the 8.14 (62) to 8.12 (60) win over St Kilda when speaking to Fox Footy.

“Pretty hard,” he said, with his voice breaking. “It’s been a tough week.

“Great boys, great boys. I really like the fact we were under the pump and we just stuck at it.

“It wasn’t easy but we got there in the end.

“Now that I’ve got over that emotion a little bit, we’re two points from fourth. It felt like we were on the bottom of the ladder and I get why.

“I really appreciate the fact that we’ve been playing poorly, but we’re doing our best to keep it right.”

The result keeps Port Adelaide in the eight — seventh actually — but on a ladder where just six points separate the third placed Fremantle and 13th placed Hawthorn, it’s going to be a fascinating run into the finals.

But if Port Adelaide are going to be one of the final eight, veteran AFL journalist Caroline Wilson called for Hinkley to keep his emotions in check.

On Channel 9’s Footy Classified on Monday night, Wilson hit out at the scenes on Saturday.

“I don’t think it’s sustainable and I think Ken needs to get on an even keel,” she said.

“I like Ken Hinkley, I’m an enormous admirer of Ken Hinkley but what we saw on the weekend was too much for a two-point win over St Kilda.

“Get in, get out, go home, wasn’t a great win but you won. You held on last quarter when they were coming …”

Caroline Wilson called for Hinkley to calm down. Photo: Channel 9

Sam Edmunds said: “It’s a fairly big allegation Caro.”

Wilson continue: “I love that emotion, don’t get me wrong. As a journo, I loved it.

“As a Ken Hinkley fan, I loved it.

“But I’m telling you, you can’t keep that emotional rollercoaster going for the rest of the season. He’s just declared he wants the job.

“His job now is to simmer down and be the calm, cool Ken Hinkley these players need to finish the season.”

Wilson suggested the Tredrea issue showed: “The club is divided — whatever Warren Tredrea said.

She added the “over-celebrations were symptomatic of the pressure he’s under and what he’s going through.”

The show did point out other times this season Port have won and seen Hinkley show great emotion after a win.

Originally published as ‘You’re kidding’: Ken Hinkley comes clean after emotional scenes