Port Adelaide fans leave signs outside Alberton as pressure on coach Ken Hinkley mounts

Pressure on the embattled Port Adelaide coach has hit boiling point, with makeshift signs seen outside the club ahead of Sunday’s crucial clash.

Disgruntled Port Adelaide fans have taken their frustrations on the club’s under-fire coach straight to the source, with ‘Sack Hinkley’ signs seen at Alberton.

Hinkley is contracted until the end of next season, but the pressure on his position has reached boiling point after the Power’s thumping at the hands of the Lions last week – and the reaction from fans that has followed.

Two makeshift cardboard slogans were seen outside the club’s headquarters on Friday, the latest sign of supporters’ growing dismay over Port Adelaide’s flailing season.

A ‘Sack Hinkley’ sign on Port Road in Alberton. Picture: 7NEWS

Fans’ frustrations hit new highs after a thumping from the Lions. Picture: 7NEWS

But Hinkley remains confident his message is getting through to his players and is adamant the club is not “a one-man show”.

“I’ve been brought up a fighter, that’s how I’ve been brought up so that’s what I’ll do,” Hinkley declared, revealing wingman Will Lorenz will debut against the Saints at Marvel Stadium.

“My reaction is simple and straight forward, I have to go to work and try to do my absolute best in the footy club to get the club and the team back on track.”

Some of the scrutiny on the Power has focused on a perceived lack of effort and pressure by players in the losses to GWS and the Lions, prompted questions over whether Hinkley’s message was getting through to the playing group.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley was booed by fans after his side conceded 12 consecutive goals to Brisbane. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos

But leadership group member Willem Drew backed in the senior coach.

“Not true to start with, I don’t think he has lost the playing group at all,” he said.

“There has been a fair bit said but internally we are all on the same team, we all want to win, Kenny wants to win, the coaches want to win, us players want to win.

“So it is about getting back to our best form.

“Kenny has been around for a long time, he has been around this playing group for a while as well and he knows that we all support him and have his back.”

It’s not the first time a supporter has taken their displeasure with Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley to the streets. A similar ‘Sack Hinkley’ message was posted in 2022.

It’s not the first time disgruntled supporters have felt the need to post ‘Sack Hinkley’ signs outside the club’s headquarters.

In July, 2022, a single supporter posted a message calling for his sacking on the main sign on busy Port Rd.

Speaking at the time, Hinkley made light of the issue.

“I come the other way, so I didn’t see anything,” he said.