AFL 2024: James Sicily regrets letting Ken Hinkley altercation ‘linger’

Hawthorn captain James Sicily was blunt in response to questions about Ken Hinkley as he outlined one key regret about their altercation.

James Sicily says he regrets letting his altercation with Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley (pictured) linger. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Hawthorn captain James Sicily says he regrets letting his altercation with Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley drag on after the Hawks’ semi-final loss two weeks ago.

Sicily said he was disappointed not to be “fully present” as he chaired off 300-gamer Luke Breust while still firing barbs at the Power coach in defence of teammate Jack Ginnivan.

The star defender bristled when asked at the Brownlow Medal if he had since spoken to Hinkley about the Adelaide Oval incident, for which Port Adelaide received a $20,000 fine.

“Nah, I don’t speak to (Hinkley) much in general. I don’t think it’s relevant, why would he want to call me?” Sicily told 3AW.

“That’s just footy. I spoke about maybe not letting it linger for as long as it did because I wasn’t fully present in chairing off my good mate Punk (Breust).

“Yeah, I mean emotions get the better of us sometimes.”

Hawthorn captain James Sicily says he regrets letting his verbal stoush with Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley ‘linger’ after the Hawks’ semi-final loss on September 13. Picture: Michael Willson / Getty Images

Sicily said he had not felt the burden of the captaincy as much over 2024 as he had the previous season after “growth from a lot of the younger guys” and the Hawks’ other leadership group members.

He said he was “proud” of their efforts to reach the second week of September but had sights on going a “bit deeper” in 2025.

The former All-Australian defender was an effective forward option for the Hawks when he spent short bursts in attack last season but suggested he was keen to stay predominantly in defence when recruits Tom Barrass and Josh Battle arrive over the player movement period.

“I don’t know to be honest at the moment. I’m excited, and Sam (Mitchell’s) excited by potentially some flexibility in the side between myself and some other guys like (Josh) Weddle and Blake Hardwick,” he said.

“Playing forward would be refreshing in periods, but also (I’ve) been a defender and a decent one for a while, and I want to play backline with those two guys as well … we’ll see what happens.”

Originally published as AFL 2024: James Sicily regrets letting Ken Hinkley altercation ‘linger’