Ken Hinkley joins Fox Footy’s 2026 AFL coverage in special comments role
Ken Hinkley has made the call to take a break after 30 consecutive seasons of coaching at different levels of football — but he’ll still be close to the action. Details on his new TV role here.
Ken Hinkley is going from the coaches box to the commentary booth.
Needing a break from coaching after 30 consecutive seasons in grassroots or AFL jobs but keen to stay in the game, the former Port Adelaide mentor is joining Fox Footy for 2026.
He follows in the footsteps of West Coast’s Adam Simpson and Sydney’s John Longmire in heading to the station over the past 12 months, but unlike that duo Hinkley will provide special comments at matches.
The 59-year-old is Fox Footy’s big-name recruit for next season, coming on board a week after the departure of Hawthorn champion Dermott Brereton.
Hinkley, whose analysis will be heard mostly on Adelaide Oval games, is excited to watch matches through a different lens.
“There were opportunities (at clubs) but the clarity for me came early that I wanted a decent break and didn’t just want to jump into the first opportunity,” Hinkley told Code Sports.
“The competitor in you wants to jump in and keep doing it … but I was ready for a break.
“I’m a football person so I was always going to do something around football and Fox Footy was such an easy fit.
“I get to go and watch footy, I love the game and watch every game, every weekend – always have and will continue to do so.
“I’ll have 12 months then see what the future looks like.”
Hinkley’s coaching tenure at the Power ended in August – when he handed the reins to assistant Josh Carr as part of a succession plan – after a club AFL record 297 games.
His top-level experience also includes playing 132 matches for Fitzroy and Geelong, as well as being an assistant with St Kilda, the Cats and Gold Coast.
In his new TV role, Hinkley aimed to provide context behind sides’ performances.
“Come game day, everyone expects every team to be able to win, but I’ll have a clear understanding of what the challenges are before the game starts,” he said.
“I’ll be able to separate the performance by what those challenges were, what the opposition was like and hopefully give a really detailed description of how good or bad one side did or didn’t do.”
Asked about critiquing Port Adelaide, Hinkley said the club’s staff, players and coaches understood he “won’t make stuff up”.
“The relationships are really healthy and strong, and I’ll be purely talking about football, not anything personal,” he said.
Hinkley often took aim at media opinions during his 13 seasons as Power coach.
So how will he go on the other side?
“I don’t know. It’ll be interesting. I had plenty that upset me over the journey and I probably upset them as well,” he said.
Simpson, who was on AFL360 with Longmire last season, encouraged Hinkley to enjoy the opportunity and challenge.
“There’s no real worry about winning and losing on a weekend,” Hinkley said.
“I’m there to give honest assessments on games of footy.
“Game days as a coach, you don’t get to relax – everything is full on … sometimes my emotions spilt over.”
Then he said with a chuckle: “I might get in trouble if I’m swearing on television, so I better be careful.”
Since Hinkley’s 13-year stint at Port Adelaide ended, he has holidayed in Queensland with family, welcomed his seventh grandchild and been looking after his wife, Donna, after her knee replacement.
Hinkley did not realise how much of a toll coaching for so long had taken until he stopped.
“I just know how well I feel, how much better I’m sleeping and little things like that,” he said.
“I used to wake up every night – and you’d be awake, whether it was 1am or 3am, if you were lucky you’d get through to 5am – and you’d be instantly thinking football.
“Whereas now I’m much more relaxed.
“I’m looking after myself, doing exercise and other things you didn’t get time for.
“I’m very relieved and happy to have the break.”
Hinkley said he was not missing pre-season, describing it as a nightmare time of the year during which the only thing that could happen were injuries and they could decimate the team.
“Round 1 will be a different challenge – I’m sure it’ll feel strange,” he said.
Adamant he had not made any commitments for 2027 to newcomers Tasmania or any other club, Hinkley said the itch to coach had not gone away.
“Right now, I’m on long-service and I don’t know when that finishes,” he said.
Crows great turned Fox Footy expert Mark Ricciuto was looking forward to picking his new colleague’s brain.
“I think he’ll be great for viewers and Port Adelaide supporters will get a completely different insight into their football club next year,” Ricciuto said.
More Coverage
Originally published as Ken Hinkley joins Fox Footy’s 2026 AFL coverage in special comments role
AFLW Phantom Draft: How the top 20 picks could fall
