Where does your AFL club sit: Hinkley backed in for final year of contract but Port must play finals

The final year of Ken Hinkley’s contract was guaranteed for 2023, but if Port’s high profile acquisitions can’t help them to finals, is it curtains at Alberton for the veteran coach?

Can the Power bounce back in 2023? They missed out on finals after a shocking start to the season and played catch-up for the rest of the season, and despite some encouraging displays they couldn’t bridge the gap. But after one hell of a trade period by the Power they have added some serious talent to the rising list at Alberton, Port are looking to show that 2022 was just a blip.

PORT ADELAIDE

Coach: Ken Hinkley

Captain: Tom Jonas

Ken Hinkley is under some serious pressure heading into the final season of his contract. Picture: Getty Images

What happened in 2022?

The Power’s 2021 campaign finished in shocking horror with a preliminary final thumping at the hands of the Western Bulldogs and their start in 2022 wasn’t much better.

They lost their first five games in a row, including a thrashing at the hands of Hawthorn in Round 2 and an after the siren goal to fierce rivals Adelaide in the Round 3 Showdown, to put Hinkley under serious pressure.

The Power did go on a four-game winning streak to breathe some live back into their season, but just couldn’t beat the top sides of the competition and finished 11th.

Hinkley’s side can point to injuries for the poor year with Orazio Fantasia not playing a single minute of AFL action as he dealt with multiple fitness issues, while Scott Lycett missed most of the season and Charlie Dixon, Aliir Aliir, Robbie Gray, Tom Clurey, Trent McKenzie and Xavier Duursma all battled injuries themselves.

But after declaring “we are still here” before the season started, Hinkley will be looking for a bounce back in 2023.

Where do they finish in 2023?

The Power went big in the trade period, snaring last year’s No. 1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis from North Melbourne and West Coast’s premiership winning small forward Junior Rioli.

They traded out their first and second picks from this years and next year’s drafts in the huge deal involving the Roos, Eagles and GWS but they have a list young and talented enough to absorb that.

While Gray has retired, a fit Fantasia and Rioli address the Power’s weakness in 2023 – their small forward brigade and Horne-Francis will add to an exciting midfield.

The Power still might lack a tall defender but they were able to improve their defence following their 0-5 start.

The Power should return to the top eight in 2023 given the talent on their list and the emergence of Connor Rozee and Todd Marshall in 2022.

They might just be a little bit short of a top four spot, but are a realistic contender for the top six.

Connor Rozee had a fantastic 2022 and capped it off with a Showdown medal in the final round. Picture: Getty Images

Biggest improver in 2022

Potentially the biggest moment in the Power’s 2022 campaign came at half-time during the Round 5 match against Carlton.

Down by 49-points at the MCG, the Power coaches decided to throw Rozee – who had struggled in the opening games of the season as a small forward – into the midfield.

The Power nearly won the game, going down by just the three-points.

But it was the beginning of one hell of a year by Rozee.

Rozee burst onto the scene in his debut year in 2019, finishing as Port Adelaide’s leading goalkicker.

But injuries in the following two years meant there were still some questions about the young gun.

He answered them in spectacular fashion with his move into the midfield.

He added speed and class into a Power midfield that needed it and was rewarded with an All-Australian jacket.

The Power will be looking for Rozee to build on this and become one of the best in the game in 2023.

Orazio Fantasia’s fitness next season could be a key in deciding the Power’s 2023 fate. Picture: Getty Images

X-factor

An unused sub appearance in a thrashing of North Melbourne in Hobart was the closest Fantasia got to tasting AFL action in 2022.

Two knee surgeries in the off-season, a soft-tissue injury just seconds into his first game of the year for the Magpies and then another one in the final moments of a training session conspired to keep Fantasia off the park for the Power in 2022.

Naturally the Power struggled without the goal sneak in their forward line.

If Fantasia can be fit and kick 30 plus goals then it will go a long way to the Power bouncing back.

Coach status

With one year to go on his contract Hinkley comes into 2023 as one of if not the most under pressure coaches in the competition.

Especially after Power chairman David Koch declared the club figures needed to “turn it around or watch out”, which preceded a public show of support from Koch towards Hinkley.

But Hinkley will be under immense scrutiny in 2023, as he sits in the unenviable position of Port Adelaide’s longest serving coach without a premiership.

A good start will do Hinkley’s cause to remain at Alberton, and he said he wanted to remain at Port as he was linked to GWS and North Melbourne in 2022, a lot of good.

Another poor start would again have fans demanding change.

Hinkley was in a similar position three years ago, entering the 2020 season under the pump following consecutive years without finals.

But he took the Power to within a kick of a grand final and then backed it up the following year with another preliminary final.

Hinkley’s winning ratio of 58.74 per cent has him ahead of Richmond’s Damien Hardwick, West Coast’s Adam Simpson and the Bulldogs’ Luke Beveridge.

But they all have what Hinkley is craving, premiership success.

It is going to be hard to gauge what will be a pass mark for Hinkley in 2023.

Finals? Yes. A prelim? Maybe. A grand final? Maybe as well.

Expect this to be debated at length leading up to and during the season.

Who is in last year of contract?

Miles Bergman, Riley Bonner, Jase Burgoyne, Charlie Dixon, Orazio Fantasia, Kane Farrell, Mitch Georgiades, Sam Hayes, Hugh Jackson, Tom Jonas, Trent Dumont, Travis Boak, Ollie Lord, Scott Lycett, Trent McKenzie, Sam Powell-Pepper, Brynn Teakle, Dylan Williams

Outs from 2022

Karl Amon (free agent – Hawthorn), Robbie Gray (retired), Steven Motlop (retired), Sam Mayes (delisted), Marty Frederick (delisted), Sam Skinner (delisted), Taj Schofield (delisted)

How quickly Power recruit Jason Horne-Francis can reach his potential remains to be seen at Alberton. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Ins for 2023

Jason Horne-Francis (traded - North Melbourne), Junior Rioli (traded - West Coast), Francis Evans (delisted free agent - Geelong), Tom McCallum (pick no. 36), Tom Scully (pick no. 53), Kyle Marshall (pick no. 59), Nathan Barkla (Next Generation Academy)

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Originally published as Where does your AFL club sit: Hinkley backed in for final year of contract but Port must play finals