Alastair Clarkson reaches out to Ken Hinkley before making trip to Adelaide

Ken Hinkley has again been forced to respond to persistent rumours linking him with the vacant North Melbourne job, and was emphatic in his response.

Port Adelaide senior coach Ken Hinkley has reiterated his expectation to be at the helm for the Power next year and see out his contract at Alberton.

Hinkley’s contract expires at the end of next season, and the Power head coach has come under increased scrutiny this year after Port missed finals following two consecutive preliminary finals.

Reports have suggested that Hinkley could be North Melbourne’s option if Alastair Clarkson knocks the Kangaroos back and joins Essendon.

When asked if this could be a possibility on Thursday, Hinkley said he was committed to the Power.

“I can only answer it the same way I’ve answered always. I’m committed to Port Adelaide and expect to see out my contract at Port Adelaide as Port Adelaide are to me,” Hinkley told SEN SA Breakfast.

“Sometimes you try to shortcut that question and people get critical of you trying to shortcut that question, but you’ve answered it so many times, for me, it’s been pretty clear from the club and myself.

“What more can we say.”

Ken Hinkley has confirmed his committment to see out his Port Adelaide contract. Picture: Getty Images

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Speculation has raged over Hinkley’s future at the Power all year, with the Port senior coach saying he was aware of the criticism and discontent.

“There have been some challenges in my journey no doubt, as a head coach this year would certainly be up there with the most challenging ones,” he said.

“Right from the start, when we didn’t get the start that we wanted and it put us in chasing mode for the rest of the season.

“You are certainly aware of it, no one has bigger expectations on themselves than us internally.

“I just have to continue on my job and my day-to-day job because I know how passionate people can get and sometimes it can get a bit mixed up.”

Amid the rampant speculation that Essendon could make a move for him, after it seemed the Kangaroos were in the box seat, Clarkson flew into Adelaide this week for personal reasons.

Clarkson texted Hinkley before arriving in Adelaide, a gesture the Power senior coach appreciated.

“It was good of Clarko because he knows what’s going on in the footy landscape very well and he’s an incredibly successful coach, but also incredibly respectful and I think he probably understood what might happen when he landed in Adelaide,” Hinkley said.

‘Not the Ken I know’: Blight says Roos not on Hinkley radar

- Matt Turner

Malcolm Blight does not expect Ken Hinkley to entertain a move to North Melbourne, even if the Kangaroos offer a long-term contract to the Port Adelaide coach.

Blight, who coached Hinkley at Geelong then had him as an assistant at St Kilda, told News Corp it would be out of character for his former charge to change clubs with a year to run on his contract.

His comments came after four-time premiership mentor Alastair Clarkson flew into Adelaide on Tuesday night, although it is understood he was not meeting with the Power.

Reports have suggested North Melbourne would reach out to Hinkley is part of its plan B if Clarkson knocks the club back.

Hinkley has been adamant he will be at Alberton in 2023 for his 11th season and Port Adelaide has emphatically stood by him, despite the club’s 9-12 record this year.

Ken Hinkley has endured a tough season at Port, but the club has backed him in. Picture: Getty Images

Blight said it would be surprising if Hinkley seriously considered switching from the Power to the Kangaroos.

“That’s not the Ken Hinkley I know,” Blight said.

“I couldn’t imagine it.

“I wouldn’t have thought it’s on the agenda at all from either North Melbourne or Ken, or Port Adelaide.

“Coaches don’t get poached, that’s the history of the game – 99 per cent don’t and that’s just the way it is.

“He wouldn’t even think about it, I wouldn’t have thought.”

North Melbourne is one of two clubs looking for a new coach, along with GWS, while Essendon also may soon be in the hunt to replace under-fire Ben Rutten.

Hinkley has come under increased scrutiny this year due to the Power slipping from consecutive preliminary finals to missing the top eight.

Clarkson touched down in Adelaide on Tuesday.

But the club expects the 55-year-old to be in the role next season and is understood to be planning as such in talks with players, including potential recruits.

Blight said if things went pear-shaped at Alberton in 2023 or beyond, Hinkley’s credibility would still be strong enough to obtain a senior job elsewhere.

The two-time Crows premiership coach believed Port Adelaide was still in the premiership hunt despite its struggles this season.

“They didn’t have a great year … but (Zak) Butters, (Connor) Rozee, Ollie (Wines) is still in his prime, if they can get (Orazio) Fantasia back – there’s enough there,” he said.

“If you talk about a (flag) window or the time left on the clock, they’re still not past midnight yet.

“They just had that poor start, lose a couple of closeys – it doesn’t take long and you get behind the eight-ball.

“Those sort of years happen and they had two great years before then.”

Hinkley assisted Malcolm Blight at St Kilda.

Blight was also bullish about the Kangaroos’ list despite their bottom-placed finish last year and them heading into the final minor round with one hand on the wooden spoon.

“The club I’d take over is North Melbourne right now,” said Blight of the club where he played 178 games, kicked 444 goals and won a Brownlow Medal.

“I reckon they’ve got really good kids in the midfield, (Cam) Zurhaar, (Nick) Larkey and (Ben) McKay, (Ben) Cunnington’s experience will help them … and when you’ve got pick one or two, you can trade that.”

Clarkson told Channel 7 he was in Adelaide for a personal matter, not to speak to the Power.

“It’s disrespectful to Kenny, he’s still got 12 months of his job,” the ex-Hawthorn coach said.

“I texted Kenny tonight just to let him know I’m coming across because this sort of thing (media attention) would happen.”

Footy frenzy as Clarko spotted in Adelaide

In-demand premiership coach Alastair Clarkson’s arrival in Adelaide caused exactly the stir he thought it would.

As both North Melbourne and Essendon circle, Clarkson was greeted on his arrival in South Australia by waiting media who were curious as to what the visit meant.

With Port failing to make finals this year, the heat has been on Ken Hinkley, but the Power have repeatedly backed their senior coach.

Alastair Clarkson landed in Adelaide last night.

Clarkson was stopped by the media at Adelaide airport.

Channel 7 reported he was in Adelaide to visit a sick friend.

And it’s understood he won’t be meeting with Port Adelaide.

“It’s disrespectful to Kenny, he’s still got 12 months of his job,” Clarkson said.

“I text Kenny tonight just to let him know I’m coming across because this sort of thing would happen.”

Originally published as Alastair Clarkson reaches out to Ken Hinkley before making trip to Adelaide