Sam Mitchell opens up on Ken Hinkley’s sledge, Hawthorn’s season

Sam Mitchell has reflected on the ugly end to his side’s semi-final loss during which Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley clashed with Hawks players.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 13: James Sicily of the Hawks reacts to Ken Hinkley, Senior Coach of the Power after the 2024 AFL Second Semi Final match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Hawthorn Hawks at Adelaide Oval on September 13, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell says he hasn’t spoken to Port Adelaide counterpart Ken Hinkley since last weekend’s emotional post-match scenes but will not “shy away” from any rivalry it creates between the two sides.

Hinkley was fined $20,000 by the AFL for his on-field taunt of Hawks forward Jack Ginnivan following the Power’s three-point semi-final triumph at Adelaide Oval.

Hawthorn hit out at Hinkley’s actions at the time, but Mitchell denied the club had overreacted and described the incident as a “very, very minor part” of his weekend overall.

“I haven’t spoken to Ken, but I wouldn’t necessarily expect to,” Mitchell said on Friday.

“I’m a lover of the theatre of the game. So if this creates a rivalry between Hawthorn and Port Adelaide, I’m not going to shy away from that.

“I think the reason we love sport is it creates this energy and vibrancy in all of our lives. Obviously for us, it’s our living, but for most people that go along to the footy, it’s their release.

Sam Mitchell in his press conference after the loss to Port Adelaide.

Ken Hinkley clashes with Hawks players post-match.

“If there’s a little bit of extra passion when people go to the footy, then I’m all for that.”

It comes after Ginnivan told Channel 7 he needed to “grow up”.

“Upon reflection (the Instagram comment was) probably not the smartest idea,” Ginnivan said.

“The leaders and the coach had my full support and they backed me in.

“I’ve just got to grow up I guess and be a bit smarter.”

The Hawks reviewed the semi-final loss on Wednesday, in what was described as a good opportunity to “cleanse ourselves and get some closure” on the season.

Mitchell said there were no guarantees that it would be “onward and upward” from here, but he hoped the expected inclusions of free agents Josh Battle and Tom Barrass would benefit the side in a number of ways next season.

“I would have loved to have played (James) Sicily and (Blake) Hardwick a little bit more in different positions this year, but we’re just really restricted,” Mitchell said on SEN radio.

“A lot of our injuries meant that we had a limited amount of flexibility with the side. I think Josh Weddle’s got some chances to move around the ground at different stages, whether that’s next year or in years to come. We’ve got some flexibility in the side that we haven’t been able to play with just yet.”

Originally published as Sam Mitchell opens up on Ken Hinkley’s sledge, Hawthorn’s season