Outgoing Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley bristles at succession plan question after crushing loss to Carlton

Despite flagging an eagerness to finish the season early in his post-match press conference, Ken Hinkley wasn’t happy being asked what he called a ‘pretty offensive’ follow-up question.

Tyler Lewis

@tmlew_

4 min read

August 16, 2025 - 6:44PM

News Sport Network

The Blues belted Port Adelaide. Picture: Getty Images

AFL

Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.

Outgoing Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has bristled at a question regarding his decision to undergo a succession plan with assistant Josh Carr.

Hinkley will coach the Power for one last time next week when they host the finals bound Gold Coast Suns at Adelaide Oval.

Despite earlier flagging eagerness to finish up, Hinkley took umbrage at being asked if he would have stood down immediately if he had his time again.

“I find that highly offensive,” Hinkley said.

Ken Hinkley during the loss to Carlton. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos

The question was reworded around the challenges Port Adelaide has faced this year but Hinkley was still unenthused with its line.

“For me, even that way the question is unfair because I committed and the club committed to seeing the season out right from the very start of the year,” he said.

“We said all the way along we knew what was going on, yeah the challenges that came don’t make any difference to our position of what we were trying to achieve this year.

“Rightly or wrongly, the ladder will certainly say we didn’t perform well enough but internally I think we’ve put ourselves going forward.

“We’ve been able to focus on some of the stuff and I’ve been able to focus on coaching the team week to week.

“I think it sets us up for a really positive 2026 and for Josh in his first year I think it gives him a great chance.”

Connor Rozee leads the Power players off Marvel Stadium. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

The Power, after Saturday’s heavy defeat to Carlton at Marvel Stadium, are now poised to record their worst season under Hinkley.

But they have the chance to put a dent in the Suns’ finals push by sending Hinkley and retiring champion Travis Boak out in style.

“It’s the last time for Trav and clearly my last game as coach of Port Adelaide, it’s been a long time coming but I am sort of glad it’s here now,” Hinkley said.

“Because of the challenges this year has put upon us we can actually celebrate Trav and I hope that’s what it is.

“Funnily enough for myself, we play the Gold Coast where I come from to come to Port, so there’s something in that too.

“I am glad it’s here, to be honest I am sick of the wait.

“It’s been a bit of a battle to get to the end and I’m really proud of the way we as a footy club, Trav and myself and everyone involved have been able to keep our spirit and energy up.”

Hinkley era sinking to sad end as McKay, Blues crush Power

The crowd rose every time he neared the football.

A marvellous afternoon from spearhead Harry McKay gave the Carlton faithful a reason to cheer in a dead rubber against Port Adelaide.

McKay owned the unimpeded airspace with no Charlie Curnow and kicked beautifully on his way to seven goals.

He issued a warning early, forcefully taking the ball out of the ruck and kicking his first, and proceeded to fill his boots from there.

McKay was the beneficiary of a Blues masterclass out of the middle – but he had a hand in 11 of his side’s 18 scores at half time.

Marvel Stadium has proved a happy hunting ground for the athletic left-footer, with a goal in 24 of his past 25 games under the roof.

McKay’s herculean effort, and Carlton’s demolition of the Power at stoppages, will no doubt headline Josh Carr’s list of priorities heading into 2026.

Harry McKay kicks a goal out of the ruck

BRILLIANT BLUES

It was over before it truly began.

Carlton treated Port Adelaide like witches hats in a blistering opening quarter at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.

The Blues slaughtered the Power out of the middle of the ground and reaped maximum rewards with slick and selfless footy inside 50.

Carlton had six goals before the clock ticked halfway through the term and should’ve had seven if it wasn’t for Hudson O’Keefe’s howler at the top of the goal square.

At the start of red time, the Blues led by 38 on the scoreboard, disposals by 35, clearances by 10, centre clearances 7-0 and inside 50s by nine.

McKay finished with seven majors. Picture: Getty Images

Zak Butters and the Power were well beaten. Picture: Getty Images

WELCOME BACK, SAM

The importance of a fit and firing Sam Walsh to Carlton’s midfield was on full show.

Walsh returned for his first match since Round 13 and brilliantly supported Tom De Koning, Patrick Cripps and George Hewett in Carlton’s clearance clinic.

Walsh recorded 28 disposals, five clearances, nine score involvements and 403 metres gained.

The Blues led centre clearances 16 to three at the main break which realistically flattered the Power as they got one of those three with four seconds left in the half.

Hewett was the best of the trio with 35 disposals, 11 clearances and seven score involvements.

Walsh hasn’t reached the heights of 2023 – the year he won the Gary Ayres Award for best finals player – but positively showed traits of that brilliant season on Saturday.

Sam Walsh made an impressive return on Saturday. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos

MIGHTY MITCH

Straight through the middle into good company.

Port Adelaide forward Mitch Georgiades joined some of his club’s finest goal kickers with his 54th major of the season.

Georgiades became the first Power player in over a decade to reach that figure, eclipsing Chad Wingard’s 53 in 2015.

Only Georgiades, Jay Schulz, Daniel Motlop, Warren Tredrea and Scott Cummings have passed 53 goals in a home and away season during Port Adelaide’s AFL tenure.

Georgiades has kicked multiple goals in all but four games this season and has left plenty of goals out there with 41 behinds.