Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley hints at talks with rival clubs — but no offers yet

Departing Power coach Ken Hinkley has revealed he’s had early talks on taking up a position at a new club in 2026. But would he entertain a senior coach role?

Outgoing Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has hinted he has held early talks with rival clubs about 2026 but has not received any offers.

The longtime Power coach coached his second-last game on Saturday against Carlton, a club that has been mooted as a potential landing spot in the future, either replacing Brad Lloyd as footy boss or on Michael Voss’ coaching staff.

Hinkley will be heavily sought after around the league but his family is strongly set up in Adelaide.

He will take multiple weeks after his final game next weekend to ponder his future.

Ken Hinkley. Picture: Getty Images

“I have not had one offer. Let’s be really clear about that. It doesn’t mean I haven’t had conversations at different levels, but I haven’t had any conversations around an absolute offer to go to any club,” he told 3AW on Saturday.

“I am not in a hurry. I don’t know exactly when that decision might or might not come, and whether that is this year or next year or when it will be.

“I like to be really honest … I just need to get to the end and I need to have a long spell.”

Hinkley said “things will definitely heat up” once he decompresses from his 13th and final season in charge of Port Adelaide.

But he said it was “highly unlikely” he would take up another senior coach, pointing to his age.

Hinkley will turn 59 on September 30, but age is less of a barrier to coaches after Lions leader Chris Fagan lifted the cup at 63 last year.

Currently, Melbourne is the only club with a head coaching vacancy.

“I don’t say never but highly unlikely I would imagine, I am getting older,” he said.

“Fages is a great man, he is my pin up boy. Maybe I am chasing Fages down. I would like to take his title as the oldest premiership coach in the competition.”

Originally published as Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley hints at talks with rival clubs — but no offers yet