Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley and SANFL coach Matt Lokan learn from England rugby union coach Eddie Jones
Port Adelaide’s Ken Hinkley has been in England this past week with SANFL mentor Matthew Lokan to meet and learn from England’s rugby union coach, Eddie Jones.
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Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley made a quick-fire trip to the other side of the world to pick the brains of one of the most respected coaches in world sport.
Hinkley has been in England following the Power’s intra-club game on Valentine’s Day, travelling with SANFL coach Matt Lokan to meet with and learn from England’s rugby union coach Eddie Jones ahead of their upcoming huge Six Nations campaign.
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Despite it being on the eve of the season, Port forward development coach Chad Cornes said Hinkley would return in time for the Power’s opening game of the Marsh Community Series against Brisbane on Sunday at the Moreton Bay Sports Complex.
“He’s away in England at the moment,” Cornes told SportsDay SA on Thursday night.
“Himself and (SANFL coach) Matt Lokan went to spend some time with Eddie Jones and the English rugby team.
“He’s been away since the internal trial, so he’ll meet us up in Brisbane.”
During last year’s pre-season Hinkley travelled to Chicago in America to undertake a leadership course.
But this trip comes ahead of a vital season for Hinkley, who needs a finals spot to activate a clause to extend his contract at Alberton for another season.
Hinkley has also for the first time invited the Power’s 2019 draftees to his house on the night they arrived in Adelaide while Cornes said Port’s senior coach had been more hands on this pre-season than others.
He isn’t the only AFL senior coach who has sought to rack the brains of Jones, who coached the Wallabies for four years in the 200s.
Simon Goodwin spent time with the English rugby union team ahead of the 2019 season.
Jones – who took England to the World Cup final last year – is also highly respected among the best coaches in the round ball game.
He has on numerous occasions met and spoken with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, while Chelsea boss Frank Lampard said he was blown away by the stands set by Jones.
Port Adelaide have also sent high performance staff to Arsenal through its previous link there through Darren Burgess, while Michael Voss has also travelled overseas as part of the club’s personal development.
Originally published as Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley and SANFL coach Matt Lokan learn from England rugby union coach Eddie Jones