The AFL’s revised 17-game season in wake of COVID-19 outbreak could play into hands of under-fire Power coach Ken Hinkley
All eyes will be on Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley in 2020, with his future as coach dependant on the Power making the finals. The AFL’s newly-shortened fixture could help his cause, writes Kane Cornes.
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At worst, Ken Hinkley has a 55.5 per cent chance of extending his coaching tenure at Port Adelaide beyond this season.
I like those odds.
The prospect of the Power qualifying for finals became easier on Monday when AFL boss Gillon McLachlan announced unprecedented measures to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
The finals series will likely increase from eight to 10 teams this season meaning Hinkley, who needs to make the finals in 2020 to trigger the last year of his contract, could be a major beneficiary.
The prospect of the entire season being cancelled is still possible, meaning Hinkley remains in the top job for at least another season.
It’s uncharted times as we head into the revised 17 round 2020 AFL season.
For Hinkley, however, there is one certainty.
If he fails to qualify for finals this year, it will be his last season as coach of the Power.
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Hinkley was mistreated by the vast majority of his club’s supporters last season.
The increasingly frustrated supporter base and a vocal minority of media scribes called for Hinkley’s head as the Power navigated through an inconsistent and ultimately unsuccessful 2019 campaign to finish 10th.
It was the second successive season of no finals for the club whose mission statement boldly states it exists only to win premierships and make its community proud.
The calls to have Hinkley sacked are narrow-minded and unfair.
Despite his uncertain future, he continues to put the interests of the club ahead of his own.
In the trade period of 2019 he made the playing list weaker and less experienced in the short term to inject more young talent through the draft and bolster the future prospects of the club.
Dougal Howard, 23, is coming into his footballing prime, but was traded away to St Kilda for draft picks.
A coach concerned about his tenure wouldn’t have done that deal.
Howard was the only defender on the list above 200cm and Port Adelaide is a weaker team in 2020 as a result.
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The deal to move out Howard comes on the back of Hinkley trading away the club’s most talented player Chad Wingard to Hawthorn in 2018.
Also exiting were regulars Jared Polec and Jasper Pittard, who both joined North Melbourne.
A coach worried about a finals trigger in his contract wouldn’t have given the green light for such an exodus.
Hinkley’s other strength is to give his young players senior opportunities regardless of their inexperience.
Connor Rozee, Xavier Duursma and Zak Butters combined for 63 games in their first season at Alberton.
Compared to their cross-town rivals, Adelaide debuted only two players, Chayce Jones and Ben Davis, for a combined total of just nine games.
Further evidence of this was shown through the pre-season Marsh Community Series with powerful forward Mitch Georgiades given an opportunity.
With youth comes inconsistencies but through Hinkley’s selfless decision making and willingness to grant opportunities, Port Adelaide’s future stocks look better than almost all of the 17 other AFL clubs.
Regardless of whether Hinkley coaches beyond this season, it’s time the Port Adelaide fans, the media and the AFL community recognise the selfless actions of the under-fire coach.
Originally published as The AFL’s revised 17-game season in wake of COVID-19 outbreak could play into hands of under-fire Power coach Ken Hinkley