Bombshell rumour throws David Koch into a spin after ‘disrespectful’ claim

The rumour mill has gone into meltdown at the same time as David Koch was accused of making “disrespectful” comments on Sunrise.

David Koch on Sunrise breakfast show. Picture: Sunrise.

An AFL great has shared a bombshell rumour that suddenly leaves Port Adelaide president David Koch on shaky ground.

The football industry has been tossed into chaos following the decision of three-time premiership-winning coach Damien Hardwick’s decision to quit Richmond.

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The rumour mill has gone into meltdown since the announcement that has tossed a “hand grenade” into the AFL coaching merry-go-round.

Koch’s Port Adelaide Football Club is potentially the team that could be hit hardest by the development and a rumour shared by Port Adelaide great Warren Tredrea has only added to the instability.

Tredrea said on his ‘The Big Deal’ podcast on Tuesday that Power coach Ken Hinkley’s future is potentially even more up in the air than has been reported.

Koch this week dug his heels in when addressing Hinkley’s future on Channel 7’s Sunrise - insisting the club will stay the course by holding off contract negotiations with Hinkley until August.

Despite Port Adelaide flying high this season with eight wins from 10 games, Hinkley remains the only coach in the league without a contract beyond the end of the 2023 season.

Tredrea on the podcast applauded Koch’s decision to hold off the negotiations and speculated Hinkley may not even want to coach the club in 2024.

Tredrea in April put Hinkley’s job up for debate when he said the 56-year-old’s position is “untenable” just three rounds into the season.

David Koch on Sunrise breakfast show. Picture: Sunrise.

Hinkley was immediately linked to the open coaching position at Richmond this week, and Tredrea has shared a rumour there are up to five clubs where Hinkley could end up at.

Pressure has been building on Carlton coach Michael Voss, who is contracted through to the end of the 2024 season, while West Coast’s diabolical form this season has even led to speculation coach Adam Simpson could be terminated early, despite having a long-term contract through to the end of the 2025 season.

The biggest rumour surrounds Gold Coast Suns coach Stuart Dew, who is contracted through to the end of 2024.

Hardwick has since been linked to the job, despite saying on Tuesday he had no immediate plans to return to football and was desperate for a break from the sport.

Tredrea now says Hinkley could also end up at the Suns sooner rather than later.

He said nobody has publicly asked Hinkley if he in fact wants to remain at the Power.

“There’s lots of rumours around at the moment he might not want to,” Tredrea said.

“He might want a fresh start.”

He went on to say: “Someone I know and trust has told me that Hinkley, Chris Scott and Hardwick are guys for the Gold Coast to look at when Stuart Dew is still under contract.”

He said he has also heard a rumour the fine print on Dew’s contract states the final year of his deal for 2024 is only unlocked if the club makes the finals this year.

Tredrea said he would like Port Adelaide to pick up the phone to see if Hardwick was interested in coaching the club next year.

“I don’t believe they have to do anything right now,” he said of Hinkley.

Ken Hinkley and Scott Lycett of the Power. Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“If Damien, the best coach in the land, is available – as a former Port Adelaide person I would want someone to sound out if he wants to coach.

“Sound out if he needs a break. Is he exhausted. Does he want to go in the media for two years? Is he done coaching forever. I don’t know.

“To do your due diligence, you have to ask if the best available coach is available.”

It comes after Koch’s comments on Sunrise this week about Hinkley’s future were branded “disrespectful”.

“Don’t forget that this decision to delay talks about extending Ken’s contract was made before the start of the season between Ken and I,” Koch said.

“(Hinkley) agreed to it because we wanted no distractions this year for our football group achieving the most success that they possibly can. After 10 rounds, I’m pretty happy with the way that strategy is going.

“As I say, Ken and I both agreed before the season started so we stick to the plan.”

Damien Hardwick confirms his departure. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

SEN journalist Sam Edmund on Tuesday said: “He might not want it to be a distraction, but I think the distraction has just landed on his doorstep,” Edmund said on SEN Breakfast.

“If anyone’s disrespecting Ken Hinkley it’s the man we’ve just heard of on Sunrise.

“Re-contract the man, don’t leave him hanging in the wind for all sorts of speculation, they’ve now won eight of their first ten are absolutely flying.

“Things change and they’ve changed for the better, how much longer are they going to make him wait?

“Are you putting him in an awkward spot? Ken is as good as anyone, we had him on Crunch Time on Saturday, and he handles himself so well but gee whiz, you talk about distractions, there’s one way to make it go away.”

Hinkley has been in charge at Port Adelaide since 2013, taking the Power to three preliminary finals.