Port Adelaide news: Ken Hinkley refuses to buy into conversations on his future

Ken Hinkley has been put forward as a replacement for Damien Hardwick at Richmond. But the Power coach isn’t having any of it.

Travis Boak of the Power.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is refusing to buy into conversations on his future in the aftermath of Damien Hardwick’s resignation this week.

Pundits have suggested Hinkley, who is out of contract at season’s end, potentially is a good fit for Hardwick’s former position at Richmond, while the three-time Tigers premiership mentor has been linked as an option for the Power.

Asked whether he was happy at Alberton and wanted to coach the club again next year, Hinkley said: “It’d be foolish (to buy into the question) because any comment I put out there now can be portrayed slightly differently to what it is”.

“Our team has said right from the start of the year that we need to have a successful football season, the dangers with getting distracted in that are not something I’m going to entertain.”

The Power and Hinkley have been steadfast that they will not discuss the 11th-year coach’s future until August.

Hinkley has steered Port to an 8-2 record this season after starting 1-2.

Ken Hinkley isn’t buying into conversation surrounding his future. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“Our position as a footy club has been really, really strong and it’s not going to change,” Hinkley said.

“I’ve got a football club and we’ve got a football team that we’re really focused on ... and we won’t let any distractions get in our way.

“Our footy club will stay focused on their job at hand.

“That’s my sole responsibility.

“I won’t buy into any other conversations around what may or may not happen.”

Hardwick quit on Tuesday, saying he could no longer give 100 per cent to the club after 307 games in 14 years.

He said he needed to have a break and had no plans to return to coaching in the foreseeable future.

The Power faces the Tigers at the MCG on Sunday.

Hinkley was shocked at Hardwick’s resignation but said coaching burnout was real, backing industry calls for the AFL to provide more support by increasing the soft cap.

He said “you have to portray this person that’s bulletproof all the time and handle anything that comes your way, which most of us can ... but after a long period of time, you do pay a price”.

“The restraints that have been put on us since Covid are just a little unfair,” he said.

“(The soft cap) the biggest part of the industry that’s been cut the most and not got anywhere near back to where it should be.

“The AFL have to sit up and take some notice. “There’s just too many things happening now that would suggest this is OK.

“This is a performance industry that has high pressure in it and we know that going in, but it’s wearing people out.”

Shock late change as former skipper sidelined

Former Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak will join Charlie Dixon and Todd Marshall on the sidelines for Sunday’s clash with Richmond at the MCG after failing to overcome a rib injury.

Subbed off during last week’s thrilling home win over Melbourne, Boak was on light duties at training at Alberton Oval on Friday before leaving early.

The Power ruled him out a few hours later, replacing him in the squad with forward/ruck Brynn Teakle.

Father-son Jackson Mead has replaced Boak in the Power’s 22, with the former captain joining Dixon (quad) and Marshall (concussion) on the sidelines.

Dixon, who was set to miss his third consecutive match, ran along the sidelines for part of Friday’s session before leaving the track.

Marshall, who was subbed out with concussion in rounds 6 and 9, was wearing a pink non-contact hat.

Hinkley said Dixon would be reassessed ahead of next week’s home game against Hawthorn, while the club was optimistic Marshall would return to face the Hawks.

“Charlie’s starting to get there,” Hinkley said.

“It’s one of those injuries you’re optimistic around each week but it’s still just dragging out.

“Todd’s recovering really well.

“He’s had a couple of concussions in a shorter period of time, so we’re being very, very cautious with that to make sure we give him the best chance to come back and not have any other problems.

“His concussion symptoms have all gone, he’s probably got more whiplash with his neck.

“He’s having an issue with that, which we’re sorting out.”

Travis Boak will miss Port’s clash with Richmond. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Small forward Junior Rioli will return from a two-game suspension to play the Tigers.

He replaces Francis Evans while Lachie Jones comes in for the Power’s suspended captain Tom Jonas.

Evans is a chance of being named the Power’s tactical sub after he was named as an emergency along with Teakle, Jase Burgoyne and the untried Hugh Jackson.

Adelaide will give young defender Josh Worrell his first game of the season as Matthew Nicks makes four changes to his 22 for the Crows’ clash against Brisbane at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

Former captain Taylor Walker, young key forward Riley Thilthorpe and leadership group member Tom Doedee all return for the Crows as Nicks seeks a response after a disappointing performance against the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat.

Key forwards Elliott Himmelberg and Lachlan Gollant and defender Patrick Parnell have been dropped, Mitch Hinge will miss with concussion while sub last week Sam Berry drops out of the squad.

Gollant and Parnell are in line to be named as the Crows tactical sub, along with Jackson Hately and Ned McHenry.

Will Hardwick bombshell impact Hinkley talks?

— Simeon Thomas-Wilson

Port Adelaide chairman David Koch says the Power will “stick to the plan” of holding off discussions regarding Ken Hinkley’s future until August despite Damien Hardwick’s resignation.

As reported by The Advertiser on Monday the Power won’t deviate from its plan to hold off talks regarding a new deal for Hinkley until later this season - despite their seven-match winning run.

Hinkley’s current contract expires at the end of this season.

But a vacancy at the Tigers is set to send the coaching merry-go-round into overdrive.

On Tuesday Koch said despite the job opening at the Tigers the Power would stick to its plan.

“Don’t forget this decision to delay talks over extending Ken’s contract was made before the season between Ken and I,” he said on Sunrise.

“He agreed to it because we wanted no distractions this year for our group, our football group achieving the most success they can.

“After 10 rounds I’m pretty happy with the way that strategy is going.

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

Hinkley actually applied for the Richmond job in 2009, losing out to Hardwick.

On Monday, player agent Scott Lucassaid he wouldn’t be surprised if other clubs decided to enquire with Hinkley’s management while his future is still yet to be locked in.

The pressure has eased on Ken Hinkley. Picture: Getty Images

forward. On Sunday Lucas, a player manager with Phoenix Management Group, said he found the situation at Alberton “intriguing”.

“They have won seven in a row, they are third on the ladder,” he said on SEN.

“They have beaten first, fourth, fifth and sixth.

“It is a record that stands up but still we hear nothing out of Port Adelaide.

“I think the main point out of all of this is if I was two or three other clubs in the AFL I would be on the phone to Ken Hinkley’s management there and asking ‘what is going on there, would he want to come and coach our clubs?’.

“I just think there are opportunities there for other clubs, there are really good coaches within the AFL but it is such a tough job I don’t think there are 18 great coaches in the competition.

“Ken is clearly one of those better coaches and he needs to have a job within the industry because it would be such a shame if he wasn’t.”

Lucas said if another club decided to go looking for a new senior coach it could put pressure on the Power.

Ken Hinkley and his Port players are on a roll. Picture: Getty Images

“I was part of that several years ago with Kevin Sheedy. When Carlton moved on Denis Pagan and immediately discussion centered on Michael Voss coaching Carlton I have no doubt that Essendon reacted to that by making a decision on Sheeds so they could be in the race,” he said.

“Things do force your hand, things like that do start a chain of events.

“But right now I think the one decision is whether Port say ‘let’s sort this out, Ken we want to keep you do you want to stay? Yep, let’s work through it.’

“They are third on the ladder, the wins they have, they have a coach out of contract. Is it not that simple?”   

Last week Hinkley said on AFL 360 this was to ensure the Power would be able to focus on a successful season.

“I said at the start of the year, let’s just take a breath and play the games we have to play,” he said.

“The club and myself all the way through the season have been really strong on how we want this to play out.

“Most importantly the most critical piece is that we want to have a successful football season as a club and we are going to do our best to focus on that.”

Originally published as Port Adelaide news: Ken Hinkley refuses to buy into conversations on his future