Josh Carr to take over from Ken Hinkley as Port Adelaide coach at end of 2025 AFL season

Not all coaching succession plans work, but Ken Hinkley is adamant his handover to Josh Carr will be a success. Why? Because Port have proven the doubters wrong before according to Hinkley.

Port Adelaide is confident its succession plan will work and that Josh Carr is the right person to lead the club after this year.

The Power on Wednesday followed the likes of Sydney, Collingwood, Melbourne, Essendon and Hawthorn in announcing handovers, as Ken Hinkley prepared to hand the reins to senior assistant Carr at season’s end.

While the Swans (2012) and Demons (2021) won premierships after their appointments from within, relationships between the coaches soured at the Magpies and Hawks, and the Bombers’ switch was messy.

EXCLUSIVE: HOW WE REVEALED HINKLEY-CARR HANDOVER WAS ON

Hinkley, who was set to coach a 13th year at the Power, was adamant that would not happen at Alberton.

“I didn’t live theirs, I don’t know theirs – all I know is ours and I know ours will work,” Hinkley said.

Asked why, Hinkley said: “I’ve got inside knowledge, I know what goes on in this place and how we run, and what we value”.

“It has to work.

“We’ve proven time and time again to everyone to all the opinions in the world that (say) we’re no good.

“We always seem to be OK and we give ourselves a chance.

“I know Port Adelaide’s history and that means we’ll be OK.”

Hinkley had no doubts Carr would make a great successor because he had “done it the right way”.

Carr started his coaching journey at the Power in 2011, the season after he retired as a player, then was part of Hinkley’s box until 2015 when took the reins at SANFL club North Adelaide.

He steered the Roosters to a premiership in 2018 and also was an assistant at Fremantle from 2020-22.

Carr returned to the Power ahead of the 2023 campaign, becoming Hinkley’s right-hand man and midfield coach.

“He’s 45, I took over at 46, I’d coached for 15 years, coached my own team, other teams, been to other environments and seen good programs,” Hinkley said.

“You need to do it the right way and that’s why I was really confident Josh was going to get an opportunity because he’s done it the absolute right way.

“He’s coached premiership teams, he’s coached at other clubs, he’s mad, passionate Port Adelaide and that also helps.

“He knows how we work, he values what I value, he’s perfect.”

Port Adelaide’s football committee was understood to have anointed Carr as Hinkley’s successor after the former Power on-baller withdrew from Richmond’s senior coaching race in August 2023.

But Carr said he was given no guarantee then.

“There were no promises, I had to back myself in that when an opportunity did come, I was one of the guys they were looking at closely,” he said.

“I’m sure behind the scenes there would’ve been work put into exploring other options.

“I trust the people that are above me in the club that they would’ve done their homework and I’d like to think they’ve made the right choice.”

The Power appointing Carr was extra special for the 44-year-old, who was drafted to the club in 1998, played in its 2004 flag and lined up in 124 games across two stints from 2000-04 and 2009-10.

He said had felt “ready for a long time” to take on a senior job.

“Every moment that I’ve been coaching is having my eyes on the future and being a senior coach but also making sure I’m being the assistant coach I can be,” said

“Coming from where I’ve come from, being drafted here as an 18-year-old, then being given an opportunity as a coach also, it’s an honour and a privilege to be chosen.”

Power chairman David Koch said the club was “by far the best talent” when it searched for a first-time senior coach and the timing was right for a handover.

“From a board point of view and recommendation from the football committee, we always try to develop internally,” Koch said.

“We think that’s best for this football club.”

Josh Carr and Hinkley speak during a game in 2023. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Koch said making the announcement now gave everyone clarity.

Power great Kane Cornes believed the timing of the move ruled out any shot of his former club winning a premiership this year.

Cornes said Carr had an unbelievable coaching CV, but questioned why the Power would shut the door to experienced coaches who might be available like Adam Simpson, Chris Scott, John Longmire and Nathan Buckley.

Port Adelaide legend John Cahill endorsed Carr on social media, calling it a great appointment.

Originally published as Josh Carr to take over from Ken Hinkley as Port Adelaide coach at end of 2025 AFL season