AFL Finals: Ken Hinkley says critics are uneducated, Ryan Burton ruled out of Port Adelaide’s semi-final

If Port Adelaide bows out in another straight sets finals exit on Friday night, the speculation on Ken Hinkley’s future will shift into overdrive. But the Power coach wasn’t having any of it on Thursday.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 05: Ryan Burton of the Power kicks the ball during the 2024 AFL Second Qualifying Final match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Geelong Cats at Adelaide Oval on September 05, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says assertions that a loss to Hawthorn in the semi-final will spell the end of his tenure at the Power are “uneducated” and “not facts”.

The Power will be looking to keep its season alive against a red-hot Hawks outfit at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.

The Power’s horror loss to Geelong in the qualifying final heaped pressure back on Hinkley as Port’s poor finals record of late continued.

Hinkley is contracted until the end of 2025 but it is now considered likely that a straight-sets exit, for the second year in a row, could force the Power to make a decision on the 12-year senior coach with assistant Josh Carr waiting in the wings.

Ken Hinkley talks to the media on Thursday. Picture: Sarah Reed/Getty Images

In his media conference prior to the game, Hinkley said assertions a loss could be the end of his time at Alberton were “uneducated”.

“I’m not going to be a smart-arse here in any way shape or form, but I am contracted,” he said.

“That is what the board have told me all the way through, they have showed me great support the entire journey and I trust that will be the same.

“It is uneducated, it is not facts. What are the facts?

“I get why the conversation keeps coming up, but the reality is – deal with the facts.

“I am preparing this week to help our team try and get our team to a preliminary final, that has too much riding on it for me to go into any of those places you want me to go and I just won’t go there.”

With Dan Houston (suspended) and Kane Farrell (hamstring) already sidelined, the Power’s hopes copped another hit on Wednesday morning when Ryan Burton was ruled out with a calf issue.

Small forward Jed McEntee looks set to be dropped, with the Power weighing up whether to go tall and recall Todd Marshall in his place.

Star midfielder Zak Butters will play despite nursing sore ribs.

Hinkey warned the Hawks to “bring it on” if they targeted Butters physically.

Hinkley will equal Mark Williams as coaching the most games for the Power on Friday night.

Despite the speculation about his future, he said it was not the biggest week of his coaching career.

Miles Bergman and Connor Rozee at Port training. Picture: Mark Brake

“We have an opportunity to prepare play in a semi final which gives you an opportunity to play in a prelim final, so it has been pretty easy to keep our focus on what we need to do this week,” he said.

“I think that is not stuff that we worry on because we exactly know what we are doing internally and the direction we are going, we don’t need to get distracted by anything other than this week’s performance.

“Reality is you reflect on those things after your career and hopefully there is a lot more to go.”

Originally published as AFL Finals: Ken Hinkley says critics are uneducated, Ryan Burton ruled out of Port Adelaide’s semi-final