Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley won’t make his team’s rivalry with Hawthorn a focus after fiery semi-final in 2024

Last time Port Adelaide played Hawthorn it ended with a fiery clash and a $20,000 fine for coach Ken Hinkley, and the rivalry is unavoidable ahead of their rematch.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley doesn’t feel the need to talk to his players about keeping their emotions in check for Sunday’s blockbuster clash with Hawthorn after the fiery end to their 2024 semi-final clash.

Hinkley was fined $20,000 when things “boiled over” as he exchanged words with Hawthorn gun Jack Ginnivan after Port’s thrilling three-point win in response to a social media post in the build-up.

Hawks captain James Sicily had to be held back by teammates amid tense scenes and Hinkley conceded there was now a “healthy rivalry” between the outfits.

James Sicily yells towards Port coach Ken Hinkley. Picture: Michael Klein

The AFL obliged by putting the clash at Adelaide Oval on Sunday night as a fitting close to Gather Round.

But with his team at 1-3 after four rounds, and the Hawks flying at 4-0, Hinkley said neither he nor his players could be consumed by the focus on the rematch.

“I said what I said at the end of last year’s game,” Hinkley said at his weekly press conference on Wednesday.

“Emotions boiled over, I was disappointed in that myself. I’ve apologised publicly, I think it’s time to move on.

“I’ve got to focus on our performance this week.

“We need to address our position, and our position means that we need to do everything we can to win this game of football. That’s where we’ll spend our time.”

Hinkley tried to avoid weighing in on the perceived hypocrisy of the AFL finning him $20,000 for his behaviour but then pitting the teams against each other in a marquee match-up.

“It’s not a spot I need to go into, I don’t think,” he said.

Hinkley exchanges words with Hawthorn players in 2024. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“Maybe that’s a question for (AFL chief executive) Andrew (Dillon), not for me.”

Hinkley said he had not spoken to anyone at Hawthorn since the incident and was sure they “didn’t really want to speak to me”.

But he expected the visitors, who are unbeaten this season but have lost star Will Day to a foot injury, would be driven to avenge last year’s finals loss and said the rivalry was “good for the game”.

“When you ultimately lose in the (finals) by a small margin, clearly there’s a sting,” he said.

“And the reality is, for us, we expect that to be coming our way. But every team who’s played them this year has felt their pressure, and we’re not going to be separated from that. We know it’s coming our way, and we look forward to the challenge.”