AFL finals 2024: Ken Hinkley moves on from semi-final $20k fine

The Port Adelaide coach fronted the media for the first time since being hit with a $20,000 fine from the AFL for his post-game run-in with Hawthorn players.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says the Power’s extraordinary recent record against Sydney has “absolutely nothing” to do with how Friday’s preliminary final will play out.

The Power has won eight consecutive matches against the Swans and not been defeated by them since they met at the SCG in round 20, 2016.

Three of those eight meetings since have been at the SCG, but Hinkley said their strong record was irrelevant as they prepared to take on the minor premier once again.

“It’s one of the things that happen in footy over a period of time, these runs … all these things happen in different phases,” Hinkley said.

“Both teams understand it has got absolutely nothing to do with what is going to happen on Friday night.”

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says he has ‘nothing more to add’ on his post-match verbal stoush with Hawks Jack Ginnivan and James Sicily. Picture: Mark Brake / Getty Images

Hinkley was similarly dismissive of the 112-point demolition of the Swans in round 22, referring to the Power’s heavy defeats to Brisbane in June and Geelong in the qualifying final.

“We have been involved with two of those games in the opposite,” he said.

“And we know that sometimes it just gets away, but it doesn’t stop you turning up at your next performance, knowing that … you have got to be ready.”

Hinkley addressed the media for the first time since the AFL hit Port Adelaide with a $20,000 fine for his post-game altercation with Hawthorn players Jack Ginnivan and James Sicily.

He said he was determined to not let the incident “become any issue for us” before the clash.

“Everything that happened got taken care of by Sunday night,” he said.

“We moved on. We have got a prelim final to play and I’ve got no more to add to it because I’m not going to let any of that become any issue for us.

“We’re just going to move into our preparation for Sydney.”

The coach said defender Ryan Burton (calf) would certainly be picked if he was available, while he suggested Charlie Dixon would be recalled for Todd Marshall (concussion) if he cleared all hurdles to return from an illness.

Originally published as AFL finals 2024: Ken Hinkley moves on from semi-final $20k fine