Ken Hinkley wanted to celebrate after a crucial win over Hawthorn and didn’t like a question about his future in the post-match

The focus was on Ken Hinkley going in to Sunday’s grudge match with Hawthorn but the Port coach just wanted to win and then celebrate hitting back at a post-match question he didn’t like.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley was adamant Sunday’s clash with hawthorn was never about him and after pounding their arch rivals into submission in the first half to record a crucial win bristled at a question about his energy for his final season in charge.

The Power desperately needed a win and that’s what delighted Hinkley most about the Power’s wild Gather Round victory having played down the hype of the first meeting of the bitter rivals since the acrimonious ending to last season’s semi-final between the teams that saw the coach fined $20,000 for conduct unbecoming.

But after a 1-3 start to the season, four premiership points, not talk of grudge matches or rivalries, was Port’s motivation that led to a shock 71-point lead before the Hawks’ second-half resurgence fell short.

“It was pretty important for us to play the way we needed to try to find a win … it didn’t matter who we were playing,” Hinkley said.

“We just needed to find a win and we managed to get there.

Ken Hinkley, Senior Coach of the Power speaks to players (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

“I don’t need to go into any of that (controversy) it was just that we needed to win Round 5 Gather Round at home.

“Hawthorn were the opponents, they’ve been on top and basically been the best team in the comp for the past 12 months, so it was a big ask but we found a way.

“Rivalry in sport is great, we sometimes overplay it a little bit, but both sides will embrace rivalry and we are always up for any of those sorts of things.

“But let’s not let them go too far the wrong way.

“I respect the Hawthorn Football Club and I’m sure they respect our footy club.”

Port’s underwhelming start to the season put the spotlight on the club’s coaching succession plan, with Josh Carr waiting to take the helm next season.

Asked if he ever doubted his ability to get his players up for the marquee match-up, Hinkley bristled.

“You’re not asking that question, are you?” he replied.

Josh Carr will replace Ken Hinkley in 2026 (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

“As I’ve said all the time, the energy to help and be a part of the team and support the players and the rest of the coaching group is not in question.

“And I wish people would stop asking that question, regardless of what happens.

“I reckon it’s a really unfair question to continually ask someone who’s been around the game for as long as I have, the club that we are, we bring the energy week in and week out.

“We may not win every game, that’s clear, but stop throwing the stuff that’s not really accurate, I don’t think.”

Hinkley, who made a beeline for the Power changerooms after the final siren, was unaware that many Port fans in the stands celebrated the win with an aeroplane gesture that referenced the origins of the beef between the clubs.

“I think that’s OK for the fans because that’s what footy’s about,” he said.

“I’m sure both teams’ fans would’ve been looking forward to whatever the opportunities were at the end of the game (to celebrate).

Sam Powell-Pepper of the Power celebrates a 2nd quarter goal . Picture: Michael Klein

“I don’t care for it too much, as I said last year, I’ve said enough around what happened and I apologised.

“I’ll say it again; I was disrespectful, and I didn’t mean to be, but I was.

“Fans can now play with that and use it … I’ve seen Sheeds with his jacket waving and all those sorts of things.

“It doesn’t hurt too much, I don’t think, as long as it stays inside (the stadium) and it doesn’t blow up to be something more than that, which I would really not like.”

Originally published as Ken Hinkley wanted to celebrate after a crucial win over Hawthorn and didn’t like a question about his future in the post-match