Port Adelaide news: How Ken Hinkley turned down Essendon overture

The Bombers asked Ken Hinkley if he would be interested in joining their coaching process. And things could have been a lot different this Sunday if he took part.

Ken Hinkley could’ve been coaching Essendon against Port Adelaide on Sunday, but for a sliding doors moment at the end of last season which he let pass.

In a wide-ranging search for a coach to replace the sacked Ben Rutten, the Bombers asked Hinkley if he would be interested in joining the coaching process.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick was also approached and declined.

There’s speculation Hinkley was offered a four-year deal by Essendon but that hasn’t been confirmed by the Bombers. A club spokesperson on Friday declined to comment.

It might be splitting hairs anyway because if Hinkley said yes to the coaching process, it’s more likely than not he would’ve been offered the job.

Instead, Hinkley chose to stay at Port Adelaide because of his loyalty and commitment to the players and the fact he was contracted for another year.

Ken Hinkley turn Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

In essence, Hinkley turned his back on a probable four-year deal and a move back to Victoria to coach Port Adelaide, aware of the uncertainty of getting another contract there.

Port president David Koch and Hinkley agreed not to discuss contracts until late in the season.

Last August, Koch dismissed speculation linking Hinkley to the Bombers.

“Tell ‘em they’re dreaming,” he said on Sunrise at the time.

“And why would Ken go to a club like that, in such turmoil?”

Even if Port was a commanding 9-2 at the bye break, it’s believed Koch won’t baulk at the agreement in place.

Port has previously denied a succession plan was in place, where former player, and now the club’s midfield coach, Josh Carr, would take over from Hinkley.

If Hinkley is let go at the end of the season - he wants to stay at Alberton - he is keen to continue coaching.

Media commentary has him as the ideal replacement at the Gold Coast if the Suns move on coach Stuart Dew, while the more far-fetched speculation has Hinkley and Hardwick swapping clubs at the end of the season.

The rejuvenated star who has turned Port’s season around

Port Adelaide has gone from leaking like a sieve to putting the clamps on opponents.

In a stunning turnaround, the club went from last in the AFL for points conceded after three games to the toughest team to score against across the next four weeks, all Power wins.

Port conceded 21 goals in its 71-point loss to Collingwood then 18, including the last six, in the 31-point Showdown defeat, but coughed up just 38 majors in the following four games.

Champion Data statistics reveal that from rounds 4 to 7 Port ranked:

■ First for points against per game (66.2 – down from 108 after round 3)

■ First for pressure applied (189)

■ First for opposition scoring per inside 50 percentage (34 per cent)

■ First for opposition chains to score percentage (15 per cent)

■ Fourth for opposition points from turnovers (40.5)

Fox Footy expert David King said the Power had found a pretty good defensive recipe.

“They’ve coughed up the fourth-fewest marks against inside 50 … and they’ve been able to win the ball back in the defensive 50,” King said.

“Aliir Aliir’s so important to be able to intercept mark in a contested sense.

“Only St Kilda has taken more contested marks in a defensive 50 than Port.”

Aliir Aliir has been crucial to the Power’s defensive turnaround. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

King said he was not in love with the Power’s whole defensive profile, more so its back 50.

But he said Port ranked second in the league for net metres gained from clearances and handballed from stoppages more than any side – almost 20 per cent above AFL average – which helped take pressure off its defenders.

“They’re a very good contested ball team when the ball’s in general play, they’ve got guys who can win the ball back and allow you to keep moving it forward, they’ve got punish in their clearance game, and they put pressure on when they lose it,” the dual North Melbourne premiership player said.

“They’ve got a lot of scope for improvement with their ball movement and their forward 50 is probably not where they want it to be.

“But if you’re a good side when the opposition’s got the ball, you’re a good side (overall).”

Until that Showdown loss in round 3, the Power had conceded at least 18 goals in consecutive games just once during Ken Hinkley’s 11-year coaching tenure – in July 2013, his first season.

Port Adelaide was miserly in its runs to its two previous preliminary finals, ranking first for points against after the 2020 minor round and third the next year.

The Power’s defensive improvement over the past month has come amid several backline tweaks and a difficult opening draw.

Ken Hinkley celebrates the win over St Kilda with Willem Drew. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Captain Tom Jonas has battled form and missed a game through suspension, All-Australian half-back Darcy Byrne-Jones has been dropped from the 22 then moved into attack and Dylan Williams has gone from playing one AFL game in four seasons to a regular in defence.

The club has faced three of last year’s four preliminary finalists, a Showdown, top-eight contender the Western Bulldogs and a resurgent St Kilda at Marvel Stadium to be 5-2.

Former Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson said the Power was very hard to score against when it got its defensive pressure right.

Sanderson believed Port’s game style was one of the most entertaining in the competition at its best and was sustainable.

“What Kenny and his coaching team would be working on is that ability to make sure their processes and their systems are really consistent, and they can execute against teams for four quarters,” Sanderson said.

“They are a really hard side to stop at the moment.”

Sanderson said the Power’s seven-point win over the Saints last Friday night was a statement game.

“They didn’t kick the ball into that part of the ground where St Kilda tempts you, they were able to break down what has been a really impressive St Kilda defence,” he said.

Catch Port Adelaide v Essendon this Sunday on Fox Footy, available on Foxtel and Kayo Sports

Originally published as Port Adelaide news: How Ken Hinkley turned down Essendon overture