An emotional Ken Hinkley responds to Sam Powell-Pepper’s suspected ACL injury after loss to Brisbane

On a night of injury carnage at the Gabba, an emotional Ken Hinkley has been left saddened by the likelihood he won’t coach Sam Powell-Pepper again.

Marco Monteverde

@marcothejourno

4 min read

July 6, 2025 - 8:56AM

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An emotional Ken Hinkley has been left saddened by the likelihood that he has coached Sam Powell-Pepper for the last time after the Port Adelaide star suffered a second serious knee injury within two seasons in the Power’s 28-point loss to Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday night.

Hinkley said it was likely that Powell-Pepper would again be sidelined with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament – this time in his left knee – after being forced off the field in the third quarter of Brisbane’s 18.12 (120) to 14.8 (92) win.

Powell-Pepper only played three games last season before succumbing to the same injury in his right knee.

The moment Sam Powell-Pepper hurt his knee

“It obviously looks like an ACL,” said Hinkley, whose tenure as Port coach will end at the conclusion of this season.

“We will get the scan back over the next couple of days, but that’s really, really sad. When I think about that, it gets a bit sadder for me because it’s my last game of coaching Sam, and he’s been such a great player for me.

“It’s really difficult when you have someone that you really care about to see that happen to him for the second time on the other leg.

“I wish him a speedy recovery, and I know he’ll be a great player for Port Adelaide.”

The injury was a sad end to an otherwise memorable week for Powell-Pepper, who celebrated the birth of his new child.

“He’s had a new baby, and (now) he has to deal with that (injury), but in typical ‘Pep’ fashion, he’ll deal with it,” Hinkley said.

“He’ll have a couple of days where it’ll be pretty tough, and he’ll be back.”

Powell-Pepper limps off the Gabba. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos

Esava Ratugolea was out of the game early, too. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos

Powell-Pepper was one of three Port players who didn’t finish the game, with Dante Visentini (ankle) and Esava Ratugolea (hamstring) both failing to complete the first quarter.

Substitute Hugh Jackson came into the game for Visentini, but Ratugolea’s injury meant the Power had to operate with just three players on the interchange bench.

Despite the injuries, the Power never gave up, but a run of eight successive Brisbane first-half goals ultimately proved too much for the visitors to overcome.

“Bar a 10-minute patch in the first quarter, we played 119 minutes where we outscored Brisbane at home, and I’m really proud of that effort by the boys,” Hinkley said.

“We never threw it in at any stage. With all the things that were going a little bit wrong, and some of those things, clearly, were injuries, which was really sad, but then there was some turnover stuff that came from us that we gave Brisbane.

“They’re a great side, and they capitalised on every moment we gave them, but again, I’m really proud of the performance by the boys.”

Port Adelaide’s finals hopes are all but gone. Picture: Albert Perez/AFL Photos

Hinkley conceded that Port’s bid to play finals football this season was all but over following a ninth loss in 16 games.

“Let’s be honest … we’ll play really hard to the end of the year whenever the end of the year is, but it looks like to me that 14-15 wins is what you need to get in (the top-eight) anyhow,” he said.

“Unfortunately we’re not in the eight this year, but we’re a side that going forward has got a bright future.”

Lions blitz all but ends Power on a night of injury carnage

A run of eight successive Brisbane goals either side of quarter-time ultimately proved the difference on Saturday night, with the Lions holding on to beat a gallant and injury-ravaged Port Adelaide by 28 points at the Gabba.

Inspired by five goals and 26 disposals from Zac Bailey, the Lions’ 18.12 (120) to 14.8 (92) win further cemented their bid for a top-two spot and made Port’s task of playing finals football this season all the more difficult.

Zac Bailey was the star on Saturday night. Picture: Albert Perez/AFL Photos

However, despite their loss, the Power’s commitment couldn’t be faulted as they finished the match with only two players on the interchange bench after Dante Visentini (ankle), Esava Ratugolea (hamstring) and Sam Powell-Pepper (knee) suffered injuries.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley confirmed post match the club fears Powell-Pepper’s injury is season-ending.

“It gets a bit sadder for me because it’s my last game of coaching Sam, and he’s been such a great player for me,” Hinkley said of Powell-Pepper’s suspected ACL tear.

Despite the adversity, the Power wouldn’t go down without a fight, with Mitch Georgiades kicking four goals and former Gold Coast Suns star Jack Lukosius booting three of his own,

However, the handy buffer the Lions created on the back of eight successive first-half goals proved too much for the undermanned Power to overcome.

Lions flick switch

The Lions had spoken pre-game about the need to lift their intensity at the Gabba, but in the early stages of the first-quarter, it seemed that Brisbane again would pay the price for a lack of vigour on its home ground.

Port charged to a 13-0 lead, with the Lions only disposing of the ball seven times in the first six-and-a-half minutes of the match.

Brisbane’s first goal didn’t come until more than 12 minutes into the contest, and at the time the visitors still had control of the contest

However, trailing 19-8, the Lions suddenly found the fervour they had been searching for.

The premiers went on a blitz, kicking seven successive goals to finish the quarter with a 32-point lead.

“They had 10 minutes of power which was amazing,” Port coach Ken Hinkley told Fox Footy.

Charlie Cameron and Zac Bailey each finished the quarter with two goals, while star midfielder Hugh McCluggage complemented his 12 possessions with a goal.