Ken Hinkley defiant as calls mount for coaching handover with Josh Carr to be fast-tracked

Ken Hinkley has bristled at suggestions his coaching handover with Josh Carr should be fast-tracked as Port Adelaide’s finals chances hang by a thread.

Ken Hinkley is steadfast that he will not walk away from Port Adelaide’s coaching job this season, even if the finals are beyond reach.

Reports last week suggested Hinkley would resign once the club was out of contention for the major round.

But the 13-year coach, whose side was 4-7 entering Saturday night’s away clash with GWS, emphatically dismissed that notion.

“I’ll be really strong on this: a lot of things get reported that are unfactual – that’s one of them,” Hinkley said.

Ken Hinkley. Picture: Getty Images

“Why would you think I’d be any different to what I was at the start of the year?

“My commitment was to fulfil my obligation for the rest of this year to give the club the best position it can possibly be in for the next 12 months after that, but not before then.

“My focus is strongly on playing GWS and winning that game of football to keep ourselves – as much as we possibly can – going in this season.

“We’ll never give up on the chase.

“And I won’t give up.”

Port Adelaide spent its bye last week reviewing a start to the season that was “nowhere near the level” the club wanted, especially over the winless past month.

Hinkley remained optimistic the Power could turn things around despite “no” margin for error.

Port probably needs to win at least nine of its remaining 12 matches to make the top eight for a third consecutive season.

“I have never been lacking in confidence and as a footy club we have been aggressive enough to back ourselves in, and go after it,” Hinkley said.

The Power coach is confident his group can turn their season around. Picture: Getty Images

“I think the break came at the right time as far as we’d been playing the past three or four weeks.

“We’re really clear on the issues we need to try to fix.

“I am really confident in this group and what they are capable of doing.

“This year, so far, we haven’t, but we have been a pretty consistent footy club.

“I back in the evidence that we have and trust this group of players – I always do.”

Defenders Kane Farrell (knee), Josh Sinn (hip) and Esava Ratugolea (hamstring), as well as small forward Darcy Byrne-Jones (concussion) are all in line to return against the Giants.

They featured in the A team during match simulation at Alberton on Wednesday, but star midfielder Jason Horne-Francis did not participate.

Hinkley said he was one session short of playing this week.

“If we were into taking risks or if we were nervous, we might have pushed it,” he said.

The Power looks poised to drop key forward Ollie Lord, defender Logan Evans and wingman Rory Atkins who all featured in the B side.

Originally published as Ken Hinkley defiant as calls mount for coaching handover with Josh Carr to be fast-tracked