Hinkley’s regret over post-match sprays, but Hawthorn legends slam ‘embarrassing’ behaviour

War of words

Moments after the siren sounded on Port Adelaide’s thrilling semi-final win over Hawthorn, Power coach Ken Hinkley indulged in an incredible, extended verbal tirade with Hawthorn captain James Sicily.

Sicily was being consoled by Hawks teammates after his late miss cost his side a possible victory when he was the beneficiary of some unwanted feedback from Hinkley.

Hawks skipper James Sicily reacts to Ken Hinkley’s spray post game.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Hinkley told Channel Seven his outburst was directed at Jack Ginnivan for his post on Instagram about seeing Brodie Grundy in two weeks.

Television commentator and Hawks legend Luke Hodge described Hinkley’s behaviour as “pretty poor form from a coach”.

Hinkley bristled during his Thursday morning press conference at Alberton when questioned by reporters whether he would be coaching for his career on Friday night.

The pressure seemed to show when Hinkley, instead of celebrating the win with his players, chose to engage in a long, unfriendly, eye-balling chat with the beaten Hawks.

Port staved off Hawthorn’s spirited fightback and book a berth in next weekend’s preliminary final against Sydney.

Luckless forward Todd Marshall suffered another head knock in his return from concussion and eventually subbed out, before gun midfielder Jason Horne-Francis hobbled off late in the match, seemingly suffering from cramp.

Thrilling finish

Port survived a mid-match rally and a titanic late challenge to stave off Hawthorn in a semi-final classic at a heaving Adelaide Oval.

The Hawks’ brave assault at a come-from-behind victory came after coach Sam Mitchell switched some magnets in the fourth quarter, notably switching James Sicily into attack.

Jase Burgoyne of the Power celebrates a goal with teammates.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Sicily has won the Hawks many games in defence - but he showed he is also no slouch in attack, joining livewire Nick Watson in giving Port’s defenders fits.

After the Power stretched their advantage to 18 points, Sicily jagged one back with a smart hook in space from a forward stoppage - his snap adjudged to have barely beaten Boak’s spoiling fingertips.

The skipper followed it up with his second major in quick succession before being involved in the chain that led to Jack Ginnivan’s snap, which trimmed Port’s fourth-quarter buffer to five points.

Sicily had a chance to put his side in front but his set shot with 63 seconds left slammed into the post.

The Hawks fashioned a flurry of repeat entries at the death.

Massimo D’Ambrosio’s hurried snap was swallowed by Esava Ratugolea, before Jai Newcombe’s last-ditch kick was smothered in the last nanosecond by Darcy Byrne-Jones, whose last-second soccer goal miracle broke Hawthorn hearts the previous time the teams played at Adelaide Oval.

September royalty

Burgoynes and finals - they go together like cheese and wine.

Playing on the biggest stage of his young football life to date, 21-year-old Jase Burgoyne arguably played the best game of his life.

One of the competition’s most promising young wingmen, Burgoyne started in defence and his composure across half-back was a key reason behind Hawthorn’s early struggles.

Burgoyne’s only real blemish was an unlucky free kick conceded, which he followed by copping a 50-metre penalty for dissent, which allowed Dylan Moore to goal during the Hawks’ second-term surge.

Burgoyne snapped truly from 35 metres out after a magic pass by Willie Rioli midway through the fourth quarter as the Power threatened to take control.

Burgoyne’s dad Peter was a member of the Power’s 2004 premiership side, while legendary uncle Shaun played in four AFL flags.

Good night, everyone.

What a final we’ve had tonight. An instant September classic that was given extra spice by Ken Hinkley’s war of words with Hawthorn skipper James Sicily.

It’s season over for the Hawks, who will be wondering what could have been, while for Port, they’re off to a preliminary final against flag favourite Sydney at the SCG next Friday night.

We’ll be back tomorrow night for the semi-final final between Greater Western Sydney and Brisbane at Engie Stadium.

Have a great Saturday.

Ken Hinkley on Charlie Dixon’s late withdrawal.

The Charlie Dixon situation pre-game, what did you know, was it just illness?

You would have seen him out on the ground trying to do some stuff, but he was physically ill and couldn’t get through the game.

Charlie Dixon talks to the club doctor during Thursday’s training.Credit: Getty Images

Has he been carrying that since Freo?

He was crook. We pulled him out of Freo because he was sick, he recovered and was OK, but as anyone who has any viruses in the last few years, they can come back and get you again. We’re hopeful he’ll be more than OK next week.

More on Dixon:

It is a re-occurring situation. He trained through the week but as he got through the week later he was getting worse and even said to me yesterday he was really struggling. I said let’s wait and see what happens when you get close to the game.

Ken Hinkley praised Jase Burgoyne for his performance at half-back during his post game media coneference.

Jase Burgoyne, he had an absolutely breakout game.

He’s had a couple. He’s been pretty good at games this year. That was a cutthroat final and he had to go back half-back and stand up and play a role. He was proud of the way he played.

Jase Burgoyne of the Power celebrates a goal.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Have you been weighing that up since Dan got suspended? What was the balance between playing him on the balance between playing him on the wing and putting him at half- back?

We were forced to weigh it up. We lost Dan and Baz and then Ryan only yesterday. We were looking for some answers. We had to stay as dynamic as we could around the ball to try and get the ball our way and that meant we had to put someone else in a different position that they hadn’t played much this year.

You’ve got Jase returning to defence after playing through his first couple of years at Port and Josh has barely played because of injury. Logan Evans also a mid-season draftee. Were you happy with how they stood up on the big stage?

Really happy. Hawthorn’s small forwards have been enormous and there were some very good ones out there again tonight. A pretty young back line and I thought Aliir and Badge did a good job to keep them together and Miles one of the most mature ones along there.

Power coach Ken Hinkley spoke to the media post game.

Hinkley: I should start in saying there was an incident after the game where I had some words with a Hawthorn player that I wish I hadn’t had come in a moment I shouldn’t have had. But it was an emotional game and a big result. There was stuff said during last week I certainly didn’t enjoy. But I shouldn’t have let that moment get to me.

Power coach Ken Hinkley speaks to his players.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Sam Mitchell said he won’t want to speak to you. How will you apologise to the Hawks after that incident?

I think basically now I’ve made it known to them through this that I shouldn’t have approached the moment that I did. But again, what was done during the week was done, and I responded to it in an emotional state, which shouldn’t have been said.

Will you speak to Jack [Ginnivan] and James [Sicily] after what happened?

I don’t think so because I don’t think now is the right time for me to have a conversation with anyone and I should reflect on the moment.

How much did you use Jack’s social media comment to spur the boys on during the week?

That’s probably why it got to the point it did, we as a footy club found it a little bit disrespectful. That’s why it gets to where it gets.

Is it any difference to you at your press conference, is there any difference in the line with what Jack said on social media? “See you next week”.

That was said to me walking out.

Was it flippant? The same thing Jack was saying?

I’m not sure. We as a footy club didn’t enjoy that comment. But that’s OK, everyone has the right to speak.

What did you say to Jack?

There’s no need to keep going there. It was a pretty good game of football.

Do you also regret taking a bit of a gloss off a courageous win by your club?

Yeah, I regret the comment is what I should say, and should have stayed out of that comment, but I didn’t.

Is that part of the experience, after the Saints, you are emotional and wear your heart on your sleeve?

It just goes to show everyone can get better and I’m still trying to get better.

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell spoke to the media post-match:

Sam, what is your emotion like now, can you verbalise what you’re feeling right now?

Sam Mitchell: I guess, disappointment, you know. I’m just really sad this season is over. So many people put in so much to get us to this point, and for it to be finished is ... it’s not a strong enough word, ‘disappointment’. There is obviously some pride and I’m sure all of that will come out over time. But right now, I’m sad for the players, I’m sad for the fans. I think everyone loved watching what we were doing, but it’s not quite good enough. And we have to live with that. That will spur us on for next year.

I’m sure you would have been made aware of Ken Hinkley and James Sicily on the final siren. Is it disappointing to see a rival coach do that after a win and an exchange of words with your captain?

I can only speak on my club’s behalf, and think about how my club, the Hawthorn Football Club, dealt with the post game. We had a very young player who was ... having had some very aggressive words said to him by a much older man, who has been in the game for a long time, and the captain of my club stood up for him. And so I think, it’s really tough to sit here right now, getting rushed by the AFL, “make sure you are at the press conference on time”. So, I understand the emotions at this time of year are really difficult and I’m really proud of our captain, who would have been just as emotional, he was able to stand up and lead in a way that he could be proud of.

Will you seek to speak to Ken after that? How frustrated are you to have that relayed you from a rival coach?

That’s the third question, that’s enough.

How did it feel losing the game like that?

The pain I felt, and the pain I saw in their faces was exactly, it was ... I mean, as players and coaches, but we are all as one. And it’s not just the players, like, I looked at the players, like, I looked at the players all sitting like that and all the staff around the outside and I looked at all the faces and all the red eyes, and it was pain and disappointment and frustration and regret, and pride just all staring straight back at me. It’s a brutal game and we came from a long way back at the start of the year, and if we could have got a bit better a bit quicker a bit earlier, maybe we would win that game. We gave ourselves chances, we just didn’t quite take them. Take enormous pride in the playing group. We’ve had some challenges across the whole season, but across the last few years. I think when our fans go to work on Monday, they will wear the colours and be pretty proud of what we put out there today.

I know it’s still very raw, but what are the areas you feel like you let yourself down tonight? That you lost the game in?

It was a close game. We didn’t control much of the game. They controlled a lot of the territory, centre forward, we were like minus 30 in one area of the ground for contested possessions. So we were not great in a few different areas. But I mean, the technical, tactical aspect of tonight’s game, we gave ourselves chances to win, we found a way, against odds, for the majority. A lot of the game’s on their terms.

Will you use this pain animation going forward and look back on this in the future?

It will be hard not to. I hope not! I think pain is a great motivator. Every training session, you know, when you think about running through the line or finishing your extra rep in the gym and all those things, there’s a little bit of pain that burns into you. I don’t think we were good enough to feel like we could be complacent. We are gonna have to make progress. It’s not a natural, linear progression. I’ve said all year that we are far from a finished product, and we wanted to be in winnable positions more often, and we were, we won a lot of them. But we were in a winnable position today but not quite good enough on the end. So I don’t think motivation, it hasn’t been the trouble for this group, hasn’t been an issue for this group, hasn’t been an issue for this group at all. So I imagine the pain of what I saw looking back at this post game, was a part of that.

You talked about your captain’s actions after the game, but what about his last quarter when he went into attack and had two goals and almost kicked the go-ahead goal, he was huge for you guys in that quarter.

Sic has obviously been playing for a long time, less than 100 per cent on his arm and he will go in for surgery pretty quickly, I imagine. Lots of the players stood up, whether it was Karl Amon, Josh Weddle or Wizard. There’s some young guys and some older guys, and they all were able to have an influence and be really important for us at different stages. Sic’s last quarter was excellent. Dylan Moore hit the post. So it’s all margins.

When you came together as a team, were you able to express that pride that you have in there?

I hope so. I hope I did. (sighs) I think it goes without saying I’m enormously proud. I said to them, it’s your club now. A lot of them helping us run the place and guiding, trying to show them what’s needed to be elite at this level of footy, and they know now. So it’s going to be an interesting experience for us. But we finished sixth, did we? So we are sixth, just in the top third of the ladder. So that’s where we’re at.

Matthew Richardson: “I think it’s pretty clear, he mentioned Ginnivan when he talked to Brian in Roaming Brian. We all know what happened during the week with Ginnivan and Brodie Grundy, saying we will see you in 14 days and I think Ken is clearly saying we are the ones flying up to Sydney next week. I think everyone knew Port would use that as a motivation, but you don’t need to see that after the game.”

Power coach Ken Hinkley.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Luke Hodge: “You use it as motivation to build the blokes up to say if he gets near the ball, you go and get him. But, as soon as you win and the siren goes, the game is over. He is a 60- year-old man. Act your age. You don’t go and start stuff like that because then, after all the football that Port played, they were sensational tonight, we’re coming out talking about them being poor sports, by saying that to a team that’s just finished their season. ”

MR: “There was no doubt Port were going to use that tonight, though?”

LH: “No 100 per cent, you use it in the game. As soon as the siren goes, you go and say bad luck, you had a good year… you don’t go and say something to them.”

Another Hawks legend Shaun Burgoyne has had a crack at Ken Hinkley.

“Leave it for social media,” Burgoyne said on Channel Seven.

“After the game, you need to be gracious in victory and you go away. Ken recognised that straight away and he let his emotions get a hold of him.

“You can see the other Port (Adelaide) players laughing which isn’t a good look. You need to be gracious in victory. Luke Breust is being celebrated for his 300th game, show him the respect he deserves as well.”

Port’s coach Ken Hinkley (left) had an exchange with James Sicily at this point.Credit: AFL Photos / Getty Images

Burgoyne played 250 games for Hawthorn, and 157 for Port Adelaide in his 407-game career. He was not coached by Hinkley.

Burgoyne’s nephew Jase Burgoyne was part of Port’s team tonight.

Hawthorn legend Jordan Lewis was very strong on Ken Hinkley’s behaviour after the game.

“I thought it was embarrassing from my point of view,” Lewis said on Fox Footy.

“I don’t think there was anything to be gained from it. If he wanted to have a bit of play during the week, say it then. I don’t think you gain anything saying it after the game.”