‘Anything less than a prelim’: Port coach ‘expects exit’ if they lose next week… with rival circling

Ken Hinkley reportedly believes a loss in next week’s semi-final against Hawthorn will bring an end to his career at Port Adelaide – with West Coast looming large as his second home.

The Power went into last Friday night’s qualifying final as favourites but were belted by 84 points against Geelong, and now host a red-hot Hawks side in a do-or-die semi-final.

But Nine’s Tom Morris believes Hinkley and the club are on the same page, and understand if Port Adelaide loses to Hawthorn, an “amicable” parting of the ways is likely.

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If that happens West Coast, who have been rejected by half a dozen coaching candidates and are currently scouting options from the assistant ranks, would likely pounce according to Morris.

They are said to be willing to offer Hinkley a chance to leave the Power with a year left on his contract, and gain long-term security in WA.

“Port Adelaide simply cannot afford to fall before a prelim, and probably a Grand Final, given where they’ve been the last few years,” Morris said on Footy Furnace.

“My understanding is Ken Hinkley is acutely aware of his coaching mortality. He believes anything less than a prelim final appearance will spell the end of his career.

“Whether he’s been told that specifically or not, I’m not sure, but that’s certainly what he believes.

“And what is absolutely still in the picture is West Coast’s interest. Now I haven’t confirmed this, but I believe that West Coast would be prepared to offer a long-term deal to Ken Hinkley, lucrative cash as well, whether that would tempt him to leave a year before his contract finishes.

“But I think they’re all on the same page here. I don’t think Ken Hinkley’s going to be sacked and blindsided; I equally don’t think Ken Hinkley’s gonna join West Coast and Port Adelaide are gonna say, we want you to stay.

“If that does transpire, it’ll be a fairly amicable situation, but it all rests on this week. They cannot afford to go out in straight sets.”

Hinkley has a 60.29% win rate as Port Adelaide coach but is now 5-8 in finals, including four consecutive losses, three of those in home games.

As the higher-ranked team in finals under Hinkley, the Power are 3-5.

In Friday night’s semi-final Hinkley will match Mark Williams’ 273-game stint to become the club’s equal-longest serving AFL coach.

Nobody in AFL history has coached more games without reaching a Grand Final than Hinkley. He sits 14 games ahead of former Fitzroy and Essendon boss Bill Stephen, and 15 games ahead of ex-North Melbourne and current Essendon coach Brad Scott.