A defiant Ken Hinkley has declared he’s already feeling fresh after a brief post-finals break, and wants to copy Brisbane’s Chris Fagan in finally breaking through for a flag.
The Port Adelaide coach avoided a disastrous straight sets finals exit after guiding the Power to another top-four finish, with the semi-final win over Hawthorn sparking plenty of controversy for Hinkley’s emotional outburst, before a comprehensive preliminary final loss to Sydney.
It was reported the Power would have considered parting ways with Hinkley had they failed to win a final, but the club’s longest-serving coach will instead head into his 13th year at the helm still seeking a Grand Final appearance.
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The 2025 season is the last on Hinkley’s current contract but, speaking on FIVEaa radio he was full of confidence it could be the Power’s year at last.
“It does get hard and it does get tiring at different times, but the reality is, give me four days off, which I’ve had this week and I’m feeling pretty fresh already,” Hinkley said.
“Let me have another crack at this because I ain’t giving this away.
“I’ve got a great relationship with my old mate Fages and when you see people get through eventually you say ‘the only thing I know is you have to keep turning up’.
“I’ve proven to fight a fair bit in my past and I’m going to continue to fight, and I’m going to bring great energy.
“As long as our footy club looks to improve, we’re going to be OK.”
The 58-year-old coach expects to receive “the same questions” about his future in 2025, having claimed the record for the most V/AFL games coached without reaching a Grand Final during the 2024 campaign.
But he drew confidence from Fagan, 63, becoming the oldest V/AFL premiership coach.
“I’ve had it every year,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to help and improve our club, and make sure we give ourselves another chance to participate right at the pointy end of the season.
“Reality is my energy is high, my desire is to help the footy club – that is really the way it is and always has been.”
The Power are targeting Gold Coast’s Jack Lukosius this trade period while dual All-Australian Dan Houston is interested in a move to Victoria, though he could also be kept to his contract.
They have also been linked to Collingwood’s Joe Richards and the Western Bulldogs’ Riley Garcia.
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