‘Wouldn’t be shocked if he walked’: Big Ken claim amid contract question

There’s reportedly a level of uncertainty around Ken Hinkley’s future as Port Adelaide coach.

That’s according to Nine’s Tom Morris, who claims people close to Hinkley “wouldn’t be hugely shocked” if the 57-year old walked from this position with a year to run on his contract due to the “toll” of recent months.

Hinkley, who’s been at the helm at Alberton since 2013, has failed to lead the club beyond the preliminary final hurdle during that time despite multiple top four finishes including losing the grand final qualifier against Sydney last Friday night.

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Speaking on Footy Furnace, Morris acknowledged Power assistant Josh Carr “will be Port’s next coach” eventually, “it’s just a matter of when.”

And while it’s widely expected the club will again back in Hinkley to lead it into 2025, there’s question marks on his commitment to the role after coming under intense pressure throughout stages this year.

“We expect Ken Hinkley to be there next year, but there are people that are close to him that wouldn’t be hugely shocked if he walked away now, which I was surprised when I learned that in the last 24 hours,“ Morris revealed.

“I’m not saying he will (leave), I’m just saying it wouldn’t be a massive shock, such is the toll the last few months has taken on the senior coach.

“Is he happy to ride it out in 2025 without a contract for 2026? That’s the big question for Ken given how arduous the season has been.”

Hinkley holds the unwanted record of the most VFL/AFL games coached at any club without making a grand final including having led Port in a record 274 matches.

After his side’s prelim loss to Sydney, Hinkley called for less focus to be put him — and on head coaches in general — saying “no one person is going to do it on his own” and emphasising the need for “full club” buy in.

AFL legend Leigh Matthews doesn’t see any issues with Hinkley going into 2025 without a deal for the following season, suggesting “more clubs should let their coaches go into the last year of a contract.”

And Matthews echoed Hinkley’s sentiment around there being too much liability put on senior coaches.

“I don’t think there’s anything different between a coach who can get his team to a preliminary final, a grand final or win a premiership,” Matthews told Footy Furnace.

“It’s not as if there’s this golden, magic bullet. Some teams are good enough and the coach gets the credit for it.

“That’s what Ken Hinkley is saying, it’s a group of people now that coordinate the playing group and list management. The main thing at Port is they’ve got to get a better list together.

“I wouldn’t think in any shape or form is Ken Hinkley unable to take a club to the next step.”