Ken Hinkley in massive Port Adelaide development amid ugly fallout from AFL finals exit

Ken Hinkley is reportedly considering walking away from the final year of his Port Adelaide contract due to the "toll" the 2024 season has had on the Power coach. The 57-year-old's future at Port has been clouded in uncertainty following Friday night's preliminary finals loss to the Swans.

In another disappointing finals exit, Port Adelaide were blown away by a dominant Sydney side, with Hinkley forced to once again address whether he is the right man to lead the South Australian club forward. Hinkley holds the unwanted VFL/AFL record of coaching the most games at a club without ever reaching a grand final - a fact the 57-year-old has been constantly reminded of. And reports suggest the consistent scrutiny throughout this year's AFL finals series has led the coach to consider if he still wants the job.

While Hinkley was given assurances by Port president David Koch that he would retain his job for next season after a thrilling three-point semi-final victory over Hawthorn, AFL reporter Tom Morris claimed after the Swans loss sources from Hinkley's inner circle say he could ultimately decide to walk away from the sport in the off-season. "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," Morris said on Nine's Footy Furnace.

"I'm not saying he will, I'm just saying it wouldn't be a massive shock, such is the toll the last few months have 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."

While Hinkley is contracted for next season, assistant coach Josh Carr is expected to take over the top job whenever Hinkley either decides to leave or the club decides it needs to head in a fresh direction.

Hinkley, who has always worn his heart on his sleeve, was combative in his post-match press conference following the Power's loss to the Swans. The defeat marked the fourth time in Hinkley's tenure when Port fell at the penultimate hurdle - with the last three coming in the space of five seasons. And after Friday night's defeat, Hinkley reiterated that it wasn't fair to put the disappointment of another near miss on him.

"But it's not one person. This is a whole-of-club thing that goes on," Hinkley said. "If we had got through tonight, it wouldn't have been me, and if we didn't get through tonight, it'd be us.

"I do understand that, as the head coach, you cop the brunt of that and I'm OK with copping the brunt. But the reality is, you can't do this without a full club. You just can't."

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Leigh Matthews says Hinkley can take Port to premiership glory

Leigh Matthews believes Hinkley is still the right man to lead Port to an elusive flag. And the AFL great also echoed the Port coach's sentiment that there is 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 said. "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."