Port Adelaide announce coaching change for 2025 amid speculation over Ken Hinkley's future
The Power have told assistant coach Luke Kelly his services won't be required in 2025.
Port Adelaide have swung the axe, less than a week after their season ended by telling midfield assistant coach Luke Kelly that he will not stay on for the 2025 season. The news comes as the future of head coach Ken Hinkley remains unclear, with the 57-year-old reportedly considering walking away from the final year of his contract due to the toll the 2024 AFL campaign has had on him.
Following last week's preliminary finals loss to the Swans, Port Adelaide have again been left to wonder what could have been. The Power were blown away by a dominant Sydney side, with Hinkley forced to once again address whether he is the right man to lead the 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 throughout this year's finals campaign. And reports suggest the consistent scrutiny throughout this year's finals series has led the coach to consider if he still wants the job.
The job next year will be Hinkley's if he wants it, with Port president David Koch stating that he wishes him to remain at the helm next season. However, it is clear that something needs to change and the Power have been quick to act, moving on assistant coach Kelly - who joined from GWS in 2022 - in the first of what could be many changes to the staff and playing group ahead of 2025.
Power footy boss Chris Davies said Kelly has made a valuable contribution to the club but noted that the club decided to go in a different direction. “Luke has worked tirelessly for our club across the last three seasons,” Davies said in a statement on Thursday.
“He has had a large role to play with our stoppage work, whilst also coordinating our training and education program. The off-season inevitably leads to change, and with Luke out of contract at the end of 2024, we’ve decided to freshen up this aspect of what we do. We are grateful to Luke for his contribution to our program and wish him and his family well for whatever comes next.”
Is Ken Hinkley the man to break Port's grand final drought?
Power fans called for Hinkley to be immediately sacked after the club suffered a devastating defeat to Brisbane in round 15. But their veteran leader turned things around to secure a top-four spot, winning eight of their next nine matches.
However, once again they failed to book a spot in the big dance, losing their qualifying and preliminary finals by a whopping combined 120 points. It’s the fourth time Port have fallen at the final hurdle under Hinkley after defeats in 2014, 2020 and 2021. Hinkley, who has always worn his heart on his sleeve, was combative following the latest preliminary final defeat, stating that he wasn't solely to blame for their poor finals record.
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"It's not one person. This is a whole-of-club thing that goes on," Hinkley said after the loss to the Swans. "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."
