Ken Hinkley really was on a hiding to nothing in the minor round of 2024 as far as the members were concerned. Whilst those outside of the club might spruik his 60% winning record, for long time Port members only premierships matter. And in 2024 it seems that the Port Adelaide board agree.
It is hard not to draw comparisons between Ken Hinkley in his 12th season as coach in 2024 and the club’s greatest ever player (despite what AFL boffins might say) Russell Ebert as coach in 1987. Russell had a lot more runs on the board with the Port Adelaide faithful, having shown himself to be a premiership winner as a player 3 times. In spite of this his 55% winning record wasn’t enough. Like Hinkley, Ebert coached his team to 2nd on the ladder at the end of the 1987 minor round (with an impressive 15-7 record). However, missing the grand final was not acceptable to a ruthless Port Adelaide Football club who ended Eberts tenure after 5 years in charge without that elusive premiership. John Cahill returned to the coaching role and the rest as they say is history.
Like Ebert it would seem that the pass mark for Ken Hinkley to survive in 2024 is a grand final at minimum. The club needs to show that it can win 2 big finals for the membership to be convinced that one day, under this coach, they might have a chance to win 3 and go all the way.
This created an uncomfortable test for Ken Hinkley, and one that he was not used to, having previously been extended before the test of finals even began.
Credit must go to Hinkley for the way he has approached the season. Right from the start he has focussed on winning when it matters, rather than winning minor round games. This was evidenced by key forward Charlie Dixon having a reduced pre-season and early season rests in an attempt to minimise the load on his body and maximise the potential for him to be in peak fitness and form when the real season (finals) begins. With six wins on the trot heading into the finals series and a fit and firing list, it would seem that Ken got his timing right.
There have been winning moves in season as well. Shifting the forward line focus from an increasingly banged up Charlie Dixon to the athletic and mobile Mitch Georgiades has been a success. The way that Jason Horne-Francis has been used in the “Dusty”/Petracca role has been dynamic for both the midfield and the forward line. Moving Ratagolea forward has changed the dynamic at both ends and the savvy recruitment of Logan Evans has been a master stroke, especially with the Dan Houston suspension.
It wasn’t all rosy in the 2024 minor round though. In the first half of the season Port continued a trend of losing to the big teams in the important games, including the showdown against a struggling Adelaide. The Port members held the club accountable in the only way left to them at an AFL controlled club (short of abandoning the club they love), with boos from the terrace.
After that Brisbane game the it became clear that (like 1987), minor round wins were not going to cut it in 2024 for the members or the club. The famous Port Adelaide accountability and ruthlessness had seemingly returned (though a sterner test may yet come at the end of the season).
Ken had nothing to gain and everything to lose in the 2024 minor round. He could not secure his job and his legacy, however failing to win finals would almost certainly cost him his job. He will get no credit for passing this test with flying colours, and rightly so, everyone knows he is good at that aspect of his role. Now the real season (finals) begins.
No one wants Ken to succeed more than the Port Adelaide faithful. They are not critical for criticism’s sake, they want to win, and if Ken can show that he has learnt how to do it, none will love him more. And so the stage is set.
Despite commentary earlier in the season it is clear that Port has the list capable of bringing home a flag. The midfield is elite, the forward line is dynamic, the defence is stingy and for the most part the list is fit and well.
Ken was on a hiding to nothing in the 2024 minor round. And now he has a chance to make it all worth something. To leave a legacy, to honour the “enviable tradition”, dare I say it to “make the community proud”.
Now the real stuff begins and it simply must be a grand final or bust for Ken Hinkley’s PAFC career and a premiership or bust for his legacy. Will he go down as a zero premiership player and coach at AFL level? Or can he deliver to the members that elusive 2nd AFL flag they have been demanding?
If he does, there will not be a single member, coach or board member who regrets holding the club and coach accountable to its mission of ‘existing to win premierships” in whatever way they could.
Carn Port Adelaide!
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