The 2017 AFL season isn’t even over yet and already Ken Hinkley and Brad Scott, despite the frustrations of fans, have received extensions to 2021 and 2020 respectively.
Originally reported on Monday afternoon, Hinkley’s extension was officially confirmed on Tuesday morning.
Hinkley in all fairness didn’t have a bad year in the business. Our reader-voted ladder prediction from March tipped Port Adelaide to finish sixteenth, so a fifth-placed finish – even if it did end in an elimination final exit – was still wildly better than expected from the point of view of most punters.
However that perspective was lost pretty quickly after a competitive start to the year and by the time finals neared most Port Adelaide fans were eyeing a top four finish, a deep run into finals, maybe even an unlikely chance at the flag (I mean, if the Bulldogs can do it…).
Instead Port’s failure to take any real scalps either during the season or in the finals left fans a bit unsure as to whether or not he genuinely is the right man to take them forward.
Given that Hinkley was contracted until the end of 2018, there was no need to rush a decision on his future – this is the sort of thing that a club would usually look at in December-January, preferring to focus their more immediate energies on the trade period and draft.
Even when that decision was made, an extension for two years or even just the one would’ve been the most reasonable outcome for a coach who, despite plenty of promise, hasn’t delivered any finals wins inside the last three years.
Instead it has taken Port Adelaide only slightly more than a week after their season ended in disappointment to offer him an extension that will guarantee he continues in the role for the next four years at least, a minimum tenure at the club of nine seasons.
The reason, of course, is the lurking interest of the Gold Coast Suns, who were reportedly willing to offer Hinkley the security of a five-year deal which, being backed by the AFL, surely would have been a pretty kind one for his bank account balance.
That kind of lengthy deal makes sense for the Suns to offer Hinkley – he might not be their first premiership coach but he could at least offer a guaranteed level of quality. More than they need to pick the right coach, they need to not pick the wrong one.
On top of that as a former assistant at the Suns he already has good a relationship with some key members of the player base and might have been a crucial player in the mission to retain Tom J Lynch’s signature.
The Suns would have been more than happy for Ken Hinkley to deliver sweet mid-table mediocrity – it would be a step forward from being a basket case and something to build on – but a vocal Port Adelaide fanbase will not be accepting of the same.
A similar situation, of course, emerged a few weeks ago with North Melbourne’s Brad Scott reportedly also being targeted by Gold Coast, and also being quickly signed up by his current club with a two-year extension that suggests a lot more faith in him than most North fans have.
At first some thought maybe his extension was a sign that North had landed one of Dustin Martin or Josh Kelly, but that’s now clearly not the case. Instead, it seems that in the cases of both Scott and Hinkley, the coach and the club played a game of contract-extension chicken, and the club blinked.
These signings might ultimately prove to be good decisions. I would certainly have given the thumbs up to at least a one-year extension for both, and perhaps the longer deals will allow for greater stability at the clubs, which will lead to success.
Generally speaking however, being reactive isn’t a great way to do business, and that’s what both clubs appear to have done here. Only time will tell if it works out for them.
What’s next in Gold Coast’s search for a Messiah? This appears likely to be the end of their attempts to land someone with senior coaching experience, though personally I reckon they could do a lot worse than Ross Lyon.
Instead an untried coach now looks the likely result, with Carlton’s John Barker – hopefully a mini-Brendon Bolton, or a mini-mini-Alastair Clarkson – or Sydney’s Stewart Dew the candidates seemingly leading the way.
Pelican
Guest
Thanks Jorge. Im getting senile. That makes sense now.
David C
Guest
Rocky is a restricted free agent but Brisbane would likely not match the bid and just take the compo. If he draws a high enough salary over say 4 years they could even get pick 2 as compo but more likely an end of first rounder.
JD
Guest
Yeah, and as Richmond have shown, success OFF the field goes a long way towards the wheel of success on the field turning. Stable, well run clubs with excellent memberships can withstand long periods of on-field failure.
JW
Guest
Isn't rockliff a free agent though? so no need to trade for him?
Jorge Mauve
Guest
You are half right Pelican . Charlie was mentioned but it was Charlie CAMERON from Crows. The Duck's idea has some merit. Each teams' positional and age demographic would be satisfied . I think even considering their draft position - it is all roughly equitable.
Pelican
Guest
Did any one see Wayne Carey on talking footy. I am sure I heard him talk about a 3 way deal were Rockliff would go to Carlton. Gibbs to Adelaide and here's were I did a double take Dixon to Brisbane. Does no one on that show know that Port and the Crows are not the same thing. Do none of them know Dixon plays for Port. Or did I hear it wrong.
anon
Roar Pro
What’s next in Gold Coast’s search for a Messiah? This appears likely to be the end of their attempts to land someone with senior coaching experience, though personally I reckon they could do a lot worse than Ross Lyon. How's the rebuild going at Fremantle? He bailed on the last one at St Kilda.
Brandon the 1st
Guest
Josh, if you think Port flicked a switch and signed Hinkley up quickly because of this then you're misguided. They've been talking about doing it all year, and given Ken has taken us to the finals in three of the last 5 years then it makes sense, in the footy fans poll on afl.com.au 82% of port fans thought Hinkley was the right man for the job. This is just a way of giving the Gold Coast the finger, good job. Hindley for the next four years, I'm a happy member.
Jorge Mauve
Guest
This period of unprecedented stability coincidentally arrived with the AFL introducing a new 'sacked coach tax' . In 2016 they introduced a provision that if clubs sacked a coach their payout would be included in the football department spending. So if last year the Tigers sacked Dimma like lots of scribes and pundits predicted, his remaining salary would be included, as well as any future coach's wages; putting them at a disadvantage to all other clubs. Ironically, it was the first time we have seen an assistant coach clean out, which if there was any payout involved it was generally not included or relatively minuscule. It appears Collingwood and Emperor Eddie will go down a similar path. It is amazing how much maturity is displayed when club's predetermined budgets are affected .....
Birdman
Guest
I agree the footy shows and rags were def. looking to make serious mileage out of the saga but it did seem strange (to me at least) that Hinkley was suddenly hot coaching property despite having an average finals record with 2014 being the outlier - says plenty about the available alternatives I guess.
AD
Guest
Ross Lyon is the king. How many seasons has he been a senior AFL coach for across both clubs, St Kilda and Fremantle? How many other coaches have had careers that long without a single flag to show for it? He might not be much of a coach, but by God he's got the contract side of things down pat.
Pelican
Guest
Nine is fine. No regrets just stability and success. The frustration is not by Port supporters its from those who want them to fail.
Pelican
Guest
No frustration here. Very happy with Ken. Has blooded many new players. List is in the lower half on age the middle on experience and made upwrd ladder movement. If he wanted to go to the Suns that was fine but I think it was posturing for a better deal and good luck to him. The press and fans from other clubs were very excited about the possibility of him leaving. The disappointment on talking footy and classified last night was palpable. Haters like gary lyon were looking for new angles of negativity. BT was the only one happy for Port. It was great viewing watching all the speculation unravel. Bad luck to those wishing for instability at Port. Good luck to Ken and the boys at Alberton. No frustration here we are on the up. Good luck to the Tigers in the flag hunt I hope you win it this year.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
In many ways, this is the more rational and mature approach. It's probably acknowledging that it does take some time to build a list that can compete consistently at a level for finals success (also reflecting the increased level of competition in the AFL). Clubs may also have an eye on Bomber Thompson's and Clarkson's journies to success, where holding the course in the face of nonlinear trajectories, paid off big time.
Slane
Guest
You can blame Bomber, Clarko and Malthouse for that.
Birdman
Guest
it's certainly not the EPL, Cam.
Cameron Rose
Expert
We seem to be in a period of unprecedented stability for coaches, particularly for those that haven't delivered much in the way of finals success. Hardwick, Scott, Hinkley, Buckley. It sounds like Richardson will get an extension. Then you've got Clarkson, Longmire, Scott and Lyon who are all long term coaches.
Birdman
Guest
and Kochie rosined up Hinkley's bow for him - well played Ken
Birdman
Guest
I'd still favour Ratten but who really knows what the Suns will do?
Kate
Guest
'frustrations of fans'? Happy Port fan right here and I'm not alone.