Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has been rewarded with a two-year contract extension after helping lift the AFL club back into premiership contention last season.
The new deal will extend the 54-year-old’s reign at the Power to the end of the 2023 season, marking 11 years in the job.
Hinkley entered 2020 with doubts hovering over his future after the Power had failed to make finals in four of the previous five years.
But the Power rebounded strongly, finishing last season as minor premiers before losing to Richmond by six points in a thrilling preliminary final.
Port Adelaide will start 2021 as fourth favourites for the flag, and chairman David Koch feels Hinkley is the right man to lead the club to a period of sustained success.
“At Port Adelaide, we exist to win premierships and our people have high expectations, which we wholeheartedly embrace going into 2021,” Koch said.
“Ken has built a culture within our football program of care and connection. You could see how much the players were playing for each other and for Ken last season, and how much Ken savoured the success of his team.
“We think in Ken, his coaching group, the football department and our players, we have the ingredients to achieve the ultimate success, and we look forward to seeing that play out over the next three years.”
Hinkley said falling short last year would fuel the group’s hunger in 2021.
“We’re embracing the challenge of delivering sustained success for our people,” Hinkley said.
“That is what I crave as a coach of this playing group. I want this for our players and I want this for our community.
“We fell agonisingly short in our 150th year and that hurts. But I know our playing group and entire club has a burning desire to go further in 2021.”
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
Had poker Tuesday night and Jeff the dads army boy was talking and he joined and signed up with Port Adelaide in 1963 the year Kennedy got assassinated. I dont know who that makes feel older, him or me.lol. thought you may like that useless piece of information, as I did.lol.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yeah but player for player swaps are very uncommon these days.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
You forgot Polec , hombsh, pittard and young also but not sure you understand why those players arent there anymore,not all of them are players requesting to swap club
Chad, Jarman, Paddy, Dougal all say Hi!
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
I think this is a great move, he's got the list, his window is now, back him in I say. We play more sustainable style of footy compared to a few years back and have some really talented footy players coming along beautifully. Imagine how good Rozee and butters can still get, Rozee played injured all year and said he felt ok in the last final where we saw glimpses of what he's capable off. We've got great depth, good kids underneath legitimately pushing for a game, and the big difference this time..........no Jasper Pittard, that's worth two goals a game compared to last time around.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Liebert is so under-rated, even by the power coaching staff. He would have been a good get for most clubs.
AD
Guest
And that's why I don't understand the point of extending him now. It's not like some other club is going to poach him away from Port before the start of the season. What is the point of signing him up now instead of waiting until round 10 or so to see how the year is shaping up? The club might say they want to avoid the "distraction" of contract speculation. But the only reason there would be any speculation around his contract would be if the team is struggling in which case, as you suggest, there SHOULD be speculation about his future. If the team is flying along nicely then the contract is just a formality and they'd get it sorted around mid-season.
berrlins
Roar Pro
It's a good decision and well deserved. He came so close to a grand final for a second time after losing to the hawks by less than a goal in 2014. And the Tigers and Hawks are arguably the strongest 2 sides of the last 25 years. They will have other opportunities.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
I think Lienert is a good player,he played very well in Burton's absence I think it was, and was very very stiff to get dropped just before finals
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yeah I’m a bit disappointed the bombers didn’t try a player-player swap for raz like going after Liernert or something like that
Maxy
Roar Rookie
Boak would have to keep his form up in the midfield,not the type to push back or even forward ,think with his injury history [basically zero]and the way he prepares will prolong his career,bit of a stretch by me comparing him to burgoyne but more of an example,Gray might retire at 33 Boak will be more like 35 I think.Burton to the wing could be every chance if he gets his body right,with the inclusion of Alir Alir and the drafting of Lachie Jones[if he players early] that means 2 defenders either dropped or are positioned elsewhere
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I think boak lacks the ball use in my opinion to form a mr fix it like roll that Burgoyne fills for the hawks. I think he’s more durable than gray that’s for sure but I also think port have more depth in the small defender roll. I wanna see them try and move Burton onto a wing
Maxy
Roar Rookie
I give him 2 more years,wouldnt surprise me if this is his last,turns 33 before the season starts and think his body is letting him down,where as Boak I think is capable of continuing on like Burgoyne at the hawks,by all reports the ultimate professional in terms of looking after his body and doing extra work in the off season
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I'll laugh if Gray puts in a 'Jimmy Connors' type performance in his last years.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
Think Wines is 26,DBJ ,Houston Amon SPP Burton Clurey Ladhams Alir Alir Fantasia would be all grouped in the 23-26 age then have players like Lienert sam mayes more depth type players around the same age,
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yeah but the whole dual captaincy thing didn’t work. Rozee, durusma, butters and Woodstock will all continue to get better. But I think there’s not a lot of middle of the road talent in terms of age at port.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
I wont give up on young Todd Marshall,kids been through hell and only played 30 odd games as a young key position forward,agree with your Wines comment,think is back half of the season was fantastic,I believe he will still captain Port at some stage
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Gray probably is past his Best but I think wines started to put it together in such a way that eases the burden on boak and with SPP improving his forward craft they won’t miss boak too much. Dixon might be a poor shot on goal but he has sticky hands to clunk marks and score heavily
Maxy
Roar Rookie
I was wondering bdosi,port has a list full of victorians and 20 minutes down the road adelaide football club have the same but none want to stay,could never understand that,same city,same pubs and cafes,same beaches...huh...very strange,I might be missing something but cant figure out what it might be
Maxy
Roar Rookie
To be honest Gray is past his best and we still played off in the prelim,think his retirement wont be felt to badly,he is more the icing on the cake type player these days,Boak and Dixon different story