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Opinion
The calls for Ken Hinkley’s head have become noticeably quieter in the last few weeks. That is due to the Power losing by only 3 to Carlton and managing to snag two wins, against West Coast and St Kilda respectively.
But let’s be real, was any of that to do with Ken Hinkley’s coaching? No.
The only reason Hinkley wasn’t fired on Easter weekend is Carlton’s inability to play four quarters of strong football. At one point it looked like they were about to lose by 100 before the players decided to earn a bit of pride back and capitalise on a tired Blues outfit.
Impressive second-half push by a group determined not to be laughed off the park again, but at the end of the day, the record book still reads L.
The win against West Coast is a write-off, just like anybody’s victory over the Eagles this year. That club is a mess from top to bottom, with Covid, injuries galore and their own coaching issues resulting in a borderline WAFL team taking the field every week. It doesn’t count.
The only positive of the game was that Hinkley finally sent his key forward in Todd Marshall to the goal square, not the pocket. What happened? He kicked five goals.
Last week, a one-point win over the best Saints outfit in years, handing them their second loss of the year. But had Port made any amazing adjustments to the game plan or line-up? Positional changes for the better maybe? No.
However, there was one major change that was made, but for the worse. In a wet game where you need to rely on your key forwards to rise above the pack to take chest marks in the goal square, Hinkley sent Marshall, fresh off five goals straight back to the pocket, with Robbie Gray playing one out in the square.
Yes, Gray kicked 2.2 for the game and is undoubtedly the most clutch player in the competition, ultimately winning the game for Port, I’m not attacking his talent by any means, I do have a pair of eyes. But at 6 foot 0, is he the most suitable replacement for Charlie Dixon in the square? No way!
(Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
I’m pretty sure he’s proven that time and time again, especially when it was his ability to play high and push to the footy that ultimately got him that crucial behind to win the game.
But there is no escaping that in regular conditions, Saints would have most likely subdued the Power easily, especially with no key defenders to stop Max King, who would’ve been able to take clean marks with a dry footy.
Saints could have played their hot hand footy that has been crisp and classy in 2022, instead of being out contested by bigger bodies such as Ollie Wines, Travis Boak and Sam Powell-Pepper. They played in the saturated Tropics during the wet season. The ball was basically a bar of soap, it wasn’t a game of footy, it was water polo and in the end they just ground their way to the narrowest of wins.
So, three weeks of ‘stronger’ performances by Port has all of sudden saved his job?
Stop it.
Port made Mark Williams stand down in 2010, a season that started 5-2. Hinkley has gone 2-5, with the 2 having major question marks hanging over it. It’s time to rip the bandage off.
Stop defending a man who clearly has lost control of a team that doesn’t want to play for him, just because he’s taken you to finals five out of the ten years he’s been there, with zero premierships to show for it.
If Port is to move forward in any capacity, Hinkley needs to go and soon.
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