Port Adelaide have won seven games in a row but their long-time coach Ken Hinkley is out of contract at the end of the season with no immediate sign of a new deal in the works.
Questions are beginning to be asked about the future of the Power tactician as the season gets closer to its halfway point.
The Sporting News looks at why Hinkley remains unsigned and what the options for his future.
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Why hasn't Port Adelaide signed Ken Hinkley to a new contract?
Despite Port Adelaide being 8-2 and sitting in third on the AFL ladder after 10 rounds, Hinkley's contract expires at the end of 2023 and it's no certainty he will receive a new deal.
Hinkley is in his 11th season as coach of the Power, and even though they have been a strong team at times during his reign, Port Adelaide has failed to win a premiership or reach a Grand Final during this time.
On five occasions, the Power have played finals under Hinkley, but have lost in the preliminary final during three of these September soirees.
They have also reached the top four twice, finishing first in 2020 and second in 2021.
The theory is that Hinkley might not have what it takes to lead Port Adelaide to their second AFL premiership and the club are currently debating whether to re-sign him or make a fresh start with a new coach.
What Port Adelaide have said about Ken Hinkley's future?
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As the 2023 season started, Port Adelaide president David Koch made it clear the club wouldn't entertain Hinkley's future until at least August.
After finishing 11th in 2022, it appears as if Koch is waiting to see if the Power make any progress in 2023.
"I’ll (review Hinkley’s performance) in August,” Koch said on SEN Afternoons in March.
"Otherwise it’ll just be a topic of conversation for the entire year.
"That’s the disciplined way to do it, that’s the professional way to do it.
"It’s not giving a running commentary on it each week.
"Ask me in August, happy to talk about it then."
Koch elaborated on his process to decide Hinkley's future further.
"We discussed it with Ken, we don’t want any distractions whatsoever throughout the year," he said.
"We don’t want every discussion, every radio interview and every press conference to be about Ken’s contract so we’ve just taken it completely off the table until August.
"It allows the team, both the coaching staff and the playing group on getting the wins and doing what they do best, which is playing good footy."
When asked about what the re-signing criteria was for Hinkley, Koch said: "The expectation is to make finals and put ourselves in the best possible position to go deep into September and ultimately win a flag.
"That language has not changed since I took on the job as president of Port Adelaide.
"There should never be a year when we don’t make finals, that’s why you’ll never hear the word rebuild from me.
"I think it’s an excuse for failure and we know our members and supporters have an expectation that we’re competitive and successful every year.
"Success is making finals and we embrace that expectation."
What does the future hold for Ken Hinkley?
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With Port Adelaide's strong start to the AFL season, Hinkley looks to be in good shape to get another deal at Alberton.
However, if the club choose to go for a fresh start, there is likely to be plenty of suitors for Hinkley to find a new role.
Carlton could be looking for another coach after their stuttering start to the season with Michael Voss, while West Coast and Gold Coast could also entertain Hinkley's services.
Media pundit Kane Cornes believes there is no doubt Hinkley will be coaching an AFL club in 2024.
"Not in doubt is the prospect of Hinkley being a senior coach next year," Cornes wrote in The Age earlier this month.
"He had the chance to defect last year to Essendon with a five-year offer to fill the vacancy created by the awkward departure of Ben Rutten. But – even with the long-term deal offering the security coaches crave – Hinkley stayed loyal to his players.
"This time the opportunities to coach elsewhere in the AFL will be greater. So will the temptation. And the options for Hinkley are emerging sooner than expected when all parties agreed not to make a call at Port Adelaide until August.
"Hinkley cannot dismiss the idea that change might be his best course now, regardless of his strong attachment to the Port Adelaide players.
"There is a group of former Power veterans who have joined the long-standing vocal minority of old-fashioned Port Adelaide supporters who want change."
