Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley was involved in a fiery exchange with Hawthorn players after Friday night's semi-final.
The Power emerged as three-point victors in a thrilling do-or-die clash, which saw them progress to face Sydney in a preliminary final next week.
The incident occurred minutes after the final siren as both teams prepared to honour 300-gamer and Hawks veteran Luke Breust.
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Hinkley was seen mimicking a plane before making some comments to a pack of Hawthorn players with a grin on his face.
Hawks captain James Sicily responded to Hinkley as an intense exchange ensued.
Watch the incident below:
Ken Hinkley and James Sicily were involved in this exchange post-match. #AFLFinals #AFLPowerHawks pic.twitter.com/GHrKwe45O0
— AFL (@AFL) September 13, 2024
In the sheds, Hinkley confirmed he took aim at a recent social media comment from Hawthorn star Jack Ginnivan.
Last week, Ginnivan replied to an Instagram post of Sydney player and former Collingwood teammate Brodie Grundy, writing "see u in 14 days", referring to the upcoming preliminary final.
The 57-year-old coach admitted he "probably shouldn't have" started the exchange.
"I'll be honest ... Jack [Ginnivan] said what he said during the week, and I just told him after the game he wasn't going anywhere," Hinkley said.
"I don't know social media, I just do what I do.
"I probably shouldn't have done it. I should apologise to the boys.
"I shouldn't have probably done it, but the reality was you throw something our way, we're going to throw something back occasionally."
Port Adelaide fined for Hinkley's post-match incident with Hawthorn
On Sunday afternoon, Port Adelaide was fined $20,000 by the AFL for breaching "Rule 2.3(a) Conduct Unbecoming".
The sanction will not be included in the club's soft cap.
"We understand it is a passionate game with a lot at stake for all clubs, however Ken made a decision to engage with opposition players post-match - a decision he has since admitted was the wrong one," AFL general counsel Stephen Meade said.
"Ken has acknowledged that his emotions got the better of him in the moment, however as a senior coach his actions fell well below what is expected by the AFL.
"As we reiterated last week, opposition officials and players inappropriately engaging each other is something we don’t want to see because of the potential to escalate and the example that it sets for football at lower levels and we are disappointed the moment took away from what was one of the great finals matches."
Ex-AFL player, Hawthorn coach react to Hinkley incident
The incident received criticism from commentator and former player Luke Hodge.
"He's a 60-year-old man, act your age," Hodge said, via Channel 7.
"You don't go and start stuff like that.
"Because then, after all the football that Port played ... we're coming out talking about poor sports by saying stuff to a team that has just finished their season."
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Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell said he was "proud" of how club captain James Sicily handled the situation.
"We had a very young player who ... had some very aggressive words said to him by a much older man, who's been in the game for a long time," he said in his post-match press conference.
"And the captain of my club stood up for him.
"It's really tough to sit here right now ... I understand the emotions of this time of year.
"I'm really proud of our captain – who would have been just as emotional – who was able to stand up and lead in a way that he could be proud of.
When asked if he would look to speak with Hinkley after the incident, Mitchell had a brief response.
"Absolutely not."
