Port Adelaide chairman David Koch has thrown his full support behind coach Ken Hinkley after the Power’s AFL finals chances effectively disappeared on Saturday.
The 51-point loss to Collingwood leaves Port needing to beat Essendon on Friday night, then praying to every god available that Gold Coast somehow gets up to defeat Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday.
The scenario is such a long shot that the wider football world has pulled down the blinds on another disappointing season for the Power and fans of the club have vented their anger on social media.
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However, Koch says the early end to 2018 hasn’t put any pressure on Hinkley’s position.
“I can absolutely say there is no question about the future of Ken Hinkley whatsoever,” Koch told FIVEaa Breakfast on Monday.
“Leadership is all about backing your judgment. Analyse any successful sporting organisation and it’s about stability.”
There was doubt over Hinkley’s future last year when whispers had him in line to take up the then vacant Gold Coast senior position, but Koch moved quickly and locked the coach in to the end of 2021 in a deal believed to give Hinkley an unprecedented amount of power over decision making, as well as having numerous escape clauses.
Hinkley was given free reign to bring in the players he deemed necessary to lift the club higher than the after-the-siren loss to West Coast in the 2017 elimination final.
An off-season spending spree saw Tom Rockliff, Jack Watts and Steven Motlop all make their way to Alberton, but of the three only Motlop has had any impact and even then only in fits and bursts.
The Power now faces the possibility of losing Jared Polec to North Melbourne in the free agency period, as salary cap pressure created during last year’s buying frenzy sees them unable to match the Kangaroos’ offer.
However, Koch thinks Port is placed as well as it can be going forward.
“I just remind people of the cycles that clubs go through in terms of trying to find the magic of a successful season.
“That’s not to say you bury your head in the sand… you’ve got to be ruthless to be elite.
“I think Ken is the best coach for the Port Adelaide Football Club. At 11 and four (win-loss record after round 16) Ken was seen as a superhero, then everyone changes their mind so quickly.
The Power have managed one win over the past six weeks and that was against the Western Bulldogs, yet Koch hasn’t given up on a miracle finals appearance.
“We’re hoping everything falls our way this weekend.”
It’s like we weren’t fighting for our finals chances, like in the fourth quarter we just gave up! We don’t deserve to play finals, who knows if we will make them at this rate. Club needs to stop making excuses and start making changes #AFLPiesPower #weareportadelaide
— We've got the power (@Port_Power_Fans) August 18, 2018
@koch_coen Is it possible to salary dump a coach’s contract via a trade? Trade Hinkley to St Kilda for Richardson maybe throw in a sneaky 3rd round pick as well. Cheaper to release the contract or even back him in for 1 year at least it’s a shake up #WeArePortAdelaide @PAFC
— Daniel (@NRobbo3Votes) August 19, 2018
Without any doubt this is @PAFC worst loss of the season. With so much on the line at 3/4 time, to capitulate like this is unacceptable at Alberton. #weareportadelaide
— Travis Levi 🍐 (@travlevi7) August 18, 2018
This team breaks my heart.
— Anthony Alesiani (@anthonyalesiani) August 11, 2018
See you all in 2019. Im done #weareportadelaide