Even the team Hinkley taunted offered him a job. But he was born to coach |
Even the team Hinkley taunted offered him a job. But he was born to coach
March 28, 2026 — 2:30am
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Three AFL clubs came knocking for Ken Hinkley towards the end of 2025 after his disappointing farewell season at Port Adelaide. Four, if you count Tasmania.
Most surprisingly for him given his controversial 2024 semi-final run in with Jack Ginnivan, Sam Mitchell explored a mentoring role for him in Hawthorn’s football department. The most serious offer came from Essendon via club director-turned-defensive coach Dean Solomon who wanted Hinkley to take over as director of coaching. Solomon had been a long-time admirer of Hinkley stemming from the formative years of the Gold Coast Suns.
Reigning premiers Brisbane spent the first half of October fearing football boss Danny Daly would move to the Suns. The Lions hierarchy wanted to go through a formal search process to replace Daly should he leave, but coach Chris Fagan was adamant he wanted Hinkley. That power struggle never eventuated because Daly ultimately rejected the Gold Coast approach.
At Tasmania, the coaching job is Nathan Buckley’s to lose. But CEO Brendon Gale sought the benefit of Hinkley’s wisdom from his Gold Coast experience, with the latter advising Gale that fledgling AFL clubs required experienced coaches. Gale has also sounded out Hinkley’s former colleagues regarding the prospect of him taking over the head of football role.
Buckley is not over the line, but he has had lengthy discussions with Gale, has already undergone psychological testing for the role and pulled out of the running for the Melbourne coaching job with one eye on a future coaching the Devils.
Geelong kept Gale in the loop when it offered Buckley a coaching role this season. And yet with coaches like John Longmire and Hinkley currently out of the game, the Devils’........