FORMER Camperdown and Mortlake coach Ken Hinkley has signed a two-year contract extension with AFL flag aspirant Port Adelaide.
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The Power yesterday confirmed Hinkley, who has two years to serve on his existing deal, would remain in charge at Alberton until the end of 2018.
The contract extension comes amid a resurgence from Port Adelaide after it missed finals in five consecutive seasons between 2008 and 2012.
Hinkley rose to the helm in late 2012, steering the Power to a semi-final in 2013 and a preliminary final in 2014 which it lost to Hawthorn in a thriller.
Hinkley, 48, told the club’s website the decision to stay on was easy. He said he could not imagine himself coaching elsewhere in the AFL.
“I’ve only been here two seasons but it feels like I’ve been part of the Port Adelaide Football Club forever,” he said. “This football club is as committed to me as I am to them.”
Hinkley said he was appreciative of the faith shown in him by Port Adelaide chairman David Koch and chief executive officer Keith Thomas.
He said the trio, along with other key leaders at the club, “made a decision that we were going to go a certain way and we would stick together on that path”.
“We’ve been able to do that so far and it just makes sense that we would continue on in that same direction as a football club and I want to be a part of that.”
Hinkley played 132 matches with Fitzroy and Geelong between ’87 and ’95 before cutting his teeth as a coach in the Hampden league.
He had the top job at Mortlake for three seasons before leading Camperdown to back-to-back premierships in ’99-’00.
His coaching resume also includes winning a Geelong league flag with Bell Park in 2003 and time spent as an assistant at St Kilda, Geelong and Gold Coast.
Hinkley said his family was settled in Adelaide, a factor which also convinced him to sign the contract extension.
“My wife loves it here in Adelaide and my three children are very happy and content.”
Thomas said he was pleased to retain Hinkley for a further two seasons.
“AFL football is a tough game and coaching at the highest level can be brutal,” he said. “Ken has helped us understand the importance of ‘staying the journey’ as a club.”
?WITH AAP
