Port Adelaide chairman David Koch remains hellbent on the club’s decision to delay talks about extending coach Ken Hinkley’s contract until at least August.
Port Adelaide has had a terrific start to the year, notching their eighth win for the season against Melbourne in their performance of the year.
With Richmond now in the market for a new coach following Damien Hardwick’s departure, the discussion around Hinkley’s contract has become particularly poignant.
Considering how well Hinkley is coaching, is it time for Koch and the club to pivot on their stance and lock Hinkley in as their man going forward?
Koch was asked that exact question on Channel 7’s Sunrise on Tuesday morning, offering a stern response to the journalist.
“Don’t forget that this decision to delay talks about extending Ken’s contract was made before the start of the season between Ken and I,” Koch said.
“(Hinkley) agreed to it because we wanted no distractions this year for our football group achieving the most success that they possibly can. After 10 rounds, I’m pretty happy with the way that strategy is going.
“As I say, Ken and I both agreed before the season started so we stick to the plan.”
Considering Hardwick was a premiership player at Port Adelaide, it’s only natural that speculation will increase on whether or not the Richmond great is the perfect fit down at Alberton.
Koch speaks about not wanting Hinkley’s contract talks to act as a distraction for the playing group, but leaving it open for speculation could be seen as a distraction itself.
SEN’s Sam Edmund holds a similar view, saying that leaving him hanging without a contract acts as a talking point and a “distraction”.
“He might not want it to be a distraction, but I think the distraction has just landed on his doorstep,” Edmund said on SEN’s Breakfast.
“If anyone’s disrespecting Ken Hinkley it’s the man we’ve just heard of on Sunrise.
“Re-contract the man, don’t leave him hanging in the wind for all sorts of speculation, they’ve now won eight of their first ten are absolutely flying.
“Things change and they’ve changed for the better, how much longer are they going to make him wait?
“Are you putting him in an awkward spot? Ken is as good as anyone, we had him on Crunch Time on Saturday, and he handles himself so well but gee whiz, you talk about distractions, there’s one way to make it go away.”
The Power will head to the MCG on Saturday afternoon for a date with the Tigers.
Hardwick will not be there.