Chris Fagan and Ken Hinkley continue to deliver for the Brisbane Lions and Port Adelaide, but the criticism never ends.
If AFL flags were handed out like Logies, then surely Ken Hinkley’s Port Adelaide would emerge as the 2024 premiers. Not only would Hinkley prove the impartial people’s choice for the Jock McHale Medal, but he’d probably pull the industry votes as well., would also win a nomination. Fans and football insiders with no skin in this finals game relish the prospect of the AFL’s oldest coach holding up the premiership cup.
His finals record is one bone of contention with a vocal segment of Port supporters, while another seems to have been the level-headed demeanour his players love. For some reason, Hinkley, whose paternal style has resonated with the team from the hot-headed brilliance of Jason Horne-Francis to Charlie Dixon, Willie Rioli and Ollie Wines, has never spoken the language those Port fans expect of him.
Fagan’s fluctuating season after last year’s four-point grand final loss has again led to his coaching coming under significant media scrutiny. Occasionally, that scrutiny has worn heavily upon Fagan and his public appearances early in the season sometimes reflected that. Ultimately, after looking early on to miss finals, the Lions finished fifth, marking their sixth successive September appearance.
Several key 2004 premiership players who will gather at the club on Saturday for their 20-year reunion have referred to the selfish habits among the team Hinkley inherited and systematically eliminated. The off-field leadership, rebuilt and overseen by Koch and Keith Thomas in the early years, deserves credit too, but since Hinkley moved in Port have ceased to be a basket-case club.
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