'It stings a lot': Ken Hinkley on lasting legacy at Port ahead of farewell

[ad_1] Ken Hinkley, who's "staggered" he lasted as long as Port Adelaide coach, is aware of what his legacy is.

"Did not make a grand ultimate, did not win one," Hinkley instructed reporters on Tuesday.

"That is in all probability what will probably be. That is the fact of soccer.

"We constructed the footy membership up, now we have finished very well with plenty of issues — in the end we did not fairly get to the tip."

AFL teaching is a merciless enterprise, however Ken Hinkley helped re-energise Port Ken Hinkley could not have gained a premiership with Port Adelaide, however he has left an enduring legacy at Port Adelaide after turning a damaged membership right into a winner.

Hinkley's 13-year tenure as Energy coach ends on Friday evening together with his final sport in cost, in opposition to Gold Coast at Adelaide Oval, earlier than handing over to long-time assistant Josh Carr.

From 297 video games on the helm, Hinkley has a successful proportion of 58.45 — larger than famend grasp coaches together with Alastair Clarkson, Mick Malthouse, Kevin Sheedy and Ron Barassi.

However that quartet gained premierships, not like Hinkley, who holds the undesirable document of most VFL/AFL video games coached with out reaching a grand ultimate.

"It stings so much," mentioned Hinkley, who took Port to the finals in seven of his 13 years, however misplaced 4 preliminary finals.

"I imply, that is what you got down to do.

"You have a look at the outcomes of a coach, and in the end your result's to get to a grand ultimate and win a grand ultimate.

"As harsh as that it's, we did not get there.

"The successful document is nice … however the membership wished to win [a flag] and all of us did not fairly get there." Hinkley admitted he wasn't "tremendous eager" in 2012 to pitch for the Port job after beforehand being within the operating, then neglected, for the function at Richmond and Geelong.

However with some prompting from household, the then Gold Coast assistant selected "another time to have a crack".

Port had approached a collection of higher-profile candidates, together with Chris Scott and Rodney Eade, who rejected the overtures, main Hinkley to declare when appointed in October 2012 that he was "the final man standing".

"I am the proper man leaving too, now," he mentioned at his final pre-match media convention, watched by Port's males's and girls's gamers and membership staffers.

Hinkley's Port Adelaide sides had a historical past of sturdy house and away seasons being adopted by sub-par finals appearances. ( Getty Photos: Michael Willson/AFL Images )

"We have had a fantastic journey collectively and it has been filled with ups and downs however one I am extremely pleased with."

The 58-year-old admitted some elements of the teaching function have been "fairly common".

"However that chase, that thrill of victory, that can at all times preserve you going as a coach," he mentioned.

"There's elements — you get up at three within the morning. And also you did not need to get up some mornings.

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"However general, the job is so satisfying and it is such a fantastic job to have and we're honoured to have that job as a senior coach for an AFL footy membership.

"It was simply concerning the gamers and watching them win.

"5 minutes after a sport, once you get a victory with them, it's sufficient — that is sufficient to drive you to maintain doing this in your whole life."