Ken Hinkley’s future as Port Adelaide coach is uncertain amid a growing rift between the club and its fans, Power great Warren Tredre says.
Tredrea, the only man to captain Port in the AFL premiership, believes Hinckley will not be reappointed next season.
Hinckley is out of contract at the end of this season, his 11th as Port manager. The club and coach have postponed negotiations until at least August.
“There’s an element where the fans are out of touch with their board and their coach,” Tredre said Monday on the Big Deal podcast. “And I’m just looking at where Ken Hinckley is sitting. He has been there for 10 years, his contract is until the end of the year.
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“It seems, even though in the third phase, it just seems inconsistent. I understand it’s early in the season. But it’s, ‘You know what, he’s not going to be there in 2024.’ I can’t see it.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
“If he does, then I’ll be the first to say ‘well done.’ But right now it just seems unreasonable.”
Port missed last year’s play-offs after winning back-to-back preliminary finals in 2020 and 2021.
They have one win and two losses this season after suffering 39-ball consecutive losses to Collingwood and arch-rivals Adelaide.
In January, Tredrea offered to join the club’s board but was blocked by chairman David Koch.
Koch said at the time that he didn’t want to do a so-called “captain’s rank” and appoint Tredray ahead of council elections in December.
Tredrea said he understands if critics are linking his comments Monday to the board’s bid. “But what I’m going to say is that I’ve never been more disconnected from my club,” he said.
Tredrea said many Port fans were tired of the club “talking things up all the time” but not being able to deliver on the pitch.
“There’s a disconnect between (the club) and their members,” he said. “And they seem to be on the same page because (the fans) are sick of promises and want to see action on the pitch.
Tredrea led the Power to victory in the 2004 grand final as caretaker captain in the absence of regular skipper Matthew Primus, who was injured. He remains the club’s all-time top scorer with 548 goals in 255 games between 1997 and 2010.
Ugle-Hagan’s response to racism in “Balcony.” Beveridge
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says he only needed one look at a photo of Jamara Ugle-Hegan’s powerful stand against racism to know it was a “balcony night” for his rising star.
Ugle-Hagan kicked the opening goal in the Bulldogs’ win against the Brisbane Lions before turning to the crowd, lifting his jumper and pointing to his skin, re-enacting the famous pose of Indigenous champion Nicky Winmar 30 years ago.
On Monday, Beveridge redoubled his effusive praise for the 20-year-old, who bounced back from racial abuse in the Bulldogs’ loss to St Kilda last week to boot a thrilling five goals against the Lions.
“That’s when you look at the photo and you realize it was … an iconic night for Marra (Ugle-Hegan) and the crowd,” Beveridge told Fox Footy.
“He absolutely led the way from a performance standpoint, and then he was ready to make a real statement … like Nicki did 30 years ago.
Jamara Ugle-Hagan of the Western Bulldogs points to her skin as she celebrates scoring a goal. (Photo by Daniel Pocket/Getty Images)
“To say. “Hey, that’s not good enough … I’m a young First Nations person and I’m not going to put up with that.” I love it.
“I loved when he went and hugged his friends at the end of the crowd, which is probably the opposite feeling he had last week.”
Beveridge was equally impressed with how Ugle-Hagan conducted himself off the field, attending a press conference with his manager and speaking “from the heart” about what he has to deal with.
“You can stand back and just listen to him and hope that some of his words, statements and expressions will affect people,” Beveridge said.
“I was asked if I was proud of him. Everyone was proud of him, and everyone has the right to be proud of him in those moments.
“(He’s) a nice young man who’s put up with a lot … it saps your energy, so to be so solid he only had five shots and scored five goals was amazing.
“Looks like Dreamtime really shined on him.”
Young Giant tears ACL
GWS first round draft pick Darcy Jones will miss the rest of the season after suffering a torn ACL.
The 19-year-old West Australian, selected at pick 21 in the AFL’s latest national draft, suffered a knee injury while playing in the VFL on Saturday.
The Giants confirmed the prognosis Tuesday morning, and Jones will meet with a surgeon this week.
“Unfortunately, it’s just one of those things that happens in football and we’re going to wrap Darcy up and give him all the support he needs at this difficult time,” Giants GM of football Jason McCartney said.
“He has made a big impression on our team in the short time he has been at the club. He is a great person and will be a great player for our football club.”
Small forward Jones is yet to make his senior debut and was one of three players drafted by the Giants in the first round last year, alongside academy pick Harry Rawston and top pick Aaron Cadman.
The injury-hit Eagles call in the cavalry for the Clash of the Demons
West Coast will be without Jamie Cripps and Jeremy McGovern for a long time as they continue to feel the effects of their brutal Western derby loss to Fremantle.
Cripps will head for surgery on a broken left ankle and faces a four-month recovery, while coach Adam Simpson said McGovern’s absence with a left hamstring injury would also be “reasonably long-term”. The Eagles could be forced to make up to seven changes for Sunday’s AFL clash with Melbourne at Optus Stadium.
Along with Cripps and McGovern, West Coast suffered injuries to Luke Shuey (hamstring), Liam Ryan (foot), Campbell Sheser (knee), Oscar Allen and Alex Witherden (concussion) in the weekend’s 41-point loss to Fremantle.
Simpson couldn’t hide his dismay at the latest injury news. “(Cripps) will be open for most if not all of the year, which is a real shame,” he told Fox Footy on Monday night.
“He had a turbulent pre-season and is a very important player for us. McGovern, some scans are pending, but it looks like it’s going to be a pretty long-term situation.”
In better news for the Eagles, Shuey, 32, who has been dealing with soft-tissue issues, is not expected to be out long with his hamstring injury.
“(Shuey) has worked so hard to be the best version of himself that he can be in his preparation and how diligent he has been with his body,” Simpson said.
“It’s minor … and it’s a killer for us because all he’s doing with his hamstrings is a week or two of injuries that are barely soft tissue.
“He’s hoping it’s a short turnaround and we just kept supporting him and kept trying.”
Elliott Yeo would be the ideal replacement for Shuey if he can show that he has overcome the calf injury he suffered on the eve of the season.
Defender Harry Edwards is seen as a likely replacement for McGovern, while forward Jack Petruccelle kicked four goals in a WAFL practice game last week and is set to replace Cripps.
Defender Josh Rotham, who returned to the WAFL last week after recovering from a broken hand, is another mix of selections, along with Greg Clarke, Jai Culley, Conor West, Brady Hoo, Rhett Batzo and Xavier O’Neill.
Ruckman Nic Naitanui (achilles) is unlikely to be available until mid-season.