PORT ADELAIDE senior coach Ken Hinkley has quashed the external rumours he would be at Carlton next season, as that club looks for a new head coach.

The Blues and North Melbourne have both parted ways with their respective coaches, and Hinkley says the constant running commentary linking him with an Alberton exit is pure speculation and opinion based.

“Yes we can (rule me out of the Carlton job),” Hinkley told SEN SA’s Breakfast program on Tuesday morning.

“We talk about opinions in this game, and I think you may have started this one Kane unfortunately for us - it happens. Teams talk about everyone.

“Last week no one was talking about me. This week we play well, and they mention your name. Next week they will mention Paul Roos again. They’ll mention John Longmire again. They’ll mention Adam Simpson again. I bet you Alastair Clarkson comes up at some point in discussions.

“The reality is, if you’re happy in your job and you’ve got great support, why would you look at other opportunities?

“For me, I’m very happy.”

Hinkley has been very bullish about the rejuvenation of Port’s list at the end of the 2018 season, and says the recruitment staff have put the club’s list in a healthy position.

“I believe in the list,” he said.

“This is a better list and a better team than we’ve had in the most recent history and no doubt it is a younger list and there is some enormous upside in that.

“Jason Cripps and Parks (Geoff Parker - National Recruiting Manager) with the list we have put together, we knew 2019 was a chance for us to have a little dip or spike, we weren’t quite sure.

“We know going forward, with the youth on the list and the talent we have brought into the club, the list and the club is in a really healthy position for a strong future.”

In further good news for the club, the Power has re-signed five exciting young players to extend their stay at Alberton.

Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma have each signed two-year contract extensions which will link them to the club until the end of 2022, while Joel Garner - two-year contract extension - has signed until the end of 2021, and Jake Patmore - one-year extension - is locked in until the end of 2020.