IT was the moment from Sunday’s win over Greater Western Sydney that has much of the football world talking and one player has put the side’s rousing rendition of the club song with coach Ken Hinkley in the middle of the circle down to one thing – the boys love him.
Hinkley was pushed into the middle of the team song after his side’s 17-point win over premiership favourite the Giants.
Given the small crowd at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast due to COVID-19 restrictions, it was a way for the Port Adelaide players to recognise Hinkley qualifying for AFL Life Membership with his 300th VFL/AFL game as player or coach.
Sam Powell-Pepper, who starred for Port Adelaide with 22 disposals and a goal, said it was a simple way to do something for a man the players admire.
“All the boys – everyone – loves Ken,” the young midfielder said after the game.
“He’s a character. Everyone cares for him, loves him and we’re very proud of him to reach that milestone and even happier to get the win for him.
“I think he’s going to remember this.”
It was a sentiment echoed by wingman Kane Farrell who said it was important to get the win, but also important to celebrate it for Hinkley.
“It shows our connection with our coaching group and it was a bit of fun as well,” he said.
Veteran journalist Mark Robinson named Hinkley as his Monday Hero on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 program on Monday night.
He said he loved seeing the emotion of the occasion.
“A lot of coaches wouldn’t like this but I don’t care because us in the public love this sort of stuff,” Robinson said.
“Footy is such an emotional sport and we see coaches emotional in the box and that’s about it.
“Kenny goes that extra step. It’s not a step to the bad, it’s a step to the good.”
Robinson’s co-host Gerard Whateley also enjoyed the scenes from the Port rooms on Sunday.
“In a year like this, you need things like this. You need cause to celebrate,” he said.
Speaking on the Fox Footy programme First Crack on Sunday night, Kangaroos great David King said it showed how close Port Adelaide’s group had become and the positive feeling within the team.
“The players loved it,” King said.
“That is one happy footy club and it’s easy to be happy when you’re sitting top of the table but that’s going to last, that’s going to carry on, that’s authentic.”
Former St Kilda star Leigh Montagna, who was also on the program, said it showed the love the players have for Hinkley.
He said he had discussed Hinkley with his former teammate and fellow Fox Footy commentator Nick Riewoldt and they agreed on one thing.
“Ken Hinkley is the type of coach you’d love to play under,” he said.
“Just from what you see within the way that he speaks. I just think he’s doing a terrific job and I’m liking the fact that he’s sticking fat with his group and they’re backing him in.
“You can’t manufacture that. I think we’re starting to hear about that with some of the younger coaches with the connection, like Carlton with David Teague and the Kangaroos with Rhys Shaw, but just to see one of the older coaches like that – I think that’s genuine and authentic and that’s showing a sign of what this hub has done for Port Adelaide and the way they’re playing.
“It’s set them up beautifully and they can no doubt win the premiership.”
