THREE-TIME Geelong premiership player Andrew Mackie has no doubt that Ken Hinkley can turn Port Adelaide's struggling team around.

The 46-year-old, who was named Power head coach on Monday afternoon, was an assistant coach at the Cats between 2004 and 2009.

During that period he worked closely with Mackie, helping turn him into a star running defender.

"He's got one of the smartest footy brains that I know, and I've loved working with him," Mackie said.

"He's obviously been a key to what I've done in my footy, so I really appreciate that and I wish him all the best.

"I've got no doubt that he'll be really good for their list - a young list."

Hinkley played a key role in Geelong's transformation from also-ran to benchmark team during the latter years of Mark Thompson's reign as senior coach.

He has often been credited with developing the attacking brand of football that helped the Cats turn the competition on its head.

"He's a bloke who's got that desire to win," Mackie said. "I think the [Port Adelaide] footy club needs that.

"Fans want to see wins and they also want the team to play a brand of footy that they want to go and see. Kenny Hinkley can certainly deliver that."

After spending the past three seasons working under Guy McKenna at Gold Coast, Hinkley has taken on a massive challenge at Port Adelaide.

But Mackie, who grew up in South Australia and spent some time at SANFL club Glenelg, believes Hinkley is more than up to the task.

"He would enjoy the fact that there's a lot of do," Mackie said. "He'll love to get stuck into it. He'll be looking forward to the challenge ahead.

"There's no doubt that Port is rich in tradition. They've just got to get back to what made them so good, and there's no doubt that I think he can do a good job."