Having been drafted by Geelong and debuting in the VFL in 1987, Hocking went on to play 274 career games with the Cats including representing the club in 1989, 1992, 1994 and 1995 Geelong grand final teams.
[ Related: Club Statement - Primus and Duncanson ]
He was a four-time Geelong best and fairest winner and All-Australian.
Hocking joined the Port Adelaide Football Club as development coach in 2010 after holding the senior coaching role of Peel Thunder in 2005 and later senior coach of the Geelong Falcons U18 TAC Cup team from 2006 until 2009.
In his time at the helm of the Falcons, Hocking oversaw a prodigious period of talent development with fifteen players drafted into the AFL.
Port Adelaide chief executive officer Keith Thomas confirmed Hocking’s appointment to the interim role at a press conference at Alberton on Monday.
“Garry Hocking will take over as the caretaker coach,” said Thomas.
“I spoke to Garry last night, we discussed it with Matty [Primus] and Peter Rohde [PAFC General Manager - Football] we were all in agreement that it’s the right course.”
[ Related: Letter from Keith Thomas ]
Thomas ruled out that Hocking’s appointment to the senior role should be seen by the club and wider communities as an ‘audition’ for the senior coaching role in 2013.
“He [Hocking] knows that we’ve asked him to step in, take care of us for the next four weeks, get the playing group in competitive shape to more forward and he understands that there will be … an independent process that will then take place,” said Thomas.
“I haven’t even spoken to him on whether he has any intentions of apply, that’s something we’ll deal with later.
“That wasn’t the purpose of our discussion.”
Hocking will continue to be supported by Port Adelaide assistant coaches Shaun Rehn, Brad Gotch and Josh Carr in the box at the remaining four games of the 2012 premiership against Hawthorn, West Coast, Brisbane Lions and Richmond.
Hocking joined the Port Adelaide Football Club as development coach in 2010 after holding the senior coaching role of Peel Thunder in 2005 and later senior coach of the Geelong Falcons U18 TAC Cup team from 2006 until 2009.
In his time at the helm of the Falcons, Hocking oversaw a prodigious period of talent development with fifteen players drafted into the AFL.
Port Adelaide chief executive officer Keith Thomas confirmed Hocking’s appointment to the interim role at a press conference at Alberton on Monday.
“Garry Hocking will take over as the caretaker coach,” said Thomas.
“I spoke to Garry last night, we discussed it with Matty [Primus] and Peter Rohde [PAFC General Manager - Football] we were all in agreement that it’s the right course.”
[ Related: Letter from Keith Thomas ]
Thomas ruled out that Hocking’s appointment to the senior role should be seen by the club and wider communities as an ‘audition’ for the senior coaching role in 2013.
“He [Hocking] knows that we’ve asked him to step in, take care of us for the next four weeks, get the playing group in competitive shape to more forward and he understands that there will be … an independent process that will then take place,” said Thomas.
“I haven’t even spoken to him on whether he has any intentions of apply, that’s something we’ll deal with later.
“That wasn’t the purpose of our discussion.”
Hocking will continue to be supported by Port Adelaide assistant coaches Shaun Rehn, Brad Gotch and Josh Carr in the box at the remaining four games of the 2012 premiership against Hawthorn, West Coast, Brisbane Lions and Richmond.
