PORT ADELAIDE senior coach Ken Hinkley has been named the Monjon Allan Jeans Senior Coach of the Year – the second time he has won the award.
Hinkley was announced as the winner with 236 votes, ahead of Brisbane’s Chris Fagan (191 votes) and Geelong’s Chris Scott (154 votes) at the 2020 Shadforth Financial Group AFL Coaches Association Awards held online on Tuesday night.
The award is voted on by more than 150 coaches across the competition and is named in honour of coaching legend Allan Jeans, who won four premierships with St Kilda and Hawthorn in the 1960s and 1980s.
Hinkley, who also won the award in his first season in 2013, enjoyed a remarkable campaign in a challenging season to guide Port from tenth on the ladder in 2019 to Preliminary Finalist this season.
Port became just the third side in the AFL era and first for 20 years to top the table throughout an entire season.
Hinkley was deemed to be the best performed senior coach throughout the 2020 season, up to and including the preliminary finals, and having regard for current season's performance, available resources, player talent and team management.
Accepting the award via Zoom, the Port Adelaide coach acknowledged the support of his family and colleagues.
“I’m very humbled to be voted the AFL Coaches Association coach of the year,” Hinkley said.
“There were any number of coaches who could have justifiably been awarded this honour for 2020.
“I am very grateful especially when you look at all the great coaches who have received this award in years’ gone by.
“Ultimately though this award is a team effort and a reflection upon an entire group at Port Adelaide.
“This wouldn’t be possible without an outstanding playing group led by Tom Jonas and the countless hours of support from my assistant coaches, list management team and GM – Football Chris Davies.
“And a massive thank you to all our members who have stood by the club and supported us through so much adversity in 2020. Your support of me, the playing group and the entire club has been amazing.
“And of course, without the incredible support of my family I wouldn’t be in the position to pursue my passion for coaching. I’m just very fortunate that I have so many great people around me.”
AFL Coaches Association CEO, Mark Brayshaw acknowledged the challenges of the 2020 season and huge role all coaches played, whilst lauding Hinkley for his remarkable season.
“I am lost in admiration for all the coaches – and their families - in 2020 especially the way they navigated their way through unprecedented times.
“For Ken, this is just a fantastic result. He’s had a great season, keeping Port Adelaide top of the ladder in their 150th season.
“Many questions were asked about Ken over summer. The Port supporters take their football very seriously, so the pressure was on.
“In true style he stood tall, with strong connection and care for his players, Ken put it on the line at the start of the season and narrowly missed a Grand Final appearance.”
Hinkley joins John Worsfold, Mark Thompson, John Longmire and Luke Beveridge as a two-time Allan Jeans Senior Coach of the Year. Mark Williams is the only other Port Adelaide coach to receive the award, in the club’s premiership year in 2004.
Other awards announced throughout the night, included the 2020 Neale Daniher AFL Coaches Association Lifetime Achievement Award, 2020 AFL Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year and the 2020 AFL Coaches Association Media Award.
Neale Daniher announced the winner of the award named after him, the 2020 Neale Daniher AFL Coaches Association Lifetime Achievement Award was one of the greats of football, Neil Balme.
The AFL Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year Award went to Daniel Giansiracusa for his work at the Western Bulldogs in 2020.
Giansiracusa’s role shifted this season due to COVID-19 and he coached the Western Bulldogs’ match simulation games and worked on opposition analysis rather than coaching in the VFL.
Gerard Whateley continued his dominance by taking out the AFL Coaches Association’s Media Award for the seventh consecutive year for his work on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 and SEN 1116.
2020 MONJON ALLAN JEANS SENIOR COACH OF THE YEAR
- KEN HINKLEY – PORT ADELAIDE POWER – 236 Votes
- CHRIS FAGAN – BRISBANE LIONS – 191 Votes
- CHRIS SCOTT – GEELONG CATS – 154 Votes
2020 AFL COACHES ASSOCIATION ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
- DANIEL GIANSIRACUSA – WESTERN BULLDOGS
- NIGEL LAPPIN – GEELONG CATS
- LUKE POWER – CARLTON BLUES
