AFL icon Leigh Matthews believes a “serious conversation” is ahead for Port Adelaide as the club find itself struggling to stay inside the top eight.
Coach Ken Hinkley has come under increased pressure after fans booed him during the side’s loss to Brisbane on the weekend.
Post-game, Hinkley admitted the fan reaction isn’t fun but conceded it’s the “reality” of his job.
READ MORE: Cummins makes World Cup history with ‘crazy’ moment
READ MORE: Man charged by police over ‘threatening’ referee message
READ MORE: ‘The one’: Joey in awe of Galvin as Tigers win big
The coach also conceded Port’s list is “not one of the best teams in the competition”.
Ken Hinkley is under pressure at Port Adelaide. AFL Photos via Getty Images
“We sit below that — everyone agrees,” he said.
“We have to keep working to change what our results have been to make sure they turn around and become what we need them to be.”
Hinkley’s comments contradict what he said on March 15 that Port’s squad is “the best list that we’ve had in a good period of time”.
Speaking on Nine’s Footy Furnace, Matthews doesn’t believe Hinkley’s comments after the Brisbane game would’ve gone down well.
“I’ve got to say, I don’t think it’s healthy for a coach to say ‘I don’t think the team is good enough’,” he said.
“I think what you’ve got to be saying all the time is ‘we’re not playing to the level we’re capable of and that’s our problem over the last few weeks and that’s what we’ll work towards’.
“Saying you’re not good enough are bad words to pop out, it sends a bad message to your players.”
Fellow AFL great Jimmy Bartel believes the Power lack “energy” while stating the coach “needs more from his core group of players”.
Hinkley’s contract with Port Adelaide runs until the end of the 2025 season but previous reports have suggested assistant coach Josh Carr will take over once his deal runs out.
Matthews is unsure whether the 57-year-old will stay for next season but predicts there will be high level talks between the club and its coach.
“Who knows what’s going through Ken Hinkley’s mind?” he said.
“Rarely do coaches walk away but coaches that have been there a long time like Ken has, (should be) having that honest conversation with the club and (asking) is it time for a change?
“Is it time for a new voice in the senior coaching role? I think that’s a serious conversation that will be had and from that I think if the club hasn’t got faith in you, complete faith, that’s when it’s time for you to finish your tenure.”