Ken Hinkley called himself the world’s proudest coach after bowing out at Port Adelaide with a fairytale four-point win over Gold Coast.
In a wide-ranging, and often jovial final, press conference on Friday night, he said the footy gods smiled on his side one last time.
“Tomorrow morning I’m not the coach but tonight I’m still the coach who’s the proudest coach the world has ever seen,” Hinkley said after his club record-extending 297th and last game in charge of the Power.
Travis Boak with Ken Hinkley as he gestures to the sky towards Boak’s father.Credit: AFL Photos
“I could not be more proud of our footy club, my players, my legends, everything.
“You know when I came in in 2013 and said, ‘You get what you deserve’ – it hasn’t always felt like that.
“But tonight the footy gods were watching ... they gave us something that we deserve because we’re good people.”
Hinkley paid rich tribute to retiring legend Travis Boak, who was chaired off Adelaide Oval by Sam Powell-Pepper and Ollie Wines after his 387th game – the seventh most in VFL/AFL history.
“I totally believe it, and Trav probably hates me saying it, but he saved the footy club,” Hinkley said, referring to Boak’s decision to resist Geelong’s overtures in 2012 and stay at Alberton.
“The footy club gave him a lot back, but my god, I think the footy club is still in debt.”
Boak was cheered every time he touched the footy and received a minute-long ovation at the 10-minute mark, as a show of respect for the legendary No.10.
“Normally I’m pretty dialled in on the game but definitely I could hear it,” he said.
Zak Butters hugs Hinkley after his last game as coach.Credit: AFL Photos
“I embrace it all because it was so special and I’m so grateful for the Port Adelaide fan base and members.
“The last couple of weeks, the special messages that I’ve got, I’ve been blown away by.”
The reception wasn’t enough, though, for Boak to have second thoughts about his retirement decision.
“I had another back spasm in the second [quarter] and I couldn’t bend over,” he said.
“That was probably the time I thought, ‘This is the right decision’.
“I’m absolutely gassed – I’m exhausted.”
Midfielder Willem Drew hailed both Hinkley and Boak as massive influences on his seven-year career.
“Ken’s had a massive impact on my life,” Drew said.
“He’s been a father figure, who’s always got his door open.
“He’s supported me through injuries and set me up in life.
“Trav is one of the all-time greats and I’m very fortunate to have been able to play alongside him.
“He’ll be successful with whatever he does next.”
Meanwhile, Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick accused the umpires of getting swept up in the occasion.
The Suns gave away a string of costly 50-metre penalties and were on the wrong end of a 31-16 free-kick count.
“We gave away too many [50-metre penalties], there’s no question about that,” he said.
“You’re giving away territory, which is very hard to earn, [and] then you’re giving it back free of charge.
“I thought the umpires got caught up in the emotion of the game... it can happen.”
