Ken Hinkley is set to be introduced as the inaugural head coach for Tasmania’s AFL team, just under a year after his departure from Port Adelaide.
The Devils have selected the 59-year-old after an extensive search to guide them into their debut season in 2028.
On Sunday, Hinkley presented to Brendon Gale, the club’s CEO, along with Tasmania’s board, and an official announcement is scheduled for a press conference in Hobart on Monday morning.
Tasmania’s social media hinted at the upcoming announcement on Sunday evening.
Hinkley emerged as the preferred candidate over notable figures such as former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley and ex-Sydney coach John Longmire, both of whom had shown interest in the role.
Longmire had previously met with the Devils a fortnight ago, describing his visit as a fact-finding mission, while Buckley was considered a frontrunner last year before he withdrew from the search for Melbourne’s coach.
Coaching Port Adelaide from 2013 to 2025, Hinkley swiftly led the team to finals contention following a rough five-year period marked by a significant grand final defeat in 2007.
Despite never reaching a grand final through three preliminary final appearances, Port consistently remained competitive during his tenure.
Hinkley boasts an impressive winning percentage of 58.6%, having achieved 174 victories out of 297 matches in charge.
Under his leadership, the club’s off-field conditions greatly improved as fan attendance surged due to the team’s competitive edge.
He was honored as coach of the year on two occasions (2013 and 2020) but chose to step down when highly regarded assistant Josh Carr expressed interest in the head coaching position.
Hinkley, who played 132 games for Fitzroy and Geelong from 1987 to 1995, has also served as an assistant coach at Geelong, Gold Coast, and St Kilda before taking the helm at Port at the age of 46.
Since concluding his time at Port at the end of the 2025 season, Hinkley has been involved in the media, working for Fox Footy and SEN throughout this year.
