Ken Hinkley flies to Hobart to interview for Tasmania Devils coach job
Ken Hinkley arrived in Hobart to present to the Tasmanian Devils coaching selection panel on Sunday as part of the club’s rigorous selection process.
The former Port Adelaide coach has been a target for the Devils for the last few months and was told he would be the last man to present.
The coaching selection panel also recently met Geelong assistant and former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley and former Sydney Swans coach John Longmire.
Two competition sources, speaking anonymously because the process is confidential, confirmed Hinkley, 59, was in Tasmania on Sunday to discuss the job.
Hinkley’s management and the Devils have been contacted for comment.
The Tasmanian job is one of three live coaching stints with Carlton narrowing down the field to replace Michael Voss and Essendon searching for Brad Scott’s replacement.
The Devils’ selection panel’s nabbing of Buckley and Longmire was informal and part of ongoing talks with various individuals in the football industry seeking an experienced coach to build the foundations of a new team.
While Longmire said he had as many questions as answers for the selection panel, Buckley declined to elaborate on his conversations with the panel when they met two weeks ago.
Hinkley completed his tenure as Port Adelaide coach at the end of last season after 13 seasons in which the club competed in four knockout finals and seven finals series.
He is regarded as an excellent manager of people and has been described as the perfect person to create a down-to-earth, hard-working football club culture as well as engaging with the Tasmanian community as the club establishes itself as a Tasmanian team.
He also has an uncanny ability to attract players to his club and served as senior assistant coach during the Gold Coast Suns’ early years. He played a big role in Gary Ablett’s decision to join the Suns.
He also has a strong relationship with many senior coaches throughout the competition, including Tasmanian double premiership coach Chris Fagan.
The board will need to approve any recommendations from the selection panel, which includes chairman Grant O’Brien, chief executive Brendon Gale, director of football Alastair Lynch and director of strategy, people and culture Lauren Jauncey.
The club stated that they have not yet decided on their coach and that they have given themselves until the end of the season to make this decision, although the appointment is expected to be made earlier.
Gale said during Friday’s media briefing that the Devils would likely offer a five-year long-term deal to any new coach because he knows the heavy lifting that will be required to get the team back on track in the club’s early years. He also understands the importance of knowing the coach when pitching to potential candidates.
Hinkley, who is working with Fox Footy and SEN in 2026, has remained tight-lipped throughout the process.
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