- Ken Hinkley has been hit with a huge fine by the AFL
- The Port coach mocked Hawthorn players on Friday night
- The Power defeated the Hawks in their semi-final clash
The AFL has fined Port Adelaide $20,000 for coach Ken Hinkley’s taunts of Hawthorn players after the Powers’ dramatic semi-final win.
Minutes after Power ended Hawthorn’s season on Friday night, Hinkley took the opportunity to direct verbal taunts at forward Jack Ginnivan.
The power had been turned on by Ginnivan, who had responded to an Instagram post from Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy, writing “see you in 14 days”, referring to next Friday’s preliminary final.
Both teams had begun to line up for the honor guard in honor of Hawks 300-point scorer Luke Breust when Hinkley began taunting Ginnivan.
This infuriated Hawthorn captain James Sicily, who stepped in to defend Ginnivan and engaged in a fierce exchange of blows with the Power coach.
The AFL sent a letter to Power on Saturday and then issued its sanction for “improper conduct” on Sunday.
The fine, the same as that handed to GWS after football boss Jason McCartney made contact with Sydney’s Tom Papley amid a fight at quarter-time of their qualifying final, will not count towards Power’s soft limit.
Ken Hinkley was fined $20,000 for his behaviour after Port’s victory in the final
Hinkley taunted Hawthorn players after the final siren on Friday night in Adelaide
“We understand this is an exciting game with a lot at stake for all clubs, however Ken made the decision to speak to opposing players after the match, a decision he later admitted was incorrect,” AFL general counsel Stephen Meade said.
‘Ken has acknowledged that his emotions got the better of him at the time, however, as a senior coach his actions fell far short of what the AFL expected.
‘As we reiterated last week, referees and opposition players engaging inappropriately with each other is something we do not want to see due to the potential for escalation and the example it sets for football at lower levels and we are disappointed that the moment has been taken away from what was one of the great games of the final.’
Hinkley, in his post-match press conference, said he was out of line.
“I regret the comment… I should have stayed away,” he said.
‘Things were said last week that I certainly didn’t enjoy, but I shouldn’t have let that moment affect me.’
Power’s coach has been criticised for his unsportsmanlike antics.
Port chief executive Matthew Richardson defended his coach on Saturday.
“Ken cares deeply about his players, he cares deeply about the football club and sometimes that emotion comes out, but that’s one of the things we love about Ken,” he said.
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell praised Sicily for standing up for Ginnivan, and on Saturday the Hawks captain said of their verbal spat: “I don’t regret it one bit.”
Port Adelaide will play Sydney at the SCG on Friday night.
