Ken Hinkley has shown the toll of recent days, choking in the immediate aftermath of Port Adelaide’s crucial two-point win over St Kilda in the AFL.
The Power’s scrappy 8.14 (62) to 8.12 (60) win over the Saints on Sunday at Marvel Stadium eased some of the pressure on the beleaguered Port manager.
It snapped their three-game losing streak and came a week after Power fans booed Hinkley following their 79-point win over the Brisbane Lions at home.
Asked how he was feeling moments after the final siren, Hinkley’s emotions were running high.
“It was a very tough week. They are great guys. I really like the fact that we tried our best and stayed strong,” he told Fox Sports.
“It wasn’t easy, but in the end we did it. Sometimes… we are two points away from fourth place, it seemed like we were in last place in the standings and I understand why.
“I really appreciate the fact that we’ve been playing poorly, but we’re doing the best we can to keep it good.”
Hinkley was then asked about the pressure he was under.
Ken Hinkley held back tears after a tough week at Port Adelaide Football Club
The pressure has mounted on the Power manager after last weekend’s resounding defeat.
Unfortunately, it’s part of the job. You don’t want it, but I want the job, so I have to put up with that.
He also felt that “without a doubt” the Port players were behind him, adding: “The reality was that, as a team, they stuck together.”
Later, in his post-match press conference, Hinkley’s emotions calmed but the importance of the victory remained enormous.
“Relief… it was a big win,” he said.
‘Sometimes it’s hard to control when you get into those instant moments and I’m an emotional person, I’m an emotional coach.’
The score was level at half-time in an entertaining duel in which Port controlled the stoppages and St Kilda dominated the turnovers.
As both teams searched for an advantage, the third period turned into a turnover-fest as the pressure mounted.
Port broke the deadlock with two goals late in the period and although St Kilda responded with two early in the final period, they were unable to regain the lead.
St Kilda’s Jack Higgins missed a set shot late in the fourth and then power forward Mitch Georgiades nailed Jack Steele with a lay-in at the other end with less than a minute left to secure the win.
But Port Adelaide responded in style with a two-point victory over St Kilda.
But while the win kept Port in the top eight, Hinkley is under no illusions about the task at hand with the Western Bulldogs coming up next Saturday at Adelaide Oval.
“There is no doubt that we won with effort, we were not very good, but important people realized the moment we were experiencing,” he said.
Among those key players were top midfielder Jason Horne-Francis, whose work rate was outstanding, and key defenders Aliir and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, who capped off fine games by repeatedly saving Port in the final quarter.
Saints, by contrast, are now in the bottom four and manager Ross Lyon spoke of his frustration after the narrow defeat, although he said they had not lacked anything to push themselves.
He said the work stoppage remains his Achilles heel.
“Their midfield is like a hydra, right? If you cut off (Zak) Butters’ head, (Connor) Rozee goes crazy from the start,” he said.
“Then you break even, get some ball and then Horne-Francis explodes in the third.”
Rowan Marshall scored three goals for the Saints and Jack Sinclair racked up 31 disposals, although he spoiled his impressive play with a kick-out that gave Port a crucial goal in the third period.
