Kane Cornes believes Port Adelaide should get on the phone and sound out a certain former assistant coach.
In the wake of the weekend’s heavy Preliminary Final loss to the Western Bulldogs, the Power have already seen an immediate change with midfield coach Jarrad Schofield departing the club.
After a successful season that ultimately ended in disappointment at the penultimate stage, head coach Ken Hinkley could do with a little freshen up within his coaching staff and Cornes feels they could do worse than chat to Garry Hocking.
The Geelong champion has previously spent time at Alberton as an assistant, caretaker coach and SANFL coach, so knows the club inside out.
Cornes spoke of the assistant coach jockeying that takes place at this time of year and who Port may be able to target.
“There’s some quality out there,” Cornes said on SEN SA Breakfast.
“These assistant coaches are all sort of told in late August, so the club would be aware via assistant coaches’ managers about who perhaps are looking for different opportunities.
“Or if a new coach comes in, like at Collingwood, the shuffle and the fallout that happens from there.
“One I wouldn’t mind them having a look at, and it’s going back to the future a little bit, but I’d be reaching out to Garry Hocking and just seeing what ‘Buddha’ is up to.
“Because he fell out of the Collingwood structure with the COVID situation, he’s well known to those at Port Adelaide, he’s highly respected, he’s one of the hardest working assistant coaches I’ve ever seen.
“He got really close to the Adelaide job before Matthew Nicks. He was right in that job.
“I’d just have a chat to Buddha (Hocking) and say, ‘How are you feeling? Are you refreshed from having some time out of the game?’
“Clearly he knows the midfield better than anyone. He’s got a really good relationship with Ken Hinkley.
“Maybe they want fresh ideas, but I’d just be reaching out to Garry Hocking. I’ve often wondered whether he would be lost to the game and he would be one that I would have a chat to.”
Others that could be considered, availability or not, include Josh Francou, Adam Kingsley and even Brenton Sanderson.
Ex-Power midfielder Francou recently finished up with the Gold Coast Suns and may not suit, while former teammate Kingsley is currently Richmond’s assistant coach, and even former Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson who remains a chance to stay at Collingwood.
“I wouldn’t have a chat to Josh Francou,” Cornes added.
“I just think with the way that he’s broken a couple of contracts at Adelaide and then at Gold Coast, (would) probably move in a different direction from Josh Francou.
“Adam Kingsley’s name has come up, but I think he’s pretty settled in Victoria.
“I’m not exactly sure who is available and who is gettable, but one I’d have a chat to is (definitely) Garry Hocking.
“And perhaps someone like a Brenton Sanderson who knows the Adelaide landscape very well and may get moved to a different role in the shuffle at Collingwood so might be open to greater opportunities.”
Hinkley’s remaining coaching staff includes Michael Voss, Nathan Bassett, Brett Montgomery, Chad Cornes, Trent Hentschel and Matthew Lokan.