Port Adelaide 300-gamer Kane Cornes believes his former coach Ken Hinkley is the perfect candidate for North Melbourne to target as their David Noble replacement.
Cornes, who played three seasons under Hinkley from 2013 to 2015, believes the 55-year-old has what it takes to turn the struggling Kangaroos around.
Having taken over at Port Adelaide in 2013 in similarly dire circumstances to what North Melbourne finds itself in now, Cornes explained why the veteran coach is the perfect fit at Arden St.
“I think North Melbourne’s priority is with (Alastair) Clarkson, but I think Hinkley is almost a better fit,” Cornes said on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.
“If you look at when he took over at Port Adelaide, it’s about as good of a comparison as you can get with North.
“It was a complete mess … the coach had gone, the president was gone, no one was turning up to games, the club was financially a mess.
“They had five wins in 2012, three wins in 2011, then he came in with good people around him in Alan Richardson and Darren Burgess, Keith Thomas was a magnificent CEO.
“We (Port Adelaide) then won a final the next year in 2013.
“If you’re looking for a rebuilding coach that sets really hard standards but is a good honest person that can still have some fun, that would work.”
While Hinkley is contracted with the Power until the end of the 2023 campaign, Cornes believes a move could be a “win-win” for both clubs with Port Adelaide potentially looking to give the playing squad fresh ideas next season.
“I think that probably works for Port Adelaide as well,” Cornes explained.
“After 10 years it’s a fresh start, perhaps with a younger coach or a coach who’s been there before it could be a win-win for both.”
While Cornes expects the Power to honour Hinkley’s contract, he floated two names that the club could show an interest in if they looked elsewhere.
“There’s a connection there (with Damian Hardwick),” Cornes said.
“It could be Adam Kingsley who’s a premiership player at Port Adelaide if they wanted to go for an untried one.”
Following Saturday’s loss to Geelong, the 11th-placed Power look set to miss finals for the first time since 2019 with just four rounds remaining.
Leigh Adams is currently in charge of the Kangaroos on an interim basis following Noble's departure earlier this month.
"If you're looking for a rebuilding coach who sets really hard standards and is a good, honest person, then that would work."@kanecornes on why Ken Hinkley might be a good fit for North Melbourne. #9AFLSFS | Watch on @Channel9 pic.twitter.com/gQ21KY9J0V
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) July 24, 2022