"I’ve heard that before": Hinkley responds to Koch's 'rebuild' comments

Former Power coach Ken Hinkley has responded to Port Adelaide’s Chairman David Koch’s comments about the club’s 2026 expectations.

For the first time since 2013, there will be a new man taking charge as coach in Alberton following Hinkley’s departure, with former assistant coach Josh Carr being promoted to the role.

Considering that Port Adelaide finished 13th in 2025, many pundits are expecting that, as the playing group adjusts to Carr’s game plan, it will likely be another year where Port Adelaide doesn’t feature in September.

But the former Sunrise presenter has come out and set a high bar for the 2004 Premiership player just before the club’s season launch.

“It’s always finals. We banned the word rebuild. Rebuild is an excuse for failure,” Koch said on Channel 7 on Monday.

“Josh knows that we’re a club that always wants to contend for finals, like so many of the other great AFL clubs.

“We should be no different. That’s always the pass mark.”

Reacting to Koch’s comments, Hinkley was not surprised that Koch had said it.

But considering it is Carr’s first year in charge, he believes that the comments were just a little bit too much.

“I’ve heard that before,” the SEN’s Sportsday co-host said.

“Look, David’s intent is always great and his willingness to talk up Port Adelaide and their opportunities.

“I just think sometimes you would just borderline know (it) was a little bit too far in Josh’s first year.

“Port will always expect to be a part of the back end of the season, and what you need to do initially (as a coach) is just win as many games as you can, like every team in the comp.

“Because there is so many things that go into making a successful season. We’ve had seasons where we didn’t make finals, where you could look back and view as a pretty good season when you consider what we had to deal with.

“Whether that be injuries, whether that be draws, all those sorts of things that come your way.”   Hinkley then added that those sorts of expectations can only add additional pressure to what is already a pressurised environment.

“We don’t need any extra pressure; we understand there is pressure in the game,” he continued.

“We feel it every day when you’re a senior coach, so you just don’t need any extra.

“David has done an outstanding job for Port, but sometimes let the football be done by the footballer and manage the other sides.

“But I’m sure they all (Carr, Koch and CEO Matthew Richardson) understand that you have to say certain things, you’re pleasing the members in some ways.”

Carr is set to begin his tenure as Port Adelaide coach against North Melbourne in Round 1 at Marvel Stadium on March 15.