Tasmania have appointed Ken Hinkley as their inaugural head coach.
The former Port Adelaide man won the race to take over at the new franchise, beating out the rumoured favourites.
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He has been confirmed as the Devils’ first ever coach after landing in Hobart on Sunday, with a press conference set to take place on Monday.
Hinkley is believed to have arrived with senior Tasmania staffer Kathryn McCann after flying from Melbourne.
Hinkley has beaten a number of candidates to the position of head coach.
Former Sydney Swans boss John Longmire and ex-Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley were understood to be frontrunners for the role.
But Hinkley has been preferred by Tasmania who are just starting out, and therefore player development will be key.
Hinkley fits that brief and his reported five-year deal shows the club is thinking for the future.
He is also adept when it comes to player retention, another valuable asset, having rarely lost a player during his spell at the Power.
“A lot has been said and written but all I will say is that it’s a highly consequential decision and we will do what we have to do to make a really strong one,” Tasmania CEO Brendon Gale said.
“We expect that to be resolved by the end of the season.
“It could be August, it could be September. We have got people involved with busy jobs in different parts of the country so we take the time to get together and share our feelings so we set the time frame so we won’t have to be rushed.”
Originally published as Tasmania name Ken Hinkley as head coach with favourites snubbed