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<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cExtraordinary that one of them is Sam Mitchell\u2019s football club Hawthorn,\u201d Caroline Wilson revealed on 7NEWS Melbourne.<\/p>\n
\u201cRemember what happened during the finals last year? It was the story of the finals, really. The off-field story with the Jack Ginnivan saga and Sam Mitchell\u2019s words about Ken Hinkley after the game<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cBut Sam Mitchell has spoken to Ken Hinkley about a potential role at Hawthorn.<\/p>\n \u201cHe would like to be challenged by someone like Ken Hinkley and he thinks there is room for another voice in his footy department.\u201d<\/p>\n Hinkley would not replace former Carlton and St Kilda coach Brett Ratten, who already acts as a sounding board for Mitchell.<\/p>\n Speaking on Channel 7\u2019s The Agenda Setters<\/a>, Wilson said it showed how \u201cpragmatic and sensible\u201d Mitchell is in his desire to coach Hawthorn to a premiership.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be for as many days or as few as Ken wants, it could be full-time, it could be consulting, and watch this space,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n Kane Cornes said it \u201csurprises\u201d him that Hawthorn have reached out to his former coach Hinkley.<\/p>\n \u201cThis would be the last club that I thought would offer him a job,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Wilson said she has also confirmed Essendon have spoken to Hinkley about a role as part of Brad Scott\u2019s coaching setup, though CEO Craig Vozzo refused to comment on any plans to restructure their football department.<\/p>\n \u201cMy understanding is Ken Hinkley is part of their plans if he was interested and they\u2019ve spoken to him about a three to four-day role, commuting from Adelaide if he wanted, but also living in Melbourne,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I don\u2019t think these are the last people that are going to talk to Ken Hinkley.\u201d<\/p>\n Hinkley over the weekend said he could not seriously consider another job.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m in love with the Port Adelaide footy club … that\u2019s not easy to walk away from,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI need a bit of time to let the dust settle and find out whether I\u2019ve still got the competitive edge to want to compete.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know. Going against Port Adelaide doesn\u2019t seem anywhere near right.\u201d<\/p>\n Hinkley said he would look forward to sitting down with his family while unemployed.<\/p>\n \u201cI will sit down with my wife for the very first time in 13 years and not be a coach,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cActually, in 30 years. I have had a coaching job every minute of my life for the last 30 years.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll sit down with Donna … and we\u2019ll plan a holiday.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll think about grandchildren, children – all the things that get taken away from you a fair bit when you do footy.<\/p>\n \u201cI say this all the time: the most important thing in your life is your family, but footy is the most important of the least important things.<\/p>\n \u201cI truly believe that. So now it\u2019s time for me to spend some time with some family.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Touching tribute after Jeremy Finlayson let go by Port Adelaide<\/p>\n 2 min read<\/p>\n![\"Hinkley](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/7a43dd531e5ad0dbb6360f47731a9e0bc8d39701.jpg\")
Hinkley had words with Hawks players after the 2024 semi-final. Credit: Michael Willson\/AFL Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n