Ken Hinkley wins race to historic Tasmania coaching job

Ken Hinkley’s Move to Hobart

Ken Hinkley has emerged as the clear frontrunner for the Tasmania Devils’ top job after reporting from The Age confirmed he traveled to Hobart on Sunday to present to the club’s coaching selection panel. While the expansion team has engaged in discussions with various industry figures over recent months, Hinkley was identified as the final candidate to formally pitch to the board. The 59-year-old had long been a target for the AFL’s newest expansion team, which is set to enter the competition in 2028.

The selection process for the club has involved high-profile candidates including former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley and ex-Sydney coach John Longmire. According to reports, Hinkley now sits in the “box seat” for the appointment. Both Buckley and Longmire were informed of Hinkley’s appointment on Sunday after the club’s selection panel met with them over the past few weeks. While Buckley refused to elaborate on the conversations he had with the panel when they met a fortnight ago, the club’s catch-up with him and Longmire was described as informal and part of ongoing discussions as they search for an experienced coach to build the foundations for a new team.

Candidate Profiles and Selection Dynamics

The Devils’ hierarchy has remained methodical in its search, focusing on candidates with extensive experience to help build the club’s foundation. Longmire, who met with the Devils a fortnight ago in what he described as a fact-finding mission, said he had as many questions as answers for the selection panel. His manager, Liam Pickering, noted that any move would require a perfect alignment of interests given the coach’s current role.

When you are in a position that he is in, such a well credentialled coach, and he has got a great role at a great club a lot has got to be right for it to be a fit for both parties and I think that is where it is at for John and Tassie, Pickering said on SEN.

Tasmania Devils director Alastair Lynch, speaking on Fox Footy, emphasized the quality of the candidate pool while maintaining that the interview process remained active throughout the weekend. We are really lucky and in a fortunate situation where we have a number of very good candidates to choose from, Lynch said. Board members and officials, including chairman Grant O’Brien, have signaled that a conclusion to the search is near, with the club even posting a cryptic social media video of a man grabbing a team polo shirt off a chair and walking away.

Hinkley’s Record and Club Strategy

Hinkley brings a resume defined by a lengthy tenure at Port Adelaide, where he coached from 2013 until he stepped aside from his duties at the end of last season. During his 13 seasons at the helm, the club competed in four preliminary finals and seven finals series. While he concluded his time at the club without reaching a Grand Final, his statistical record remains strong. He departed with a winning record of 58.6 per cent, having secured 174 victories across 297 matches. He exited Port with the mark of having coached the most VFL/AFL games without reaching a Grand Final.

He is regarded as an excellent manager of people and has been identified as a perfect person to create a down-to-earth, hard-working football club culture as well as connect with the Tasmanian community. The Devils will enter the League in 2028 and have been granted a host of generous draft concessions to ensure they will be competitive from the get-go.

Next Steps for the Expansion Club

The club’s immediate focus remains on finalizing the coach, with fans and stakeholders expected to receive official confirmation shortly. Buckley is set to remain an assistant at Geelong next year if he is overlooked for the Devils role, while Longmire will be heavily linked with any senior role that pops up over the next 12 months.

We had a good catch up with Ken Hinkley, Grant O’Brien, Tasmania Devils chairman, confirmed with reporters including 9News. It is just another step in the process that we are running. It is a really important thing for our club, obviously being a head coach of our AFL Devils team. You will be hearing from us soon, pretty soon.