Jimmy Bartel is convinced that Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has the full support of his playing group, despite external pressure to axe him from his job.
It comes after Hinkley choked back tears after his side’s two-point victory over St Kilda on Sunday at Marvel Stadium.
The coach has been under fire after his side’s 79-point drubbing at the hands of Brisbane in round 15.
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Hinkley was booed when he was flashed up on the big screen at Adelaide Oval in last week’s loss, then again when he briefly appeared on the ground as he walked through to the changerooms at the end of the match.
On top of that, during the week, signs were placed outside the Power’s training hub that read “sack Hinkley”.
Hinkley responded emotionally after a “pretty hard” week at the helm.
“It’s been a tough week. Great boys, great boys,” Hinkley said on Fox post match, holding back tears.
“I really like the fact that we were under the pump and we just stuck at it. It wasn’t easy, but we got there.
“We’re two points from fourth. It felt like we were on the bottom of the ladder and I get why. I appreciate the fact that we’ve been playing poorly, but we’re doing our best to make it right.”
Bartel has backed in the coach, who has led the Power for 12 seasons, saying the club does not doubt the way he has connected with the playing group.
“Ken will always have the playing group and the footy department,” Bartel said on Nine’s Footy Furnace on Sunday night.
“The decision for Port Adelaide as a football club, is, ‘do we go with different tactics, different list decisions, different voice?’.
“It will never be about players and … (or) the emotional connection.
https://twitter.com/PAFC/status/1807319377202557004
But Bartel knows that having strong relationships is only one part of a bigger plan to win a premiership.
“He’s been there for 12 years and they want to see success. I don’t blame their supporter base,” he said.
“But what I know about Ken Hinkley, because I have known him for quite some time … what Ken does really well, he connects with his players and everyone inside his football department.
“So that is why there is so much emotion.”
Hinkley was strongly backed during the week by star midfielder Zak Butters, while skipper Connor Rozee had high praise for him after Sunday’s victory.
“He got so much support from (captain) Connor Rozee and all the players, anybody who spoke to the media,” Bartel said.
“The decision for Port Adelaide will never be, ‘has Ken lost the group?’.”
The Power jump back into the top eight, now sitting in seventh with a 9-6 record.