$20K Well Spent – Neds AFL Unpopular Opinions

$20K Well Spent – Neds AFL Unpopular Opinions

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Tom Rockliff has spoken out against the $20,000 fine handed to his former coach Ken Hinkley following his post-game outburst on brash young Hawk Jack Ginnivan from the AFL, labeling the punishment as an overreaction on this week’s edition of Neds AFL Unpopular Opinions

Rockliff, the former 206 gamer for Port Adelaide and Brisbane, who Ken Hinkley coached during his time at the Power described it as “the most ridiculous fine in AFL footy.”

Staunchly defending his former coach, Rockliff believed that the coach’s emotional response needed to be understood within the broader context of the pressures he had faced throughout the week.

“Ken’s been sitting in press conferences all week being asked if this is his last game as coach,” Rockliff explained. “He’s got a build-up of emotion… That’s not to excuse what he did, but realistically, what he said wasn’t that bad.”

Rockliff added that while Hinkley might have some regrets in hindsight, the situation did not deserve such a heavy fine.

“You’re not flying to Sydney next week, Jack,” Hinkley had reportedly said, a comment Rockliff noted was made with a smirk, further underscoring his view that the reaction had been overblown.

The inconsistency in the AFL’s approach to penalizing coaches, drawing comparisons to past incidents was also something that frustrated the former Power/Lions star with Rockliff referencing a similar situation involving Geelong’s Chris Scott, who had been fined $10,000, half of which was suspended, for a heated exchange with Brisbane Lions players back in 2021.

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Chris Scott in 2021 staring down the Brisbane Lions huddle 

“If you want to punish Ken, give him a ‘please explain’ or a $5,000 suspended fine, but $20,000 is absurd,” he said.

The incident has since sparked backlash from Port Adelaide fans, many of whom have rallied around Hinkley.

“Port fans have gone from hanging up signs saying ‘Sack Hinkley’ to raising over $6,000 to pay his fine in 24 hours,” Rockliff shared, highlighting the ironic shift in public sentiment surrounding the coach.

His co-host, three-time Lions premiership player Alastair Lynch, also weighed in on the situation saying “It was poorly handled. It’s been blown out of proportion.

However, Lynch was quick to point out that Hinkley didn’t handle the situation well.

“He knew that he made a mistake there, but a heinous crime that he committed.”

Lynch also highlighted the positive impact Hinkley’s reaction had within the Port Adelaide community, despite the fine.

He observed that Hinkley’s public display of emotion had united the Port Adelaide board and supporter base, with some fans even raising funds to help pay the fine with a GoFundMe page.

Lynch concluded that while the $20,000 fine was absurd, it may have been a “fair investment” for Hinkley, as it ultimately strengthened his bond with the Port Adelaide faithful.

“Port Adelaide, whether it’s the board or the supporter base, to jump behind him because he’s flown the flag for his club, albeit not quite in the right way, but he has.”

Despite winning their past seven against the Swans, and beating them by 112 points at Adelaide Oval when they last met in Round 21, Port Adelaide heads into Friday’s preliminary final against the Sydney Swans at the SCG as the $3.25 underdogs in the Neds market.

 

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