{"id":71935,"date":"2025-03-03T14:45:13","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T04:45:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/?p=71935"},"modified":"2026-07-03T10:30:04","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T00:30:04","slug":"port-adelaide-and-how-to-succeed-in-succession-planning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/2025\/03\/port-adelaide-and-how-to-succeed-in-succession-planning\/","title":{"rendered":"Port Adelaide and How to Succeed in Succession Planning"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>On February 13th &#8211; a month before Port Adelaide\u2019s season opener &#8211; the Power announced that 2025 would be their final year with Ken Hinkley at the helm, and Josh Carr would take over thereafter.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Ken Hinkley has informed the club he will step aside at season\u2019s end and hand over to Josh Carr as senior coach in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udcdd <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/2Ej5SMdUSs\">https:\/\/t.co\/2Ej5SMdUSs<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ii6Y2V97ca\">pic.twitter.com\/ii6Y2V97ca<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PAFC\/status\/1889444301723021655?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 11, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>With that announcement, Port Adelaide successfully did what Logan Roy never could \u2013 they worked out who was next with more clarity than a piece of paper of dubious legal value around which comic speculation could result.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Paper |Succession S4 EP4\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5fSuPDRYaKs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The recent history of coaching succession plans that led to incumbent coaches heading into their final years as lame ducks is astonishingly positive.<\/p>\n<p>The first one from the last 20 years was the Mick Malthouse to Nathan Buckley succession at Collingwood after the 2010 season. The human element of that was complicated, but to call it a failure is dumb.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Bucks admits the succession plan ruined his relationship with Mick Malthouse. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/lZGHLiqodJ\">pic.twitter.com\/lZGHLiqodJ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; 7AFL (@7AFL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/7AFL\/status\/1136107921434038272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 5, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Buckley won 55% of his games as a coach, made a prelim in his first year and lost a Grand Final over 10 years.<\/p>\n<p>The next one was Paul Roos handing the reins to John Longmire also after the 2010 season at Sydney. Like with Buckley and Malthouse, this was announced before the incumbent coached his final year at the club.<\/p>\n<p>Longmire was also a success. He won 64% of his games, made finals in his first year made five Grand Finals and won one in 14 years.<\/p>\n<p>After that is the Paul Roos to Simon Goodwin succession plan after the 2016 season for Melbourne. This one was agreed years before it actually happened, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.afl.com.au\/news\/443613\/succession-plan-complete-as-goodwin-gets-five-year-deal-with-dees\">Goodwin tabbed to take over from 2017 after the 2014 season.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Again, Goodwin has been a success. He has won 57% of his games to this point, narrowly missed finals in his first year as coach, and then won a drought breaking premiership at Melbourne in 2021 as he heads into year nine.<\/p>\n<p>The most recent one was John Worsfold handing Essendon over to Ben Rutten after the 2020 season.<\/p>\n<p>This is the exception.<\/p>\n<p>Rutten is the only one who made it less than eight years (Goodwin is still coaching and is contracted until the end of 2026) and won fewer than half of his games.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">It&#39;s a good day for a big win&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Simon Goodwin has extended his contract with the Dees. \ud83d\ude4c<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udcdd | <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/2E26frO6jF\">https:\/\/t.co\/2E26frO6jF<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Bi36ZWzclp\">pic.twitter.com\/Bi36ZWzclp<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/melbournefc\/status\/1694235560637010383?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 23, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>If you go back through each of those succession plans and look at the teams the incoming coaches took over, you\u2019ll notice something about the list profiles. They\u2019re all good.<\/p>\n<p>Collingwood in 2011 had Pendlebury, Didak, Ball, Thomas, Sidebottom, Cloke and Swan all in their primes.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">One of the greatest to wear the black and white \u26ab\u26aa<\/p>\n<p>Dane Swan joins the Australian Football Hall of Fame. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fcleslrJ4z\">pic.twitter.com\/fcleslrJ4z<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; AFL (@AFL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AFL\/status\/1803022181015912661?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 18, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Sydney in 2011 had Shaw, Hannebery, Kennedy, Bolton, Malceski, Bolton and Goodes again in their primes.<\/p>\n<p>Melbourne in 2017 had Petracca, Viney, Brayshaw, Gawn and Oliver all under 26 and heading into their primes.<\/p>\n<p>You compare those lists to Essendon in 2020 and it\u2019s chalk and cheese.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">2020 will be John Worsfold&#39;s last season as Essendon&#39;s senior coach with assistant Ben Rutten to take the reins at the end of next year. <\/p>\n<p>The future of Joe Daniher however isn&#39;t as clear as the club gives him space to make his decision.<\/p>\n<p>Footy Feed: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nC1HxSvyHC\">https:\/\/t.co\/nC1HxSvyHC<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/gLzqK42vLV\">pic.twitter.com\/gLzqK42vLV<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; AFL.com.au (@AFLcomau) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AFLcomau\/status\/1173871541865439232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 17, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Rutten did not inherit a single A grader, and the only player that has become one from that 2020 list is Zach Merrett.<\/p>\n<p>Now let\u2019s look at Port\u2019s list.<\/p>\n<p>They have one genuine A-grader, Zac Butters, but he has been susceptible to getting tagged out of games.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Zac Butters goes BANG and kicks Port&#39;s first of the afternoon \ud83c\udf50<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udcfa Watch <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AFLPiesPower?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#AFLPiesPower<\/a> LIVE on ch. 504 or stream on Kayo: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/c5VwhmeFbG\">https:\/\/t.co\/c5VwhmeFbG<\/a><br \/>\u270d\ufe0f BLOG <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ptVpExPLNP\">https:\/\/t.co\/ptVpExPLNP<\/a><br \/>\ud83d\udd22 MATCH CENTRE <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/TQsyMRZogc\">https:\/\/t.co\/TQsyMRZogc<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/SV2tXoKjYH\">pic.twitter.com\/SV2tXoKjYH<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FOXFOOTY\/status\/1781532837490970682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 20, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Jason Horne-Francis has huge potential, but he\u2019s not an every week A-grader just yet. That should come this year, though.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Port Adelaide&#39;s Jason Horne-Francis has shown why 2025 could be the season he becomes one of the best midfielders in the game. The 21-year-old was exceptional playing for the Indigenous All-Stars against Fremantle while Crow Izak Rankine also put on a show. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/_andrewhayes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@_andrewhayes<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/7NEWS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#7NEWS<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/uyZhkZF2gr\">pic.twitter.com\/uyZhkZF2gr<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/7NewsAdelaide\/status\/1891042782288162869?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 16, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The only other guy that\u2019s nearly at an A level is Connor Rozee but his goal output has dramatically diminished over the last two years, as he\u2019s become more workmanlike than explosive.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Connor Rozee is set for a BIG 2025 \ud83d\udcaa <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/QUFcubd4Mk\">pic.twitter.com\/QUFcubd4Mk<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; AFL (@AFL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AFL\/status\/1895733332824244593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 1, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Maybe we could have an argument about Aliir Aliir but we\u2019re stretching.<\/p>\n<p>Who does that list look more like? The bursting at the seams with young talent Melbourne team? Or is it like those ready-made Sydney or Collingwood teams?<\/p>\n<p>Or is it more like the Essendon team that destroyed Ben Rutten?<\/p>\n<p>Despite Port somehow finishing third last year with 17 wins and winning a famous final, I would say it\u2019s comfortably between the two poles laid out. It probably edges closer to Essendon than Collingwood in 2011.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Port Adelaide v Hawthorn Highlights | Semi Final, 2024 | AFL\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9Yf49iPMrPY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s the message that I would give to the Port brass that has been trying to find a reason to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theage.com.au\/sport\/afl\/afl-season-2016-besieged-port-coach-ken-hinkley-doing-all-he-can-to-turn-thing-around-20160424-godo54.html\">sack Hinkley since at least 2016.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>With lists of varying talent, Hinkley has won at least 10 games every year of his career at Port and has won 16 or more in three of the last four years.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m aware that he hasn\u2019t won a premiership, but his direct and territorially dominant style is perfect for a team that has all its best players concentrated in the middle of the ground.<\/p>\n<p>If nothing else, he has shown himself to be a floor raiser for average lists.<\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t know if it will work with Josh Carr taking the reins at Port after this season. I do know that Ken has done a lot with relatively little recently. If you look around the league, there\u2019s more coaches doing the inverse.<\/p>\n<p>I know what who I\u2019d rather have.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b><i>Like what you read from our hard-hitting columnist?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b><i>Follow\u00a0<\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/guywholikesspo1\"><b><i>@Guywholikessport<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i>\u00a0on Twitter or check out his\u00a0<\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/guywholikessport.wixsite.com\/guywholikessport\"><b><i>FULL BLOG HERE\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On February 13th &#8211; a month before Port Adelaide\u2019s season opener &#8211; the Power announced that 2025 would be their final year with Ken Hinkley at the helm, and Josh Carr would take over thereafter. Ken Hinkley has informed the club he will step aside at season\u2019s end and hand over to Josh Carr as senior coach in 2026.\ud83d\udcdd https:\/\/t.co\/2Ej5SMdUSs pic.twitter.com\/ii6Y2V97ca&mdash; Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) February 11, 2025 With that announcement, Port Adelaide successfully did what Logan Roy never could \u2013 they worked out who was next with more clarity than a piece of paper of dubious legal value around&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":71937,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,8298,344],"tags":[29,9778,3311,1329,8260,9523,3094,955,609,9989],"hub_post_cat":[],"class_list":["post-71935","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-australian-rules","category-guywholikessport","category-sports","tag-afl","tag-afl-2025","tag-aussie-rules","tag-australian-rules","tag-guywholikessport","tag-ken-hinkley","tag-opinion","tag-port-adelaide","tag-port-adelaide-power","tag-succession"],"acf":{"md_tip_date":null,"md_tip_date_end":null,"md_market_url":"","tip_date":"03\/03\/2025","event_country":"Australia"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71935","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71935"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71935\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":87797,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71935\/revisions\/87797"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/71937"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71935"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71935"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71935"},{"taxonomy":"hub_post_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hub_post_cat?post=71935"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}