Ken Hinkley appointed inaugural coach of Tasmania Devils AFL club

Consensus Summary

Ken Hinkley has been officially appointed as the inaugural coach of the Tasmania Devils AFL club, signing a five-year deal that will take him through the end of the 2031 season. The announcement, made on Monday morning, marks a pivotal moment for the Devils, who will enter the AFL in 2028. Hinkley’s appointment was the culmination of a year-long search, with the 59-year-old chosen over high-profile candidates John Longmire and Nathan Buckley. His role will begin in November, with a focus on building the team from scratch and uniting the state behind the Devils, a task inspired by the success of Scott Roth, the coach of the JackJumpers NBL team.

Hinkley’s background as a coach is well-documented, having led Port Adelaide for 12 seasons, where he achieved a 59.6% win rate in home and away matches and was named coach of the year twice (2013 and 2020). Despite never coaching a team to a grand final, his ability to make Port Adelaide competitive and relevant was widely praised. The Devils’ selection panel, including CEO Brendon Gale, emphasized Hinkley’s knack for building relationships with young players and creating an environment that fosters loyalty and community engagement. His appointment was seen as a strategic choice to align with Tasmania’s football culture, where connection with the local community is paramount.

Key figures in the announcement included Hinkley himself, who expressed excitement about the opportunity to build something from the ground up, and Brendon Gale, who highlighted Hinkley’s ability to connect with players and the broader community. Scott Roth, whose success with the JackJumpers served as a model for Hinkley’s appointment, praised the importance of visibility and engagement with locals. Fellow candidates Longmire and Buckley, who had both expressed strong interest, were informed of their unsuccessful bids the day before the announcement. Hinkley’s transition from Port Adelaide, where he left at the end of the 2025 season, was described as smooth, with his handover being 'scripted and corporate,' according to the Guardian.

While both ABC and the Guardian agree on the core details of Hinkley’s appointment, they differ in their emphasis on his coaching style and challenges. The ABC highlights Hinkley’s focus on community engagement and the potential for Port Adelaide players to join the Devils, while the Guardian delves deeper into his coaching philosophy, describing his teams as 'gloriously attacking' but occasionally rigid in big games. The Guardian also notes that Hinkley’s closest finals appearance was a loss to Richmond in 2020, a detail not explicitly mentioned by the ABC. Additionally, the ABC provides more specific figures about Hinkley’s finals record (6 wins from 15 appearances), while the Guardian focuses on his broader impact on Port Adelaide’s culture and relevance.

Looking ahead, Hinkley faces significant challenges, including uniting Tasmania’s three regions behind the Devils and navigating the political and economic uncertainties surrounding the construction of Macquarie Point Stadium in Hobart. The Devils’ training and administration center will not be built in time for the 2028 preseason, adding to the logistical hurdles. Despite these challenges, Hinkley’s appointment has been met with widespread approval, with figures like Royce Hart and Jimmy Bartel praising his ability to inspire and connect with players and fans alike. The Devils’ journey from their inaugural VFL season to their AFL debut in 2028 will be closely watched, with Hinkley’s leadership at the forefront of their success.