Hinkley dropped out of high school at 16 to become a semi-professional footballer with the Fitzroy Football Club in the VFL despite the club encouraging him to complete his schooling.[2]
Playing career
Fitzroy (1987–1988)
In 1987 Hinkley made his VFL debut as a forward for Fitzroy in a match against North Melbourne at Waverley Park. Hinkley did not enjoy his time in Melbourne and was approached by Geelong at the end of the 1988 VFL season.[3]
Geelong (1989–1995)
Hinkley moved to Geelong for the 1989 VFL season and it was at his second club where he played his best football as a rebounding defender. Hinkley walked out of Fitzroy in 1988 and asked for a clearance to Geelong. He stood out of football for the rest of 1988 season before being traded to Geelong for the 1989 season. A half back flanker in the 1991 and 1992 All-Australian teams, Hinkley also won a Carji Greeves Medal as Geelong's best and fairest player in the 1992 AFL season. In the same year he finished third at the Brownlow Medal count, behind winner Scott Wynd and Hawthorn's Jason Dunstall. He appeared in 12 finals with Geelong, including the 1992, 1994 and 1995 Grand Final losses.
Hinkley returned to Camperdown and coached the club to back-to-back premierships in 1999 and 2000, the former as captain-coach.[5]
St Kilda assistant coach (2001)
St Kilda acquired his services as an assistant coach in 2001 under senior coaches Malcolm Blight and Grant Thomas, but he left the club after one season.[6]
Bell Park senior coach (2002–2003)
The year after leaving St Kilda he took up the role of senior coach of Bell Park in the Geelong Football League and oversaw a premiership in 2003.[7]
Geelong assistant coach (2004–2009)
He resumed his AFL coaching career in 2004, as an assistant coach under senior coach Mark Thompson at Geelong, and was part of the coaching group in their 2007 and 2009 AFL premierships. Hinkley left Geelong at the end of the 2009 season.[8][9]
Gold Coast assistant coach (2011–2012)
At the end of the 2009 season, Hinkley was announced as an assistant coach at the new Gold Coast Football Club under senior coach Guy McKenna.[10][11] Hinkley served as assistant coach for the Suns in their inaugural season in the 2011 season and the 2012 season.[12] during this period, Hinkley also interviewed for the Richmond, Geelong and St Kilda senior coach positions but was unsuccessful.
Port Adelaide senior coach (2013–present)
Hinkley talking to his Port Adelaide players in 2014
On 8 October 2012, Hinkley was announced as the senior coach of Port Adelaide making him the first coach that has not been associated with the club before since Fos Williams. Hinkley replaced Port Adelaide caretaker senior coach Garry Hocking, who replaced Matthew Primus, after Primus was sacked during the 2012 season.[13] In his debut season, Hinkley led Port to 13 wins, which included an elimination final win at the MCG against Collingwood before being eliminated by Geelong in a close game a week later. This came to a surprise to many as Port Adelaide had only won eight games in the previous two seasons combined. For his impressive season, Hinkley was voted as the Coach of the Year by the AFL Coaches Association.
A year later, despite predictions by many that Port Adelaide would miss the finals, Hinkley led the club to a preliminary final finish; having finished the minor rounds in fifth place on the ladder, the Power defeated Richmond and Fremantle in their first two finals before losing to eventual premiers Hawthorn.[14]
The Power disappointingly missed finals in 2015 and 2016 before returning in 2017, only to be eliminated in the first week in an intense Elimination Final against the West Coast Eagles which went all the way down to a kick after the siren in extra-time. Hinkley's contract with Port Adelaide was extended in late 2017.[15]
After guiding Port Adelaide to minor premiership and a Preliminary Final appearance during the 2020 AFL season, Hinkley signed a contract extension until the end of 2023.[16] 2021 saw another Preliminary Final appearance for the Power, while in 2022 the team slipped out of the top eight, placing pressure on Hinkley for his final contracted season in 2023. Despite the pressure, club officials extended Hinkley's contract to the end of the 2025 season, shortly after the team locked in a top four spot and a return to finals,[17] before being knocked out in the finals series by losing the qualifying final to Brisbane by 48 points, followed by a 23 point home game loss to Greater Western Sydney.[18] In response to supporter dissatisfaction with Hinkley's 2023 contract extension chairman David Koch declared that despite never having taken the club to a Grand Final Hinkley was the club's most successful coach of the AFL era[19] ahead of Mark Williams (2 Grand Finals, 1 Premiership).
Personal life
Hinkley is married to high school sweetheart Donna and the couple have three children, Lisa, Bec and Jordan.[2] Jordan Hinkley is employed by the Port Adelaide Football Club as a Football Analyst.[20] Prior to COVID-19 one of Hinkley's daughters and her husband were also employed by the Port Adelaide Football Club.
Hinkley is an avid supporter of greyhound racing and is actively involved in the sport as a part-owner. He is a member of a syndicate that includes current and former players from the Port Adelaide Football Club, as well as Chris Davies, the General Manager of Football Operations for the club.[22]
Victoria 17.14 (116) defeated Tasmania 14.20 (104), at North Hobart Oval, 28 May 1991
Queensland 23.14 (152) defeated Victoria 15.8 (108), at The Gabba, 16 July 1991
Victoria 23.19 (157) defeated Western Australia 13.12 (90), at the MCG, 26 May 1992
South Australia 19.19 (133) defeated Victoria 18.12 (120), at Football Park, 7 July 1992
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