Former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has responded to reports that he is the favourite for the inaugural Tasmania senior coaching role.
On Channel Seven's The Agenda Setters, the topic was broached whereby Hinkley was deemed the leading contender after it came to light that he'd met Devils CEO Brendon Gale and other bosses last week.
Hinkley moved to clarify his position on SEN.
"I didn't meet with Tassie last week. I did meet with them two weeks ago," he said.
"I've had chats with Brendon, but let's explain why I've had chats. I'm one of the few coaches who has actually spent three years at a start-up club and seen the ups and downs and what can happen if a start-up club get it wrong.
"If I had to call it tonight, I would say that Ken Hinkley will be the inaugural coach of the Tasmania Devils. He's not over the line, but he has been having repeated conversations with Tasmania bosses."
🗣️ Caroline Wilson on Tasmania's hunt for its inaugural coach pic.twitter.com/ZnLoql0veW
— 7AFL (@7AFL) May 11, 2026
"The second part about that is they are leaning into what experience I can help them with. I think that's worthwhile.
"I've spoken to them because I am excited about the new teams coming into the comp, I don't have any problem with that, but I'm not committed to doing any coaching jobs anyway at the moment.
"At some point in the future, I have to make those decisions, but right now… I haven't come up with a decision on whether I do or I don't want to coach again.
"This is the answer I give to everyone: I don't know anything else other than being a footy coach.
"I'm now six months into doing a different role which I am really enjoying and love the connection I'm building with everyone here plus with everyone at Fox.
"If you ask me, ‘do you think you're a coach', yeah, I think I'm still a coach in some way, but at some point, we all move on to another life and another opportunity.
"My conversations with Tassie have been around different roles altogether than the coaching role.
Ken Hinkley has responded to Caro's story on @SENSportsday tonight.#AFL https://t.co/UgAfXualGa pic.twitter.com/6tPnQw1wju
— SEN 1116 (@1116sen) May 11, 2026
"They approached me right from the very start about what I could offer to them in a start-up club situation, and what role would best suit me.
"I can tell you exactly what I said the very first time I spoke to them: ‘I don't know if I can do these other roles. I've been a coach for 13 years, that's what I know I can do.
"‘I don't know about the other stuff, and I'm not in one way saying that I'm going to be a coach again or I am not going to be a coach again. What I'm saying is right now, I will give you every bit of advice or help that you think I can offer to help that football club when they start up.'
"What is it, two years away until the starting date? 2028 – they've got a long way to go and lots of things to solve.
"I am reading and hearing whatever everyone else is reading. Initially they've talked about having a football manager in place first and then the coach. Now it sounds like it's swinging back the other way.
“Nathan Buckley has been pretty clearly the favourite for this job. We don't need a new favourite Caro; we just need to let Tassie do what they do.
"A big headline about who's going to be favourite and who's not going to be favourite. I think it's a long bow to draw from having a meeting with them around discussions over lots of things in their footy club."
