Ken Hinkley is embracing the possibility that one of his burgeoning assistants could eventually succeed him as Port Adelaide's senior coach.
Deputy and midfield guru Josh Carr has been touted for a head-coaching role in the future, whether that arises at Alberton or elsewhere.
The 43-year-old, who will assist Hinkley again this upcoming season, was initially among the candidates considered for Richmond's then-vacant head coaching position.
Ultimately, Carr, a strong candidate with impressive coaching credentials, opted to remain in South Australia with the Power.
Hinkley, meanwhile, declared it would bring him immense joy to see a close comrade - such as Carr or Chad Cornes - eventually earn the opportunity to coach their own AFL side.
"It would please me no end to see someone that I've worked with closely be given the opportunity to take over, it would be a great thing for our footy club, if at one stage, one day, Josh was to become a senior coach," Hinkley said, via The Age.
"He'd be a premiership player at our footy club and it'd be great for him to have that opportunity, as it would be for Chad (Cornes).
"I think it's always been an option for [the Power] when Josh came back to the club, and you know, I am 57. And I've been there a long time. So at some point, someone will replace Ken Hinkley at Port Adelaide and if that someone happened to be Josh Carr, I think it would be a bloody good decision.
"There's no doubt the club would be interested in Josh Carr, that would be no doubt. He's a fantastic person, and he's got great coaching credentials, he's coached his own club, he's won a premiership, he's been to Fremantle, he's come back to Port."
Carr, a premiership player with the Power in 2004, returned to Alberton after assistant coaching at Fremantle from 2019 to 2021, while Cornes - previously Port Adelaide's SANFL coach - has served as an AFL assistant with the Power since late 2017.
As for Hinkley, whose coaching contract was last year extended through 2025, has been continually questioned about his status as Port's lead man.
However, the seasoned mentor remains unbothered by the outside noise.
"Contract or no contract, it doesn't worry me," Hinkley stated.
"I mean, I do my absolute best every year. I set out to do what I can to help the club hopefully achieve success and at the end of the day, that'll take care of itself."
The Power have pre-season practice matches scheduled with Adelaide and Fremantle, then will commence their home-and-away season against the West Coast Eagles.
