Port Adelaide are already planning to replace Ken Hinkley as the senior coach enters the final year of his contract, according to former Demon and Crow Bernie Vince.
Hinkley found himself under increasing pressure last season as the Power sunk to 11th on the table, winning ten matches throughout the year.
Despite speculation mounting last season around Hinkley's tenure, the club backed in their senior coach emphatically, stating that he would be the one to coach them in 2023.
With Round 1 just weeks away, Vince is convinced that this season will be Hinkley's last in charge.
Speaking on the Rush Hour with Bernie, Blewey and Jars, Vince said that he believed the club already have a plan in place to replace their senior coach, indicating that assistant coach Josh Carr would be his replacement.
“He (Hinkley) is fighting a losing battle here,” Vince said.
“I think they've already got a plan for Josh Carr to take over. I think that will happen.
“Basically Kenny Hinkley would have to win the flag, or make a grand final (to get a new contract).
“That's what I think and I don't think they'll do that.”
St Kilda made headlines in 2022 after sacking senior coach Brett Ratten just months after extending his contract, with Vince arguing that clubs shouldn't be signing their coaches to long-term deals early on in the season.
“Wait until halfway through the year," Vince said.
“There's too many clubs who sign them up for two, three years, and then all of a sudden they get halfway through that first year and think ‘gee, things aren't going well'.
“How many times do we see them paying out coach's contracts?”
Port Adelaide's season begins on Saturday, March 18 against Brisbane, with matches against Collingwood, Adelaide and Sydney to follow.
