Embattled Port Adelaide head coach Ken Hinkley has lashed out at faceless 'supporters' who defaced club property whilst calling for his head earlier this week.
Currently serving in the tenth season of his teal tenure, the already simmering heat under the 55-year-old caused a boil over as his side's record eked out to 8-10 on the season.
Following the Power's 12-point loss to Geelong at the Adelaide Oval last Saturday, disgruntled fans posted signage stating "Sack Hinkley" outside of the club's Alberton Oval headquarters.
Speaking to media ahead of his side's all-important date with Collingwood, Hinkley claimed that while the placard hadn't wavered his belief, he was willing to label the party responsible for posting it as "weak".
“I think it’s a really poor thing to do, I think it’s a really weak thing to do," Hinkley exclaimed.
“It doesn’t worry me. I move on with my day, I move on with my week, and I prepare my team the best I possibly can.
“Every football club has great passion in it, but there is a line.”
While able to construct a 58.9 per cent win-rate since taking the reins ahead of 2013, Hinkley's success levels in September sit at 50-50 from 10 starts with no grand final appearances.
And although Port's back-to-back preliminary final defeats at home have proven a sore point for the club's loyal fanbase, Hinkley was unwilling to bow out of the battle.
“The mood of the group is that we’re still in the fight, we’re still in the challenge and we’re going to keep chasing,” he said.
“I don’t think anyone would expect me to stand here and say that we’re not chasing as hard as we’ve ever chased.
“We’re going to keep going.
“We’ll stay in it as long as we possibly can.”
Currently residing on the 11th rung of the ladder, the Power face an uphill battle to return to the finals action this season.
But with successive fixtures against the Pies, Tigers, Essendon and Adelaide to round out the year, the task ahead of them appears insurmountable on paper.
