Port Adelaide premiership captain Warren Tredrea has stated Ken Hinkley's position with the Power "looks untenable" following the club's second loss of the season.
After a white-hot start over fellow premiership hopefuls Brisbane in Round 1, the South Australian side have slipped to a 1-2 record due to losses against Collingwood and arch-rivals Adelaide.
Both performances have failed to show similar signs to their season opener, with a difficult upcoming few rounds seeing some expect the club to fall further down the ladder.
Port Adelaide will face 2022 grand finalists Sydney this week at the SCG, before hosting the Western Bulldogs at Gather Round the week after.
After an 0-5 start to last season under Hinkley, the Power could have just one win in their first five matches in 2023.
Off-contract this year, pressure is on the Power coach to lead his side back to September, with Hinkley potentially requiring a deep finals run to see his tenure extended.
While a call on his future has been flagged for August, Tredrea has called on the club to make a decision soon if they believe he won't be there from 2024.
"I get it's early in the season but for me it's just like, you know what? He's not going to be there in 2024," Tredrea told The Big Deal podcast. "I can't see it.
"If he does, I'll be the first to say well done. But right now, it looks untenable.
"Right now, I just look at Port and go: โwould I ever consider someone not coaching a club from Round 3?' It sounds ridiculous.
"But if Ken knows he's not going to be there next year, the board knows he's not going to be there next year, who are we kidding?
"I just look at the situation right now and whether the club's in denial or they'll improve and hope it goes away, well they started last year 0-5. They didn't finish in finals last year."
Among those seen as potential successors for Hinkley at Alberton is assistant coach Josh Carr, who returned to the club at the end of last year to help lead the Power's midfield unit.
A 124-gamer for Port Adelaide across two stints with the club, Carr has thrown his support behind Hinkley following the club's second successive loss.
Carr told media on Monday that the club and its coaching department are always looking to improve, no matter the weekend's result.
"Ken, he's coaching well," Carr said.
"He's staying in the moment and looking to improve. Every time we come in on a Monday, whether it's a win or a loss, it's 'how can we get better'?"
"I'm really confident in us, as a team, that we're pushing the right things. We haven't quite nailed it yet with our consistency, but it's Round 3. I'm really confident we can get it right."
Carr was a member of Port Adelaide's coaching team soon after his retirement in 2010, holding a role under ex-coach Matt Primus and through Hinkley's early years as senior coach.
After prior roles with Fremantle and SANFL side North Adelaide, winning a premiership as senior coach with the latter, Carr returned to the Power to help Hinkley's cause.
Striving for growth as he continues to cut his teeth in the AFL, Carr said he's learning with each experience.
"I like to think I'm going alright, but as coaches you're reviewing your performance each week," he said.
"I'm always just looking for things to improve on, with individuals and yourself. You're never a finished product, there's always a lot to learn.
"With experience, you get better and better, I'm always open for growth."
Port Adelaide will look to return to winning ways on Saturday night when they make the trip to Sydney to face the Swans at the SCG.
