Ken Hinkley doesn't see his tenure at Port Adelaide as a success, which provides the heartbreaking insight into the cruel reality of AFL football.
Long has the sport demanded that premierships are the measure of success, and without them, clubs and players are deemed failures.
Almost like what Talladega Nights character Ricky Bobby said: "If you ain't first, you're last".
But the reality is, that shouldn't be the case, especially in Hinkley's instance.
The long-term Power coach took the club, as he put it, from "irrelevancy to relevancy in the competition".
The former powerhouse of the early 2000s once again rose to become a consistent contender in the league.
Hinkley took Port Adelaide to seven finals series, including four preliminary finals and claimed a minor premiership (2020), but had no silverware to show for it.
His lack of premiership success, in his eyes, has disregarded his incredible coaching record and ability to rally the Alberton club from its knees to a well-run organisation.
"No, I don't," Hinkley said on Footy Classified.
"We win premierships to be successful. I gave everything I had. I didn't have anything left to give, but I did everything I could with the playing group, and the coaching staff.
"But ultimately, to make grand finals, and to win grand finals, is what makes you successful, and we didn't do that."
"I live in the real world and I'm a premiership person. You have to win premierships to be successful."
Ken Hinkley on why he ultimately doesn't view his tenure at Port as a success.#9FootyClassified | Watch on Nine & 9Now 🖥️ pic.twitter.com/qBjZq5ZZtN
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) September 23, 2025
The former Power coach has a better home and away record (59.57 per cent) than Ross Lyon (55.93), Alastair Clarkson (53.31), Damien Hardwick (56.08), Brad Scott (47.98) and Luke Beveridge (57.08), but never converted that to a grand final appearance.
Hinkley selflessly stayed on for another season to assist now-senior coach Josh Carr with the transition, and says he will be cheering on in the stands for the teal and black.
"I will be really happy the day we celebrate a premiership at Port Adelaide and Josh is in charge, and we get to see those great players win a flag," Hinkley continued.
"I go back to Robbie (Gray), Trav (Boak), Tommy Jonas, Brad Ebert, and all those boys I started with, and go, 'jeez they gave everything'. We gave our best, and our best wasn't quite good enough.
"We did turn our club around from being irrelevant to being relevant again in the competition.
"But at my age, at my stage, I live in the real world and I'm a premiership person. You have to win premierships to be successful."
