A second-placed finish would likely relieve the pressure from most AFL coaches but not Port Adelaide's Ken Hinkley.
Despite a rocky middle patch throughout 2024, the Power stormed toward the finals to secure a home qualifying final, with many believing they could go all the way.
However, Thursday night's performance at the Adelaide Oval has suggested that a premiership may be farfetched for Hinkley, who has been leading the club since 2013.
Throughout that time, the Port Adelaide mentor has led the side to seven finals series and three preliminary finals but no decider.
And now, with Hinkley's future in the air regarding West Coast's reported desire to lure him to the club, the Power face a straight-sets exit that could accelerate his departure despite being contracted for 2025.
โPort Adelaide simply cannot afford to fall before a prelim, and probably a Grand Final, given where they've been the last few years,โ Channel 9's Tom Morrisย said on Footy Furnace.
โMy understanding is Ken Hinkley is acutely aware of his coaching mortality. He believes anything less than a prelim final appearance will spell the end of his career.
โWhether he's been told that specifically or not, I'm not sure, but that's certainly what he believes.
"He believes anything less than a prelim final appearance will spell the end of his career [at Port]."
With Ken Hinkley 'aware of his coaching mortality', @tommorris32 believes West Coast would be prepared to offer the Power coach a long-term deal.#9FootyFurnace | 9Now ๐ฅ๏ธ pic.twitter.com/1EJwBFjlq3
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) September 8, 2024
โAnd what is absolutely still in the picture is West Coast's interest. Now, I haven't confirmed this, but I believe that West Coast would be prepared to offer a long-term deal to Ken Hinkley, lucrative cash as well, whether that would tempt him to leave a year before his contract finishes.
โBut I think they're all on the same page here. I don't think Ken Hinkley's going to be sacked and blindsided; I equally don't think Ken Hinkley's gonna join West Coast, and Port Adelaide are gonna say, we want you to stay.
โIf that does transpire, it'll be a fairly amicable situation, but it all rests on this week. They cannot afford to go out in straight sets.โ
As it has his entire career, the pressure will come for Hinkley and his men if they are unable to perform.
An impressive winning percentage of 61.4 per cent across 259 home and away games puts the 57-year-old amongst the game's greatest coaches.
However, he's been let down by finals appearances, winning five of 13 encounters in September.
Friday's semi-final match against Hawthorn will see Hinkley match Mark Williams' 273-game stint as the Power's longest-serving coach.