Former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has opened up about the $20,000 fine he received for taunting Hawthorn's Jack Ginnnivan.
Speaking on SEN, Hinkley addressed the 2024 incident, where he mimicked an aeroplane to Ginnivan after the Hawthorn small forward made a comment on social media assuming the Hawks would beat the Power in the semi.
“The AFL decided to impose a fine on me and shame me, and I was pretty unforgiving of that to be honest. I just didn't think there was an enormous amount of care in their way of treating me through that journey,” Hinkley said.
The following match between the two sides was in Gather Round last year, with the AFL using the incident to generate interest and add spice to the contest.
Asked if he therefore felt exploited, Hinkley said: “Yeah, I did, there's no doubt I did, and I can say that now because I'm out of the game anken d I can be a little bit more honest.
“I made the mistake, I'd done the crime, which was ok. I owned that, I talked about it quite openly straight afterwards and was embarrassed by my own behaviour.
“But then for the AFL to do what they did in fining me - which they have every right to do as I worked under the umbrella of their rules and everything that went on - so I wear that.
“Then to promote it on their website leading into Gather Round with me, Hawthorn and Ginni - who lucky enough took it in the right way too - it felt a little bit misused for me if you're making a moral stand on what I should and shouldn't have been allowed to do.
“That's just the way I felt.”
