Former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has launched a scathing critique of the AFL, claiming the league has committed a significant oversight by permitting active club coaches to helm Victoria and Western Australia in the upcoming State of Origin clash. This marks the first time since 1999, excluding exhibition matches in 2008 and 2020, that top-tier players will set aside club loyalties to compete for their state when Origin football returns this Saturday.
Coaching Line-ups and Recruitment Concerns
Leading the Western Australian team, known as the Sangropers, is Sydney Swans coach Dean Cox, who will be assisted by Fremantle's Justin Longmuir and Adelaide Crows assistant Nathan van Berlo. On the Victorian side, Geelong mastermind Chris Scott is at the helm, supported by Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell and Gold Coast's Shaun Grigg. Barring a few injury absences, both squads are packed with the elite talent from their respective states, including multiple stars whose club contracts expire at the end of the season.
High-profile examples include Victorian duo Zak Butters from Port Adelaide and Ben King from Gold Coast, with speculation about their futures set to intensify this year. The Western Bulldogs are reportedly in the race to sign Butters, but Geelong and Hawthorn cannot be discounted, especially with senior coaches Scott and Mitchell spending the week in camp with him during Origin preparations.
Hinkley's Blunt Assessment
Hinkley asserts that this arrangement provides an unfair advantage to Origin coaches in luring rival players, stating the AFL "messed up" by allowing it. "One hundred per cent they have. It is an absolute advantage to those coaches," Hinkley told SEN radio. He emphasised the importance of connection in modern football, noting that a four or five-day opportunity to build rapport with a potential new player is a significant edge.
"Let's be really clear, this was an AFL decision. It's a really simple AFL decision they have not thought about in any way, shape or form to consider the advantage they may or may not give," Hinkley added. He drew on personal experience, recalling how two-time All Australian Chad Wingard moved to Hawthorn after the 2018 season, following earlier collaborations with then Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson in the International Rules series in 2014 and 2015.
Historical Precedents and Alternative Options
Hinkley pointed out that Wingard had never connected with Clarkson before those series, suggesting such relationships can influence player decisions. While few would dispute the credentials of coaches like Scott, Mitchell, Cox, and Longmuir, Hinkley argued there were unemployed coaches who could have filled the roles adequately.
"Paul Roos could've coached or we could've had Adam Simpson coach the Victorian team, we could've had Guy McKenna or Peter Sumich coach the Western Australians," he said. Hinkley acknowledged the desire to be involved in the prestigious game but warned that the bonds formed during Origin camps can persist and make club moves easier for players.
Broader Implications for the AFL
Hinkley stressed that sensible coaches would be neglecting their duties if they did not explore opportunities with rival players of interest during these camps. "You would not be doing your job if you weren't at least trying to grow a little bit together with any of those players, and Zak's one of them," he remarked. He criticised the AFL for adding another layer of disparity to a system already challenged by issues like the fixture draw, list management, and academy rules.
"No one needs a leg up in the race. It's just not right that you should get an opportunity to get a head-start on the field. The AFL have messed it up," Hinkley concluded, suggesting the league would likely reconsider if given another chance, recognising it as a lapse in common sense.
