‘Passion, history’: inaugural Devils AFL coach secured

Ethan James and Oliver Caffrey | July 20, 2026

Character, care and connection. 

Those were the three words in Ken Hinkley’s pitch that helped convince the Tasmania Devils he was the right fit as the club’s inaugural AFL head coach. 

It was announced on Monday the 59-year-old had inked a five-year deal with the league’s expansion club, who will enter the competition in 2028. 

Hinkley, who pipped ex-Sydney Swans boss John Longmire and former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley for the job, said Tasmania’s passion for AFL was a major drawcard. 

“It’s 160-plus years of football down here. As much as we’re a start-up club, we’re a football state,” he said. 

“In 100 years’ time … at some point there will be a moment where we look back and go, ‘Who was the first coach of the footy club?’ and my name’s going to be there forever.

“I’ll be the head coach but I won’t be the only coach. All of Tasmania will be coaches of this team. Everybody has a role to play.”

Hinkley declared the club’s build would come with challenges, but insisted the island state lifestyle would be attractive for players, despite recent criticism of Tasmania from GWS boss Dave Matthews.

The club’s generous 2027 draft concessions, which include the first-round top pick and $5 million to use on sign-on bonuses, would set it up to hit the ground running. 

“If we get those right, don’t be surprised, we’ll come pretty quick and hard,” Hinkley said.

A football manager and head of development are the club’s next targets, and it will hunt “the best” players. 

“Imagine being the first (to play for the Devils)? You will be forever remembered,” Hinkley said. 

Hinkley left Port Adelaide at the end of 2025 after 297 games in charge and four preliminary finals but no premierships. 

However, Port Adelaide were almost always in contention during his time, and his tenure ended with a winning record of 58.6 per cent. 

Devils’ CEO Brendon Gale said Hinkley’s appointment was about more than wins and losses, and denied the club felt pressure to “pull the trigger” with others also looking for a head coach.

Hinkley will formally start in November and will continue his media commitments this season but is effectively “on now”, Gale said. 

“Ken’s ability to build relationships with young players, and to build an environment that people want to be part of, is exceptional,” Gale said. 

“It is the number one reason we believe he is the right fit for this club at this time.”

The decision was made on Hinkley on Sunday night after he flew to Hobart to make a presentation to the board. 

Devils chair Grant O’Brien said Hinkley’s pitch of “character, care and connection” stood out in his mind. 

It is a key milestone ticked off for the Devils, who started playing in the VFL and VFLW competitions this season. 

The club’s new $1.13 billion stadium, which isn’t expected to be ready until the 2031 season, would prove a selling point despite its construction being pushed back, Hinkley said. 

“It’s a little way away but I can’t wait for the noise of 24,000 Tasmanians roaring under a roof,” Hinkley said. 

“I’ve experienced some great moments in Adelaide – what that stadium did for the city. I don’t think Tasmanians understand what this stadium is going to do for them.”

The state’s parochial south, north and west regions could be united by the Devils, much like Tasmanians had swung behind the NBL-winning JackJumpers, Hinkley said. 

Hinkley was named coach of the year in 2013 and 2020 before handing over the Port Adelaide role to highly-rated assistant Josh Carr. 

He played 132 games for Fitzroy and Geelong between 1987 and 1995 and spent time as an assistant at Geelong and Gold Coast, as well as a year at St Kilda in 2001, before moving to Port.