How Hinkley became the Tasmania Devils first coach in the AFL

Updated July 20, 2026 — 1:52pm,first published 10:54am

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Ken Hinkley wasted no time in setting his sights on winning a premiership as coach of the Tasmania Devils after being formally unveiled by the AFL’s 19th team on Monday.

After first discussing the job with Devils chief executive Brendon Gale 18 months ago in Adelaide Hinkley finally secured the board’s approval as Tasmania’s first senior coach on Sunday afternoon in Hobart.

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The Devils were confident he was the right man for the gig. All Hinkley needed to be sure of before committing was that the Devils understood the challenges a start-up club would face.

Hinkley has signed for five years with his contract starting on November 1, but the 59-year-old former Port Adelaide coach declared he was ready to go now.

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“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think we were going to win,” Hinkley said.

“I’m a footy coach. That is what I know. I don’t know too much else I just know what a footy coach does and how he behaves.

“In 100 years time when Tasmania have won so many premierships, at some point there will be a revision moment where we look back [and ask] who was the first coach of the footy club and my name is going to be there forever and [it’s] something I am going to be so proud of.”

Hinkley swooped in ahead of early favourites Nathan Buckley and John Longmire to nab the job.

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Hinkley said his presentation to the Devils board on Sunday was about “character, care and connection”, and vowed that the Devils would play a tough style of football.

“We have got a bit of grit down here… We will be pretty hard to play against.”

He said success could come quickly if the club nailed the building of its list. Expansion club GWS played in a grand final in 2019, seven years after entering the competition. Gold Coast made the finals last season for the first time in their 15-year history.

“If we get the [list build] right, don’t be surprised, we will come pretty quick and we will come really hard. It’s going to be good fun,” Hinkley said.

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“We won’t put any limits on who we’re going after. We will just go after the right people.”

Gale wanted a senior coach who could unify the island state and build the start-up team ahead of their entry into the league in 2028.

“We feel he is a highly reliable authentic personality which will represent Tasmania and the local football ecosystem,” Gale said.

Devils chair Grant O’Brien described Hinkley as “a great connector”.

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“It’s a start-up and you need to be resilient in start-ups,” he said.

“We didn’t set out to find the candidate with the single best win-loss record in this process, we set out to find the right coach for exactly what Tasmania needs right now,” O’Brien added.

“Ken’s ability to build relationships with young players, and to build an environment that people want to be part of is exceptional, it is the number one reason we believe he is the right fit for this club.

“We are building a list, a program and a club from the ground up, largely with young and developing talent.

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“That demands a head coach who is, first and foremost, a brilliant teacher and a builder of people, and that is exactly what Ken is.”

Hinkley said while the journey would have ups and downs, the opportunity to build the club and oversee the Devils’ entry into the AFL was special.

“It’s a huge privilege to be given the opportunity to build something from the very beginning,” Hinkley said.

“The responsibility to lead Tasmania’s entry into the AFL is something very special, it excites me.

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“There will be many ups and downs, and challenges that lie ahead, including the build of our football department, but I have unique and directly relevant experience to take these on alongside the broader football club.

“Tasmania is a proud football state, and I can’t wait to get to know the players, staff, partners and community who have, and will continue to be part of this from day one.”

Hinkley coached the Power for 13 years and while he did not lead them to a flag they played in four preliminary finals on his watch.

The Tasmania job was one of three live coaching processes, with Carlton narrowing down the field to replace Michael Voss and Essendon searching for Brad Scott’s replacement.

Hinkley had publicly ruled himself out of the Essendon hunt after James Hird announced his interest in the role.

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Peter Ryan is a sports reporter with The Age.Connect via X or email.

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