Shamed, hurt, exploited: Hinkley’s honest AFL evaluation after Ginni sledge

Ken Hinkley believes the AFL failed to treat him with the care he deserved during and after the Jack Ginnivan sledge saga.

It all bubbled to the surface after Port Adelaide’s narrow and dramatic Semi Final win over Hawthorn in 2024.

Kenny’s post-match aeroplane gesture was directed at Ginni following a cheeky social media comment of "see u in 14 days" on former Collingwood teammate Brodie Grundy’s post after Sydney had won through to the Preliminary Final.

Of course Hinkley took umbrage at that post and used it as motivation in his side’s preparations before mocking the Hawks after the victory - which cost him a cool $20,000.

The situation was built up as the feature event of last year’s Gather Round when the Power hosted the Hawks at Adelaide Oval on the Sunday night - which Port won by 30 points.

Hinkley, now a former Port coach, explained his feelings in the aftermath of the incident and how he felt let down by the AFL.

“One of my strengths was to make sure I used everything available and the Hawthorn game (in 2025) was clearly something that was significant and big from the year before with the unfortunate incident that went on,” he said on SEN’s Whateley.

“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.

“Then we were coming up against Hawthorn in a game that was the headline act of Gather Round. Yeah, we used it to make sure that we gave ourselves a chance.

“We were playing a really strong Hawthorn, we had great game style to play against Hawthorn, we we're really confident in that and we talked through the week about we know how to beat them and we know what beats them and we got them to the stage again where we were capable of getting over the line again.”

There was a fair amount of buzz stirred up in the week leading in to Round 5 last year.

However, Hinkley feels the AFL exploited him - and Ginnivan to a degree - in the promotion of that Gather Round fixture.

“Yeah, I did (feel exploited), there's no doubt I did, and I can say that now because I'm out of the game and I can be a little bit more honest,” an honest Hinkley replied.

“I made the mistake, I’d done the crime, which was ok. I owned that, I talked about it quite openly straight afterwards and 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.”

Hinkley still can’t work out why the AFL was so determined to fine him and make an example his actions.

“There was an incident the week before with Jason McCartney and Tommy Papley where there was a bit of physical pushing and shoving,” he said further.

“I suppose they were in the mood for stamping out any behaviour post games or breaks that involved the two opposing sides in any way, shape or form.

“They have every right to do what they did. I just felt like there was a little extra in it for some reason. I probably occasionally had caused him some problems over the journey in different ways but maybe this is their chance to to clip me properly, I don't know.”

Hinkley was asked if the league showed any compassion to him.

“No,” was his succinct answer.

Before adding: “I was (hurt by it), absolutely I was.

“I didn't deserve too much, but I deserved some form of care, I thought, and that didn't come, so that was just what happened.”

The 2026 edition of Gather Round takes place this weekend, kicking off with Adelaide v Carlton on Thursday night, but there are no 'grudge' matches as such being promoted by the league this time around.