Veteran Defends Ken’s Position: Swan’s Perspective on the Debate

Boak insists no confusion on leadership | 02:04

A veteran Port Adelaide star says there’s no confusion among players about who’s leading the team amid scrutinisation over the club’s coaching succession plan.

Meanwhile, in Sydney, a gun Swans defender shared his take on Tom McCartin’s much-discussed position change.

Recap the biggest talking points from Tuesday night’s edition of Fox Footy’s AFL 360!

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Amid heightened pressure on Ken Hinkley following Port’s 91-point defeat at the hands of Collingwood in Round 1, club stalwart Travis Boak says there’s no mistaking who’s leading the club from a coaching standpoint.

“I get where the questions come from in terms of where we’re placed and moving forward, but for us, Kenny’s our coach this year, and he has been the whole pre-season — his language hasn’t changed,” Boak told Fox Footy on Tuesday night.

“If anything, he’s probably relaxed a little bit more in terms of understanding each player and each individual and being able to coach with, probably, without the pressure as much, and I think that’s a really good thing, and it will be for us going forward.

“He took control of the meeting on Monday along with our leaders and it was his team that he was leading.”

Asked if Hinkley’s ability to motivate the group had diminished in any way following pre-season confirmation Josh Carr would be taking over the coaching reins in 2026, Boak was categorical.

“Nah, not at all,” he said. “Not at all.

“I think the playing group understands that it’s his team, he’s our senior coach, we love him, we’d do anything for him, and that hasn’t changed over the years that he’s coached, and it hasn’t changed at all this year and this pre-season.

“And the way he spoke to the group, the way he’s challenged the group and the way he’s brought us together has been the same.”

‘IT’S DIFFERENT’: SWAN’S TAKE ON POSITION CHANGES

Sydney speedster Nick Blakey was quizzed on positional changes at the Swans, including swingman Tom McCartin’s move from defence to attack and his own role as a defender.

“I think it’s different, there’s no doubt about that,” Blakey began on AFL 360.

“Obviously, Tommy (McCartin) going forward and helping the boys in the forward line. I play a bit deeper and (as more of) a line back than what I usually do, but that’s where ‘Coxy’ (coach Dean Cox) thinks my best football is, and at the moment, that’s where I’m more than happy playing.

“That’s where the team needs me, and that’s where I’ll be playing, so I’m more than happy doing it back there.”

Blakey said McCartin was missed in defence but added his value as a forward was helping the team.

“It gives us such a good look up forward, and he works extremely hard, and he’s obviously been a defender for a while and knows what they hate, so he’s a tough matchup for the boys that he comes against,” Blakey said.

“As much as I’d love to have him next to me and playing on the big boys down back, he’s doing a good job up forward and it’s helping us as a team, so it’s been good to see.

“Yeah, I think so (he needs more time for the scoring to come). As a forward, a lot of the stuff that gets talked about is goals, (but) if you look at the work he actually does in not getting outmarked and bringing the smalls into the game and everything like that — the stuff that we really value as a football team — he’s actually been doing really well.

“It is early … who knows how long it’ll last? … Hopefully it’s for most of the year.”

It comes after Fox Footy analyst and dual premiership player David King questioned the feasibility of the move and urged the Swans to “cut the cord”.

“How stubborn do you want to be?” asked King on Fox Footy’s First Crack. “Why don’t you just get the back six sorted and move your prime full-back, back?

“You tried it (up forward), it didn’t work … he’s had three shots at goal in two weeks … it’s not like he’s going to win the Coleman for you.

“At the other end, you’re leaking easy goals (and) you’re not taking intercept marks that you should.”

Asked by co-host Garry Lyon specifically about playing as a taller, more accountable defender, Blakey said it wasn’t a foreign role for him and that he would continue to do what’s best for the side.

“I’ve trained down there all summer, and it might not be what everyone’s used to seeing from me, but if I’m helping the team more than what I usually do and that’s what the team needs me to do, then that’s (where) I’m going to be playing,” he said.

“It might look a bit different and there might not be as many runs, but I’m just going to have to defend the big boys and I’m more than happy doing that for the team.”

REID CRITICISM ‘ANNOYING’

Second-year Eagles prodigy Harley Reid copped heat following West Coast’s Round 1 drubbing at the hands of Gold Coast last Sunday, and Demons great Garry Lyon believes it’s more than excessive.

Reid was called out for being “keener on a fight than he is to play footy”, but Lyon said the 19-year-old’s mistakes shouldn’t define him so early in his career.

“This is starting to annoy me a bit,” Lyon told Fox Footy on Tuesday night. “This is a kid who’s in his second year.

“For whatever reason, we’re judging this kid off the back of a season and (one) game. He’s going to make mistakes … he’s going to embarrass himself, he’s going to fight too much, he’s going to be not quite as fit as he needs to be.

“He’s 19 … just cool your jets and let him have the time that we’ve allowed (GWS’ Finn) Callaghan and (Sydney’s Isaac) Heeney to just develop and become the superstars that they are.

“I’ll guarantee you this kid will get there, just relax.”