March 28, 2026 — 5:30am You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Three AFL clubs came knocking for Ken Hinkley towards the end of 2025 after his disappointing farewell season at Port Adelaide. Four, if you count Tasmania. Most surprisingly for him given his controversial 2024 semi-final run in with Jack Ginnivan, Sam Mitchell explored a mentoring role for him in Hawthorn’s football department. The most serious offer came from Essendon via club director-turned-defensive coach Dean Solomon who wanted Hinkley to take over as director of coaching. Solomon had been a long-time admirer of Hinkley stemming from the formative years of the Gold Coast Suns. Reigning premiers Brisbane spent the first half of October fearing football boss Danny Daly would move to the Suns.…