Ken Hinkley’s cheeky Port Adelaide plans for outgoing Sunrise host David Koch: ‘We’re not worried’
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says he is looking forward to seeing more of David Koch now that the club’s chairman – and outgoing Sunrise co-host – has some free time on his hands.
Kochie announced his departure from Sunrise last week, after 21 years on Channel 7’s top-rating breakfast show.
The 67-year-old will have a little more time up his sleeve, which Hinkley suggested the footy club could put to good use.
“We’re not worried about seeing more (of him),” Hinkley said on Sunrise on Wednesday morning.
“There’s plenty to do here – you can see in the background a redevelopment is going on.
“On behalf of everyone at the football club, it’s been a great career on Sunrise, we do hope to see him more around the club, there’s more exciting things coming for David.
“So Dave will be able to put the tools on and get to work and finally get that redevelopment done for us.”
Koch has been the chairman of the club since October 2012, and is enjoying the success the side is seeing this season.
Currently sitting at second on the ladder, the club beat its record of eight consecutive AFL wins on Saturday, hoping to notch their tenth against the Western Bulldogs in Round 13.
When asked what the secret formula was, Hinkley again gave a nod to Kochie’s influence.
“I don’t know exactly … maybe David’s had a fair bit to do with that,” he smiled.
“He’s retiring now, it makes us keep winning games of football. It’s a really good recipe for us.”
While the club is certain to play finals footy this season, Hinkley is still without a contract beyond 2023.
When asked by co-host Mark Beretta if he would be at the club for a while and “see through the redevelopment”, Hinkley responded with a grin: “We’re just hoping we can get a win against the Bulldogs and make it 10 in a row.
“I’m hoping to get to the end of year 11. That’s what I’m hoping for.“
Meanwhile, Kochie played a very straight bat when pressed on the future of Hinkley.
He said it would be exciting to spend more time at the club with a “a good bunch of fellas”.
“And Kenny’s coaching really well … broke the club winning-streak record last weekend,” Koch said.
Co-host Nat Barr was quick to seize the moment.
“That holds him in good stead for the negotiations,” she said.
And Beretta said: “He could go on for years and years.”
But Kochie was having none of it.
“What negotiations?” was his deadpan reply.
