Hinkley: AFL's botched Origin move exposes trade conflict

Ken Hinkley has slammed the AFL’s decision to allow Chris Scott and Dean Cox to lead the State of Origin sides suggesting there is a conflict of interest given they are both active coaches in the league.

Cox will coach WA against Scott’s Vic's in the first Origin clash since 1999 this weekend, and it is the access they have both had to players approaching the end of their contract or free agent status that doesn’t sit well with Hinkley.

The former Port Adelaide coach described the AFL’s decision to appoint the duo to their roles was totally inappropriate given Scott will have unprecedented access to the likes of Zak Butters who is considered by many as the No 1 target for Victorian clubs in 2026.

Moreover, Scott and his assistant coaches - Hawthorn’s Sam Mitchell and Gold Coast’s Shaun Grigg - will have time with Ben King whose contract is up at the end of this season and Zach Merrett whose future is less than certain given the off-season trade saga between him, Essendon and Hawthorn.

Then there is Cox and the Swans who are on the cusp of a team destined for premiership glory should they recruit well in the coming years.

His assistant coaches - Fremantle’s Justin Longmuir and Nathan van Berlo - would also get access to the likes of Chad Warner who has been linked to a move back west in recent years.

Hinkley referred to Hawthorn’s pursuit of Chad Wingard when then coach Alastair Clarkson was hell bent on securing his signature after coaching him in the 2014 International Rules series.

It took until the final day of the 2014 trade period, but Clark got his way and Wingard became a Hawk in exchange for Ryan Burton and picks 15 and 35 in the 2018 draft and a future fourth round pick in the 2019 draft.

Speaking on SEN’s Sportsday, Hinkley was asked by Sam Edmund if the AFL had overlooked the advantage they were giving active coaches involved in State of Origin.

“100 per cent they have,” he said. “It is an absolute advantage to those coaches and these clubs. Connection is the word we all look for. If you get a four- or five-day opportunity to create a connection with a potential new player…

“There's enough discrepancies in the game, this is another one the AFL didn’t need to add to it. This was a simple AFL decision they have not thought about in any way shape or form about the advantages.

“The AFL have not given any thought to what should have happened here. There’s so many others that could have coached the sides. Adam Simpson, Paul Roos…the list goes on.

“I’ll go back in time and back to international rules. Chad Wingard played for Australia and was coached by Clarko at the time and we (Port Adelaide) lost him to Hawthorn.

“Part of that conversation was he enjoyed playing under Clarko and then thought he wanted to play for him. He had never had an opportunity to connect with Clarko before that.

“Those relationships can stick and can make a decision (to move clubs) a little bit easier. They can talk to players anytime but this can make it easier.

“The AFL might rethink this if they sat back and look at it. There’s so many options for them.

“This is a great opportunity for a coach to create a relationship with a player they may or may not be looking at.

“We don’t need to cloud the judgement for anyone. This is one example of something the AFL has not put enough thought into.”

Asked about Butters in particular, Hinkley added: “If I was coaching Zak - and I’ve read every article about who is into him - I’d be a little bit nervous and I would be calling Dills and saying 'mate how the hell did you make this decision'?

“You’re not doing your job if you weren’t trying to grow a little bit together with these players and Zak is one of them. He is coming out of contract. No one needs a leg up in the race and it’s not right that you should get a head start.

“The AFL have messed this up.

"I’m not saying they’re doing anything wrong but there doesn’t need to be any extra help. It’s hard enough to attract players at clubs that are struggling."