FULL AWARDS MEDIA RELEASE
THE POWER TO WIN: HINKLEY VOTED COACH OF THE YEAR
In the club’s 150th year, Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has been unveiled as the Monjon Allan Jeans Senior Coach of the Year for the second time at the 2020 Shadforth Financial Group AFL Coaches Association Awards held online on Tuesday night.
Hinkley powered to the top ahead of 2019 Monjon Allan Jeans Senior Coach of the Year, Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan and Geelong’s Chris Scott, after a season which saw Hinkley’s Power become just the third side in the AFL era to top the table through an entire season.
Prior to the start of the season, there was some external speculation about Hinkley’s tenure at the Power with the club failing to make the finals in the past two seasons. However, Hinkley’s connection with his players remained strong and the club’s list management team put some impressive pieces around him and Port Adelaide flourished as a result.
In 2020 style, Hinkley accepted the award, which was voted on by more than 150 of his peers and named in honour of coaching legend Allan Jeans, via zoom in front of 100 guests.
Hinkley was deemed to be the best performed senior coach throughout the 2020 season, up to and including the preliminary finals, and having regard for current season's performance, available resources, player talent and team management.
Hinkley was honoured to be recognised by the coaches as the 2020 Monjon Allan Jeans Senior Coach of the Year, acknowledging the support of his family and those around him at Port Adelaide.
“I’m very humbled to be voted the AFL Coaches Association coach of the year,” Hinkley said.
“There were any number of coaches who could have justifiably been awarded this honour for 2020.
“I am very grateful especially when you look at all the great coaches who have received this award in years’ gone by.
“Ultimately though this award is a team effort and a reflection upon an entire group at Port Adelaide.
“This wouldn’t be possible without an outstanding playing group led by Tom Jonas and the countless hours of support from my assistant coaches, list management team and GM – Football Chris Davies.
“And a massive thank you to all our members who have stood by the club and supported us through so much adversity in 2020. Your support of me, the playing group and the entire club has been amazing.
“And of course without the incredible support of my family I wouldn’t be in the position to pursue my passion for coaching.
“I’m just very fortunate that I have so many great people around me.”
AFL Coaches Association CEO, Mark Brayshaw acknowledged the challenges of the 2020 season and huge role all coaches played, whilst lauding Hinkley for his remarkable season.
“I am lost in admiration for all the coaches – and their families - in 2020 especially the way they navigated their way through unprecedented times. For Ken, this is just a fantastic result. He’s had a great season, keeping Port Adelaide top of the ladder in their 150th season. Many questions were asked about Ken over summer. The Port supporters take their football very seriously, so the pressure was on. In true style he stood tall, with strong connection and care for his players, Ken put it on the line at the start of the season and narrowly missed a Grand Final appearance,” Brayshaw said.
“We know this award is held in high esteem, because it has been determined by more than 150 AFL coaches this year. We congratulate Ken, for winning this Award for the 2nd time, his assistant and development coaches and also those around and above him at Port Adelaide.” Brayshaw said.
Other awards announced throughout the night, included the 2020 Neale Daniher AFL Coaches Association Lifetime Achievement Award, 2020 AFL Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year and the 2020 AFL Coaches Association Media Award.
Neale Daniher announced the winner of the award named after him, the 2020 Neale Daniher AFL Coaches Association Lifetime Achievement Award was one of the greats of football, Neil Balme. See below for background on Neil Balme.
Nathan Buckley, Chris Scott and Damien Hardwick movingly spoke about the huge influence of Balme not only on their careers, but their lives. Whilst former Richmond coach and premiership player, and Balme’s close friend Barry Richardson spoke to the 51-year contribution and impact Balme has had on the game as a player, coach and administrator.
VIDEO: BUCKLEY, SCOTT, HARDWICK & BARRY RICHARDSON TALK ABOUT NEIL BALME
The AFL Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year Award went to Daniel Giansiracusa for his work at the Western Bulldogs in 2020.
Giansiracusa was set to continue his role as Footscray’s VFL head coach in 2020, leading the team that he took to a finals berth in his first year at the helm in 2019. But with the disruption of the season Giansiracusa’s role shifted and he coached the Western Bulldogs’ match simulation games and worked on opposition analysis.
Giansiracusa has coached at the Western Bulldogs since 2015 when he made the immediate transition into coaching following his retirement. From 2015-2016 he took on the forward line assistant coach role, before moving into the stoppages and set plays portfolio in 2017 and 2018.
For the second year Geelong’s Nigel Lappin finished in second place, with Carlton’s Luke Power third.
Gerard Whateley continued his dominance by taking out the AFL Coaches Association’s Media Award for the seventh consecutive year. Whateley was voted by the coaches for his work on Fox Footy’s AFL360 and SEN 1116 in 2020.
2020 MONJON ALLAN JEANS SENIOR COACH OF THE YEAR
1. KEN HINKLEY – PORT ADELAIDE POWER – 236 Votes
2. CHRIS FAGAN – BRISBANE LIONS – 191 Votes
3. CHRIS SCOTT – GEELONG CATS – 154 Votes
2020 AFL COACHES ASSOCIATION ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
1. DANIEL GIANSIRACUSA – WESTERN BULLDOGS
2. NIGEL LAPPIN – GEELONG CATS
3. LUKE POWER – CARLTON BLUE
BACKGROUND ON NEIL BALME – 2020 NEALE DANIHER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER
Neil Balme’s illustrious AFL/VFL career started 50 years ago, when he kicked four goals in his senior debut with Richmond late in the 1970 season.
Balme had been recruited by the Tigers from WAFL club Subiaco, where he’d played senior football at just 16 years of age, performing admirably against ruck legend Polly Farmer in one match.
The big forward/ruckman went on to play 17 games and kick 28 goals in the 1971 season, with Richmond finishing third.
He won the Tigers’ leading goalkicker award the following season with 55 goals, when the team was runner-up.
In 1973, Richmond went one better to win the premiership, and Balme again was its leading goalkicker for the season with 34 goals.
Balme played a prominent role for the Tigers when they made it back-to-back flags in 1974.
He was Richmond’s vice-captain in 1976, and in 1977 he finished runner-up in the Club’s Best and Fairest award, having played predominantly as a ruckman that year.
At the end of the 1979 season, Balme retired from league football. He had played 159 games and kicked 229 goals in an excellent, decade-long career with the Tigers.
Balme subsequently took over as coach of SANFL club Norwood, and he enjoyed considerable success in that role from 1980-90, guiding the Redlegs to premierships in 1982 and 1984.
He then became the inaugural coach of merged SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens and led the Eagles to fourth and third in two years at the helm, before returning to Victoria after being appointed Melbourne’s senior coach.
Balme had five seasons coaching the Demons (1993-97), lifting them to a preliminary final berth in 1994 and being named coach of the All Australian team that year.
In 1998, Balme’s football journey diverted down a different path, when he was appointed Football Operations Manager at Collingwood.
It was a role he held until the end of the 2006 season, with the Magpies making two Grand Finals during that time, in 2002 and 2003.
Balme then became Geelong’s Football Operations Manager, and his eight-year term there included three premierships – in 2007, 2009 and 2011.
A two-year stint back at Collingwood as Director of Coaching followed for Balme, and then, at the end of the 2016 season, he made a very welcome return to where it had all began for him at AFL/VFL level, Richmond.
As General Manager of Football, Balme played an important role in the Tigers’ drought-breaking 2017 premiership, and then the 2019 flag triumph, through his vast football experience and calm, rational demeanour.
These days, Balme is a senior advisor with Richmond, and he continues to make a valuable contribution at the Club.
Balme is a Richmond life member and a Tigers’ Hall of Fame inductee. He’s also a life member at Norwood.
