KEN HINKLEY is one of the AFL’s toughest men to coach against.
At least, that’s what his peers have said, with 20% of coaches saying the Port Adelaide master is hard to crack on game day.
It’s one of several revealing insights into the league by the men who guide its 18 clubs as part of an annual AFL Media survey, facilitated by the AFL Coaches’ Association.
Chris Scott was ranked equal with Hinkley, with three other coaches regarding him along with Hinkley as the hardest man to beat in the box.
Conducted in July, the survey also revealed the GWS Giants are still considered flag favourites – again with over a quarter of coaches picking them to win.
Three coaches picked the Swans, and another three picked the Cats, while both the Power and Crows found favour with two other coaches each.
Interestingly, a reader poll on the AFL website showed 32% of some 31,000 fans regard the Crows as premiership favourites, ahead of Geelong (17%), Sydney (14%), GWS (10%), and Richmond (8%).
The Power were also considered the ‘most surprising team’ of the year.
