Ben Cousins says West Coast Eagles should sound out Ken Hinkley about AFL coaching job

West Coast great Ben Cousins says the Eagles would be crazy to not at least sound out Ken Hinkley to be their next coach if he parts ways with Port Adelaide this year.

Hinkley is under immense pressure to hold his job at the Power if they are bundled out of this year’s finals in straight sets with a loss to Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.

He is contracted for next season, but Port Adelaide supporters are growing impatient after not making a grand final in Hinkley’s 12-year reign.

Hinkley holds the unwanted record of the most V/AFL games coached without playing in a grand final.

The 272-game coach has been persistently linked to the Eagles’ vacant role, with The West Australian reporting on Sunday that Hinkley’s name had “absolutely” been brought up in the days after their disastrous 84-point thumping at the hands of Geelong in the qualifying final.

Former skipper and 2005 Brownlow medallist Cousins said it was worth a phone call to Hinkley if he became available in the coming weeks.

“I think West Coast will explore all the possibilities,” Cousins told 7NEWS. “Ken Hinkley is a successful, proven coach. He developed Port Adelaide, they consistently play finals.

“I think it would be crazy not to at least sound him out.”

The comments come after dual West Coast premiership coach Mick Malthouse said Hinkley should be on the Eagles’ radar if he was available.

“You won’t get anyone more honest than he is. Got some good techniques as far as coaching goes. I think he’s got the best out of the sides he’s had,” Malthouse told ABC Extra Time. “He’s proven he’s a very, very good coach.”

Hinkley was at his combative best on Thursday when questioned about his future at the Power ahead of their cut-throat semifinal against the rampaging Hawks.

“I’m not going to be a smart ass here in any way, shape or form but I’m contracted,” Hinkley said when asked about the pressure he was under heading into the game. “That is what the board have told me all the way through.

“They have shown me great support the entire journey. I trust that that will always be the same.”

Hinkley also hit out at speculation that he could be sacked or step down if they lost.

“That’s uneducated. It’s not the facts,” he said. “I get why the conversation keeps coming up, but the reality is I’m preparing this week to help our team find a way of getting into a prelim final. That has got too much riding on it for me to spend any time in those other places you want me to go. I just won’t go there.”

Melbourne assistant and former Richmond caretaker coach Andrew McQualter is firming as the favourite to replace departed 2018 premiership coach Adam Simpson.

Geelong assistant Steven King is also putting together a strong case, but like Greater Western Sydney assistant and fellow contender Brett Montgomery, he is currently in the midst of a finals series with his current club.