IF GOLD Coast can prise coach Ken Hinkley from Alberton, Port Adelaide will face a tough job explaining the decision to a majority of the Power faithful.

Giving their end-of-season verdict in an AFL.com.au survey, 82 per cent of Port fans said they were happy with Hinkley's performance in 2017.

The Suns contacted Hinkley's agent this week to sound out the Power boss for their coaching vacancy.

Port Adelaide insists it won't release Hinkley from his contract, which runs until the end of next year.

Though Hinkley's approval rating at Alberton remains healthy, it has dived since mid-season, when he enjoyed 95 per cent approval; the fifth-highest rating across the AFL.

Under pressure at the start of the season after steering Port to a 10th-placed finish in 2016, Hinkley took his side to inside the top four by round 13.

But there were few wins against eventual finalists, with Sydney (round one) and West Coast (round 16) the only top-eight scalps.

Free-scoring Port finished with the League's second-highest percentage behind cross-town rival Adelaide.

Having earned a home elimination final, the Power were cruelly denied a semi-final berth by Eagle Luke Shuey's boot after the siren in extra time.

• Season review: Port Adelaide