 Hinkley walked out of Fitzroy in 1988 and asked for a clearance to Geelong.He stood out of football for the rest of 1988 season before being trade to Geelong for the 1989 season.A half back flanker in the 1991 and 1992 All-Australian teams, Hinkley also won a Carji Greeves Medal as Geelong's best and fairest player in the 1992 AFL season.