Caroline Wilson says Jack Ginnivan antics ‘cost Hawthorn a win’, premiership
AFL journalist Caroline Wilson has given Hawks livewire Jack Ginnivan an absolute bake, claiming he cost the club a prelim berth.
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Caroline Wilson has claimed Jack Ginnivan’s controversial social media post not only “cost Hawthorn a win” but maybe a premiership.
Port Adelaide bounced back from a humiliating defeat in their qualifying final to edge the Hawks 11.9 (75) to 11.6 (72) in their sudden death semi-final on Friday night.
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But the drama erupted after full-time when Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley unloaded a verbal barrage on the 21-year-old Ginnivan, sparked by a social media comment earlier in the week.
Ginnivan ignited tensions with a cheeky social media comment as he responded a post from the Swans’ Brodie Grundy by writing: “see u in 14 days”.
Hawks skipper James Sicily began returned fire, defending his player with the ugly situation even spreading to the celebration of Luke Breust’s 300th game.
Hinkley addressed the situation immediately as his press conference began, saying he had “some words with a Hawthorn player that I wish I hadn’t had in a moment I shouldn’t have had”.
Hinkley also admitted he used the social media comment to inspire his players, saying he found it “disrespectful”.
It’s seen the Port coach fined $20,000 by the AFL, as well as being slammed as the debate over the situation rages on.
However, Wilson turned the blowtorch on Ginnivan, saying the young star needed to understand his actions had cost his club dearly.
“If you live in glass houses, don’t throw stones,” she began, before arguing it went without saying Hinkley did the wrong thing.
“Hawthorn lost a game that they could have well have won by three point. And you take any edge you can in a final,” Wilson said on 3AW radio on Saturday.
“I would go as far as to argue he’s cost Hawthorn a win, Jack Ginnivan, by what he did with that taunt last week.
“I would go even further to say, Hawthorn could have won the premiership the way they were playing and the form they were in.
“It’s all very well to say we’re proud of what they’ve done this year, they’ve achieved so much more, they’ve been amazing, and I’ve loved watching them.
“But what Jack Ginnivan did is just so against, for me, what a club or a player should do. And they lost it by less than a kick, they could have won a premiership.
“Externally, stick up for Jack Ginnivan. Internally, I hope that somebody has explained, ‘Jack, read the room’.”
Leigh Matthews agreed the post was “the gift wrapped present” to unite Port Adelaide.
Wilson then said Hinkley shouldn’t have even been fined for the situation.
Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett hit out at the comments on X, tweeting: “Why is Caroline Wilson such a one trip (trick) pony?
“She is only about controversy. To say Jack Ginnivan cost Hawthorn the game last night is factually incorrect. Had PA (Port Adelaide) kicked straight in the first quarter they could have been up 6 goals.
“Our players hit the goalpost twice. Had one been a goal HFC (Hawthorn) might have won. We did not.”
He added: “Ginnivan comments did not affect our last few minutes. In the same way Caroline Wilson started the campaign against Hawthorn re its relationship with its Indigenous players. Selective reporting.”
The pair have had a contentious relationship and it came to a head earlier in the year when they went face-to-face on Channel 9’s Footy Classified.
The young Hawks have been the story of the season, romping into the finals on the back of 11 wins in 13 matches from round 11.
The side has also landed in the headlines due to their controversial celebrations.
But their exciting style of play and brash attitudes have also birthed the term “HokBall”, which has grown on the back of the Hawthorn social media team.
However, Sicily revealed on Saturday that Ginnivan regretted his “see you in 14 days” post.
“Jack openly admitted during the week to the leaders that he really wished he didn’t do it,” Sicily said.
“It’s all part of the learning. It was cheeky.
“I don’t think the game was lost or won on motivation because of it, it wasn’t necessarily a direct attack at Ken, at Port Adelaide.”
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