Hawthorn vs. Port Adelaide: Jack Ginnivan’s plane gesture to Ken Hinkley in Hawks’ big win
Jack Ginnivan had his head down and a cheeky grin on his face as he mimicked Ken Hinkley’s plane gesture — and with a wry smile Ken said the payback was “deserved”. See his full reply.
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“Payback is a b****.”
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley stopped mid sentence before the final word, when asked about Hawks star Jack Ginnivan’s ‘airplane’ celebration late in a 38-point win at Launceston on Saturday.
But the outgoing Power mentor took it in the spirit it was intended, acknowledging if you dish it out, you have to take it.
The celebration was, of course, in homage to the verbal spat Hinkley and Ginnivan shared after Port’s tight semi final win over the Hawks last year.
Cameras panned to Hinkley laughing in the coach’s box directly after the goal.
Hawks fans also didn’t miss a final chance to rib Hinkley, pulling out the airplane themselves and booing him as he walked off the field.
“Payback is... I was going to say something else there,” Hinkley said.
“Payback’s deserved. I have no problems with it and I’m OK with it, I think it’s good for the game and the theatre of the game.
“Good on Jack, he was brave enough to play the way he played and Hawthorn as a club.
“I won’t be one who will sit here and be anything but acknowledge it was my turn today.”
Hawks coach Sam Mitchell said he didn’t see enough of the crowd interaction clearly to comment on whether it had crossed the line.
“I haven’t seen that, I saw some airplane stuff going on in front of me but wasn’t sure how directed it was,” he said.
“There’s a line with that stuff. It’s a part of the theatre but if it gets too personal and disrespectful it’s too far, but I’m not too sure with what I saw today.”
Hinkley was proud of his team’s application in horrid wet and windy conditions.
Ultimately, the Hawks’ ability to stop the Power scoring with the breeze set up the win, with the absence of injured stars Connor Rozee and Jason Horne-Francis too difficult to overcome.
“I thought we stuck at it pretty well for the first three quarters, and by the end their power and contest stuff was really strong in that last quarter,” Hinkley said.
“They play a lot of footy down here and know the conditions so well. That’s pretty challenging, they play this ground well.
Hinkley praised the game of ruck Jordon Sweet, who was outstanding with 22 touches, seven tackles, 42 hitouts and ten clearances.
“I think that might be the best game he’s played for us, in tough conditions for a big man and against a good opponent (Lloyd Meek),” Hinkley said.
“That’s his level now.”
HAWKS SNARE FOUR POINTS IN WET AND WINDY CLASH
Hawthorn delivered a workmanlike display in horrendous conditions with a 13.9 (87) to 7.7 (49) win over Port Adelaide in Launceston on Saturday.
But while a weakened Power on their Tasmanian fortress is the undercard, three heavyweight bouts await which will determine their finals fate.
Hawthorn effectively set up the win in the opening quarter, heading to the first change locked with Port on the scoreboard despite playing into the strong wind, with sideways rain also lashing UTAS Stadium.
Their tactics of denying the Power possession with short kicks, and making the game as contested as possible, denied the visitors opportunities to take full toll of the conditions.
After building a bitter rivalry in recent meetings, that spite continued early when Hawks youngster Calsher Dear kicked a goal off a free kick when his skipper James Sicily was felled off the ball.
But Sicily returned the favour almost immediately when Jack Lukosius made no mistake with a secondary shot after a Mitch Georgiades goal, when Sicily through him to the ground.
Then after Jack Lukosius was decked by Sicily after the Power forward Mitch Georgiades kicked a goal, Lukosius received a secondary shot and made no mistake.
Incredibly, more goals had been kicked into the gale when Lukosius booted his second early in the second term.
But the Hawks eventually broke the Power’s resistance through back-to-back fine set shot finishes from Jack Gunston and Nick Watson, and went on with the job.
In conditions tailor made for his combative style, Dylan Moore (32 touches, two goals, nine tackles, six clearances) was outstanding, especially in the first half where the game was there to be won.
The Power wasted little time capitalising on the wind early in the third term when good set shot finishes from ruck Jordon Sweet – one of their best all day – and Ollie Lord levelled the scores.
But the Hawks again put the clamps down to lay the foundations for the win.
After booting a late goal, Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan couldn’t resist a cheeky dig at Ken Hinkley, launching an aeroplane celebration much to the amusement of the outgoing Power coach.
Jarman Impey went forward in the last quarter and capped a fine game with three classy goals.
WIND WARRIORS
The Hawks won the match by putting the clamps on Power when they had the wind behind their backs.
In the first and third terms the Power hit the scoreboard early, but couldn’t go on with it for the rest of the period.
Both teams kicked three goals in the first term and after Port kicked the first two in the third quarter, the Hawks replied with the next two through Gunston and Moore to square the period again.
How about that for a throw in 😅#AFLHawksPortpic.twitter.com/ohikRGPjS6
— AFL (@AFL) July 19, 2025
They did so by manufacturing plenty of uncontested marks from short kicks, denying Port time with the football as much as possible.
In the fourth term with the wind, Bailey Macdonald sealed the wind with his first AFL goal from a polished running snap.
MUST WIN TERRITORY
Much like the Launceston weather on Saturday, Hawthorn’s draw to finish the season is nothing short of horrendous.
After they playing struggling Carlton this Thursday they take on top three outfits Adelaide (away) and Collingwood the next fortnight, and travel to Brisbane for the last round.
They simply couldn’t afford a slip up against a Power side missing prime movers Jason Horne-Francis and Connor Rozee, and they delivered a professional win to move to fourth on the live ladder.
They won contested possessions by 29, uncontested possessions by 56 and marks by 34, highlighting their ability to control the match in tough conditions.
LAUNCESTON FORTRESS
Why would the Hawks want to go anywhere when the Tasmania Devils enter the competition?
They will have to be crow barred out of the state after they notched a tenth straight win at UTAS Stadium.
The on-field advantage and financial benefit means it’s very unsurprising Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has been so emphatic about continuing the relationship long term, even when the Devils enter the league from 2028.
After slippery night games at Launceston sparked more debate about the need for a roof at Hobart’s new stadium, the AFL perhaps wouldn’t have minded the wet and windy conditions for Saturday’s match.
It will only add fuel to the fire that the roof is a crucial requirement when the Devils first set foot on their Macquarie Point dig.
Originally published as Hawthorn vs. Port Adelaide: Jack Ginnivan’s plane gesture to Ken Hinkley in Hawks’ big win
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