Hawks duo Jack Ginnivan, Nick Watson leave ‘heartbroken’ kids ‘in tears’

Hawthorn star Jack Ginnivan is embroiled in a fresh controversy after angry parents exposed a move that left their children shattered.

Hawthorn fan favourites Jack Ginnivan and Nick Watson left dozens of kids in the lurch after calling in sick to a coaching clinic scheduled for the day after the Hawks’ club awards night.

Ginnivan, 21, and Watson, 19, were supposed to run a junior footy clinic with 80 children whose parents had reportedly paid $65 each for the experience.

But after an apparent late night at their club best and fairest, the duo pulled the pin at the last minute.

As some parents were travelling from long distances to the event, a text from organisers came through saying: “We put so much hard work into the program and we were setting up on the ground when the phone call came through.”

The controversy was reported on Melbourne’s 3AW, where one mother, Vaissy, detailed her son’s devastation.

“More than disappointed — absolutely heartbroken,” Vaissy said. “He was in tears most of the day and said it was the worst day of his life.”

Ginnivan’s management told the radio station the young forward was unwell - but parents aren’t buying the explanation.

“They (the players) posted on Instagram around midnight. Nick Watson posted on Instagram yesterday afternoon — you don’t do that kind of stuff if you’re sick,” Vaissy told 3AW.

“If it was anyone other than Ginnivan then maybe I’d believe it. Maybe I should give them the benefit of the doubt, but the fact that two of them were sick is pretty poor.”

Jack Ginnivan was sick, according to his management. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“Earlier in the week when I booked it, I actually thought, ‘Hey, the best and fairest is on the Saturday, what are these kids thinking?’,” Vaissy added.

“I know they’re young, I know they’re going to go out and have fun and get drunk and all of that, but what are they thinking having to be at the (clinic) at like 10.30 the next morning — is that the best decision?”

Vaissy revealed her son had even gone to the effort of making thank you cards for Ginnivan and Watson, who is nicknamed The Wizard.

“He made one for The Wizard, and it had a wizard hat on the front with Hokball written on it and the most beautiful words inside. And also one for Ginnivan, the same sort of thing, absolutely stunning, all in Hawthorn colours,” she said.

Jack Ginnivan and Nick Watson are fan favourites. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Parents were reportedly offered refunds by the organisers, but a second 3AW caller, Peter, said that didn’t ease his son’s disappointment.

“It was very hard to let my son down, because he was very excited to see two of his idols — he’s a massive Hawthorn fan. He was very disappointed,” Peter said.

“You don’t know if they really were sick. But being an hour, not even an hour, before the clinic, to get that message saying they’re both sick at the same time, it kind of gets you guessing,” he added.

“I was aware of (the best and fairest) only that night. That’s why I put two and two together.

“These kids look up to these AFL footballers and I always say, if you make a commitment, you at least stick to it. Especially if you’re going to have a couple of drinks, at least know, ‘OK, I’ve got something on tomorrow, I’ll stop, I’m going to not disappoint these young fans’.”

Originally published as Hawks duo Jack Ginnivan, Nick Watson leave ‘heartbroken’ kids ‘in tears’