Jack Ginnivan responds after Nine presenter calls him a ‘disgrace’ for celebration act

Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan has responded after a popular newsreader caused a stir with extraordinary comments about the AFL star.

Jack Ginnivan has responded to Jo Hall.

Channel 9 presenter Jo Hall has led a stunning barrage of criticism directed at Jack Ginnivan after the Hawthorn livewire tore his old team to shreds at the MCG on Saturday night.

The former Collingwood cult hero was booed by the same fans that cheered for him last year as the Hawks left the Magpies’ season on life support with a 66-point thumping.

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The sight of the 21-year-old celebrating in style with one of the best performances of his career was too much for Collingwood fans.

Hall posted on Twitter: “What a smart arse Jack Ginnivan is. We were beaten by a way better team. But his behaviour is disgraceful”.

She later shared a message on her Instagram Stories with a photo of her viewing spot from inside the venue.

“If I could describe my worst nightmare, it would be this,” she posted.

Ginnivan responded to Hall’s tweet on Sunday afternoon, writing: “That’s a mean thing to say Jo”, along with a sad face.

Hall was far from the only salty Collingwood fan, but there was also widespread chortling at the hypocrisy of the Magpie Army.

Collingwood fans were vocally outraged last year when rival fans booed Ginnivan because of his colourful personality and reputation as a diver.

However, that was quickly forgotten on Saturday as Ginnivan produced a man-of-the-match performance — ten months after Collingwood’s sudden decision to trade him to the Hawks.

It must have been brutal viewing from those inside Collingwood coach Craig McRae’s box as Ginnivan finished with a career-high 31 disposals, a game-high 11 score involvements and two goals.

Jo Hall is not a fan. Photo: Fox Footy and Channel 9.

Sport reporter Ronny Lerner wrote on Twitter: “Collingwood fans booing Ginnivan is absolutely hilarious. The same fan base that was incensed when others booed him incessantly when he played for them and vociferously defended him”.

AFL commentator Alex Donnelly wrote on Twitter: “Collingwood fans booing Ginnivan given the vitriol they had towards the public for booing him is utterly hilarious”.

Ginnivan had the last laugh and wasn’t afraid to rub it in Collingwood’s face when he kicked his late goals.

His first came in the third term and with arms out-stretched in celebration, Ginnivan kissed the Hawthorn badge on his jumper and headed straight towards the fence at the Punt Road end to engage the crowd in the moment.

The celebrations continued in front of the Hawthorn cheer squad before the resulting centre bounce as Ginnivan stood in the goal square with his tongue out and both index fingers pointed in the air to lap up the moment.

He then kicked another in front of the Collingwood cheer squad late in the last quarter and gave them a sleep tight celebration.

“The nightmare for Collingwood fans getting worse and worse by the minute,” Garry Lyon said on Fox Footy.

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell was full of praise for the small forward.

“The sense of theatre of the game was fantastic but for us it was really important that he played his role and did his job, and he did more than that. I was rapt for him,” Mitchell said.

“It’s all come off the back of an enormous work ethic and a desire to prove that he can be a fantastic and well-rounded player, and not a flash in the plan.”

Jack Ginnivan and Nick Watson starred for Hawthorn.

Post-game, Fox Footy’s Cameron Mooney asked Ginnivan to describe his emotions after besting his ex-teammates, and he was perfectly candid.

“Yeah, f*** — that’s a great start!” Ginnivan chuckled to Mooney on Fox Footy.

“Yeah, look, these (Collingwood players) are my mates from the (2023) flag and I respect them so much — I love these guys, and I hope they go really well, but wow, what a win.

“To be honest, I’m just so proud of everyone. All our small forwards, defenders, everyone. We’re so young, and everyone just senses it, and I loved ‘Wizard’s (Nick Watson’s) game, our young boys — I’m just so proud.”

Ginnivan was also asked about his “sleep tight” taunt,

“That one (was my favourite celebration), saying goodnight to the Pies, but I love the Hawks fans — that’s what helps me play — the adrenaline kicks in, and without these fans we don’t do what we do, so thank you so much,” he said.

Ginnivan has changed his profile picture on X to a photo of himself doing the night night celebration made famous by NBA star Steph Curry.

Jack Ginnivan lets a couple of expletives slip in his emotional post-game interview on Saturday.

The Hawks’ 66-point win was their tenth since starting the season with five losses and it puts them on the cusp of making the top eight.

The damning loss drops Collingwood to 13th on the ladder and puts them squarely behind the eight ball to make the finals.

They’re firmly staring down the barrel of joining Geelong (2023), Richmond (2021), Western Bulldogs (2017) and Hawthorn (2009) as premiers in the last 20 years to miss finals the following season.

The Hawks are now only outside of the top eight on the ladder by percentage and will finish their season with games against Adelaide, GWS, Carlton, Richmond and North Melbourne.

Win two or more games and they could be taking part in the September action.

— with NCA NewsWire and foxsports.com.au

Originally published as Jack Ginnivan responds after Nine presenter calls him a ‘disgrace’ for celebration act