Hawthorn responds to criticism of Jack Ginnivan’s late start to pre-season

Hawthorn has moved to explain Jack Ginnivan’s absence from pre-season training after criticism of the recruit’s late start to life in brown and gold.

Jack Ginnivan.

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell directed new recruit Jack Ginnivan to take an extra week in his off-season break in order to ensure he is in the best physical and mental shape to tackle his first season with the Hawks.

While Ginnivan was criticised by media commentator Kane Cornes for not returning to pre-season training last Monday with the rest of the first-to-four-year Hawthorn players, the club clarified that it was the coach who made the call on the former Magpie’s return date.

It is understood Mitchell and Ginnivan met soon after the premiership forward’s trade went through last month, with the coach stressing that he wanted him to delay his return a week, given his 2023 campaign went through until grand final day – five weeks after Hawthorn’s season ended.

Jack Ginnivan in his new colours. Picture: Supplied

Ginnivan, who turns 21 next month, will have his first official training session with the Hawks next Monday – a week before the rest of the club’s five-year-plus players officially return.

Cornes took a swipe at Ginnivan earlier this week, saying the premiership player missed an opportunity to make a good first impression.

“Jack Ginnivan needed to be there, I don’t care what anyone says,” Cornes said on SEN.

“He wasn’t required to be there by law because he played long in the season, he played in the grand final. That means you get extra leave and he’s probably not required back for some time yet.

“But if you were ever going to want to have a first impression, Jack Ginnivan needed to be at his new club on day one of pre-season.”

Ginnivan’s last match as a Magpie was the Grand Final. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Cornes even doubled down when he learnt that it was Mitchell who instructed Ginnivan to return a week after the club’s first-to-four-year players.

“Five extra weeks? Do you mean 3 extra games in which he played 13% and 25% game time in two of those weeks?” Cornes said on social media.

“I am sure they wouldn’t have turned him away if he insisted on turning up.”

While Ginnivan was the sub for Collingwood’s first two finals before starting in the grand final, the Magpies stressed during the year that he was one of the club’s hardest workers on the training track during the second half of the season.

Ginnivan was one of the surprise trades of the 2023 off-season, seeking a move to Hawthorn just weeks after being a part of the Magpies’ premiership side.

Jack Ginnivan with the premiership trophy. Picture: Michael Klein

He spent a full day out at the club’s Waverley base on the day after his trade and he spoke at length with his new coach about his pre-season schedules.

Ginnivan played 14 games with the Magpies this season, including the thrilling grand final victory over Brisbane, to bring his career tally to 42 from his three AFL seasons.

He will take on his former teammates in the Hawks’ Gather Round clash with Collingwood in what looms as a Sunday twilight finale to the Adelaide festival of footy.

Ginnivan insisted soon after being traded there was “no bad blood” between him and his former club.

“It’s a dream come true to don the brown and gold finally,” Ginnivan said of joining the club he barracked for as a kid.

“One of my favourite players was Sam (Mitchell). Growing up, watching him and having his number on my back, those are the things you dream of as a little kid and for that to happen is so special. ”gather