Hawthorn captain James Sicily speaks out about heated exchange with Ken Hinkley as AFL confirms investigation

Hawthorn skipper James Sicily has spoken out about last night’s heated exchange with Power coach Ken Hinkley – an incident that has now drawn an official ‘please explain’ from the AFL.

The AFL has issued Ken Hinkley with a ‘please explain’ after the Port Adelaide coach exchanged heated words with Hawthorn pair James Sicily and Jack Ginnivan in a fiery conclusion to Friday night’s semi-final clash at Adelaide Oval

It comes as Hinkley conceded on Saturday morning that he wished he could take back the incident after his emotions spilled over following the Power’s thrilling three-point win.

The drama rolled on in the minutes after the final siren when Hinkley made a mocking plane gesture towards Ginnivan, suggesting he was not flying to Sydney, which prompted the verbal exchange.

The gesture was a reference to Ginnivan’s Instagram post during the week where the Hawk forward told former teammate Brodie Grundy that he would “see you in 14 days” in an SCG preliminary final.

An animated Hinkley then had words with Sicily, who came in to support Ginnivan, in a postscript which played out moments before Luke Breust was about to be chaired from the field after his 300th AFL game.

If found guilty of conduct unbecoming, Hinkley could face a hefty fine, with Port Adelaide chief executive Matthew Richardson saying the club had been in discussions with the AFL over the incident.

When quizzed about potential sanctions, Richardson said: “That’s really for the AFL … we’ll wait to hear from them.”

“They have just asked for some extra details - they’re really no different to the details that Ken provided himself in the press conference.”

James Sicily had to be held back by Hawthorn teammates on Friday night. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Ken Hinkley fired back at the Hawks captain. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photod

AFL spokesperson Jay Allen confirmed on Saturday: “We are issuing a please explain to Port regarding Ken Hinkley’s post-match interaction with Hawthorn players.”

Speaking in a radio interview on Saturday morning, Hinkley said he wished he could take the incident back after his emotions spilled over.

He said he was yet to be asked any questions by the AFL but expected he “may”.

“It was a 30 second moment. I wish I could take it back,” Hinkley said on SEN radio.

“I was going over with the right intentions to show respect for Luke Breust, who’s been a great player and unfortunately took me closer to where I needed to be, to be honest. And that’s just the reality of what happened.

“I know Sam and the Hawthorn Football Club are disappointed. I appreciate and understand why they would be. I just hope at some point that the game is allowed to be seen for what it was and it was a great game.”

Hinkley said his emotions can be a strength of his but were also a “weakness” at times.

“I’ve always been that type of (emotional) coach and I’ve always used that as perhaps one of my strengths,” he said.

“You would think you’d get better as time goes on. But I suppose that the journey of time can actually make it probably a little bit harder for you at times.

“I’m very mindful that I try to keep that under wraps and, to be fair, I thought I’d done a reasonable job until last night.

“It’s a weakness, it’s a strength. Last night it was a weakness.”

Jack Ginnivan leaving Adelaide on Saturday. Picture: Ben Clark

AFL spokesperson Jay Allen confirmed on Saturday morning: “We are issuing a please explain to Port regarding Ken Hinkley post match interaction with Hawthorn players.”

Earlier, Sicily again went in to bat for Ginnivan and his teammates.

“I can’t recall exactly what was said. He was talking to our players and said something to Ginni and I think what I do as a leader is I always have my teammates’ back and I will stick up for them regardless of who is in the right or the wrong,” he said as the Hawks prepared to fly home.

“It is something I pride myself on and I don’t regret it one bit really. The only thing that I do wish I had my time again with was that exchange probably lingered too long and took the gloss off Punky’s (Breust’s) 300th and not being able to be fully present in chairing him off and acknowledging the contribution he has made to the game and our club and obviously being a great mate as well.”

“That’s probably the only thing I am disappointed in, that I wasn’t fully present in that moment.

“But yeah it’s not the first time that Ken has done that and it won’t be the last, it’s an emotional game and sometimes it gets the better of us.

“I think those things are better done behind closed doors, particularly when there was a moment to celebrate Punk. Instead there was gloss taken off it a little bit.”

It is expected the league will talk to all parties about what took place.

Hinkley said his emotions can be a strength of his but were also a “weakness” at times.

“I’ve always been that type of (emotional) coach and I’ve always used that as perhaps one of my strengths,” he said.

“You would think you’d get better as time goes on. But I suppose that the journey of time can actually make it probably a little bit harder for you at times.

“I’m very mindful that I try to keep that under wraps and, to be fair, I thought I’d done a reasonable job until last night.

“It’s a weakness, it’s a strength. Last night it was a weakness.”

The Hinkley spray that started it all.

The heated exchange stunned Mitchell, left the Hawks furious and prompted widespread criticism of the 57-year-old Power mentor.

“We have a young player who had some very aggressive words said to him by a much older man who’s been in the game for a very long time,” Mitchell said post-match.

Asked if he would speak to Hinkley about the incident, Mitchell said: “Absolutely not”.