AFL admit Jack Ginnivan should have received a free kick for headhigh tackle

The AFL have bitten the bullet and owned up to a glaring error that saw a divisive young star’s “head taken off” on Sunday.

The AFL admitted this should have been paid. Picture: Mark Stewart

The AFL have admitted Jack Ginnivan should have received a free kick.

Ginnivan was put into a headlock on Sunday afternoon by Essendon’s Mason Redman but the umpire blew play on.

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The moment caused serious social uproar, with legends of the game baffled the whistle wasn’t blown.

Melbourne champion Nathan Jones couldn’t believe Ginnivan wasn’t rewarded: “I think it was a poor attempt at a tackle. He’s gone high and taken his head off. That’s as clear as day, really.”

On Monday the AFL however clarified the ruling and admitted the on-field umpire had made a mistake and Ginnivan should have been rewarded.

The admission however came with a caveat that Ginnivan had initiated the contact in the first motion, but Redman’s follow up should have seen him penalised.

Ah yes, play on. Picture: Mark Stewart

“Ginnivan is responsible for the initial high contact however (Mason) Redman then continues with the tackle in an unreasonable manner, holding Ginnivan around the neck. In this instance a free kick should have been awarded to Ginnivan,” the AFL’s statement said.

“Overall the umpires did a terrific job of officiating the high tackle interpretation in all games over the weekend.

“There are instances where, at full speed, in real time and at ground level, some decisions are extremely challenging to make and this one (Ginnivan) is an example of that.”

The damning moment caused serious uproar in the AFL community with social media flooded by fans debating the incident.

Ginnivan’s teammates Mason Cox scorched the AFL for “blatantly” failing to protect the health of Ginnivan.

“Wild to think high tackles were put in the game to protect players health and now are being blatantly ignored for a 19 year old. How can we think “the AFL cares about concussions and head high contact” after this,” Cox tweeted.

Former Collingwood star Dane Swan was in agreeance with Cox.

“It’s a f***ing disgrace Mason and the afl should be ashamed of themselves,” Swan wrote in response.

Kane Cornes has condemned the AFL repeatedly throughout 2022 for shifting the goalposts surrounding the interpretation of the rule and on Monday he couldn’t help but deliver another clip to the league.

The AFL admitted this was a free kick - in other news water is wet pic.twitter.com/Kg5D7aVyER

— Kane Cornes (@kanecornes) July 25, 2022