‘Karma bus’: Coach incident takes twist as backstory emerges

A backstory to Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley’s fiery stoush with Hawthorn players has emerged after an ugly end to Friday’s final.

Admirers of Ken Hinkley have come out in support of the Port Adelaide coach following his team’s thrilling win over Hawthorn on Friday night.

The Power coach’s fiery verbal stoush with Hawks players overshadowed the dramatic finish to the semi-final which ended with Port Adelaide moving through to a preliminary final against the Swans.

The Power bounced back from a humiliating defeat against Geelong last week to hold on for a 11.9 (75) to 11.6 (72) victory.

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After what was a game of the year contender, Hinkley, 57, unleashed a verbal barrage in the direction of Hawks forward Jack Ginnivan after the 21-year-old ignited tensions during the week with a cheeky social media comment.

Hinkley and Power players, including Ollie Wines, spoke openly about how Ginnivan’s comment irritated them and was used as added motivation this week.

Ken Hinkley and James Sicily exchanged words.

Ginnivan’s light-hearted comment — where he responded to Swans star Brodie Grundy’s Instagram post by writing, “See u in 14 days” — appeared to be the motivation behind Hinkley’s swipe at the young forward on the ground after the final siren.

TV replays showed Hinkley putting his arms out in an apparent aeroplane motion in the direction of Ginnivan before appearing to mouth the words: “You are not flying”.

That comment was in reference to the fact that Ginnivan and the Hawks won’t be making the flight to play the Swans at the SCG on Friday night.

“I’ll be honest; Jack said what he said during the week, and I just told him after the game he wouldn’t be going anywhere (next week),” Hinkley said in the dressing room.

“I probably shouldn’t have done it, I should apologise to the boys... the reality was, you throw something our way (and) we’re going to throw something back occasionally.”

Asked if he had used Ginnivan’s social media comment as motivation for his team, Hinkley said: “A fair bit. ... And that’s probably why it got to the point it did. We as a footy club found it a little bit disrespectful and that’s why it gets to where it gets.”

Hawthorn captain James Sicily had stepped in to bark back at Hinkley on the field with teammates attempting to pull him away.

The extraordinary scenes played out as both clubs gathered to form an honour guard for Hawthorn’s 300-gamer Luke Breust who was chaired off the ground by Sicily and Jack Gunston.

Sicily even turned over his shoulder to give Hinkley another spray as he carried Breust off the field.

James Sicily sparks up again. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Ken Hinkley unleashed after the final siren. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The situation took a twist later on Friday night with commentators joining the social media storm to show support for Hinkley, highlighting Hawthorn’s antagonism of their opposition.

Triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown said on Fox Footy after the game “the karma bus has got them”.

“It’s a great leveller, this game. Kenny would have used every bit of that. He definitely would have used it as motivation,” Brown told Fox Footy.

A lot of other footy commentators have also spoken to publicly to suggest the Hawks should have been prepared for Port Adelaide’s response because of their niggling antics.

A backstory to the beef emerged on Friday night with Port Adelaide players suggesting Ginnivan was not the only Hawthorn player who acted out of turn in their eyes.

“I think they (the Hawks) talk all year and it’s a part of their team. It’s definitely where they get some energy from as a group,” Zak Butters told Fox Footy.

“We looked at it (Ginnivan’s comment) a little bit. It’s footy and you’ve got to have fun, but at the same time we were out there to get the job done.”

Ollie Wines also told Triple M: “There was a bit going on during the week with Ginnivan commenting on an Insta post,” he said.

“We’re a bit of an old fashioned footy club so that sort of stuff gets put on the whiteboard early in the week.”

Veteran footy journalist Peter Ryan also wrote on Twitter it was “several” Hawks players that had acted out.

Ken Hinkley gestures to Jack Ginnivan that he won't be on a flight over this Insta reply "see u in 14 days'

James Sicily of the Hawks reacts to Ken Hinkley. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

He posted: “That was a great final. (Sam) Mitchell is entitled to be pissed off that an opposition coach is having a crack at his player, But several Hawks players have been stirring the pot, which was never going to be free of consequence. A response was inevitable.”

Former Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney said on Channel 7’s Armchair Experts after the game that Ginnivan should have known the “bear pokes back”.

“He’s only 20 years old, but he is the ultimate troll,” he said.

“He is happy to be in the limelight and throw it out, and troll the crowd, and wave them off when he kicks goals.

“He’s happy to poke the bear, and sometimes the bear pokes back.”

Former Collingwood premiership-winner Dane Swan also showed his support for Hinkley.

“Another reason why the port boys love Ken Hinkley,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Shows he cares and is absolutely invested. It’s a close final, who gives a f*** if he mouths off after the game. It’s good for footy, just like the Hawks and their carry on is good for footy. Play on.”

Veteran sport journalist Greg Davis also wrote: “Please spare me the Hawthorn outrage towards Hinkley’s post-match spray.

“The Hawks are happy to really carry-on after a win and old mate is happy to lip-up and provoke the crowd. Copped a bit back. That’s footy karma. Suck it up Hawks. Well done Kenny.”

Ken went after Jack Ginnivan. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The coach opened his press conference by saying he “regretted” the moment and what had unfolded.

“I should probably start and say there was an incident after the game where I had some words with a Hawthorn player that I wish I hadn’t had in a moment I shouldn’t have had,” Hinkley said.

“It was an emotional game, big result. There was stuff said during last week that I certainly didn’t enjoy but I shouldn’t have let that moment get to me.”

Hinkley was asked if he’d look to follow up with Ginnivan and Sicily and discuss the moment and offer up an apology.

“No I don’t think so because I don’t think it’s the right time for me to have that conversation with anyone, I should just reflect on the moment,” he said.

Hawks coach Mitchell said in his earlier press conference that he would “absolutely not” be seeking to have a conversation with Hinkley.

“I can only speak on my club’s behalf and how the Hawthorn football club dealt with the post-game,” Mitchell said.

“We had a very young player who was having some very aggressive words said to him by a much older man who has been in the game a long time.

“The captain of my club stood up for him and it’s really tough to be sitting here right now. I’m really proud of our captain who was able to stand up and lead in a way he can be proud of.”