AFL Geelong v Hawthorn: Jack Ginnivan dropped for Easter Monday clash
The Hawks will welcome back multiple players for their clash with Geelong on Monday – and Jack Ginnivan will be the one to make way. Here’s the latest.
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Jack Ginnivan has been dropped to the VFL as Hawthorn prepares to bring Connor Macdonald back into the side for Easter Monday’s blockbuster against Geelong.
Ginnivan will play his first VFL game for Box Hill on Sunday against the Cats, named in the reserves for the first time since joining Hawthorn from Collingwood.
Box Hill named its side on Saturday night, bumping Sam Frost up to the AFL squad.
With Jack Scrimshaw likely to return, the addition of two defenders could be enough cover for James Sicily to play the entire game up forward.
Geelong named Ted Clohesy in its VFL squad, marking him as the likely man to make way for Tom Stewart, who will return from gastro in the senior side.
Macdonald trained well on Saturday morning to prove his fitness after a syndesmosis injury sidelined him for games against GWS Giants and Port Adelaide.
The crafty forward’s inclusion means Ginnivan, who has struggled for consistency in 2025, is likely the one to make way.
Ginnivan trained with Box Hill’s squad on Saturday morning.
The Hawks are coming off a disappointing loss to Port Adelaide at Gather Round which saw the Power boot 12 goals to three in the opening half.
Ginnivan had an interrupted pre-season as he battled through an ankle injury during the summer, which has led to a slow start to the season.
The small forward has kicked just two goals across the opening five games, with both coming against Essendon in round 1.
He also has just four goal assists to his name, has three games with just one tackle, and just one game with more than 15 disposals.
Hawks coach Sam Mitchell defended Ginnivan during the week and declared he would have a long future in the senior side.
Young forward Calsher Dear is closing in on a return to competitive football after several weeks of ramping up his training load.
Dear has not played any football this season after being diagnosed with stress fractures in his back during the summer.
Hawthorn’s high performance manager Peter Burge said during the week Dear was not far off.
“He’s one week away,” he said in Hawthorn’s injury report.
“We’re aiming for Round 7 of the AFL. He’s in full training this week and full training next week and then we’ll plan to progress through to VFL with managed minutes, given it’s a long-term injury.”
Geelong will hand some VFL minutes to premiership defender Jake Kolodjashnij on Sunday.
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Originally published as AFL Geelong v Hawthorn: Jack Ginnivan dropped for Easter Monday clash
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