AFL 2022: AFL concedes Jack Ginnivan should have been awarded three free kicks
The AFL has admitted several free kicks should have been paid to Jack Ginnivan, as numbers show he has been a major beneficiary of free kicks.
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The AFL has conceded the umpires missed three free kicks which should have been awarded to Jack Ginnivan in Sunday’s clash with Hawthorn.
Collingwood football boss Graham Wright spoke with umpires boss Dan Richardson on Monday who revealed the Pies goalsneak had been unfairly treated.
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“The conversation was around Jack’s free kicks or not free kicks, they said they missed a couple and there was unseen on another as well,” Pies coach Craig McCrae told Fox Footy’s AFL 360.
McCrae said he doesn’t want Ginnivan to change his playing style.
“I think we all evolve, he is 19, give it some time for the dust to settle,” he said. “I would love for him to continue to be as much him as possible.”
The Pies coach also revealed the umpires had admitted the controversial below the knees sliding decision against defender Darcy Moore was also wrong.
It comes as human headline Ginnivan has been handed more goals from free kicks than every other player in the AFL this year.
Ginnivan, the polarising player with peroxide hair, searched for — and received — two free kicks in the first half before the whistle seemed to disappear whenever he hovered near.
But Ginnivan sits No. 1 in the AFL for goals from free kicks (eight), free kicks inside 50m (11) and high contact free kicks (12).
Ginnivan won a free-kick from Joel Selwood for too high early in the Round 3 clash. He then received another one in front of goal when Cat Tom Atkins put him in a headlock after he’d got in the face of the Cats captain who’d been caught holding the ball.The young Pie has said since that technique was sourced from Selwood.
The small forward received a free kick against Joel Selwood for too high early in their round 3 clash.
And when he got stuck into the Cats skipper after he was caught holding the ball, he received another one in front of goal when Cat Tom Atkins put him in a headlock
The young Pie has said since that technique was sourced from Selwood.
“It was pretty cool to get a high free kick on him, because obviously I’ve learnt it off him,” Ginnivan said.
“A lot of people don’t like it (playing for free kicks). But it’s been a natural instinct since I was about 13.
“Grabbing the ball and then raising the shoulder … it’s always been a natural instinct, so can’t really change it now.”
The 19-year-old who likes to live in opponent’s heads has routinely headlined stories almost every week throughout his 15-game career.
In round 1 it was for pulling on the GoPro to help document Collingwood’s celebrations while he claimed the Anzac Day Medal with five goals.
On Monday night the free kick fury was complemented by a charge from the Match Review Officer, with a misconduct charge – Ginnivan dropped his forearm into Lachie Bramble’s head – costing him $1000.
But the boy wonder from Newstead who once bagged 100 goals as an 11-year-old has loved the limelight.
So, too, have his family.
What they make of this week’s storm around whether the matchwinner is more sly swindler or shrewd footballer will be interesting.
St Kilda champion Leigh Montagna went the hardest at football’s baby villain.
“Is this the reputation that he wants to have going forward as an AFL player?” Montagna said on Fox Footy.
“Does he want this to be his brand? Does he want to be identified as a player that ducks and dives for free kicks?
“As soon as he gets the ball, he’s trying to get a free kick. He’s either falling forward, lifting the arm, playing for it.
“I don’t think that it’s in the spirit of the game.”
Montagna hated Ginnivan playing for – and getting – two free kicks in the first half on Sunday.
Melbourne great Garry Lyon said Ginnivan had gone too far, evidenced by the whistle going away in the second half.
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said Ginnivan was a milker, but no ducker.
“I don’t agree that he ducks. He stays low, and he drives his legs through a player,” Buckley said on SEN.
“I can’t disagree with the fact that his exit strategy for some of his ground ball inside forward 50 is to be caught high and to get a set shot at goal.
“That tests the rules.”
David King wondered why Ginnivan got no help in the second half.
“It’s either a free kick or it’s not, it shouldn’t matter who the player (is),” King said.
The AFL doesn’t like the narrative that umpires are targeting Ginnivan.
But whistleblowers privately lament it’s a hard job — and subconsciously they do know what players are like.
The Ginnivan act that could draw MRO heat
— Jon Ralph and Jay Clark
Collingwood’s controversy magnet Jack Ginnivan is likely to be available to play on Queen’s Birthday despite dropping his forearm into Hawthorn’s Lachie Bramble in the dying stages of the Magpies’ dramatic MCG win.
Ginnivan joined a Collingwood gang tackle of the Hawthorn defender with only three minutes left on the clock and made contact with his forearm into Bramble’s head.
The contact lingered as he fell to ground, with Hawthorn defender Blake Hardwick then grabbing Ginnivan and remonstrating with his own forceful tackle to the Pies forward’s neck.
Both could come under match review scrutiny, but neither of the incidents had the kind of strong force that would normally result in a suspension.
The match review team would be more likely to hand one or both of them misconduct fines that would clear them to play.
Ginnivan was being pushed to the ground himself in the tackle, but seemed to break his fall using Bramble’s head.
Last year the MRO handed Melbourne’s Jack Viney a two-week ban after he made forceful contact to the neck of Suns defender Sam Collins, but Ginnivan’s incident had nowhere near the force or capacity to cause serious injury.
The Pies will hope to put together one of their most dangerous forward lines of the year with Ginnivan and the emerging Ollie Henry joined by Jamie Elliott after his late withdrawal against Hawthorn.
Coach Craig McRae said he had no issue with Ginnivan challenging the tackler to win free kicks, adamant Geelong’s Joel Selwood had made a career of that kind of act.
He is set to seek clarification from the AFL umpires department over a series of missed free kicks against Ginnivan in the dying stages.
After he received a pair of early free kicks the umpires missed key free kicks that could have seen the Pies close out the contest earlier.
McRae backed Ginnivan’s method and said he would take it up with the league why Ginnivan missed out on a clear free kick in an attempt to “take on the tackle”.
“I need to get some clarity because as far as I am aware it is a free kick,” McRae said.
“’Dusty’ (Dustin Martin) does it with an arm, others (including) Joel Selwood (have) made a living out of it. I think it is a smart play.
“Playing for free kicks is an interesting way of putting it. I think players are really good at avoiding tackles.
“We tell our players to spend time over the ball which means you are likely to get some front on contact. It is a skill.
“It forces the tackler to really be on his best game. Is it within the rules? There is no rule against it at the minute.”
There was also surprise when Darcy Moore was pinged for a free kick for sliding when Hawk Sam Butler collapsed into his back in a goal square scramble, costing the Magpies a goal.
But McRae was thrilled with the Magpies’ efforts late after revealing the team spent three hours dissecting their final two-minute fade-out in the narrow win over Carlton last week.
The victory means the Magpies have risen to 7-5 and are in reach of a shock finals berth after finishing second-last with only six wins last season.
McRae said the team was improving every week, and in particular on the defensive end since they were cut apart by Richmond one month ago.
“We are really pleased,” McRae said.
“There is little growth in us every week.
“That last two minutes – we dissected that last two minutes last week (against the Blues) for about three hours in different lines and different areas and one hour each for that part of the game.
“To see them take the learnings from last week and execute it this week (was pleasing because if they didn’t) we probably don’t get the result in the end.
“So I’m really proud of that - that is the growth we are getting.
“Beau McReery’s last quarter, you spoke about OIi Henry and Jack Ginnivan. Our youth. Everyone can see our future there.
“We are growing in front of your eyes.”
However Reef McInness is set for months on the sidelines after suffering a dislocated shoulder in place of Jamie Elliott who was a late withdrawal with illness.
McRae lauded Henry’s composure late as he nailed a 40m set shot after struggling with his accuracy earlier in the season.
“I’m really proud of what he did in the last quarter, even that clutch goal right on three quarter time,” he said.
“He is just managing his moments better than what he did earlier.”
Pies escape Hawks comeback in wet weather classic
— Ronny Lerner
Collingwood have entered the top eight after defeating Hawthorn by four points in a thriller at the MCG on Sunday, continuing their impressive rise under first-year coach Craig McRae.
The Magpies looked on track for a big win early when they jumped out to a 30-point lead in the second term, but the Hawks responded brilliantly, kicking seven of the next eight goals to lead by 10 points in the final quarter.
Hawthorn had the chance to ice the game, but three consecutive behinds to Jai Newcombe, Chad Wingard and Connor Macdonald from gettable spots kept the Magpies alive.
A couple of minutes later, Jordan De Goey converted a massive set shot from 52m out in front in the driving rain to cut the margin to four points.
And on the stroke of time on, Oliver Henry kicked what would ultimately be the match-winning goal which put his Pies up by four points.
Hawthorn had one last chance at victory when Luke Breust grabbed the ball with 25 seconds remaining and attempted to drive the ball forward, but he was grabbed by Beau McCreery 60m out, and was pinged holding the ball, sealing the 10.12 (72) to 10.8 (68) result.
But the victory came at a cost for the Pies with youngster Reef McInnes dislocating his shoulder in the third quarter, while Hawthorn veteran Jack Gunston appeared to reinjure his troublesome ankle, despite playing the game out.
The Pies finished with massive advantages in contested possessions (153-128) and inside 50s (59-37), highlighting the tremendous effort of the Hawthorn backline to keep their team in the game for so long.
Collingwood ruckman Darcy Cameron played one of his best games, finishing with 26 disposals (15 contested), nine marks, 18 hitouts and a goal, and first-year Pie Nick Daicos played the best game of his short career, ending up with 36 touches, 11 intercepts and 797 metres gained. Patrick Lipinski also stood out.
Mitch Lewis stood tall for the Hawks with four goals, while James Sicily and Blake Hardwick were great down back.
Ollie Henry flies for the impressive grab and puts the Magpies back in front ðŸ‘#AFLHawksPiespic.twitter.com/cFgj2FCqLC
— AFL (@AFL) June 5, 2022
Collingwood started the game with all guns blazing, swamping Hawthorn with enormous pressure which led to a glut of scores from turnover.
The Magpies out-hunted the Hawks as they dominated the contested possessions 46-28 in the first term and registered 17 of the first 23 inside 50s, and if it wasn’t for some poor goalkicking their lead would’ve been greater than their 21-point advantage prior to quarter-time.
Hawthorn’s defensive errors and turnovers continued to cost them dearly in the second period, thanks largely to their over-handballing, as the margin stretched to 30 points.
However, the rain started teeming down late in the second term, and it elicited a change in tack from the Hawks who played a more direct brand in the second half, with a stronger focus on grabbing territory, and it paid dividends as they kicked five goals in a row, on the back of increased pressure as well, to hit the front in the third quarter.
Henry put the Pies back in front on the three-quarter time siren but after Hawthorn wasted countless chances to seal the win in the final term, Henry would again pop up at the crucial time to deliver his team a third consecutive win for the first time since 2019.
HAWKS BENEFIT FROM UMPIRE SHOCKER
One of the worst, and costliest, free kicks of the year was paid midway through the third quarter when Sam Butler was rewarded after Collingwood backman Darcy Moore supposedly slid into the Hawthorn youngster’s legs while rushing a behind.
But Moore did no such thing, and if anything, Butler’s knees landed on the diving Moore.
It was a decision made by the out-of-zone umpire who was making a pure guess, because clearly there was no free kick as Moore was actually in front of Butler, so he couldn’t have taken out Butler’s legs.
The incident led to an easy goal for the Hawks.
Former Fremantle and St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said the non-controlling umpire “guessed” and made a “horrendous decision” to pay the free kick to the Hawk.
Chad Wingard stands strong under the footy and slots another for the Hawks 😤@cryptocom | #AFLHawksPiespic.twitter.com/1rDc9dfPJX
— AFL (@AFL) June 5, 2022
PIES ALSO ENJOYED RUB OF GREEN
In the first quarter Collingwood forward Jack Ginnivan lived up to his reputation as the perfect villain for opposition fans again when he earned a dubious free kick for being tackled too high deep in attack by Harry Morrison before earning a 50m penalty and booting the easy goal. But Hawthorn fans would’ve felt rather aggrieved in the second quarter when Blake Hardwick seemed to get tackled in a very similar manner by Beau McCreery, yet wasn’t awarded a free kick. From the ensuing play, Patrick Lipinski kicked another goal for the Magpies. The umpires then over-corrected throughout the game, refusing to pay Ginnivan free kicks for being taken too high despite having legitimate claims for them on at least three other occasions.
PENDLES JOINS EXALTED COMPANY
Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury joined an illustrious group in the second quarter by becoming just the fourth player to register 9000 career disposals since records began. The other three men are St Kilda champion Robert Harvey, the league’s all-time games record holder Brent Harvey and Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett.
GUNSTON SUFFERS SETBACK
Hawthorn veteran forward Jack Gunston re-injured his right ankle as the Hawks launched a second-half comeback against Collingwood.
Gunston hobbled off the ground in the third term after trapping his right ankle under Magpies’ star defender Darcy Moore early in the third quarter at the MCG.
Gunston was in his comeback game after hurting the same ankle as he landed in a marking contest in the loss to Richmond in Round 9.
The recurrence is a worry for Gunston and the Hawks as Gunston remains one of the club’s most damaging options inside the forward half of the ground.
He courageously came back out onto the ground later in the third term but was clearly hampered as he tried to battle on bravely.
The injury didn’t stop the Hawks from making a third-term charge as the brown and gold slotted five-straight goals to take a two-point lead at the 16 minute mark of the third term.
Collingwood youngster Reef McInnes also suffered a serious shoulder injury in a contest with Dylan Moore.
McInness came off the ground with his right arm dangling late in the third term and was expected to be substituted off.
An AC joint injury could sideline him for two months.
SCOREBOARD
HAWKS 2.2, 4.4, 8.5, 10.8 (68)
MAGPIES 5.4, 7.9, 8.10, 10.12 (72)
LERNER’S BEST
Hawks: Lewis, Sicily, Hardwick, Newcombe, Mitchell, Morrison.
Magpies: Cameron, N.Daicos, Lipinski, Crisp, Pendlebury, Murphy, Henry
GOALS
Hawks: Lewis 4, Macdonald, Jiath, Koschitzke, Breust, Butler, Wingard.
Magpies: Ginnivan 2, Henry 2, Cameron, Sidebottom, McCreery, Lipinski, Mihocek, De Goey.
INJURIES
Hawks: Gunston (ankle). Magpies: McInnes (shoulder).
LATE CHANGE Jamie Elliott (illness) replaced in Collingwood’s selected side by Reef McInnes.
UMPIRES Howorth, Broadbent, Findlay
VENUE MCG
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
LERNER’S VOTES
3 D.Cameron (Coll)
2 N.Daicos (Coll)
1 M.Lewis (Haw)
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Originally published as AFL 2022: AFL concedes Jack Ginnivan should have been awarded three free kicks
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