Jack Ginnivan, who caused a nasty altercation during the finals between Hawthorn and Port Adelaide with an imprudent Instagram remark, has conceded that he needs to “grow up.”
Jack Ginnivan, 21, stirred up some controversy when he commented “see you in 14 days” on Sydney Swans star Brodie Grundy’s social media page ahead of the preliminary final in Adelaide last week. The match saw Port Adelaide eliminate Hawthorn from the finals. Following the game, Port coach Ken Hinkley reportedly approached Ginnivan and said, “You know you’re not flying anywhere,” mocking Ginnivan’s goal celebration where he mimicked a plane earlier in the night.
This led to a verbal exchange between Hinkley and Hawthorn captain James Sicily, who told Hinkley, “You’ve been in charge of a ‘nowhere club’ for eight years.” Hinkley was subsequently fined $20,000 for his role in the confrontation, a decision that has sparked debate in the football community.
Reflecting on his social media comment, Ginnivan admitted it wasn’t the wisest decision but expressed gratitude for the support he received from Hawthorn’s leadership. “Upon reflection, it probably wasn’t the smartest idea,” Ginnivan told 7News. “The leaders and coaches had my full support, and they backed me. I’ve just got to grow up and be a bit smarter.”
Meanwhile, Port Adelaide’s Jase Burgoyne revealed that his team used Ginnivan’s comment as motivation leading up to the game. “We touched on it at the start of the week,” Burgoyne said on 3AW. “They brought it up on the projector and said it was a little bit disrespectful. We used that as fuel before the game, and all the boys fed into it. It was a good win.”
Burgoyne also noted that Hinkley regretted his actions almost immediately after the match, stating, “He’s an emotional coach, and footy is an emotional game. He let his emotions get the best of him in the moment.”