Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has lashed his Port Adelaide opposite Ken Hinkley for abusing his players following their elimination final, but footy fans believe the Hawks players got what they deserved.
The Hawks had been the feelgood story of the year but ultimately lost their semi-final to Port Adelaide by just three points – 11.9 (75) to 11.6 (72) – on Friday night at Adelaide Oval.
Their surge from the bottom of the AFL ladder using Hok Ball which has been described as ‘less a game style than a vibe’ had many pundits believing the resurgent club could go all the way.
But it all came unravelled in the final quarter at Adelaide Oval with the 2024 fairytale officially dead.
While there were plenty of good vibes in the leadup to the clash, there were also bitter ones after polarising young star Jack Ginnivan taunted Port Adelaide on social media.
Ginnivan, responding to an Instagram post by Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy, wrote: ‘see u in 14 days’, referring to next weekend’s preliminary final dates.
Those comments went down like a lead balloon with Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley, who returned serve at Ginnivan after the match before engaging in a war of words with the 21-year-old.
After Hinkley’s barbs, Hawk captain James Sicily – who hit the post with a set shot with just 63 seconds remaining which would have given his side the lead – stepped in to defend Ginnivan.
Now coach Sam Mitchell has lashed Hinkley’s actions and applauded Sicily for stepping in.
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley launched a spray at Hawthorn players after their elimination final win
Hawks captain James Sicily bit back at the Port Adelaide coach, defending his young teammate Jack Ginnivan
‘I can only speak on my club’s behalf,’ Mitchell said in the post-match press conference.
‘And if I think about how my club, the Hawthorn Football Club, dealt with the post-game, we had a very young player who was having had some very aggressive words said to him by a much older man who’s been in the game for a long time. And the captain of my club stood up for him.
‘I understand the emotions at this time of year are really, really difficult. And I’m really proud of our captain, who would’ve been just as emotional, who was able to stand up and lead in a way that he could be proud of.’
When asked if he would be seeking out Hinkley to speak about the incident, Mitchell was blunt.
‘Absolutely not,’ he said.
Ginnivan had taunted Port Adelaide on social media during the week, telling Sydney player Brodie Grundy that he would see him in the preliminary final
Mitchell, right, said that Hinkley was out of line and praised his captain for standing up for Ginnivan after the spray
But footy fans accused Mitchell and the club of being able to hand out the tough words, but not receive them.
Spare me. Maybe the ‘young player’ should consider this a learning moment
All good when that young bloke disrespects the same bloke who’s been in the game for many years, and it comes right back at him with a big dose of karma.
I now know what the H stands for in HOK ball. Hypocrites! They (Ginnivan) were so disrespectful yet cry when it comes back.
Sam Mitchell mate, Ginni 100% deserves it. Why would Kenny not say something when he disrespects his club?
Hinkley said that he regretted taunting the Hawthorn players after the match.
‘I regret the comment … I should have stayed out of that comment but I didn’t,’ Hinkley said.
‘It just goes to show that everyone can get better. I am trying to still get better.’
The Power coach traced his reaction back to Ginnivan’s social media comment last weekend which, he said, fuelled Port’s motivation for the knockout final.
‘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 said.
‘I shouldn’t have approached the moment that I did.
‘What was done during the week was done and I responded to it in an emotional state which shouldn’t be the case.
