Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has criticised his Port Adelaide opposite number Ken Hinkley for swearing at his players after the elimination final, but football fans believe the Hawks players got what they deserved.
The Hawks had been the positive 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 rise from the bottom of the AFL rankings using Hok Ball, which has been described as “less a style of play than a vibe”, had many pundits believing the resurgent club could go all the way.
But it all came crashing down in the final quarter at Adelaide Oval and the 2024 fairytale was officially dead.
While there were plenty of good vibes in the lead-up to the clash, there were also sour ones after polarising young star Jack Ginnivan took a dig at Port Adelaide on social media.
Ginnivan, responding to an Instagram post by Sydney rider Brodie Grundy, wrote: “See you in 14 days,” referring to next weekend’s preliminary final dates.
Those comments landed like a lead balloon on Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley, who handed Ginnivan back serve after the match before engaging in a war of words with the 21-year-old.
After Hinkley’s attacks, Hawks captain James Sicily, who hit the post with just 63 seconds left that would have given his team the lead, stepped in to defend Ginnivan.
Now manager Sam Mitchell has criticised Hinkley’s actions and applauded Sicily for stepping in.
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley sprayed Hawthorn players after their elimination final win
Hawks captain James Sicily has hit back at Port Adelaide coach and defended his young teammate Jack Ginnivan.
“I can only speak on behalf of my club,” Mitchell said at the post-match press conference.
“And if I think about how my club, Hawthorn Football Club, approached the game, we had a very young player who had received some very aggressive words from a much older man who has been in football for a long time. And the captain of my club stood up for him.
“I understand that emotions at this time of year are very, very difficult. And I’m very proud of our captain, who would have been just as emotional, who was able to stand up and lead in a way that he could be proud of.”
Asked if he would seek out Hinkley to talk about the incident, Mitchell was frank.
“Absolutely not,” he said.
Ginnivan had mocked Port Adelaide on social media during the week, telling Sydney player Brodie Grundy he would see him in the preliminary final.
Mitchell, right, said Hinkley was out of line and praised his captain for defending Ginnivan after the spray.
But football fans accused Mitchell and the club of being able to give harsh words but not receive them.
Spare me the word. Maybe the “young player” should consider this a learning moment.
It’s all well and good when that young man disrespects the same guy who’s been in the game for many years, and it comes back to him with a big dose of karma.
Now I know what the H in HOK ball stands for. Hypocrites! They (Ginnivan) were so disrespectful, but they cried when they were answered.
Dude Sam Mitchell, Ginni deserves it 100%. Why wouldn’t Kenny say anything when he disrespects his club?
Hinkley said he regretted taunting Hawthorn players after the match.
“I regret the comment… I should have stayed away from that comment, but I didn’t,” Hinkley said.
“This shows that everyone can improve. I keep trying to improve.”
The Power manager attributed his reaction to Ginnivan’s social media comment last weekend which he said fuelled Port’s motivation for the knockout final.
“There were things said last week that I certainly didn’t enjoy, but I shouldn’t have let that moment affect me,” Hinkley said.
“I shouldn’t have approached at the time I did.
‘What was done during the week, was done and I responded to it in an emotional state that should not be the case.