Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is full of regret but Hawthorn captain James Sicily has none over the bitter aftermath of their dramatic AFL semi-final.
The AFL has ordered Hinkley to explain his taunts to Hawk players after Port’s three-point win at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
“We are submitting a request for clarification to Port Adelaide regarding Ken Hinkley’s interaction with Hawthorn players after the match,” an AFL spokesperson said on Saturday.
Hinkley directed verbal taunts at polarizing forward Jack Ginnivan just minutes after the Powers eliminated the Hawks from the final.
Sicilia, who missed a shot on goal with 63 seconds left that would have given his team the lead, came out to defend his teammate.
“I don’t remember exactly what he said. He (Hinkley) was talking to our players and he said something to Ginni,” Sicily told reporters on Saturday.
‘What I do as a leader is always support my teammates and defend them no matter who is right or wrong.
“It’s something I’m proud of and I don’t really regret it one bit.”
Sicilia had a heated exchange with Hinkley as players from both clubs formed a guard of honour for Hawthorn’s 300-cap player Luke Bruest as he left the field.
Hawks captain James Sicily said he was defending his teammate when he became angry with Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley.
Hinkley has taken a swipe at Ginnivan after the young star appeared to disrespect the club during the week.
“Probably the only thing I’m disappointed about is not being fully present at that moment,” Sicily said.
But yes, this is not the first time Ken has done this and it won’t be the last.
‘It’s an emotional game and sometimes it gets the better of us.
“It’s better to do these things behind closed doors, especially when there was a moment to celebrate Punk (Breust). Instead, the shine was taken away a bit.”
Hinkley, in his post-match press conference, said he was out of line.
“I regret the comment… I should have stayed away from that comment but I didn’t,” he said.
Hinkley attributed his reaction to Ginnivan’s social media comment last weekend which he said fuelled Port’s motivation for the sudden-death final.
Ginnivan, responding to an Instagram post from Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy, wrote: “See you in 14 days,” referring to next weekend’s preliminary finals.
“There were things said last week that I certainly didn’t enjoy, but I shouldn’t have let that moment affect me,” Hinkley said.
‘What was done during the week, was done and I responded to it in an emotional state that should not be the case.
“As a football club we consider it a little disrespectful… but everyone has the right to speak freely.”
Ginnivan had gotten under the skin of his opponents more than once during the AFL finals.
Sicilia said Ginnivan regretted giving ammunition to Port.
“Jack openly admitted to leaders during the week that he really wished he hadn’t done it,” Sicily said.
“It was a brazen gesture. I don’t think the game was won or lost on motivation, it wasn’t necessarily a direct attack on Ken, in Port Adelaide.”
Port Adelaide chief executive Matthew Richardson will address the media later on Saturday as the fallout continues.
Hinkley’s incendiary comments came after the Power beat the Hawks, winning 11.9 (75) to 11.6 (72), to advance to a preliminary final against Sydney at the SCG.
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell was proud of Sicily’s defence of Ginnivan after the match.
“We had a very young player (Ginnivan) who received some aggressive words from a much older man who has been in the game for a long time,” Mitchell said.
“I’m really proud of our captain, who would have been just as excited (as Hinkley), he was able to stand up and lead in a way he could be proud of.”