Footy fans brand Hawthorn coach a HYPOCRITE as Jack Ginnivan taunt backfires in spectacular fashion

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has slammed Port Adelaide team-mate Ken Hinkley for abusing his players after their elimination final, but football fans are convinced the Hawks players got what they deserved.

The Hawks had their best season of the year, but ultimately lost their semi-final against 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 with Hok Ball, which was described as ‘less a style of play than an atmosphere’, led many pundits to believe the resurgent club could go far.

But in the final quarter at Adelaide Oval things went wrong and the 2024 fairytale was officially over.

While there was plenty of positive feedback in the lead-up to the clash, there was also bitter reaction after polarising young star Jack Ginnivan ridiculed Port Adelaide on social media.

Ginnivan responded to an Instagram post from Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy, writing: ‘See you in 14 days’, referring to the provisional final dates of next weekend.

The comments went down well with Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley, who returned his serve to Ginnivan after the match, subsequently engaging in a verbal altercation with the 21-year-old.

After Hinkley’s stabs, Hawks captain James Sicily – who hit the post with a shot that could have put his team ahead with just 63 seconds left – stepped into action to defend Ginnivan.

Coach Sam Mitchell has now criticised Hinkley’s actions and praised Sicily for their intervention.

Hawks captain James Sicily hit back at Port Adelaide coach, defending his young teammate Jack Ginnivan

“I can only speak on behalf of my club,” Mitchell said at the post-match press conference.

‘And when I think about how my club, Hawthorn Football Club, handled the post-game, we had a very young player who had some very aggressive words spoken to him by a much older man who had been in the game a long time, and the captain of my club stood up for him.

“I understand that the emotions at this time of year are really, really difficult. And I’m really proud of our captain, who would have been just as emotional, who was able to step up and lead in a way that he could be proud of.”

When asked if he would seek out Hinkley to talk about the incident, Mitchell was blunt.

“Absolutely not,” he said.

Ginnivan had ridiculed Port Adelaide on social media this week by telling Sydney player Brodie Grundy he would see him in the preliminary final

Mitchell, right, said Hinkley had overstepped the mark and praised his captain for supporting Ginnivan after the spray.

Football fans accused Mitchell and the club of dishing out harsh words but not receiving them.

Spare me. Maybe the ‘young player’ should consider this a learning experience

It’s all fine if that young man shows disrespect to the same guy who’s been in the business for years, and he gets a good dose of karma in return.

I now know what the H stands for in HOK ball. Hypocrites! They (Ginnivan) were so disrespectful and yet they cry when it comes back.

Sam Mitchell mate, Ginni deserves it 100%. Why wouldn’t Kenny say anything if he disrespects his club?

Hinkley said he regretted swearing at the Hawthorn players after the match.

“I regret that comment… I should have stayed out of it, but I didn’t,” Hinkley said.

“It just goes to show that everyone can get better. I’m still trying to get better.”

The Power coach attributed his reaction to Ginnivan’s comment on social media last weekend, which he said had fuelled Port’s motivation for the knockout final.

“There were things said last week that I absolutely didn’t like, but I shouldn’t have let that get to me,” Hinkley said.

‘I shouldn’t have waited so long to reach that moment.

‘What was done during the week was done and I reacted to it emotionally, which shouldn’t be the case.