Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley regrets the aftermath of their dramatic AFL semi-final, but Hawthorn captain James Sicily has no regrets whatsoever.
The AFL has ordered Hinkley to explain his insults to Hawk players following Ports’ three-point win at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
“We are issuing a notice to Port Adelaide to explain Ken Hinkley’s post-match interaction with Hawthorn players,” an AFL spokesperson said on Saturday.
Hinkley verbally criticised divided forward Jack Ginnivan just minutes after the Power knocked the Hawks out of the final.
Sicily, who missed a shot on goal with 63 seconds left to give his team the lead, now took the lead in defending his teammate.
“I can’t remember exactly what was said. He (Hinkley) spoke to our players and said something to Ginni,” Sicily told reporters on Saturday.
‘As a leader, I always support my teammates and I will stand up for them regardless of who is right.
“I’m proud of it and I have absolutely no regrets.”
Sicily had heated exchanges with Hinkley, with players from both clubs forming a guard of honour for Hawthorn’s 300-man Luke Bruest as he left the field.
Hawks captain James Sicily said he stood up for his teammate when he attacked Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley
Hinkley hit out at Ginnivan after the young star appeared to disrespect the club during the week
“That’s probably the only thing I’m disappointed about, that I wasn’t fully present in that moment,” Sicily said.
‘But yeah, it’s not the first time Ken has done that and it won’t be the last.
‘It’s an emotional match and sometimes we get the upper hand.
‘Those things are better done behind closed doors, especially when there was a moment to celebrate Punk (Breust). Instead, it took a bit of the shine off.’
Hinkley said in his post-match press conference that he had crossed the line.
“I regret that comment… I shouldn’t have talked about it, but I didn’t,” he said.
Hinkley attributed his reaction to Ginnivan’s comment on social media over the weekend, which he said fueled Port’s motivation for the sudden-death finale.
Ginnivan responded to an Instagram post from Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy, writing: ‘See you in 14 days’, referring to next weekend’s preliminaries.
“There were things said last week that I absolutely didn’t like, but I shouldn’t have let that get to me,” Hinkley said.
‘What was done during the week was done and I reacted to it emotionally, which shouldn’t be the case.
‘We as a football club found it a bit disrespectful… but everyone has the right to express themselves freely.’
Ginnivan had gotten under his opponent’s skin more than once during the AFL final
According to Sicily, Ginnivan regretted giving Port ammunition.
“Jack openly admitted to the leadership this week that he actually wished he hadn’t done it,” Sicily said.
‘… It was brutal. 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 riots continue.
Hinkley’s inflammatory comments came after the Power defeated the Hawks 11.9 (75) to 11.6 (72) to progress to a preliminary final against Sydney at the SCG.
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell was proud of Sicily after the match, who supported Ginnivan.
“We had a very young player (Ginnivan) who was subjected to aggressive comments from a much older man who has been in football for a long time,” Mitchell said.
‘And I’m really proud of our captain, who would have been just as emotional (as Hinkley) but still stood up and led in a way he could be proud of.’