Hawthorn protagonist Jack Ginnivan delivered a sensational performance to defeat his former club Collingwood, while the Magpies fanbase faced backlash for booing the youngster throughout the game. Ginnivan was at his best on Saturday night, recording 31 disposals and four clearances in what was arguably the finest performance of his young AFL career.
The Hawks secured a 66-point victory, leaving the reigning premiers struggling to keep their 2024 hopes alive. Ginnivan was actively involved from the beginning, including starting a tussle with Pat Lipinski in the second quarter.
This led Brayden Maynard to confront Ginnivan during the match, delivering a strong elbow that floored the 21-year-old. Despite the hit, Ginnivan was praised by Hawthorn fans for his energetic performance. However, his celebratory gestures after scoring two goals sparked controversy at the MCG.
Ginnivan scored in the third and fourth quarters and chose to mock his former club. In front of 74,171 fans, he kissed the Hawthorn badge. After his second goal, he made a gesture suggesting it was bedtime for Collingwood, hinting at their title defense slipping as they sit 13th on the AFL ladder. His actions drew the ire of the crowd, with a portion of Collingwood fans booing him throughout the game.
Rival clubs labeled the booing from Collingwood supporters as ‘hypocritical.’ Ginnivan had been heavily targeted by opposition crowds while playing for Collingwood in 2022, with the fanbase defending him and calling for the booing to stop. Now, the same fans were booing Ginnivan as he mocked his former team. His departure from the Magpies had raised eyebrows, and Ginnivan made his feelings known, prompting AFL fans to criticize Collingwood supporters for targeting him at the MCG.
Sam Mitchell praises Jack Ginnivan’s growth
After the game, Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell tried to quell the potential drama around Ginnivan having antagonised his old club and praised the 21-year-old for how he has adapted at his first year at the Hawks. “Ginni is one of those players that the crowd love and the media loves to talk about … but in our preparation we didn’t make much of him,” Hawks coach Mitchell said post-game.
“We look more at what he does for us as a side. We know that he’s been an important player for us across the year and we’ve missed him the last couple of weeks.
“To get him back, we knew it would bring a lot of energy and the sense of theatre of the game was fantastic. But for us it was really important that he played his role and did his job, and he did more than that.”
Sam Mitchell praised Jack Ginnivan for how he handles pressure from rival fans. Mitchell mentioned the attention Ginnivan receives and noted that he manages it very well. “Given how long it feels like he’s been around – always on the back page or featured in stories – he seems much older,” Mitchell said.
Ginnivan shone on Saturday against Collingwood, with Conor Nash (29 disposals, eight clearances), Jai Newcombe (25, six), Will Day (26, five), and James Worpel (28, five) contributing significantly. Connor MacDonald and Luke Breust each kicked four goals, while Nick Watson added three.
Jack Ginnivan trade backfires on Collingwood
Collingwood surprised fans by trading Ginnivan last year, sending him to Hawthorn at the end of the season. To fill the gap, Collingwood traded pick 34 and their future first-round pick to Fremantle for Lachie Schultz.
AFL great Kane Cornes compared the two players before the clash at the MCG, pointing out that the numbers weren’t favorable for the Magpies. Schultz has an overall player rating of 6.85 compared to Ginnivan’s 5.98, but the Magpies had expected more.
“The trade for Lachie Schultz, which I supported at the time, seemed like a great move,” Cornes said on ‘Footy Classified’ on Channel 9. “But six months later, it looks like a disaster. They let Ginnivan go, who’s about to turn 22, while Schultz is 27. Ginnivan has had a greater impact in almost every stat and has been a far more impactful player.”