Hawks forward Jack Ginnivan delivered a strong message to his critics after Hawthorn’s 37-point win over the Western Bulldogs in Friday’s elimination final at the MCG.
The 21-year-old, who made headlines for visiting Richmond’s London Tavern the night before the crucial game, celebrated his fourth-quarter goal by mimicking the act of cracking open a drink and pouring it over his head, reminiscent of Jeremy Cameron’s celebration in the 2022 grand final.
Ginnivan, who faced backlash for attending the races before last year’s grand final, had an impressive performance, finishing with 15 disposals at 93 percent efficiency and three goal assists.
In a post-game interview, Ginnivan expressed his enjoyment of the youthful atmosphere at Waverley Park, joking about a few “fossils” on the team.
He stated, “This is so much fun. Everyone’s my age, everyone celebrates and carries on. I love my forward line.”
When asked about his pub visit prior to the match, Ginnivan shrugged off any concerns. “Water off a duck’s back,” he said. “I feel like I’m allowed to go and have a few waters, have dinner. Everyone will keep talking, but I’ll just do what I do and try to have fun and kick goals.”
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell dismissed any worries about Ginnivan’s pub outing, emphasizing that they focus on his performance on the field. He noted that many players likely went out for dinner as well and praised Ginnivan’s impact during the game.
With this victory, Hawthorn has rebounded from an 0-5 start to qualify for next week’s semi-final against Port Adelaide in South Australia.
Ginni cracking open a cold one for a goal celebration is all time. #AFLDogsHawks
— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) September 6, 2024
After the game, Ginnivan expressed his enthusiasm for the youthful atmosphere at Waverley Park, noting a few ‘fossils’ among the team.
“Amazing game … This is so much fun,” he shared with Channel 7.
“Everyone’s my age, everyone celebrates and carries on like I do.
“I love my forward line. We have a couple of veterans—‘Gunners’ (Jack Gunston) and (Luke) Breust—keeping us grounded, but the rest of the team is young and energetic, and when this guy scores, it’s a blast.”
When questioned about his night out before the game, Ginnivan stated he wasn’t concerned about adhering to conventional expectations.
“It’s water off a duck’s back,” he remarked.
“I feel like I can go out for a few waters and have dinner.
“Honestly, people will keep talking, but I’ll just do what I do and focus on having fun and scoring goals.”
He added, “Can you recommend anything to do in Adelaide? There isn’t much for me there.
“My six best friends were at the pub. I had two waters and watched half a game of footy. The media can talk all they want, but I don’t really care.”
In the post-match press conference, Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell dismissed concerns regarding Ginnivan’s pub visit.
“There will be plenty of attention on his celebrations and dining choices, but we’re focused on his performance on the field,” Mitchell said.
“We know how he plays and how he celebrates. There are no surprises with Jack.
“I thought he was incredibly influential in the second quarter when he elevated his game. He played a significant role in turning the match around.
“I didn’t ask, but I wonder how many players went out for dinner at a public place last night? I’d guess maybe half. Most of us have watched Thursday or Friday night footy at public venues this year. He played well, lives his life as he chooses, and as long as he got home around halftime, I’m fine with it.”
Hawthorn has rebounded from an 0-5 start to qualify for next weekend’s semi-final against Port Adelaide in South Australia.
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell dismissed concerns about Jack Ginnivan’s pub visit in his post-match press conference. Mitchell stated that while there would be significant focus on Ginnivan’s celebrations and where he dined, the team was concentrated on his on-field performance.
“We know how he plays, we know how he celebrates, we know how he goes about it. I don’t think there are any surprises with the way Jack goes about it,” Mitchell said.
The coach believed Ginnivan was highly influential in the second quarter, helping the team regain control of the game. Mitchell added that he didn’t ask Ginnivan about his plans but estimated that around half the players likely went out for dinner at a public venue the previous night. He noted that most people had watched Thursday or Friday night football at a public venue throughout the year.
“He played well, he lives how he lives. I knew about it, so as long as he went home around the halftime mark, I was going to be pretty happy. It’s no issue from me at all,” Mitchell concluded.
Hawthorn has made a remarkable turnaround, winning 15 of its last 19 games after starting the season 0-5. The team has qualified for next weekend’s semi-final against Port Adelaide in Adelaide.
Hawthorn’s key defensive player, Sam Frost, has reportedly drawn interest from Sydney as the club aims to strengthen its defense for the 2025 season. According to AFL Media’s Josh Gabelich, the 31-year-old has been approached by the Swans, with St Kilda also showing interest as they seek to fill the gap left by Josh Battle.
Frost had a standout season this year, but with Battle and West Coast’s Tom Barrass likely joining Hawthorn this offseason, his position may not be as secure as it has been. Additionally, with a fully fit James Blanck returning, Frost could find himself on the outskirts as other teams begin to circle.
The three-club player could reach a rare milestone if he relocates again in 2025, having spent his 13-year career with the Hawks, Demons, and initially GWS, where he was one of the inaugural players.
Gabelich also reported that Frost had triggered a one-year extension at Waverley Park earlier this year, providing him with security for at least another 12 months under coach Sam Mitchell.
Unfortunately, Frost missed Hawthorn’s semi-final against Port Adelaide after suffering a foot injury that was revealed to be bone stress following his team’s elimination final victory over the Western Bulldogs.
As of now, there are no indications that Frost will leave the Hawks.
Gold Coast ball magnet Rory Atkins is reportedly interested in the possibility of joining a third AFL club, according to AFL Media’s Callum Twomey.
The 30-year-old has spent most of the 2024 season in the VFL, playing only three games and not appearing at the top level since recording 20 disposals in Round 8 against Brisbane. Despite having a year remaining on his current contract—he is in the fourth year of a five-year deal with the Suns after transferring from Adelaide as a free agent—Atkins is considering a move.
With 138 games and a decade of AFL experience, Atkins would bring valuable expertise to any club willing to take him on. His VFL performance has been impressive, averaging over 33 disposals and 10 marks per game, including four matches where he exceeded 40 touches.
Unfortunately for Atkins, coach Damien Hardwick has shown no interest in promoting him to the senior team while he continues to excel in the reserves.
While concerns about his defensive skills have been raised, there may be a team interested in Rory Atkins, who could benefit from a ball winner in their backline.
The former Crow played 101 games for Adelaide before moving to the Gold Coast, where he has appeared in 37 matches over four years.
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