Hawthorn forward Jack Ginnivan is once again in the spotlight, this time for an Instagram comment on a picture posted by former teammate Brodie Grundy. Ginnivan's Hawks won last week's Elimination Final against the Dogs, setting up a Semi-Final matchup this Friday against the Power. If they win in Adelaide, they go on to face the Swans - Grundy's new team - at the SCG in a Prelim. Grundy's photo had the caption ‘Post game snaps, finals edition’, and was posted after his side's Qualifying Final win over GWS. With the Hawks set to face the Swans if they beat the Power, Ginnivan commented ‘see u in 14 days’.
A Risky Comment?
Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes couldn't understand why Ginnivan would comment such a thing and he believes that the 21-year-old has made it all about himself again. Cornes thinks that his comment could give the Power some added motivation and expects his antics to be another distraction for his side in the lead-in to a final.
“Jack Ginnivan has done it again. He is a distraction, and he has made it all about himself again,” Cornes said on SEN Sportsday.
“He has responded to an Instagram post of Brodie Grundy and Isaac Heeney where Grundy has said ‘Post game snaps // Finals Edition’, and Jack Ginnivan has said, ‘see u in 14 days’ … he thinks he’s won already, he’s got to come to Adelaide on Friday night first.
“I mean, is there anyone who can read the room less than Jack Ginnivan? Now, it’s all working beautifully for him at the moment and Hawthorn are embracing him and they're happy for him to go to a pub before dinner and all of that like the celebrations … the social media stuff is great.
“But when you get ahead of yourself and it may be half a per cent motivation for Port Adelaide extra to just galvanise them ahead of Friday night … Ginnivan thinks he’s already through to a Prelim. Why would he do that?”
A Pattern of Behavior?
It’ll be the third final in a row for Ginnivan where he’s been a story in the lead-up. Firstly when he attended the Mooney Valley Races before last year’s Grand Final for Collingwood, secondly when he was spotted at Richmond’s London Tavern Pub the night before last week’s Elimination Final and now with this social media comment.
Cornes thinks it’s another distraction that the club doesn’t need before the do-or-die clash and he is certain the spotlight will be shone on Ginnivan if he doesn’t play well against the Power and the Hawks go down.
“I spoke about the pub, and I wasn’t hot under the collar about it and it wasn’t the most serious thing I’ve seen,” Cornes said.
“But it was just a distraction that the club didn't need, now it's fine because they win, but it means people at the pub are taking photos of him. We were talking about it, ‘Is he drinking beer? Is it Pepsi Max? Is it water?’, whatever, it’s a distraction that the club doesn't need. Now for four days, every time a Hawthorn player speaks, or the coach speaks, we're going to say, ‘Do you reckon Jack Ginnivan is getting ahead of himself?’. He thinks he’s through to a Prelim Final already.
“If he doesn’t touch it on Friday night and Hawthorn loses, I can bet you what the story will be – it’ll be Jack Ginnivan getting ahead of himself and that’ll be the fallout. The risk/reward of doing that … I don’t get what the reward of doing that is, there’s not much to gain, I wouldn’t have thought.”
The Importance of Team Culture
Ginnivan's antics highlight the delicate balance between individual expression and the importance of team culture. While some may see his comment as harmless banter, others see it as a sign of disrespect and a potential distraction for his teammates. Ultimately, it's up to the Hawthorn leadership to address the situation and ensure that Ginnivan's actions don't become a detriment to the team's success.
Friday’s Elimination Final between Port Adelaide and Hawthorn at the Adelaide Oval begins at 7:40 pm (AEST).
