The contentious handling of free kicks (or lack of) towards Hawthorn small forward Jack Ginnivan may force Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell to contact the AFL.
Ginnivan was noticeably not awarded several free kicks in Hawthorn’s six-goal loss to Geelong yesterday, with all decisions in question revolving around head-high contact on the 21-year-old.
Speaking post-game, an honest Mitchell gave insight into how he saw it from the coaches box, and what may transpire this week upon reviewing the footage.
“I know there’s been a lot of talk about it… coaching you don’t go back and look at it (during the game),” Mitchell noted.
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Is Jack Ginnivan umpired differently? | 08:41
“If he is (being umpired differently), then the AFL has a process to get in touch with them – and if we re-watch them and have a look and think he’s getting unfair treatment, then I’ll get in touch with the AFL this week and get them to have a look at it.”
It is not the first time that umpiring towards Ginnivan has been criticised, with current St Kilda coach Ross Lyon urging the small forward’s former coach Craig McRae to publicly support him back in his Collingwood playing days.
“He’s being discriminated against,” Lyon said about Ginnivan on Channel Nine’s Footy Classified in July 2022.
“I think it’s now time for McRae to come out and go, ‘Enough – we need to look after him; if the umpires won’t, we (will).’”
The unusual officiating also caught the eyes of several AFL champions and media personnel throughout the match, with healthy debate both for and against Ginnivan.
Ginnivan registered 11 disposals and a goal in his side’s loss, with two-time premiership player David King noting that his influence could have been far greater had umpires been more reasonable in their assessment of the head-high contact.
“There’s been 11 high tackles paid today and just by sheer coincidence, the two (incidents) that Jack is in, it is a no-call,” King said on Fox Footy’s half-time coverage.
“He’s gone from 21 (free kicks received) in 2022 to four last year to one so far this year. They have two sets of rules. It is as simple as that. The guy with the long sleeves gets nothing.”
In response, AFL Hall of Fame member Jason Dunstall was more tentative in his view on the alleged difference in treatment on Ginnivan.
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“I think it’s difficult for umpires, particularly when they look at the rules now; as soon as you see the arm come up of a player, you’re thinking shrugging Kingy,” Dunstall said.
“He did create that rod for his own back early doors didn’t he, when he just started ducking and milking free kicks – and getting them – now it’s gone to the other end of the spectrum; so they need to find that happy medium.”
At the other end of the scale sat St Kilda champion Leigh Montagna, who was concise when enlightening viewers why the former Collingwood premiership player may not be having the whistle blown in his favour.
“If he kept his arm down Ginnivan, he would’ve got paid those two free kicks – but because he continues to lift his arm, the umpires are instructed not to pay them,” Montagna explained on Fox Footy at the half time break.
King ended the debate by referencing the playing style of Ginnivan’s teammate Dylan Moore, and the difference in umpiring when comparing the pair.
“Moore’s doing the same thing, 11 (high tackles for Hawthorn) today and none to Jack – I think the case rests,” King exclaimed.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 last night, co-host Mark Robinson was balanced in his views on the saga.
“I thought early he’s got to stop putting the arm up … there were some that should’ve been paid,” Robinson believed.
“Is he getting unfairly done? Maybe, but you made your bed early, and there’s got to be consequences.”
Ginnivan is set to come up against his former club and reigning premiers Collingwood for the first time since being traded this Sunday evening clash, with their clash at Adelaide Oval to close out the end of Gather Round.
“Moore’s doing the same thing, 11 (high tackles for Hawthorn) today and none to Jack – I think the case rests,” King exclaimed.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 last night, co-host Mark Robinson was balanced in his views on the saga.
Cats overcome big delay to beat Hawks! | 03:24
“I thought early he’s got to stop putting the arm up … there were some that should’ve been paid,” Robinson believed.
“Is he getting unfairly done? Maybe, but you made your bed early, and there’s got to be consequences.”
Ginnivan is set to come up against his former club and reigning premiers Collingwood for the first time since being traded this Sunday evening clash, with their clash at Adelaide Oval to close out the end of Gather Round.
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