So Where Do We Draw The Line With Sledging?

Ken Hinkley and Jack Ginnivan may be from two very different generations, but over the past week they engaged in a sledging battle with each other - one that may have crossed the line.

Written by Lachlan Sherriff

It was a brand new identity that made the 2024 Hawthorn Hawks what they were.

A new, young team playing with a sense of freedom, which ultimately resulted in a lot of celebrations and social media banter.

Naturally, leading the new, Gen Z like antics was Jack Ginnivan, who joined Hawthorn from Collingwood over the 2023 AFL trade period.

Even at a "professional" team like Collingwood, Ginnivan's eccentric personality shined with goal celebrations and silly TikToks, landing him in trouble with the media on multiple occasions.

So when he arrived at the new-look Hawks, who embraced selfies and silliness, his antics only grew, and with that, the controversy.

To some, Ginnivan was already flirting with the line after being spotted at a pub the night before Hawthorn's elimination final against the Western Bulldogs. While many fans - and Sam Mitchell - rushed to the small forward's defense, there was still a lot of controversy met with Ginnivan's pre match choice, even if he was only drinking waters.

But Ginnivan doesn't shy away from controversy. He embraces it. But after the Hawks bettered the Bulldogs at the MCG, Ginnivan once again pushed his luck, this time on social media

Above: Jack Ginnivan telling former teammate Brodie Grundy he would "see him in fourteen days", despite the Hawks not confirming their place in the Preliminary Final.

If Ginnivan hadn't caused enough of a distraction already, he had done it now. Immediately, members of the media called out the comment, believing that this time, Ginnivan had finally gone too far.

"I have no issue with him going to the pub, zero... but he’s bitten off more than he should’ve here. I suspect either Sam Mitchell or the captain or senior players have to pull him aside and say: ‘Hey Jack, you’re playing good football but you’re still immature. You’re going too far’. You can say it’s only five words, not good enough, it’s disrespecting Port Adelaide mate."

- Mark Robinson, via AFL 360

But throughout all the criticism, one man in Adelaide fired a shot back.

Except it wasn't a player. It was 57 year old Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t13puJWz6Jc

If Ken Hinkley telling reporters "see you next week", a clear reference to Ginnivan, wasn't enough to consider the line being crossed, then what happened after Port Adelaide defeated Hawthorn by three points on Friday night might have been.

Following his team's victory, Hinkley motioned an aeroplane at Ginnivan, as if to say he won't be flying anywhere next week, before saying some unknown words and laughing at the Hawks star 36 years his junior.

Hawthorn captain James Sicily had to calm the situation down, and eventually both teams managed to put their bickering aside and clap Luke Breust off the field, who had just completed his 300th game of AFL footy.

Following the game, social media exploded, not over anything that happened on the field, but instead about the incident that occured off it.

Many believed that Hinkley's action was immature and childish, and that he was being a sore winner, including former Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge, who told Hinkley to "act his age".

However, many were as quick to defend Hinkley, including his former players.

"An old school coach giving a new age kid a little life lesson - talk the talk expect some rebuttal if it fails. Character’s in the game are great. Loved what Ginni did, also loved what Ken did. Zero harm done - entertainment industry."

- Former Port Adelaide player Tom Rockliff, via X

Following the game, Hinkley apologized for his actions, but not before seemingly every footy fan in Australia weighed in on the debate.

So where was the line crossed, if at all?

On one side, you can look at it that Hinkley did nothing wrong and that Ginnivan was only getting what he deserved. And that's a fair point. Whether he admits it or not, Ginnivan should not have told Grundy that he would see him in the Preliminary Final, at least in a public reply section where anyone could view it. It disrespected Port Adelaide, and they used that as momentum to get the last laugh.

But while there are arguments for Hinkley, there are just as many against him.

As coach, Hinkley has a responsibility to represent the Port Adelaide Football Club in a positive manner. While it's very easy to get annoyed at Jack Ginnivan, a 57 year old coach singling out a 21 year old player isn't the best look. A Port player doing that is one thing, and probably fair game, but as mentioned, there are extra responsibilities on the coach.

Also, the game was over. Hinkley had the last laugh. He could have simply not acknowledged Ginnivan at all and still gone to bed ten times happier then him that night.

The "see you next week" jibe in his press conference seemed out of character for Hinkley, let alone the whole post match drama. But it's happened now, and while he's apologised for it, it doesn't mean we as fans can't enjoy the drama, whether it was from Ginnivan or Hinkley.

Since I can imagine both men feel somewhat stupid right now, I doubt we'll see anything of this level happen. It's fair to assume Hinkley has learnt his lesson now, and won't bother sledging any opponents after wins.

For Ginnivan, we all know he won't change his ways too much. But at the very least, he may reconsider publically getting ahead of himself the next time Hawthorn are in the finals.

But hey, at least Hawthorn vs Port Adelaide is gonna be a blockbuster to look out for in 2025.

In the meantime, Port Adelaide will travel to Sydney next week, where they take on the Swans for a place in the 2024 AFL Grand Final.