14 Days
14 days is a long time in football…
On Saturday, September seventh, Sydney defeated GWS and advanced to a home preliminary final. That night, Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy uploaded an image to Instagram with the caption, “Post games snaps // Finals Edition 🤝”.
That night, Hawthorn ace, Jack Ginnivan, replied to that post with a comment reading, “see u in 14 days”.
The only problem with that? Hawthorn still had to beat Port Adelaide to face Sydney in that preliminary final. Instead, Port Adelaide would beat Hawthorn by just three points.
Post-match, Ken Hinkley, Port’s senior coach, appeared to turn to Ginnivan and make his thoughts known on the Hawk’s disrespectful social media comment;
Because of Hinkley’s actions, the AFL fined the Port Adelaide Football Club $20,000 for breaching AFL rule 2.3(a) Conduct Unbecoming: “A Person must not engage in conduct which is unbecoming or likely to prejudice the interests or reputation of the AFL or to bring the game of football into disrepute.”
Despite this, Port’s CEO Matthew Richardson, leapt to Hinkley’s defence on Saturday afternoon;
“It was a fantastic win. I thought our leaders were outstanding the way that they stood up. Ken addressed it straight after the game.
“He knew that he’d stepped over the line, sometimes that emotion comes out.”
“I had some words with a Hawthorn player that I wish I hadn't had in a moment that I shouldn't have had,” Hinkley began.
“But it was an emotional game, a big result. There was stuff said during last week that I certainly didn't enjoy, but I shouldn't have let that moment get to me.
“I think I've basically now made it known to them through this [press conference] that I shouldn't have approached the moment that I did.
“But again, what was done during the week was done, and I responded to it in an emotional state, which shouldn't be the case.
“I don't think at the moment is the right time for me to have that conversation with anyone. I should just reflect on the moment.”
Ken Hinkley said that the social media post from Ginnivan is what spurred his players to victory, and that’s what led to his outpour of emotion on Friday night;
“That’s probably what got to the point it did. I found it, we as a footy club found it, a little bit disrespectful and that's why it gets to where it gets.
“That should just stay private [what was said]. No need to keep going. It was a pretty good game of football I think.
“I regret the comment. That's probably where I should stay and should have stayed out of that comment, but I didn't.”
Ken and the Port Adelaide Football Club have looked to move on from the incident as quickly as possible, with their sights set firmly on Friday night when they are set to take on the Swans in a preliminary final at the SCG.