Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has a clear message for Jack Ginnivan amid the intense spotlight on the polarising small forward: “Keep doing what you’re doing.”
The focus on Ginnivan went to another level this week ahead of his first match against his former team Collingwood, which came after the AFL admitted the umpires missed several free kicks for the small forward against Geelong.
Perhaps Collingwood coach Craig McRae put it best in saying “you could probably write the script well and truly before the game.”
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Primarily matched up on Brayden Maynard, Ginnivan kicked two goals and was at his theatrical best, again at the centre of several umpiring decisions and non calls.
Meanwhile the 21-year old’s first meeting with the Pies at large didn’t disappoint as Hawthorn’s thrilling comeback just fell short in a five-point loss.
Ginnivan gifted this high tackle free? | 00:59
Speaking after his side’s fourth-straight defeat to open the season, Mitchell was full of praise for the way Ginnivan has handled the external scrutiny in a “fantastic start to his time in brown and gold”.
“The outside narrative is fascinating for the world, but he’s a really important player for us and I thought he had a good game,” the Hawthorn coach told reporters.
“He’s 21 years old, he’s had an enormous amount of scrutiny. For him to go back and kick our first goal and be a strong performer, I thought his maturity today was going to be challenged.
“People said to me: ‘How do you think he’s going to handle it?’ A 21-year old under that much scrutiny, how do you know (how he’ll handle it. I thought he played another really good game for us.”
It included Ginnivan this week shedding further details on his departure from Collingwood, admitting he knew his time at the club was over after an “eye opening” exit meeting with then coach Craig McRae after the Pies’ flag triumph.
The youngster took little time to have an impact against his former side on Sunday, receiving a free kick in the first quarter for high contact and kicking Hawthorn’s first goal.
Asked how Ginnivan has handled the extreme spotlight, Mitchell said: “All I know about Jack is he’s loving life in the brown and gold and he is as passionate about any of our players about making sure we’re going to have success.
“He has obviously had success – he’s a premiership player – and he plays today with an enormous amount of frustration we couldn’t get there, because he knows what success feels like.
“I think how he handles the external (scrutiny), the proof’s in the pudding. He’s playing good footy, so keep doing what you’re doing, Jack.”
McRae shares kind words to young Ginni | 08:25
Mitchell also highlighted Ginnivan’s “excellent influence” on the Hawks through his footy smarts.
“He’s a guy we regularly go to and say: ‘What are you seeing in the game and what are you thinking?’,” the Hawks coach added.
“I think his knowledge around the game is as good as any of our players and we’re going to keep leaning on him in that way.”
Given the week that was, McRae said you almost knew how the game was going to unfold, ultimately expressing love for his former player.
“You could probably write the script on that one well and truly before the game tonight. He got a high free kick and a goal, it was always going to happen, wasn’t it?,” the Magpies coach said.
“We’ve got great love and respect for ‘Ginni’, I’m not sure if we play him again, we wish him the best for the rest of the year.”
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