Jack Ginnivan scenes divide AFL world amid umpiring storm in Hawthorn defeat

Debate has erupted across the AFL world around Jack Ginnivan after several questionable umpiring decisions against the Hawthorn star during Easter Monday's loss against Geelong. Not even a 43-minute delay for severe weather could stop the Cats clinching a (106) to 10.10 (70) victory in the traditional Easter fixture at the MCG, as Geelong's Tom Hawkins celebrated his 350th game in style.

The wild weather wasn't the only storm that erupted around the MCG, with the umpiring of Ginnivan leaving plenty of AFL greats and fans seething. Ginnivan has brought scrutiny on himself ever since he revealed in 2022 that he often stays on his feet to seek out high contact from opponents as a way of winning free kicks and booting easy goals.

Since those comments, the spotlight has been firmly on the former Collingwood star, with umpires understandably more alert to his attempts to win free kicks. In Monday's match against Geelong though, commentators and fans suggested that Ginnivan's reputation had come back to bite him after several high shots on the Hawthorn star weren't paid by the umpires.

“That’s twice he’s been clearly tackled around the head,” Brian Taylor said in commentary for Channel Seven. “I don't think he bent at the knees until he was clearly tackled around the head. I reckon he’s deserved a couple today he hasn’t got.

“It’s been remarkable. There’s been at least three, possibly five today against Ginnivan they have not paid simply because of the history. He can consider himself very unlucky today.”

Umpires called out over officiating of Jack Ginnivan

Dual premiership great David King suggested it was no coincidence that out of a raft of free kicks paid for high shots in the match, two involving Ginnivan were waved away by the officials. “There’s been 11 high tackles paid today, and just by sheer coincidence the two Jack are involved in are a no-call,” King said on Fox Footy.

“He’s gone from 21 (high tackle free kicks) in 2022 to four last year to one so far this year. “They have two sets of rules. It’s as simple as that. The guy with the long sleeves gets nothing. Eleven today and none to Jack, I think the case rests.”

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C ollingwood legend Tony Shaw agreed and called on Hawthorn to seek answers from the AFL about the way Ginnivan is officiated. "I reckon there has to be something looked at with the Ginnivan thing," Shaw told 3AW Football. "He does duck sometimes and I don't mind if they don't pay that bit but there's been a couple, probably two or three, genuine free kicks."

AFL debate erupts over Jack Ginnivan incidents

AFL greats Jason Dunstall and Leigh Montagna both argued that Ginnivan was not doing himself any favours with umpires by putting his arm in the air during high contact. “I think it’s difficult for the umpires now, especially when as soon as you see the arm come up from a player, you think he’s shrugging," Dunstall said on Fox Footy.

Montagna added: “If he kept his arm down, he would have got paid those two free kicks. But because he continues to lift his arm, the umpires are instructed not to pay them.” Shaw said he understood that if a player is contributing to the high contact by bending his knees or ducking, then umpires won't pay the free kick.

But the Collingwood great argued that Ginnivan was standing up on a couple of occasions when he was taken high by Geelong players, questioning the duty of care for the player after the free kicks weren't called. "If you're standing up, and there's be a couple where he has been standing up, but it's still tackled around [the neck]," Shaw added. "You've got to go around his hips, not his head."

Hawthorn legend Luke Hodge said he understood Ginnivan had a reputation for staging that he'd brought on himself, but said that shouldn't affect the way umpires officiate games involving the 21-year-old. “I hope the umpires go through and have a look at a couple of those," Hodge said. "Yes he has faked those in the past, but there’s been a decent number of legit ones they haven’t paid.”

Ginnivan kicked one goal in the 36-point defeat for the Hawks, who are still searching for their first win of the season. Geelong laid the platform for the win with an even-goal opening quarter but saw the Hawks peg it back to just four points in the third quarter.

The Cats then broke away with six of the next seven goals before heavy rain in the third term resulted in the lengthy delay, amid the threat of lightning. Hawkins was a valuable contributor in his milestone match, kicking two first-quarter goals and finishing with an equal game-high four.

with AAP