Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has backed in his controversial small forward Jack Ginnivan despite a reported more-than-unusual pre-game dinner on Thursday night.
It was widely documented that Ginnivan was seen in a Richmond pub having dinner with mates, watching the qualifying final between Port Adelaide and Geelong, 12 months after he attended the Mooney Valley race course hours before the 2023 AFL Grand Final.
Although it may shock most, the new Hawks, led by the former Pie alongside Nick 'the Wizard' Watson and Connor Macdonald, do things their own way and allow their football to do the talking.
And on Friday night, they did just that, leading the brown and gold into the final six and to Adelaide as they now prepare for a clash with the Power.
Following the 37-point finals victory - the first since 2015 - Mitchell found "no issue" with Ginnivan's pre-game preparation, especially if he performs the way he did.
"There will be a lot of focus on his celebrations and where he has dinner and all those things, but we are very focused on what he does on the field," Mitchell said post-win, according toย AFL Media.
"We know he plays, we know how he celebrates, we know how he goes about it. I don't think there are any surprises with the way Jack goes about it.
"I thought he was enormously influential in the second quarter when he got up a bit higher. I thought he was a big part of getting the game back on our terms. If you look at his game impact in the second quarter, I thought he was one that really led the turning point.
"I didn't ask, I probably should have, but I wonder how many of our players went out for dinner to a public place last night? I would guess maybe half. You know what, I think most of us have watched Thursday night or Friday night footy at a public venue for the majority of the year. He played well, he lives how he lives. I knew about it, so as long as he went home around the half-time mark, I was going to be pretty happy. It's no issue from me at all."
The former Pie has had his fair share of quarrels, but since joining the Hawks after securing a premiership medal in a different guernsey, has thrived at the club he grew up supporting.
In a tongue-in-cheek moment post-win, Ginnivan was asked what his pre-game would look like in Adelaide next week.
Jack Ginnivan on what he will do before next Fridayโs game v Port Adelaide:
โCan you suggest anything in Adelaide for me? There isnโt much to do there for me.โ
On going to London Tavern last night: โMy six best mates were at the pub. I had two waters, watched half a game ofโฆ
— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) September 6, 2024
Albeit it wasn't the 21-year-old's most influential game, there was a plethora of moments where he showed his maturity in the young Hawk's side, leading the way for the club starved of finals since 2016.
Ginnivan gathered 15 disposals (93.3 per cent effective), four tackles, three clearances, seven score involvements three goal assists and a goal.
The rampaging Hawks will head to Adelaide next week, with a fixture yet to be released.
