In a recent confession, Hawthorn’s captain James Sicily expressed his regret over a significant detail from his altercation with Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley following their intense AFL match on Friday night. The encounter became particularly contentious when Hinkley taunted Jack Ginnivan after the Power’s narrow three-point victory over the Hawks, leading to heated reactions and drawing criticism from the AFL community. The league is reportedly considering questioning Hinkley, 57, about his conduct during the game.
After the match, Hinkley apologized for his actions, which included making an airplane gesture and shouting, “you’re not flying, Jack,” aimed at Ginnivan. This comment was a response to a social media post by Ginnivan earlier in the week, which had stirred controversy. Ginnivan’s post was seen as a provocative challenge to the Power, adding fuel to the already charged atmosphere.
Hinkley later admitted that his actions were a misjudgment and that he should have avoided making such provocative remarks. He acknowledged that his behavior not only heightened tensions but also detracted from the overall sportsmanship of the event. Despite the apology, the incident left a mark, overshadowing the more positive aspects of the match.
Sicily, visibly upset by Hinkley’s behavior towards his teammate, was seen confronting the coach. Unfortunately, this altercation took place just before the planned tribute for Hawthorn’s Luke Breust, who was celebrating his 300th game. Sicily’s involvement in the confrontation, while trying to honor Breust, was a point of regret for him.
Reflecting on the aftermath, Sicily expressed his disappointment that the focus on the altercation diverted attention from Breust’s significant achievement. He regretted that the post-game conflict overshadowed the celebration of Breust’s milestone, wishing he had handled the situation differently to fully honor his teammate’s special moment.