Hawthorn captain James Sicily has defended his behaviour following a heated alternate with Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley within the wake of Friday evening’s AFL semifinal.
Hinkley taunted the Hawks gamers on the sector after the Energy’s tense 11.9 (75) to 11.6 (72) win at Adelaide Oval.
He later revealed his antics have been motivated by a remark Hawks ahead Jack Ginnivan made on social media within the build-up to the match.
Sicily fired again at Hinkley, with Hawks teammate Jarman Impey having the unenviable job of stopping the scenario from escalating.
The AFL confirmed it had issued a “please clarify” to Hinkley.
Sicily stated his actions in standing up for Ginnivan have been justified.
“I can not recall precisely what was stated. He (Hinkley) was speaking to our gamers and stated one thing to Ginni,” Sicily informed reporters in Adelaide on Saturday morning.
“I believe what I do as a pacesetter is I at all times have my teammates’ again and I’ll stick up for them no matter who’s in the best or the fallacious.
“It’s one thing I pleasure myself on and I do not remorse it one bit actually.”
Sicily added: “Jack brazenly admitted throughout the week to the leaders that he actually wished he did not do it.
“It was cheeky. I do not suppose the sport was misplaced or gained on motivation due to it. It wasn’t essentially a direct assault at Ken [or] Port Adelaide.”
Hinkley stated he regretted his behaviour after the match. (Getty Pictures: Mark Brake)
Port Adelaide chief government Matthew Richardson acknowledged the AFL had requested for “further particulars” concerning the incident.
However Richardson backed Hinkley, describing his behaviour as a “symptom of … emotion and stress”.
“Ken made a remark in response to a social media publish throughout the week. Ken, himself, straight after the sport recognised that he in all probability stepped over the road with that,” Richardson stated on Saturday.
“He cares deeply about his gamers. He cares deeply concerning the footy membership. Typically that emotion comes out. That is one of many issues we love about Ken.”
Energy CEO Matthew Richardson backed Hinkley within the wake of Friday evening’s incident. (ABC Information: Marco Catalano)
Chatting with the media on Friday evening, Hinkley defined the Energy had been riled throughout the week by Ginnivan.
Ginnivan had posted on Instagram “see u in 14 days” to Sydney ruckman and former Collingwood teammate Brodie Grundy.
The remark insinuated Ginnivan anticipated the Hawks would beat the Energy and play the Swans within the preliminary finals.
“There was an incident after the sport the place I had some phrases with a Hawthorn participant that I want I hadn’t had in a second that I should not have had,” Hinkley stated.
“There was stuff stated final week that I definitely did not take pleasure in, however I should not have let that second get to me.
What was completed throughout the week was completed, and I responded in an emotional state, which I should not have.
“I remorse the remark. I ought to keep out of that remark, however I did not.
“It simply goes to indicate that everybody can get higher, and I am nonetheless attempting to get higher.”
Hawks coach Sam Mitchell stated he backed Sicily’s defence of Ginnivan.
“We had a really younger participant (Ginnivan) who had some aggressive phrases stated to him by a a lot older man who has been within the recreation for a very long time,” Mitchell stated.
“And I’m actually pleased with our captain, who would have been simply as emotional [as Hinkley], was capable of arise and lead in a approach that he may very well be pleased with.”
Requested if he would converse with Hinkley, Mitchell replied: “Completely not.”
Sicily stated he regretted the incident overshadowed the acknowledgement of three-time Hawks premiership participant Luke Breust’s three hundredth AFL match.
Breust was chaired off the sector by teammates, with the Energy gamers and Hinkley clapping the Hawks veteran as they fashioned a guard of honour.
“That is in all probability the one factor I’m disillusioned in, that I wasn’t totally current in that second,” Sicily stated.
“However it’s not the primary time that Ken has completed that and it will not be the final. It is an emotional recreation and generally it will get the higher of us.
“I believe these issues are higher completed behind closed doorways, notably when there was a second to have fun Punk (Breust).
“As an alternative, there was gloss taken off it slightly bit.”
The Energy will play the Swans of their preliminary remaining on the SCG on Friday evening.
ABC/AAP
