How Mitchell’s faith got the best out of Ginnivan, and the Swans hero who didn’t hog the headlines

Sam Mitchell was a winner even before his upstart Hawks franked their home-and-away season resurgence with an emphatic finals victory over the Western Bulldogs on Friday night.

The carry-on about Jack Ginnivan being at a pub with friends the night before the match was as silly as it was when the reports emerged of him being at Moonee Valley for a couple of hours on grand final eve last year.

Ginnivan even sought Mitchell’s permission, which he received.

As Mitchell put it on radio: “If that’s what he does as preparation for a game, should we change that because the media doesn’t think it’s usual, or do we just embrace the way these players live their lives?” Mitchell also dismissed a question on the topic on Fox Footy pre-match.

Unlike Craig McRae a year ago, who said post-grand final that Ginnivan had not “read the room”, Mitchell had his player’s back.

McRae and Collingwood had clearly grown tired of Ginnivan, who was suspended for the opening two rounds of last season after admitting to using an illicit substance, by the time his grand final preparation came to light.

It did not help Ginnivan’s cause that he gathered only seven disposals in the Pies’ narrow win over the Lions, to end an underwhelming campaign that failed to match his 40-goal season from 2022.

Against the Bulldogs, Ginnivan was an impressive performer, as he’s been all season since requesting a trade to Hawthorn weeks after an “eye-opening” exit meeting with McRae.

Ginnivan’s cheeky goal celebration after dribbling through the sealer – where he pretended to open a beer can before chugging it down – was an example of the spunk he has brought to the Hawks’ forward line this year.

First-season sensation and fellow goal sneak Nick Watson even refers to a section of the Waverley Park locker room as “rat pack corner”, starting with Connor Macdonald (No. 31) and Finn Maginness (32), and ending with Ginnivan (33) and Watson (34).

There is no one-size-fits-all approach in a football club or any workplace.

Mitchell was more Nathan Buckley than Ginnivan in his playing days, so it is not as if he can relate to him in that way – and that is not to imply that Ginnivan is unprofessional either, just different.

Ginnivan would be more challenging to coach than most because of his extroverted nature, but doing so successfully is one part of what separates Mitchell from many of his peers.

The Swan who spread his wings

Isaac Heeney hogged the headlines with his incredible match-winning and highlight-reel-laden performance in Sydney’s triumph over the Giants, but another teammate deserves rich praise.

Chad Warner had a modest 14 disposals, two score involvements, zero clearances and 309 metres gained at three-quarter-time when the Swans trailed by 21 points.

Heeney’s extraordinary long-range goal to level the scores was an unforgettable moment, before Joel Amartey kicked them in front, but Warner’s role in what happened in the final half hour cannot be undersold.

No one amassed more of the Sherrin (13 disposals) in that period, to go with seven contested possessions, seven clearances, five score involvements, four rebound 50s, and 356 metres gained. That is an insane quarter of football in Sydney’s time of need.

Warner is a rare and coveted blend of blinding pace, hard-headed toughness, power and skill, complete with the confidence to take opponents on.

The 23-year-old West Australian is out of contract next year – but is another two years after that from being eligible for free agency – and might be West Coast’s and Fremantle’s No.1 target, although the Swans will be desperate to retain him.

Sydney even selected Warner’s brother, Corey, in the 2021 draft, so they have that trump card in negotiations. Warner may opt to re-sign for two years to take him to free agency, but the Swans are not shy about dishing out long-term contracts.

Fellow stars Nick Blakey (2031), Callum Mills (2029), Errol Gulden, Tom Papley and Heeney (2028) are all locked away for the long term, while emerging forward Logan McDonald also inked a four-year extension in July.

The heat is on

There was a hyper-focus on Carlton’s decision to bring back Mitch McGovern, Sam Docherty, Harry McKay, Adam Cerra, Tom De Koning and Zac Williams for their elimination final.

The decision would have been heralded if the Blues won, but instead has become a key part of the media autopsy of their failed campaign, which ended in a 28-point loss to the Brisbane Lions, even if some of the recalled players performed important roles on the night.

Let’s be honest here: much more must go wrong for a team to concede the first 60 points of a match.

Coach Michael Voss will probably regret not starting De Koning, given the ruck substitute was a major cog in Carlton breathing a semblance of life back into the contest, even if they never seriously challenged.

A lengthy injury list kicked the Blues in the guts late in the season, in particular, but it should have never come to this. Carlton were second on the ladder after round 19, yet they scraped into the finals in eighth spot – and only on percentage.

The Blues would not have even made it if Fremantle held on against Port Adelaide in round 24.

Nothing will erase Carlton’s euphoric run to make a preliminary final last year, a surge which has bought Voss time.

There is no point saying things like “grand final or bust” for the Blues next year because that would just be a throwaway line, but Voss will enter the 2025 season on a similarly hot seat to Melbourne counterpart Simon Goodwin.

They have All-Australians everywhere, from bookends Charlie Curnow, Harry McKay and Jacob Weitering, to dasher Adam Saad, and prime movers Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh, so talent is not the problem.

It’s up to Voss and co. to figure out how to turn individual accolades into the ultimate team success before it’s too late, at least for him.

Clock ticking on Dixon

No club was more disappointing in the first week of finals than Port Adelaide.

For NBA fans, the Power have become the D’Angelo Russell of the AFL: in other words, very good in the regular season but not so much once the finals begin.

Port’s finals record under Ken Hinkley after last week’s humiliating 84-point hiding from Geelong at Adelaide Oval is five wins and eight losses – and they last belted out the theme song in September way back in 2021.

Ten Power players finished with eight or fewer disposals, with only injured star Zak Butters and substitute Quinton Narkle not playing a full match.

Uncontracted veteran Charlie Dixon took one mark, had three touches and managed a solitary behind on a miserable night.

As good as Dixon has been – and he’s been really good at times, including three 40-plus-goal seasons – he turns 34 this month, has played more than 18 games in a year only once since 2018, and his past three annual goal tallies are 23, 23 and 16. The end might be nigh.

Mitch Georgiades looked a far more sprightly and dangerous option than Dixon, but Esava Ratugolea continues to underwhelm as a forward, and has not kicked a goal since round 22.

The decision to pick Todd Marshall as an emergency was peculiar, but, perhaps, he is still not quite right after his concussion. If he is fit, Marshall must play against Hawthorn.

As for the Cats, what else can you say? Even when they seem mediocre, they still turn up at finals time. They are into a 13th preliminary final in the past 18 years.

They are a mighty club, and Chris Scott is a brilliant coach.

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