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Hawthorn football boss Rob McCartney has defended star pair Jack Ginnivan and Nick Watson over their ‘isolated incident’ in cancelling a planned appearance at a kids footy clinic at the last minute following the club’s best and fairest night..
Ginnivan and Watson, two of the Hawks’ most recognisable players who played crucial roles in their stunning rise into the finals in 2024, were set to appear at the Ivanhoe clinic last Sunday morning, the evening after the Peter Crimmins Medal.
However, barely an hour before the event’s scheduled start time of 10:30am, organisers were told both players could not attend due to illness.
Speaking on AFL Trade Radio, McCartney acknowledged the ‘disappointment’ felt by the children snubbed, but said Watson and Ginnivan ‘give more than most’ to younger fans and should be forgiven, adding that the pair will be running another clinic to make up..
“There is a need to, first and foremost, acknowledge the disappointment that the kids felt by not having our two players at a clinic,” McCartney said.
“It was obviously not organised by Hawthorn, but a clinic that was going to involve both Jack and Nick and we acknowledge that disappointment was real for those kids.
“While their not being there is a reflection on that day, what I will say is that both these boys give a lot of time to kids, to supporters and to fans throughout the entire journey.
“They might not have delivered on this day for those kids, but they do deliver on a regular basis. They are two players who actually give more than most.
“Importantly, what has happened after this disappointment is that both the boys – and their management who have been dealing with this – have acknowledged that to try and repair some of the disappointment, they will inform those kids that they’re going to run another clinic on another date.
“Again, is it ideal? No. But we have to take all of these things in the fullness of the picture and not in just an isolated incident.”
The clinic was set to be attended by almost 80 children aged between seven and 15, with the last-minute no-show leaving many ‘absolutely heartbroken’.
“He [my son] was in tears most of the day and said it was the worst day of his life,” one parent, Vaissy, told 3AW.
“There were actually 80 kids enrolled and due on the day and, as I understand, they [organisers] had put an incredible amount of work into it – hiring a venue, they had food in the canteen that they’d ordered.
“They were all there setting up when they were told at the last minute.”
According to Vaissy, her son had even prepared a hand-drawn thank you card for each of Ginnivan and Watson.
“He made the most beautiful thank-you cards for each of them,” she said.
“He made one for the Wizard [Watson], it had a wizard hat on the front with ‘Hokball’ written on it and the most beautiful words inside.
“And also one for Ginnivan, the same sort of thing: absolutely stunning, all in Hawthorn colours.
“He put a lot of work into them and was really looking forward to the day.”
However, Vaissy also admitted she ‘wasn’t that surprised’ by the cancellation, given the event’s close proximity to the Hawks’ best and fairest night, criticising Watson and Ginnivan for their poor judgement.
“Earlier in the week when I booked it, I actually thought, ‘Hey, the best and fairest is on the Saturday, what are these kids thinking?’” she told 3AW.
“I know they’re young, I know they’re going to go out and have fun and get drunk and all of that, but what are they thinking having to be there at like 10:30 the next morning. Is that the best decision?
“I guess although I was super shocked when the message came through, I wasn’t that surprised.”
Nick Watson celebrates a goal. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
For Vaissy, it was hard to believe both players came down ill.
“They posted on Instagram around midnight, Nick Watson posted on Instagram yesterday afternoon. You don’t do that kind of stuff if you’re sick,” she said.
“If it was anyone other than Ginnivan then maybe I’d believe it. Maybe I should give them the benefit of the doubt, but the fact that two of them were sick is pretty poor.”
Another parent, Peter, whose 11-year old son was likewise left ‘very disappointed’ by the no-show, also phoned 3AW to criticise Ginnivan and Watson.
“You don’t know if they really were sick – but being not even an hour before the clinic, to get that message saying they’re both sick at the same time, it kind of gets you guessing,” Peter said.
“These kids look up to these AFL footballers and I always say, if you make a commitment, you at least stick to it.
“Especially if you’re going to have a couple of drinks, at least know, ‘OK, I’ve got something on tomorrow. I’ll stop – I’m going to not disappoint these young fans’.”
In a statement to 3AW, Ginnivan’s management apologised for his absence, maintaining he was ill, and said they would attempt to schedule another clinic to make amends.
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