Collingwood to ‘speak up’ to AFL over treatment of Jack Ginnivan as high tackle debate rages

The AFL says Collingwood’s Jack Ginnivan should have been awarded a free kick after impact with Essendon’s Mason Redman on Sunday, but they maintain the young Magpie initiated the contact.

Ginnivan was caught high by Redman during the first quarter of Sunday’s thrilling win over Essendon but did not receive a whistle in his favour.

But while the AFL said the umpire initially made the right call, they should have penalised Redman after he continued to hold Ginnivan around the neck.

“Ginnivan is responsible for the initial high contact, however Redman then continues with the tackle in an unreasonable manner, holding Ginnivan around the neck,” an AFL statement read.

“In this instance a free kick should have been awarded to Ginnivan.

“Overall the umpires did a terrific job of officiating the high tackle interpretation in all games over the weekend.”

It came just days after the league moved to clarify its high contact rule, following fierce debate around whether Ginnivan was being umpired differently to other players.

The league had said players would not be given free kicks when they ducked or shrugged in tackles to create high contact.

Ginnivan was cited as one of three examples in the league’s memo and has been an unwitting lightning rod this season for criticism of players who attempt to draw free kicks.

Earlier on Monday, Collingwood legend Tony Shaw accused the AFL of persecuting Ginnivan and called his treatment “disgraceful”.

“This issue won’t go away even after a great game,” the Magpies’ 1990 premiership captain posted on Twitter.

“The AFL has persecuted a player on a whim and now has again opened up umpires to embarrassment due to this Ginnivan interpretation.”

Richmond legend Matthew Richardson said the Ginnivan-Redman non-call was “outrageous”, while former Magpies hero Mick McGuane said whistleblowers should “umpire the rules of the game, not the player”.

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Collingwood ruck-forward Mason Cox also weighed in, questioning the league’s commitment to player welfare around head contact.

“Wild to think high tackles were put in the game to protect players’ health and now are being blatantly ignored for a 19-year-old,” Cox posted on Twitter.

“How can we think ‘the AFL cares about concussions and head high contact’ after this?”

Collingwood coach Craig McRae offered Ginnivan his support post-match.

“I thought that was a free kick. He just tackled him high,” McRae said.

“I don’t think there was any leaning into it.

“I’m clear with [the rule]. The umpires have come to our training.

“We won’t make blame, or excuses around things. Umpires get some right, some wrong.”

AAP

Posted 7h ago7 hours agoMon 25 Jul 2022 at 4:53am, updated 2h ago2 hours agoMon 25 Jul 2022 at 9:54am