Essendon fans give Jack Ginnivan ample advice after Pie’s ‘cheeky’ celebration

Love him or hate him, Jack Ginnivan has a swagger and talent that’s quickly captured the attention of the AFL world.

And despite the grand Anzac Day occasion, Ginnivan showed off his trademark confidence that had Pies fans in raptures and Bombers fans quick to stick up the middle digit.

In game No. 10, Ginnivan thrived in front of 90,000 fans at the MCG and showed no signs of early nerves, snapping the first goal of the game from a set-shot.

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But it was his second major — and cheeky celebration — that had fans talking.

Ginnivan won a free kick for a high tackle deep in the forward pocket at the Punt Road end of the MCG, much to the bemusement of opponent Jayden Laverde and Essendon fans.

“If you go at the ball hard enough, it‘s hard for the tackler not to take you high, and that’s the idea,” AFL legend Leigh Matthews said on Seven.

“He went low and Laverde went high.”

With Bombers fans giving him ample advice from over the fence, Ginnivan calmly snapped a classy goal off his left boot.

As the ball sailed through for a goal, Ginnivan turned to the myriad of Bombers fans and put his index finger up to his lips to tell them to shoosh. Predictably, that was met with ample ‘birds’ from the Essendon faithful.

“We did talk about how it‘s a very heavy Bombers representation at the Punt Road End,” James Brayshaw said on Seven.

“Jack‘s just mentioned to a few of them that they can keep it down to a dull roar.

Matthews added: “I like his life and energy and cheekiness. I reckon it‘s a positive, not a negative.”

Ultimately, Ginnivan’s presence was giving Essendon’s defence a few headaches.

“That was a terrific finish,” Dees champion Nathan Jones told AFL Nation.

“He’s been composed with both goals today, he’s dangerous inside 50.”

Ginnivan has been a key talking point during the early stages of the AFL season. His post-game antics in front of a club media camera after the Pies’ Round 1 win drew criticism, as did his attitude towards Cats skipper Joel Selwood a few weeks later.