Hawthorn pair Jack Ginnivan and Nick Watson are underneath hearth amid allegations they cancelled a deliberate look at a children footy clinic on the final minute.
Ginnivan and Watson, two of the Hawks’ most recognisable gamers who performed essential roles of their beautiful rise into the finals in 2024, have been set to seem on the Ivanhoe clinic on Sunday morning – with the membership’s finest and fairest night time the night earlier than.
Nevertheless, barely an hour earlier than the occasion’s scheduled begin time of 10:30am, organisers have been informed each gamers couldn’t attend as a result of sickness.
The clinic was set to be attended by virtually 80 youngsters aged between seven and 15, with the last-minute no-show leaving many ‘completely heartbroken’.
“He [my son] was in tears a lot of the day and stated it was the worst day of his life,” one father or mother, Vaissy, informed 3AW.
“There have been really 80 children enrolled and due on the day and, as I perceive, they [organisers] had put an unbelievable quantity of labor into it – hiring a venue, that they had meals within the canteen that they’d ordered.
“They have been all there organising after they have been informed on the final minute.”
In keeping with Vaissy, her son had even ready a hand-drawn thanks card for every of Ginnivan and Watson.
“He made probably the most lovely thank-you playing cards for every of them,” she stated.
“He made one for the Wizard [Watson], it had a wizard hat on the entrance with ‘Hokball’ written on it and probably the most lovely phrases inside.
“And likewise one for Ginnivan, the identical type of factor: completely beautiful, all in Hawthorn colors.
“He put numerous work into them and was actually trying ahead to the day.”
Nevertheless, Vaissy additionally admitted she ‘wasn’t that shocked’ by the cancellation, given the occasion’s shut proximity to the Hawks’ finest and fairest night time, criticising Watson and Ginnivan for his or her poor judgement.
“Earlier within the week once I booked it, I really thought, ‘Hey, the most effective and fairest is on the Saturday, what are these children considering?’” she informed 3AW.
“I do know they’re younger, I do know they’re going to exit and have enjoyable and get drunk and all of that, however what are they considering having to be there at like 10:30 the subsequent morning. Is that the most effective determination?
“I assume though I used to be tremendous shocked when the message got here via, I wasn’t that shocked.”
Nick Watson celebrates a purpose. (Photograph by Dylan Burns/AFL Images by way of Getty Photos)
For Vaissy, it’s exhausting to consider each gamers got here down sick.
“They posted on Instagram round midnight, Nick Watson posted on Instagram yesterday afternoon. You don’t try this form of stuff in the event you’re sick,” she stated.
“If it was anybody aside from Ginnivan then possibly I’d consider it. Perhaps I ought to give them the good thing about the doubt, however the truth that two of them have been sick is fairly poor.”
One other father or mother, Peter, whose 11-year outdated son was likewise left ‘very disenchanted’ by the no-show, additionally phoned 3AW to criticise Ginnivan and Watson.
“You don’t know in the event that they actually have been sick – however being not even an hour earlier than the clinic, to get that message saying they’re each sick on the identical time, it form of will get you guessing,” Peter stated.
“These children look as much as these AFL footballers and I at all times say, in the event you make a dedication, you at the least stick with it.
“Particularly in the event you’re going to have a few drinks, at the least know, ‘OK, I’ve obtained one thing on tomorrow. I’ll cease – I’m going to not disappoint these younger followers’.”
In an announcement to 3AW, Ginnivan’s administration apologised for his absence, sustaining he was sick, and stated they’d try and schedule one other clinic to make amends.
