The first step to solving any problem is to recognize that there is one.
It’s time the AFL recognized they have a serious problem on their hands.
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Jack Ginnivan has caused quite a stir in 2022 all based on his free throw drawing abilities while drawing opponents to tackle him high.
The divisive star has had fans up in arms all season, with opinion divided over the tactic that sees him drop to his knees and raise an arm to ensure tacklers’ arm slips around his neck.
It quickly became a major point of discussion with the AFL ahead of Round 19 putting teams and players on notice, issuing a warning that any player who shrugs, drops or shrugs in a tackler for drawing high contact will not be awarded a free kick and will instead be told to continue playing.
Although the hard line position on the “exploitation” of the rule was due to Ginnivan was not explicitly stated, it was hard to see that it had not been introduced because of the star of Pies.
On Sunday afternoon, the Pies striker was at the center of the worst refereeing call you’re likely to see.
Ginnivan, with a streak of 50 at forward, was tackled on the neck by Essendon’s Mason Redman, but the referee refused to blow the whistle … instead calling play on it.
“I think his reputation cost him there, Jack Ginnivan,” commentator Alastair Nicholson told Seven.
“Is a kneeling significant enough not to warrant a free throw?”
Melbourne champion Nathan Jones believed not, arguing: “I think it was a bad plate attempt. It went high and took his head off. That’s as clear as day, really.”
Geelong premiership captain Cameron Ling added: “It’s not a fair game. Just because you go into the mindset of ‘Ginnivan has done this before’ doesn’t mean the Essendon players can save their lives . That’s a free throw every day.”
Ginnivan is far from the first player to exploit the rule and take free kicks by dropping to his knees.
Joel Selwood dominated it and took countless free kicks from high tackles, ex-North Melbourne forward Lindsay Thomas adopted the tactic and cashed in on numerous occasions.
Sunday’s ugly moment left fans seething, with many calling out the league for putting Ginnivan in an unsafe environment.
Former Richmond legend Matthew Richardson wrote: “An outrageous high-contact decision on Ginnivan.”
Basil Zoccali wrote: “Even as an Essendon supporter, this was a big deal for Jack Ginnivan. The boy has almost lost his mind!”
Reporter Mark Gottlieb wrote: “No time will this fight be legal. Blaming players who get hit in the head is a terrible way for the #AFL to go down with what we know about brain injuries. Ginnivan lowered his height career, but that shouldn’t make it open season on the mind.
Channel 10’s Stephen Quartermain wrote: “Jack Ginnivan @CollingwoodFC actually has to rip his head off his shoulder blades to get a free kick.”