Collingwood legend Tony Shaw has accused the AFL of persecuting Jack Ginnivan as the club sought clarification over a decision not to award the young dynamo a free kick for high contact.
Key points:
- Collingwood president Jeff Browne said the club would “speak up” about treatment of Jack Ginnivan
- The AFL tweaked the rules around high tackles ahead of round 19
- Current and former Magpies players Tony Shaw, Mick McGuane and Mason Cox have called for Ginnivan to get more protection
Magpies forward Ginnivan was caught high by Mason Redman during the first quarter of Sunday’s thrilling win over Essendon but did not receive a whistle in his favour.
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 a lightning rod this season for criticism of players who attempt to draw free kicks.
Shaw said the umpires’ treatment of Ginnivan had been “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.”
التعليقات