Jack Ginnivan wears rival socks in Adelaide, courting hostile reception ahead of AFL final

Jack Ginnivan arrived in Adelaide wearing teal socks — the colours of Port Adelaide, the Adelaide Crows’ arch rival — a gesture that organisers and club staff say has heightened tensions ahead of Hawthorn’s finals clash with the Crows on Friday night.

The 22-year-old small forward, who has been at the centre of off-field controversy in recent weeks, kept his headphones on and largely ignored reporters at the airport before recording the media scrum and later sharing the footage on social media. The arrival appears likely to intensify a hostile reception from Crows fans already stung by earlier incidents involving Ginnivan.

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell said he expected Ginnivan to be “public enemy No. 1” in Adelaide and described the trip as a potentially challenging environment. “I can't imagine he's going to be welcomed with open arms, is he? We're not concerned about the off-field stuff,” Mitchell said this week. “We'll try and protect him as best we can at the airport after what I'm sure is gonna be a challenging (environment). We will land and there's going to be people there...but we've got a game to prepare for and that'll be our clear focus.”

The arrival follows a separate incident last month when Ginnivan made headlines for making an offensive gesture toward Crows supporters after a defeat at Adelaide Oval. The AFL fined him A$1,000, a sanction Ginnivan later described on social media as the "best coin spent." He also labelled a Seven News reporter “embarrassing” after an aggressive approach at Adelaide airport in early August.

Despite the off-field attention, Ginnivan has been in strong form for Hawthorn during the finals run. He kicked three goals in Hawthorn’s most recent win over Greater Western Sydney, a performance his coach said highlighted his value to the side.

Ginnivan is also managing a hamstring issue that leaves his fitness for Friday’s elimination final uncertain. Hawthorn has not named its final side, and medical staff will continue to monitor the forward in the lead-up to the match.

The winner of Friday’s contest will advance to a preliminary final against Geelong at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The stakes have amplified the scrutiny around Ginnivan’s conduct and the atmosphere expected at Adelaide Oval, with both clubs and the AFL conscious of maintaining security and player safety amid heightened emotions.

Club officials have not disclosed specific security measures but said they will work with league authorities to ensure players can arrive and depart safely. Hawthorn has indicated its focus remains on preparing for the match on the field while managing the media and crowd attention surrounding Ginnivan.

The match is scheduled for Friday night, with both teams vying for a spot in the penultimate weekend of the AFL finals series.