Collingwood coach Craig McRae will seek clarification from the AFL this week after small forward Jack Ginnivan wasn't paid several head high free kicks in the second half of the Magpies' four-point win over Hawthorn on Sunday.
The 19-year-old kicked the opening goal of the game due to a free kick and added a second before quarter-time following another infringement, which resulted in a 50m penalty after Hawks star James Sicily vented his frustration.
The whistle went away around Ginnivan in the second half, despite a number of tackles that appeared to land above the shoulder during a tense finish in wet conditions at the MCG.
Collingwood has been one of the most surprising sides in the first half of 2022, winning the past three games to jump back into the eight at 7-5, with Ginnivan emerging as one of the most talked about players in the game.
McRae consulted with Collingwood head of football Graham Wright midway through his press conference – half joking, half serious – before confirming the club would make contact with the AFL's general manager of football Brad Scott.
"Maybe I need to get some clarity. As far as I am aware, it is a free kick, so we'll just get some clarity around that. You can't (not) get paid a free kick because we don’t like you. I'll get some clarity around that," McRae told reporters on Sunday night.
Ginnivan has now kicked 21 goals from 10 appearances in 2022 – Charlie Cameron and Tyson Stengle are the only pure small forwards to have kicked more – but 10 have been from free kicks adding to the intrigue that surrounds the polarising Pie.
McRae doesn’t have an issue with that way Ginnivan has been going about his business, encouraging the 19-year-old to keep getting to the ball first and making himself difficult to tackle within the laws of the game.
"Playing for free kicks is an interesting way of putting it. I think players are really good at avoiding tackles and learning how to evade tackles and make it hard to be tackled," he said.
"We tell our players to spend time over the ball which means you're likely to get some front on contact. Being tackled versus getting tackled we practice that.
"I think it’s a skill. It forces the tackler to really being on his best game. Is it within the rules? There is no rule against it at the minute. I think it's smart; I think it's smart play."
