'Won't be the last': Hawks skipper James Sicily takes jab at Ken Hinkley, defends teammates

Hawthorn captain James Sicily defended his teammates on Saturday morning following the heated post-match clash with Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley on Friday night.

The incident is reportedly being investigated by the AFL, after the Power snatched a three-point victory to secure a preliminary final berth against Sydney.

When the teams joined in the middle of the ground to form a guard of honour for Hawks champion Luke Breust in game 300, Hinkley had words with Jack Ginnivan and Sicily.

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It followed Ginnivan's earlier social media antics during the week, where he commented on Swans ruckman Brodie Grundy's post after Sydney's six-point win to lock in a preliminary final at the SCG.

Ginnivan stated, "see u in 14 days", hinting that his Hawks would certainly beat the Power and reach a preliminary final against the Swans in two weeks time.

Sicily jumped between the exchange and began shouting back at Hinkley, who was reportedly saying words to the effect of, "you won't be flying to Sydney, Jack".

Speaking at the airport on Saturday morning, Sicily said the exchange took the focus off Breust's milestone.

"I can't recall exactly what was said. He was talking to our players and said something to Ginni and I think what I do as a leader is I always have my teammates' back and I will stick up for them regardless of who is in the right or the wrong," he said.

"That's probably the only thing I am disappointed in, that I wasn't fully present in that moment.

"But yeah, it's not the first time that Ken has done that, and it won't be the last, it's an emotional game and sometimes it gets the better of us.

"I think those things are better done behind closed doors, particularly when there was a moment to celebrate Punk. Instead there was gloss taken off it a little bit."

Hinkley explained himself in his post-match press conference and apologised for the incident.

"There was an incident after the game where I had some words with a Hawthorn player that I wish I hadn't had, in a moment I shouldn't have had," he said.

"It was an emotional game, a big result. There was stuff said during last week that I certainly didn't enjoy.

"But I shouldn't have let that moment get to me. I responded to it in an emotional state."

The on field incident left Hawks coach Sam Mitchell fuming, using his post-match press conference to condemn Hinkley's behaviour.

"I mean, I can only speak on my club's behalf. And if I think about how my club, the Hawthorn football club, dealt with the post game, we had a very young player (Jack Ginnivan), having had some very aggressive words said to him by a much older man, who has been in the game for a long time," Mitchell said post match," Mitchell said.

"The captain of my club (James Sicily), stood up for him (Ginnivan)."

Mitchell then seemed to be holding back tears, as he expressed his anger.

"It's really tough to sit here right now, getting rushed by the AFL, 'make sure you're at your press conference on time'," he said.

"I understand the emotions of this time of year are really, really difficult. I'm really proud of our captain, who would have been just as emotional, who was able to stand up and lead in a way that he could be proud of."

When asked if he would reach out to Hinkley, Mitchell vehemently shut down suggestions.

"Absolutely not," Mitchell said.

The Power will head to Sydney next week to face off against Sydney for a spot in the grand final.