Jeff Kennett and AFL journalist Caroline Wilson are sparring again, this time over a comment made by Jack Ginnivan. The former Hawthorn president is defending the young player after Wilson suggested Ginnivan’s cheeky tweet might have cost the Hawks their semi-final match against Port Adelaide.

Before the semi-final clash, Ginnivan posted “see u in 14 days” directed at his former Collingwood teammate Brodie Grundy, who now plays for Sydney. This tweet was interpreted by some as a taunt towards Port Adelaide, and after Hawthorn’s narrow loss by three points, Wilson argued that the tweet might have fired up Port Adelaide and played a role in their victory. In her appearance on 3AW, Wilson didn’t hold back, claiming that Ginnivan’s comment could have been detrimental not only to the game but potentially to Hawthorn’s entire season.

“You take any edge you can in a final… I would go as far as to argue he’s cost Hawthorn a win, Jack Ginnivan, by what he did with that taunt last week,” Wilson said. “I would go even further to say Hawthorn could have won the premiership. What Jack Ginnivan did is just so against, for me, what a club or a player should do… internally, I hope that somebody has explained, ‘Jack, read the room’.”

Kennett, known for his outspoken nature, took to X (formerly Twitter) to refute Wilson’s claims. He argued that the game was lost due to other factors, such as missed opportunities in the last quarter and a slow start, rather than Ginnivan’s social media post. In his tweet, Kennett wrote:

“Why is Caroline Wilson such a one trip poney? She is only about controversy. To say Jack Ginnivan cost Hawthorn the game last night is factually incorrect. Had PA kicked straight in the first quarter they could have been up 6 goals. Sadly in the last few minutes of the game our players hit the goal post twice. Had one been a goal HFC might have won. We did not. Ginnivan comments did not affect our last few minutes. In the same way Caroline Wilson started the campaign against Hawthorn re. its relationship with its Indigenous players. Selective reporting.”

Kennett didn’t stop with just one tweet. Later that night, after Brisbane’s dramatic five-point win over GWS following a massive comeback from 44 points down, Kennett took another swipe at Wilson. He tweeted:

“I wonder which GWS player Caroline Wilson will blame this morning for their loss to Brisbane Lions today?”

The ongoing feud between Kennett and Wilson has a long history, stretching back to Kennett’s two terms as Hawthorn president. Their clashes have included heated debates over coaching changes and controversies surrounding the club. Most notably, they had a tense exchange on Nine’s Footy Classified earlier this year, where Kennett was criticized for his handling of Alastair Clarkson’s departure and the transition to Sam Mitchell.