If the dramatic exchange between Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley and Hawk duo Jack Ginnivan and James Sicily last September has been a selling point for Port Adelaide’s confrontation with Hawthorn, Jai Newcombe’s recollection of that semi-final’s emotive conclusion was not about the post-siren antics.
“If anything, [it was] the disappointment of coming so close and falling short,” said Newcombe of that evening in Adelaide.
Jai Newcombe leads by the on-field example he sets.Credit: AFL Photos
“I think, given the back half of the season that we did have, to fall short the way we did probably hurt the most.
“We gave ourselves every chance to be in that position and then potentially playing on the next week.”
Newcombe didn’t witness Hinkley’s taunt of Ginnivan, nor his skipper Sicily’s intervention and sharp words.
“I didn’t actually see it live – I had no idea that it was going on. I was out of the back having a conversation with someone else, I think,” Newcombe explained.
“But, obviously, it’s been blown up for a while, but internally, it’s definitely not a focus or a talking point.”
In the rooms after the defeat, the emerging Hawks congregated for a group hug that signified the bond between teammates who had recovered from 0-5 in April to get within a couple of centimetres of a preliminary final berth (Sicily’s potential game-winning shot striking the goal post with under two minutes left).
That poignant 23-player hug is vivid in Newcombe’s mind.
“The way the season started, from how we’re able to battle our way through and get to the position that we did, to sort of have that moment of reflection at that point in time … everyone was hurting after what it just happened. It was a pretty special moment,” Newcombe said.
It is on-brand for Newcombe, a former apprentice carpenter from Poowong in South Gippsland and Hawthorn’s 2024 best and fairest, to focus on the team’s bottom line – the sausage, rather than the sizzle, as the phlegmatic Hawthorn coaching legend Allan Jeans liked to say.
So, while some within Hawthorn weren’t overjoyed that Ginnivan had made his impertinent “see u in 14 days” Instagram post to Brodie Grundy – viewed externally as a diss to Port – Newcombe did not think this relevant at all to their performance on the relevant night.
“No I don’t think so,” he said.
“If you need added motivation, I think, from outside things – and that’s fine if that’s the way you want to go about it – but I don’t think that impacted us in any way, in terms of that performance and the way we went about the game.”
Newcombe faces increased responsibility – again – following the navicular bone injury to his uber talented teammate Will Day that the Hawks say will sideline the emerging gun for three to four months.
Newcombe, though, doesn’t envisage his role changing much, nor feel a greater burden in Day’s absence, which also happened late last season when Day had an issue with the same foot and missed the finals.
“It was pretty disappointing for Will – for him to have the start to the season that he did for us was exciting for him, exciting for us, exciting for everyone. So it’s mixed emotions, obviously, with that,” Newcombe said.
“But [it] certainly doesn’t put pressure on me, [any] added pressure on me. We’ve got three or four guys that are more than capable to play the level of the role that’s required, and I have full faith in those around me to get the job done, and [I’m] really looking forward to going into battle with them for the next period of time … until Daysy’s back.
“I was a bit taken aback [by Day’s injury] … [it was] definitely a surprise, not one that we wanted, but unfortunately, it’s part of the game that we have to deal with.”
Newcombe said there would be “some minor moving parts” as a result of Day’s absence.
“There’s always adjustments being made … but no, no direct impacts on me at all.”
Josh Battle, Jai Newcombe, Sam Mitchell, Will Day and Jarman Impey after the Hawks’ win over the Bombers earlier this year.Credit: Getty Images
Newcombe concurred with my suggestion that the Hawks are not overly reliant upon stars and that their strength lay in a democratic spread of capable players.
Insurgents in 2024, this year’s Hawks are becoming a scalp for the opposition and will be hunted accordingly.
“I think we sort of have been like that from the start of the season, anyway,” said Newcombe.
“Sides are putting the work in to make life really hard for us, and so far in the early part of the season, we’ve been able to withstand that, and certainly haven’t put some amazing performances on the board, but have been able to come home with a win every week.”
Newcombe said Hawthorn’s game style under Sam Mitchell hasn’t shifted much, despite the arrival of prized tall defenders Josh Battle and Tom Barrass from St Kilda and West Coast.
“Seeing them have the impact they have puts a smile on my face and brings joy to a lot of the playing group, and the fans as well,” Newcombe said, adding that the Hawks had “definitely” improved on last year, though it was not in one specific area.
“I think we’ve been pretty dangerous, though, in the front half this year, getting a lot of scores from a lot of different guys, which has been really good,” he said.
“[We’ve] been strong defensively to start the year, which has been pleasing as well. There’s been, more often than not, an even midfield contest.
“So I wouldn’t say any areas of ground are particularly thriving at this point in time. I think we’ve just been more efficient, certainly all over the ground.”
As the AFL prepares for the Tasmania Devils and the 18 existing clubs for an evisceration of the draft, it is worth noting Newcombe’s view that there are others of his ilk– like his ex-champion senior coach, he was plucked from Box Hill (mid-season draft) after missing multiple drafts – in the VFL and second-tier leagues.
“Through the VFL, though, there’s many guys that, if given the opportunity, I think we would be able to perform at AFL level, if things happen to fall into line for them … guys coming out of that system have been able to hold their own very quickly.”
None more so than Jai Newcombe. This period, under Sam Mitchell, was a good time to be at Hawthorn. “Certainly is.”
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