High tackle,or play on? The AFL’s guidelines.
The blond haired small forward often takes possession of the ball down low and then rises into a tackle,often raising an arm to force the tackler to take him high in a method that is common among players.
Ginnivan was awarded two high free kicksin the North Melbourne game for tackles that took him immediately high around the neck. In the third incident he was not awarded a free for high contact for a tackle that grabbed him around the neck because the umpire felt the player swung his arm up to force the tackle to go high. He was not awarded a free for in the back for the player landing on his back.
The AFL privately said they did not believe Ginnivan was umpired differently to other players and that all players risked being penalised for prior opportunity,or play on being called,if they deliberately contributed to drawing contact from their shoulders up to their head.
Essendon great Matthew Lloyd said on the Sunday Footy Show Ginnivan’s reputation had umpires uncertain how to deal with him.