It was a welcome return for one of Leongatha’ s favorite players’ last weekend when Premiership forward Jack Ginnane returned to the Parrots lineup after serving a lengthy suspension that carried over from the 2022 season. Ginnane returned for his first match since Round 14 last season and hit the ground running with a performance that his wildest dreams probably didn’t have coming.
He kicked his first goal within 7 minutes slotting a set shot from directly in front towards the netball court end. His second came on the stroke of quarter time as another set shot was converted from the flank in front of the ticket box to keep the Parrots in touch at quarter time. Goal three was a sniper shot from the scoreboard pocket at the 4 minute mark of the second term and he didn’t have to wait much longer until goal number four was converted as a scrambled ball came in and he worried his opponent off the ball to convert an easy snap. He had five before the half when at the 20 minute mark another set shot was converted. Ginnane has his sixth when he slotted a set shot mirroring his first goal from 50 in the 3rd term. After his 7th late in the game a precession on goals came and in a hurry. The Parrots by this stage were dominating the game and with little pressure on the ball coming in Ginnane was leading hard sensing something special. He slotted another set shot in the 23rd minute from directly in front around 40 meters out giving him eight in what would be a familiar sight over the next few minutes.
A strong lead and mark at the 25th minute gave him a set shot at nine and he once again converted from the same place as the last goal then in the 27th minute he mimicked his previous two efforts and lead straight up the middle and again was rewarded by his team mate in Cam Stone. A strong overhead outstretched mark and by this stage he was not missing as he went back and slotted number 10. The Parrots players came from all over the ground, aware of the feat, they celebrated as one. It was not over, as Tallin Brill got the ball on the wing the cry was “one more” from the crowd as Brill straightened towards his goal Ginnane was thundering up the middle leading to the same place as the previous three marks and Brill honored the lead with a pin point kick with Ginnane taking a chest mark to have a shot at 11. As with the previous three, he went back and slotted the goal at the 28 minute and 29 second mark to give him 11 for the game. Only the siren could get in the way of the record with less than 30 seconds of game played on the resumption.
Ginnane finished his return match against Warragul with a club record 11 goals to his name equaling the record set by Adrian Campbell in 1999 and Nick Nagel in 2011. The tally was the equal most by a Parrots player against the Gulls in a history that spans 136 matches beginning in 1934. His tally was also the equal 2nd most goals in a round 4 match in League history joining Ken Rainsford 1992 tally for Moe against Churchill and Campbell’s 1999 feat. Maffra’s Peter Neville and Warragul’s Steven Dunkley hold the round 4 record with 12 goal performances in 1982 and 1985 respectively.
Ginnane finished the day with 20 disposals including 13 kicks and an incredible 12 forward 50 marks including 6 contested grabs on his way to 11 goals and 2 behinds.
cover photo: Mark Drury MD Photography
