Jack Ginnivan's 'clever' act called out amid 'ruthless' Collingwood move
The young gun was embroiled in controversy after an eye-opening move before the AFL grand final.
Jack Ginnivan will officially be a Hawthorn player in 2024 and the young gun is already being praised for a "clever" act as the dust settles on his whirlwind time with Collingwood. The 20-year-old had a break-out 2022, before seeing his game time limited in 2023, despite being part of the Magpies' premiership side that defeated Brisbane in this year's AFL grand final.
However, it was Ginnivan's decision to attend the Moonee Valley races the night before the grand final that led to a swipe from Collingwood coach Craig McRae, who told the young star to "read the room" and seemed less than pleased with the 20-year-old's priorities. While Collingwood insist they are "disappointed" to let Ginnivan go, there is a real sense the saga proved a catalyst for his move.
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Despite being told to "grow up" by McRae, the youngster then went to Collingwood's Mad Monday celebrations dressed as a jockey. Ginnivan's antics may have frustrated the coach and the club with the player on the trade table but he's already reportedly getting on the right side of his new coach at Hawthorn, Sam Mitchell, having asked permission to attend the races this weekend.
“Craig McRae told Jack to read the room after the Moonee Valley escapades – it was put to me today that’s exactly what he did," Fox Footy’s Jon Ralph revealed about how the deal with Hawthorn eventuated. “Squeezed halfway out by (Bobby) Hill (in the 2022 trade period), squeezed fully out by (Lachie) Schultz (this trade period).
“He’s called McRae to say thank you. He’s also asked for permission from Sam Mitchell to attend the races this weekend at Caulfield so that is quite clever. (Collingwood) didn’t fight very hard for him. In a heartbeat that deal got done.”
Hawthorn lauded over deal to land Jack Ginnivan
As Ralph alluded to, Ginnivan may well have seen the writing on the wall at Collingwood after the acquisitions of Bobby Hill and then Lachie Schultz this trade period - two players likely to see his game-time restricted at the Pies in 2024. While Ginnivan has had his fair share of off-field controversies for such a young player, Kangaroos legend David King still thinks Hawthorn have struck a sensational deal to land the youngster.
“It’s a steal for them (Hawthorn),” King said on Trading Day. “I like this guy. I like the way he plays. He’s had a fantastic couple of years... It’s easy to just dismiss this guy and say ‘oh he’s been trouble’ – all the good players are trouble!
“He hasn’t read the room – he made a significant mistake on grand final eve and I’m not sure where that sat with the coach. Craig will never tell us it was a problem... Given what he was going through that night (the birth of his daughter Maggie).
"Had he (McRae) been aware of the full circumstances, I wouldn’t put it past him to have said, ‘you know what? I’m playing Johnny Noble instead. You’ve lacked professionalism in the greatest moment for our club for some time’. I think (Jack’s) felt the repercussions of that in the aftermath.”
Fellow AFL great and Trading Day panelist Leigh Montagna described it as a "ruthless" call from Collingwood to let go of a young player tipped for a huge future in the game, but stressed there were some "red flags" before his move. “If Collingwood wanted to keep him, they could have,” Montagna said.
“They’ve probably seen some red flags with him. I think it’s a pretty ruthless call by Collingwood. (He) gets an opportunity at a club desperate for a small forward. It’s a smart decision by him and his camp.”
Collingwood footy boss Graham Wright was adamant the club did not shop Ginnivan around and added that while they were "disappointed" to see him go, it was perhaps in the best interests for all parties. “We’re disappointed... this is something that he sought, and in the end I wouldn’t say we were happy about fulfilling his request for a trade, but we understood what he wanted,” Wright said.
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