AFL 2024: Jack Ginnivan on why he pushed for trade from Collingwood to Hawthorn
Just after Collingwood’s grand final win, Jack Ginnivan became the shock of the trade period. But, as he reveals, it was what the Magpies did in those few weeks that was the real surprise.
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An “eye opening” exit meeting pushed Jack Ginnivan to get out of Collingwood and land a trade to Hawthorn, according to the premiership forward.
Weeks after playing in last year’s grand final win, Ginnivan became the surprise of the trade period when he crossed to the Hawks in a swap that saw the Magpies exchange a number of picks with the Hawks.
After booting 58 goals in 42 games and winning a flag with the Pies, it was a meeting with Collingwood and coach Craig McRae that pushed Ginnivan away.
He infamously went to the Moonee Valley racecourse on grand final eve – when he collected jockey silks of Craig Williams for Mad Monday celebrations – in a bid to take his mind off football.
It was an act that drew scorn from McRae after the grand final as he said Ginnivan needed to “grow up” and “read the room”.
Ginnivan said he was in bed by 9.30pm after his trip to the races and thought it was a minor issue when he discussed it with Pies footy boss Graham Wright on grand final morning.
“Nothing really came of it apart from until Fly’s (McRae) press conference and my exit meeting and that was sort of when I knew I probably should leave,” he told the Tommy Talks podcast.
“I had the exit meeting with Fly and a few things in there were a bit … that was a bit eye opening that exit meeting.”
Ginnivan said “there was nothing really to it” of his Moonee Valley trip and would only be apologetic if it distracted teammates ahead of the season decider.
Captain Darcy Moore later said going to the races was an “extraordinary decision”.
Ginnivan then went overseas to Bali with some Magpies teammates and was taken aback that Collingwood players weren’t reaching out to him while those at Hawthorn began to lobby for a trade.
He was offered a four-year deal at Waverley, compared to the one-year expiring contract he held at Collingwood, which made it a “pretty easy decision”.
“I have one year there (Collingwood) and no-one has reached out wanting me to stay,” he said.
“And I have Hawthorn where I have had 10 players message me saying ‘come to the Hawks’. I have a four-year deal and it’s my childhood dream to play for Hawthorn.
“The most disappointing thing was probably just no coach or player reaching out to say ‘I want you to stay and we really value you’ and those things.
“There were so many Hawks boys that messaged me … that made me feel really special and I am loving it at the Hawks.”
Ginnivan also said when he was dropped mid-season last year he began to start questioning his future at Collingwood.
Ginnivan will come face-to-face with Collingwood on-field for the first time on Sunday in the final game of Gather Round.
He said he still had plenty of good mates at the Magpies, led by defender Isaac Quaynor.
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Originally published as AFL 2024: Jack Ginnivan on why he pushed for trade from Collingwood to Hawthorn
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