Jack Ginnivan’s future a key element of AFL trade deadline day

The final day of the AFL’s trading period is here and the future of a polarising Magpie is pivotal to any last-minute deals.

Jack Ginnivan will be one of the hottest names thrown around on Wednesday’s final day of trading. Photo: Michael Klein

As just about everyone involved in professional sports knows, contracts are barely worth the cost of the paper they are printed on.

Similarly, comments from sporting hierarchies can also be taken with a pinch of salt.

A head coach getting “the full support of the board” usually means they can start packing up their desks.

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Which brings us to the Jack Ginnivan saga, which has already taken enough twists and turns to make Agatha Christie proud and is far from finished.

It began with only minor whispers about his future with Collingwood, stoked by the premiers’ desire to bring in Fremantle small forward Lachie Schultz.

For a club that already boasts reigning Norm Smith Medallist Bobby Hill in that same position, there was a feeling Ginnivan was getting squeezed out.

Jack Ginnivan will be one of the hottest names thrown around on Wednesday’s final day of trading. Photo: Michael Klein

Following a breakout 40-goal, 23-game season in 2022, Ginnivan struggled through a difficult encore, managing only 12 goals this past year from 14 appearances, five as a substitute, including the Grand Final.

On Monday, Collingwood football boss Graham Wright was asked about the Ginnivan speculation and had this to say.

“No, I haven’t taken any calls about that,” Wright told said on AFL Trade Radio. “We haven’t sought to take calls either.

“From our perspective, it hasn’t been an issue at all. We see Jack as a part of what we’re doing, he’s contracted for next year, and we haven’t taken any calls at all.”

Not exactly an iron-clad guarantee the 20-year-old will be in black and white in 2024.

Fast forward a day and the Ginnivan saga erupted once more.

Suddenly, with the Schultz deal locked away, Collingwood was now open to moving the polarising figure, with the AFL newshounds all circling for metaphorical blood.

By 3pm AEDT on Tuesday, it was reported Ginnivan was now on the trading block if a deal could be found, with Hawthorn considered the frontrunner.

Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill is ahead of Ginnivan in the Collingwood small forward pecking order. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

“Multiple clubs say this afternoon that Collingwood is now open to trading Jack Ginnivan,” Sam Edmund said on AFL Trade Radio. “The contracted forward that’s on their books for 2024.

“Rival clubs, multiple clubs, now say that it’s been made clear to them that Collingwood would consider trading Jack Ginnivan, obviously if the right offer presented itself.”

In a modern media landscape where theories can be thrown around and reported on before they are swiftly “updated” with fresh information, initial reports that Ginnivan himself had requested a trade were quickly watered down.

It was then reported that Collingwood had spoken with Ginnivan’s manager, John Meesen from Kapital Sports, and the premiership player was assessing his options.

With such competition at Olympic Park, Ginnivan would almost certainly be looking at more playing time and a longer contract if he was to move.

Hawthorn in the box seat to sign Jack Ginnivan on a multi-year deal. Sources said Ginnivan was meeting with the Hawks today after returning from a Bali break. https://t.co/52FSCfPjFz

— Sam Edmund (@Sammy__Edmund) October 17, 2023

“We report this on Tuesday afternoon not sure of Jack Ginnivan’s intentions,” Edmund added.

“Jack can obviously choose to stay, not sure if he’s even the one driving it, I don’t believe he is.

“But certainly rival clubs have been informed that there is a chance to prise Jack Ginnivan out of Collingwood.”

The Hawks are already weighed down with the issue of finalising deals for Mabior Chol and Massimo D’Ambrosio, who have expressed their desires to join the Hawks, and facilitating Jacob Koschitzke’s move to Richmond.

Veteran Lions forward Jack Gunston also threw them a curveball when he announced he would like to return to his original club at Waverley Park.

There would also be the issue of determining what Ginnivan is worth on the open market, with most believing it would be a second-round pick.

With a little under 12 hours left in the official trading period, it’s worth getting the popcorn ready to see how this all unfolds.