‘World has gone mad’: Debate erupts after Collingwood cult hero goes to the pub

The footy world is divided as a cult hero’s visit to the pub for a couple of beers becomes one of the hottest talking points in the AFL.

Jack Ginnivan's pub visit has everyone talking.

Jack Ginnivan is quickly finding out what life in the AFL fishbowl is like — especially when you play for one of the competition’s biggest clubs.

The Collingwood star has only played 11 games since debuting last year but is already establishing himself as a cult hero who’s impossible to miss with his shock of bright, blond hair.

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He came under fire for filming his celebrations after a round one win but proved he’s capable of walking the walk with a best-on-ground performance against Essendon on Anzac Day, booting five goals.

Reports emerged this week Pies leaders had spoken to the 19-year-old about what’s expected in a professional environment, after he celebrated his Anzac Day heroics with a few beers at the local pub alongside mates.

The leadership group reportedly reminded Ginnivan about the standards that need to be upheld, particularly with regards to recovery when there was only a six-day break between games.

‘The world has gone mad’

The decision to speak to Ginnivan about drinking alcohol on a short turnaround sparked plenty of debate in the footy world. Richmond legend Matthew Richardson had no issue with the teenager letting his hair down.

“I have no issue with a player being able to have a couple of beers after a game. I mean, seriously,” Richardson told Seven News.

“Without going overboard, I feel that a couple of drinks after a game with a friend, it’s not going to do you that much damage if you drink responsibly.

“And I think it’s a little bit of a mental release with players. Most of the week you’re under pressure to get your body right, to come up for the next week mentally as well when you need to perform.

“These guys are stressed out a lot about their performance, so a few hours after a game, a couple of beers, I don’t see an issue with it.”

Jack Ginnivan (right) was the hero on Anzac Day. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

North Melbourne legend David King also believes Collingwood overreacted.

“The world has gone mad — kick five, I’d be straight to the pub with my mates!! Maybe even two! Everyone just relax a bit. Celebrate the small wins! Keep being you kid,” King tweeted.

Aussie basketballer Chris Anstey tweeted: “Ridiculous. Let the kid enjoy himself!”

Boomers legend Andrew Bogut added: “The @afl is one step away from getting inside players bedrooms. No surprise our society is over governed when our #1 sport won’t let players be human.”

Cricket journalist Peter Lalor said on social media: “What’s wrong with players having a few drinks? It’s that sort of obsessive control that sees them go over the top when they do get off the leash.”

Coach explains decision

Collingwood coach Craig McRae explained why senior players had a word to Ginnivan.

“Jack did go out after the Anzac game with some mates and it was all innocent and nothing untoward, but he had a beer or two,” McRae told SEN Drive. “I hate rules … but I like clear boundaries and one clear boundary was that on a six-day break, we don’t do this.

“I think our leaders dealt with it really well.

“The leaders set these boundaries we want to work within. We want to act like winners all the time and the behaviours of being a winner (require) certain things.

“He played really well, credit to him, we want to allow our players to live in the moment of that, but we’ve got to get back to work and get better and improve and repeat those behaviours.”

The young gun has quickly become a hot topic in the AFL. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Collingwood defenders speak up

For all those defending Ginnivan’s right to sink a couple of cold ones after a job well done, there were also former footy stars who supported Collingwood’s strict stance, such as ex-Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge.

“I look at the leadership side of things — well done to Collingwood leadership group,” Hodge told SEN.

“You’ve got a 19-year-old kid here who, let’s be honest, he’s played 10 games and his last couple of games there’s been a lot of media about him … he’s a confident lad.

“If that had been Essendon, people would be saying, ‘That’s undisciplined. You’ve got a 19-year-old kid going out on a six-day break’.

“The Collingwood leadership group were trying to teach this young fella that if you’re going to play football for a long time, you’ve got to pick and choose when you can go out.

“The six-day breaks really take a toll on players.

“All the leadership group was saying is, ‘Hey mate, there are times you’ve got to look through the schedule and pick and choose when you can go and catch up. This one wasn’t the time’.”

Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd and former St Kilda and Fremantle coach Ross Lyon also backed the Pies’ leadership group.

“I love what they (Collingwood) are doing and I love the messaging from Craig McRae,” Lloyd told Nine News. “You want personalities in the game and I’m actually turning on the footy to watch Jack Ginnivan play, but they want him to be a 200-game player.

“I’ve seen a lot of guys who have got ahead of themselves and they might think, ‘It’s a six-day break, I might still go out and have a few beers’ and it leads to four or five.

“I think getting on top of this now for Jack Ginnivan allows for him to be a great player for Collingwood for 10-15 years, not a flash in the pan over a 12-24 month period.”

Speaking on Footy Classified, Lyon added: “I can guarantee you before he left his last game, the coach or the leaders would have said, ‘It’s a short week, let's look after ourselves’ … that would have been addressed.

“My internal view, he thumbed his nose at what was put to him. There wouldn’t have just let him roll out with no reminder.”