Anzac Day medallist Jack Ginnivan admits he thrives on tension, hostile crowds and critics.
He loves silencing them. And on Anzac Day, he silenced them.
“I love it (interacting with the crowd). It was hard last year with zero crowd but when people doubt me judge me whatever I really feed off it. It’s good,” he said after becoming the first Collingwood player since Paul Medhurst to kick five goals on Anzac Day in the Magpies’ 11-point win over Essendon on Monday.
Jack Ginnivan celebrates a goal with teammate Taylor Adams.Credit: AFL Photos
After one of those goals he turned to the crowd of Essendon fans over the fence who had given him forthright and unsolicited advice, put his finger to his lips and told them to shoosh.
The bleached blond forward was the best player in front of 84,000 people on one of the biggest days on football’s calendar. He is an Anzac medallist. He is only 19.
“I just try to be myself out there and lucky enough today I had a good game and, yeah, incredible win by the boys,” Ginnivan said.
After round one he was singled out for criticism for excessively celebrating the Pies’ win with a GoPro camera. He was unfazed by it. He is the sort of player, whether it is the bleached hair or the head-high free kicks, who draws attention.
“I have had it [criticism] since I was a young kid. I love being competitive and I love when people doubt me - it gives me the edge to go out and show what I have got, so that is how I have dealt with it,” he said, referring to the criticism from former Port Adelaide player Kane Cornes after the round one win over St Kilda.
“I am just trying to be myself - whatever people say about me I don’t really care. I know I have people in my corner supporting me, backing me, I am just trying to be myself.”
Jack Ginnivan and Callum Brown celebrate their side’s Anzac Day win.Credit: AFL Photos
Craig McRae said when he arrived at the club he identified Ginnivan and Beau McCreery as a small forward pairing who could add something in a forward line that lacks a big key target and has to conjure goals through pressure and scrounged opportunities.
“I am not saying this because Jack is next to me but he is one that really stood out (when he arrived as senior coach),” McRae said.
“I could see him and Beau McCreery really wanting an opportunity. We have been doing a lot of contest work and Jack wins a lot of his one-on-ones. That’s what I saw and his ability to finish - he will find where the goals are.
“He has had a great start to the year and we missed him dearly in the last game in particular (when he missed with a sore calf). But we want him to be himself, be authentic and we want him to know we have got his back.
“He is 19 - give him a bit of time.”
He turned to Ginnivan. “What colour is your hair going to be next week?”
The teenager smiled as if considering a change.
Ginnivan said he knew when he kicked his first goal he was in for a good day.
Did he feel “on”?
He flashed a smile. “Yep. 100 per cent.”
“I have been doing it since I was six years old,” he said. “That’s what I get paid to do, kick goals [and] put pressure on, so I go through my routine and lock it in.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet. I have watched a few Anzac Days. I know Paul Seedsman won one and he was my favourite player, [and] then obviously Pendles and Sidey have won them so it’s obviously significant. But winning it hasn’t sunk in yet.”
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