AFL 2022: Collingwood coach Craig McRae hopeful young forward Jack Ginnivan isn’t booed at the SCG

Jack Ginnivan was booed even when he was injured at the SCG last time Collingwood played Sydney and his coach has a though on f what should happen on Saturday.

Jack Ginnivan of the Magpies . Picture by Michael Klein

Collingwood lightning rod Jack Ginnivan did his best to laugh off the boos when he was on the bench at the SCG last time the Magpies played the Swans.

But his coach Craig McRae hopes this time around the young goalkicker won’t get the same treatment after a season in which the 19-year-old has been in the spotlight for more reasons than his 39 goals.

Booing has been a hot topic in Sydney with NRL state Latrell Mitchell copping it when the South Sydney fullback took on his old team the Roosters twice in two weeks.

Ginnivan was the subject of booing at the SCG in Round 22, even when he was forced to watched his team’s loss from the bench after he hurt his hamstring just before halftime.

Collingwood vice-captain Taylor Adams labelled the Swans fans “grubs” on social media, posting “imagine booing an injured player”.

Imagine booing an injured player. Grubs

— Taylor Adams (@taylor_adams13) August 14, 2022

Swans coach John Longmire was adamant in the aftermath that “respect for all players” was important to Sydney as a club, and directed supporters to show that respect.

“It’s not so much a message for our fans, just across the competition. It’s important that we respect all players,” Longmire said at the time.

“I personally have never gone to the footy and thought about booing, it’s never crossed my radar.

“Hopefully go to the game and enjoy it for what it is, a great contest.”

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 30: Jack Ginnivan (left) and Craig McRae, Senior Coach of the Magpies look on during the 2022 AFL Round 20 match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Port Adelaide Power at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 30, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Late in the season Ginnivan conceded the extra attention was affecting his mental health, although he had played on with a smile on his face as much as possible during Collingwood’s epic run to the finals.

But as he prepared to take his Magpies to the SCG again for Saturday’s preliminary final stoush, first-year coach McRae hoped there wouldn’t be a repeat of the booing he copped last time in Sydney.

“You’d like to think that’s not the case (this time),” McRae said.

“I’m not a booer. I’m respectful of people around us and I take my daughter to the footy and teach her how to barrack properly; that’s the way I go about it.

“You pay your money and you do what you need to do, but I’m just not a booer.

“He’s the sort of character that does take a few things in his stride, but he’s human as well.”

Originally published as AFL 2022: Collingwood coach Craig McRae hopeful young forward Jack Ginnivan isn’t booed at the SCG