Collingwood forward Jack Ginnivan will miss the Magpies’ first two matches in 2023, after confessing to taking illicit drugs.
Video emerged on Saturday of Ginnivan with the substance in a toilet cubicle at the Torquay Hotel, following a Magpies training camp in Lorne in January.
He will now miss the Magpies’ matches against Geelong and Port Adelaide, while receiving a strike under the AFL’s illicit drugs policy and a $5000 suspended fine.
Ginnivan will also be unable to take part in the Magpies’ pre-season practice matches, or play in the VFL during his suspension.
Speaking to 7 News, the 20-year old expressed his remorse for what he described as ‘lack of judgement’.
“Utterly disappointed in myself, I feel like I’ve let 44 of my best mates down… the club, hundreds of thousands of people,” he said.
“Obviously a few drinks, a lack of judgement at the time. I can’t really speak on why I did it.”
7 News reportedly began an investigation into Ginnivan after being made aware of the vision, which the goalsneak did not know existed until Thursday.
For Ginnivan, telling coach Craig McRae was the hardest job of all.
“It was a struggle to get my words out… he’s put so much trust in me in the last year,” Ginnivan said.
“He’s always had my back in the media, anywhere, so to hurt him like that, it’s going to be a challenge to overcome, but I know he loves me and I love him.”
Jack Ginnivan. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
Magpies general manager of football Graeme Wright said the club is ‘incredibly disappointed’ in Ginnivan.
“As a Club, we are incredibly disappointed to have observed vision showing Jack Ginnivan with an illicit substance,” Wrght said in a statement released by the club.
“The vision was captured by a member of the public following the Club’s pre-season camp in January and was distributed to media in recent days.
“All players and staff are continually educated on appropriate behaviours and we expect everyone at our Club to uphold the highest of standards as representatives of the wider Collingwood community, our Members, supporters and corporate partners.
“We will continue to work closely with Jack, who has owned his behaviour, to provide him with the support and continual education he needs as he continues his journey at Collingwood.”
Ginnivan became one of the game’s most polarising players during a breakout 2022, with his penchant for winning high contact free kicks drawing ire from rival fans in early rounds, and from his own when umpires controversially cracked down on the tactic late in the season.
He bagged 40 goals for the season and missed just two matches, including three in the Pies’ semi final win over Fremantle.
“The AFL wishes to reiterate that AFL Players are well-educated when it comes to the harms associated with the use of illicit substances, and have a responsibility to themselves, their clubs and their professional careers to uphold community expectations,” league EGM Andrew Dillon said in a statement on Saturday.
Ginnivan will also be required to undertake education beyond current mandatory illicit substances training.
Bangkokpussey
Roar Rookie
No. It is well known that nsw has been a cesspit of sin and debauchery since the early days of the rum corps whilst victoria was formed to provide the rest of the country with a compass for moral behaviour. :happy:
Bangkokpussey
Roar Rookie
Its the whatabout syndrome. Deflecting from the subject at hand. However you slice the cake 2 weeks is a slap on the wrist for bringing the game into disrepute. Ginvan should have been given 6 weeks minmum. The low bar needs to be reset. There are many past examples.
rainstorms
Guest
Haneen Zreika had no problem sitting out Pride Round and AFL was ok with it
Maxy
Roar Rookie
Thought drug trafficking was selling it...He was not selling it,he was in possession and took it.If I grew marijuana plants at home at smoked it I am not trafficking it I am enjoying myself,not harming anyone else but that is just an example.I am a good person and dont do drugs...trafficking and possession different story I believe
WCE
Roar Rookie
Clearly you don't know the laws either?? Do you realise how much 200 grams of coke is? Your are definitely going to jail with half that amount that's called drug trafficking. In WA you get caught with over 2 grams you can be charged with drug trafficking. 200 grams you going to jail for a long long time
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You forget that Bobby will be coached at Collingwood.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Have your sentences not been fair?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Drugs in sport will be incentivised then.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yep but that’s comparing apples and oranges. If he was caught during the season he would face years on the sidelines. The players are entitled to rest and recuperate in the off season.
mrl
Roar Rookie
Don’t go into toilet cubicles round should be a cracker.
Mark
Roar Rookie
I’d like to give Geelong the benefit of the doubt I guess you have to because, we'll never know, unless Danks one day tries to cash in on his notoriety and writes a tell all book that may include details of any assistance he may have provided to the Cats Premiership push back then.
Kevo
Roar Rookie
...... or cheap shots for that matter.
Opps74
Roar Rookie
He wants to win a flag Macca RB...and play for a club with more 10000 supporters at home games...what I'm saying is that Ginnivan will need to earn his spot back...maybe a fresh start like WHE will bring the best out of his game
Angela
Roar Rookie
...also, he's never gotten over the mean Swans fans at the SCG - scarred him for life.
Angela
Roar Rookie
It's not his fault he self-medicates for ADHD.
Kevo
Roar Rookie
...... where there's Dank there's stank. I'd like to give Geelong the benefit of the doubt, but no one from that mob should be casting any stones.
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
Beat Sydney by 1 point. Should have forfeited that flag because of the amount of illegal drug use by many Eagles players. We all know who they were, and one has unfortunately passed away since ...
Macca RB
Guest
Opps74. As a GWS member, Bobby Hill going to Collingwood was wonderful news. He isn't known as two-minute Bobby, for nothing. That is about the amount of effort which he puts into most games. Unless the Maggies are planning on tanking, there is No Way they would prioritize Bobbby over Jack. Whatever, Collingwood are paying for Bobby it is well more than he is worth. Maybe Jack should come up north - he would be welcome at GWS, and away from the Melbourne Media bubble.
Macca
Roar Rookie
I forgot 1; June 2019 Jaidyn Stephenson bets on AFL games – no problem at the pies. PS – we could throw in Beams’ issues with gamblng and drugs in 2019 & 2020 as well
Macca
Roar Rookie
"These are individuals making silly mistakes" REPEATEDLY!! no other club in the comp has as many of these "silly mnistakes" as the Pies and they never change their behaviour no matter how many times it happens. Everyone makes a poor decision from time to time but it is when you fail to learn from them it becomes a significant issue, and the Pies failure to hold any of their players to account and constantly make excuses for them means they are doomed to repeat the cycle. (if we go back another year to 2019 we have Stephenson betting on AFL games) And this is clearly not the first time Ginnivan has made this "silly mistake" it is just the first time he got caught.