- Ginnivan said McCrae wanted him to be more humble.
- Hawthorn Hawks star says he took the words to heart
- Ginnivan says he could see the writing on the wall
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Hawthorn star Jack Ginnivan has spoken out about his brutal exit meeting at Collingwood at the end of last season and the three words Magpies coach Craig McRae hurt him with.
Ginnivan, 21, was part of the Magpies’ grand final win over Brisbane in 2023, but was dumped just weeks later and ended up at the Hawks.
The forward revealed some details of his exit meeting at the club and how McRae wanted him to be more humble.
“It was a tough exit meeting to listen to,” Ginnivan said on Seven’s Talking Footy.
Ginnivan says coach Craig McRae (pictured) accused him of not being humble, which hurt him.
‘Not being humble’ words, which I took a little bit to heart, because I think I’m a pretty humble person.
“When you hear things like that from your former coach, it becomes the writing on the wall.”
Not long after Ginnivan was traded to the Hawks.
The talented young man thought he would be a magpie for life, but he was suddenly abandoned.
“When you come to the AFL you don’t think you’re going to change clubs or anything like that, and especially when you win a grand final,” Ginnivan said.
“When I won the grand final, everything was a bit of a blur, and then I went to Bali with some mates.
‘The exchange period is very close (to the end of the season) because we won the grand final, so there were only two or three weeks left (before the exchange). The phone calls happened when I was in Bali and then everything happened.
“It’s a very strange thing (to get moved on) when you win a grand final, but ultimately I couldn’t be happier at the Hawks now and I’ve loved my time there so far.”
Ginnivan was part of the Magpies’ grand final win in 2023 and saw his future there
Ginnivan (now with Hawthorn) says that after their meeting he saw the writing on the wall.
The young man says he couldn’t be happier than where he is at the Hawks
McRae also objected to Ginnivan’s controversial decision to go to the races before the football final.
Ginnivan admits he probably wouldn’t do something similar if the opportunity arose again.
“To be honest, my only regret about going to the races is if it affected anyone else’s pregame or if it affected the coaches or players,” Ginnivan said.
“For me personally, I didn’t think it was a big deal because I knew if I was out to dinner with a friend or at home sitting on the couch, I’d be doing the same thing.
‘Go out and talk to some people and relax before the game (was the idea).
“(In retrospect) I would stay home just because it’s an easier option to do.”