By Roy Ward
Collingwood football manager Graham Wright says Jack Ginnivan’s penalty for taking an unspecified drug in a Torquay pub toilet will be far more costly for the young player than it looks.
Ginnivan received a first strike under the AFL’s illicit drugs policy so will receive a suspended $5000 fine, counselling and will be target-tested. He has also been suspended by the club until round three.
But Wright said the third-year Magpie has a contract that relies heavily on match payments, so would be taking a further financial hit.
Collingwood football general manager Graham Wright on Sunday.Credit:Penny Stephens
“Jack’s money isn’t guaranteed, he actually has to play, so it is a big fine for him overall,” Wright said on Sunday.
“He will miss the first few games and we are not sure when he will get back in [to the senior side]. So, it’s a significant cost to him. We will miss him, but others will have to step up.”
Wright fronted the media on behalf of Collingwood on Sunday with chief executive Craig Kelly standing behind him but not taking questions. Both men were in plain clothes and no Magpies sponsors or colours were visible.
They also apologised to those present for calling them into the club on a Sunday morning.
Wright admitted the public element of Ginnivan’s drug use led to his suspension, which isn’t a usual penalty when a player registers a first strike under the AFL’s policy.
Ginnivan will also have to train away from the group until his suspension is completed and can’t play in any pre-season games.
This means he could miss more games of the season should his form and fitness not be good enough to earn an immediate recall in round three.
Under a usual first strike in the AFL’s drug policy, club management would not be made aware that a player has tested positive, only the club doctor and league officials.
But Ginnivan was filmed taking the unspecified drugs in the toilets at a Torquay pub before Channel Seven broke the story on Saturday night.
Wright said players knew they were likely to be photographed or filmed while at public places.
“That’s another point, obviously, someone took a video of him in the bathroom,” Wright said.
“I think they’re aware of it. They understand it. They are out in the general public all the time, so you’re going to be videoed or photographed or asked for photos.
“That’s something they do every day.”
Wright was asked if the drug was ketamine, but said he didn’t know what it was. Ginnivan didn’t specify the drug in his statements on Saturday night.
“We felt that he let everybody down, not just at this football club but also across the AFL,” Wright said.
“It was made public and we maintain that as a club we don’t condone drug use.”
Wright is confident the Magpies don’t have an issue with drugs as a club and that the rest of the list understood their obligations as AFL players.
“We absolutely feel that we are [in a good place] – this was an isolated incident and that’s the way we are treating it,” Wright said.
Ginnivan played in the Pies’ intra-club match on Friday night despite the club being aware of the video and in the process of finalising his penalty.
He picked up a “nasty gash” on his knee which required several stitches.
“Jack wanted to play,” Wright said.
“It will probably be the last match he plays for a while, for almost six weeks, as footy is being taken away from him. He’ll train hard [while he is out] and hopefully hit the ground running in round three.”
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