Collingwood young gun Jack Ginnivan has been handed a two-game suspension from the AFL after vision emerged of the forward with an illicit substance during the off-season.
In a statement released Saturday evening, the AFL said Ginnivan “admitted” to drug use during a probe by the league’s Integrity Unit.
As punishment, Ginnivan has been suspended for rounds one and two of the 2023 season and slapped with a $5000 (suspended) fine.
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During his suspension, the 20-year-old will also be unable to contest Collingwood’s pre-season trials against Carlton and Hawthorn and ineligible for VFL selection.
On Thursday, the AFL Integrity United was contacted by the Pies concerning vision that had emerged of Ginnivan with an illicit substance in Torquay in January.
9News Melbourne reports that the vision shows Ginnivan alongside another man in a toilet cubicle at the Torquay Hotel on Australia Day, with a white illicit substance on a key.
Collingwood’s general manager of football Graham Wright said he was “incredibly disappointed” in Ginnivan’s actions.
“As a club, we are incredibly disappointed to have observed vision showing Jack Ginnivan with an illicit substance,” he said in a club statement.
“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 also acknowledged his wrongdoing, saying he had “fallen well short” of the expectations demanded in professional sport.
“I want to take ownership of my actions in the vision which shows me with an illicit substance,” he wrote in an Instagram story.
“I understand that as an AFL player, I have standards I need to meet and, on this occasion, I have fallen well short of the standards expected of me as a footballer and as a representative of Collingwood.
“I am truly sorry to everyone that I have let down with my behaviour. Firstly, my family and the Collingwood football family who each support me so well on and off the field. To our club members and fans, our sponsors and the AFL, I am aware my poor decision-making has impacted all of you and for that, I also apologise.
“I have made mistakes along the way and I’m determined to learn from them in order to be the best person and footballer I can be to avoid letting people down which is what I have done here.”
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