Collingwood star Jack Ginnivan cops two-game BAN as Magpie gun ADMITS using ‘illicit drugs’

Collingwood young gun Jack Ginnivan has been suspended for the opening two rounds of the AFL season after admitting to using an illicit substance.

The 20-year-old’s confession came after a video emerged of him alongside another man in a toilet cubicle on Australia Day with a white illicit substance on a key. 

The incident happened while Ginnivan was in Torquay in January, following the Magpies’ pre-season training camp.

The AFL integrity unit interviewed Ginnivan as part of its investigation and found the player guilty of conduct unbecoming.

‘I want to take ownership of my actions in the vision which shows me with an illicit substance,’ Ginnivan said in a Collingwood statement on Saturday.

The 20-year-old admitted taking an illicit substance in a bar late last month 

‘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.’ 

Speaking to 7News, the Magpies star admitted taking an ‘illicit substance’ during a day off from training camp.

“I went into the cubicle and obviously taken an illicit substance,’ he said.

‘Obviously a few drinks, a lack of judgement at the time. I can’t really speak on why I did it.

‘When I walked into the bathroom I didn’t think someone would be videoing me.’

Ginnivan kicked 40 goals during the Magpies’ stunning rise to a preliminary final last season in coach Craig McRae’s first year at the helm.

The livewire forward is banned from playing against reigning premiers Geelong and Port Adelaide in the opening two rounds of the season and will not be eligible to play in any of Collingwood’s scheduled practice matches.

Ginnivan apologised for his actions.

‘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,’ Ginnivan said.

Ginnivan has often been in the spotlight since his debut in 2021 and won the Anzac Day Medal in a breakout five-goal performance against Essendon last year.

He has often come under fire for attempting to draw free kicks and admitted last year the fierce scrutiny on his approach to the game had taken a toll on his mental health.

Ginnivan kicked 40 goals during the Magpies’ stunning rise to a preliminary final last season

The young gun established himself as one of the best players in the competition last year but also attracted plenty of criticism for a series of incidents off the field

Magpies footy boss Graham Wright acknowledged the club was ‘incredibly disappointed’ with the incident.  

‘As a club, we are incredibly disappointed to have observed vision showing Jack Ginnivan with an illicit substance,’ he said.

‘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.