Footy star Jack Ginnivan reveals how Collingwood coach Craig McRae drove him out of the club with three simple words

Hawthorn star Jack Ginnivan has spoken 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 triumph over Brisbane in 2023, but he was given the boot just weeks later and ended up at the Hawks.

The small forward revealed some details of his exit meeting at the club and how McRae wanted him to become more humble.

'It was a difficult exit meeting to hear,' Ginnivan said on Seven's Talking Footy.

'Words of 'not being humble', which I took to heart a bit, because I think I'm a pretty humble person.

'When you hear things like that from your ex-coach, it becomes a bit of writing on the wall.'

Not long after Ginnivan was traded to the Hawks.

The talented youngster thought he'd be a Magpie for life but was suddenly cast adrift.

'When you're coming into 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, it was all a bit of a blur, and then I went to Bali with a few mates.

'The trade period is so close (to the end of the season) because we won the grand final, so it was only two or three weeks (before the trade). The phone calls were happening when I was in Bali and then it all happened.

'It's such a weird thing (to get traded) when you win a grand final, but ultimately now, I couldn't be happier at the Hawks, and I've loved my time there so far.'

McRae also took exception to Ginnivan's controversial decision to go to the races before the footy final. 

Ginnivan admits he probably wouldn't do a similar thing if the chance cropped up again.

'To be honest the only thing I regret from going to the races is if it affected anyone else's pre-game or it if affected the coaches or players,' Ginnivan said.

'For me personally, I didn't think it was that big of an issue for myself because I knew if I was out for dinner with a mate or at home sitting on the couch, I'd be doing the same thing.

'For me to get out and talk to some people and relax before the game (was the idea).

'(In hindsight) I'd be staying at home just because it's an easier option to do that.'