Collingwood soccer boss Graham Wright believes Jack Ginnivan’s drug use is an “isolated incident” and denies the AFL membership has a serious difficulty with illicit substances.
Ginnivan was out with teammates and different associates in January when he was filmed by a member of the general public in a lodge rest room cubicle with a bootleg drug.
Wright wouldn’t affirm media stories the substance was ketamine however mentioned he believes the Magpies are in an excellent place on the subject of drug use.
“Absolutely we feel like we are,” Wright instructed reporters on Sunday.
“I think this is an isolated incident and that’s the way we’re treating it.
“It’s not a sample of behaviour in any respect for him or anybody else on the membership.”
Asked if drug use is a problem for the AFL as a whole, Wright said: “I hope that it wasn’t a serious difficulty however gamers are a part of society and medicines are a part of society.
“We certainly hope our players don’t partake in illicit drugs, but I don’t think it’s a big issue in the competition and we certainly don’t think it is here.”
Video of Ginnivan with the illicit drug – taken at a Torquay lodge on a gamers’ break day after a pre-season coaching camp on Victoria’s Surf Coast – emerged when it was provided to a media outlet.
Wright mentioned Collingwood then grew to become conscious of the incident on Thursday evening and knowledgeable the AFL integrity Unit, which interviewed Ginnivan and located the participant responsible of conduct unbecoming.
Ginnivan has was hit with a strike underneath the league’s illicit medication coverage and has additionally been suspended for 2 matches.
It will price the 20-year-old his match funds, whereas he additionally has a $5000 suspended high quality hanging over his head.
He isn’t eligible to play in Collingwood’s pre-season observe matches or at VFL degree throughout his suspension.
Ginnivan confessed to his drug use when fronting Collingwood’s leaders and the AFL, and later apologised for his “poor decision-making” by way of a membership assertion.
“As a club we’re incredibly disappointed to be in this situation,” Wright mentioned.
“We provide education for all of our players and staff in relation to the right behaviours and every person is meant to maintain those.
“Jack has come ahead and owned his behaviour and he is extremely remorseful for that.”
Ginnivan has often found himself in the spotlight since his debut in 2021 and won the Anzac Day Medal for a stunning five-goal performance against Essendon last year.
He booted 40 goals in a breakout second season in 2022, playing a key role in Collingwood’s sharp rise to a preliminary final.
But the livewire forward has also come under fire for ducking his head 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.
“They’re Jack’s personal points round his psychological well being … however on this case he mentioned that had nothing to do with any of his actions on this regard,” Wright mentioned.
“He’s owned it from that standpoint however that is ongoing, coping with our psychologist and our different medical individuals. But on this case it wasn’t a problem.”
Ginnivan will miss the opening two games of season – against Geelong and Port Adelaide – and faces a fight for his spot in the team alongside the likes of new recruit Bobby Hill.
“He clearly forfeits his spot within the first few rounds and we’re not fairly positive when he’ll get in, so it is a important price for him,” Wright mentioned.
“We’ll miss him however clearly another person must step up.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
