Ginnivan is a Collingwood player after he was selected by the Pies in Thursday's AFL Rookie Draft.

"I went into the rookie draft not really expecting much, but to be picked up by the Pies...I'm stoked,'' an elated Ginnivan said.

AFL National Draft night on Wednesday corresponded with Ginnivan's 18th birthday.

The Castlemaine-based teenager celebrated his birthday at home with family, mates and his girlfriend and waited to see if his name would be read out.

Ginnivan missed selection, but that didn't stop his mates from enjoying themselves until late in the night.

By the time the rookie draft rolled around on Thursday at noon, Ginnivan's parents were at work and his mates were still asleep.

"My girlfriend and I were watching the screen and then my name came up next to Collingwood,'' Ginnivan said.

"I couldn't believe it. I had to run out the back to wake my three best mates up. They were wrapt...it was a bit crazy."

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Ginnivan had received strong interest from Richmond, the GWS Giants and North Melbourne in the lead-up to the draft, but it was the Pies who swooped on the mercurial midfielder-forward.

"I never really thought the Pies were that big on me, so to go there is pretty bizarre, but I'm very keen to get started,'' Ginnivan said.

"I'm very excited to get this opportunity. I'm extremely grateful.

"It's pretty cool to think I'm going to a club like Collingwood."

The first person from the Pies to congratulate Ginnivan was 2010 premiership skipper Nick Maxwell, who is the acting football manager at the club.

Maxwell was a rookie draft selection with the Pies before carving out a brilliant career with the club.

"Nick told me that all the best players come out of the rookie draft,'' Ginnivan said with a chuckle.

"I can't wait to get amongst it down there."

Ginnivan moved to Melbourne on Sunday and starts training with the Pies on Monday.

Ginnivan is the first Pioneer to be drafted to Collingwood since Kayle Kirby was picked in the 2016 National Draft.

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