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READ MORE - Harvey decides on a double Magpies debut
SEVEN years after making headlines for his goalkicking feats as an 11-year-old at Newstead, Jack Ginnivan will make his AFL debut for Collingwood on Friday night.
The Magpies confirmed on Wednesday that Ginnivan would be one of two debutantes in their team to face Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium to start round 19.
The 18-year-old forward - who was selected by the Magpies at last year's Rookie Draft from the Bendigo Pioneers - has earned a call-up after strong form in the VFL and having been an emergency for the past two games.
The moment Ginnivan was told of his selection by coach Robert Harvey was captured by the Magpies on Wednesday afternoon.
"It's with great pleasure that we announce our eighth debutante this week; this will come as no shock to all... he has earned his position through hard work and dedication," Harvey told the playing group.
"The boy from Bendigo is in. A special moment for you Jack, well done and well deserved."
Ginnivan has displayed livewire forward skills from the infancy of his footballing career as he showed when the 11-year-old booted 119 goals for the Newstead under-12s in the Maryborough-Castlemaine District league in 2014.
As well as Newstead, Ginnivan also played junior football with Castlemaine and Golden Square before moving onto the Bendigo Pioneers and Strathfieldsaye.
"Jack is a Bendigo boy and great country kid. He's worked really hard on his game for this opportunity and has earned it through his work rate in the VFL the last few weeks," Harvey said of Ginnivan during his Wednesday press conference.
"He's a small forward with a natural ability to kick goals and puts himself in the right place at the right time."
While there was no NAB League season played last year due to COVID, robbing Ginnivan of the chance to showcase his talent, plus a calf injury keeping him out of the AFL Draft Combine in October, the Magpies had already seen enough of him to take him with pick No.13 in the Rookie Draft on his 18th birthday in December.
"It's fantastic for Jack and great reward for all the hard work he has put in," said Pioneers' coach Danny O'Bree, who also coached Ginnivan when he was part of the Bendigo South East College athlete development program.
"He's a great kid who has a lot of character. He's one of those kids who everyone around the region seems to know.
"He wears his heart on his sleeve, so full credit to him for putting in the work and getting his debut."
Ginnivan has been promoted for his Magpies debut on the back of kicking 11 goals - four each against Richmond and Sandringham and three against Frankston - in his past three VFL games.
"He has always shown exceptional forward craft and one of those old-fashioned footy brains," O'Bree said.
"He's a very clever player, really good decision-maker out on the footy field and really good in front of goal as well.
"Marry all them up and he's got his debut."
Such was the strength of the list at Strathfieldsaye in 2019, Ginnivan played in the Storm's BFNL reserves premiership team rather than the senior flag two years ago.
Coached by Shannon Geary, Ginnivan produced an electric performance in the Storm's reserves win over South Bendigo, kicking three goals and being one of the game's standout players.
"He got injured a couple of times in 2019 when he would have got called up for a senior game, but I was obviously really happy to have him with us for that reserves grand final," Geary said.
"He's a player who has real X-factor about him and in that grand final he was super for us with his pace.
"I do recall seeing him at his first training session with us and thinking, 'this kid is an absolute jet'... he just has that something special about him."
Also debuting for the Magpies against the Power will be Irishman Anton Tohill.
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