Hawthorn forward Jack Ginnivan has revealed he knew it was time to leave Collingwood after a post-season meeting with Magpies coach Craig McRae.
Weeks after playing in Collingwood's premiership win last September, the Anzac Day medallist was offered a four-year deal to play for the Hawks - the club he grew up supporting.
After a turbulent 12 months, that included a two-game ban for admitting to illicit drug use, Ginnivan landed himself in trouble for attending a horse racing event on grand final eve.
"Read the room, Jack," McRae said in his post-grand final press conference when asked about Ginnivan's night at Moonee Valley racecourse.
Ginnivan, who owns multiple race horses but didn't have any running on the night in question, was frustrated by how the story blew up.
"Me and my mate went there at 6.30 (pm) and got home at 9.30 (pm), like it wasn't really that big of a deal," the 21-year-old told the Tommy Talks podcast.
"I don't think it's a mistake from my behalf, but probably just how people perceived it.
"It didn't look great, which would be the only thing I would change.
"Nothing really came of it until 'Fly's' (McRae) press conference and my exit meeting, and that was sort of when I knew I probably should leave.
"That was a bit eye-opening, that exit meeting.
"The most disappointing thing was probably just no coach or player reaching out to say, 'I want you to stay and we really value you' and all those things."
Despite McRae's public annoyance, Ginnivan went to Collingwood's Mad Monday celebrations dressed as a jockey.
"They're actually (jockey) Craig Williams' silks," Ginnivan said.
"I got them on the Friday night at the Valley because I was with a few people from the Valley that got us into the box and just looked after us.
"I didn't even know that it would blow up, so I thought I might just go as a jockey because I like horses.
"And then it blew up and then it's the funniest thing of all-time."
McRae responded to Ginnivan's comments, reiterating he was still contracted to Collingwood.
"I openly say that we had an exit interview that I expressed things I wasn't happy with," he told SEN on Tuesday.
"It wasn't 'see you later, Jack'.
"He was a valued player and premiership player. We shook hands and he decided to go and we said 'yes, OK'.
"Even when we had that final conversation on the phone, I still love and support him and want the best for him."
Ginnivan will come up against Collingwood on Sunday for the first time since his exit when Hawthorn face the Magpies at Adelaide Oval.
"They probably should’ve put it at the (MC) G in front of 90,000 (people) but they chose Gather Round in Adelaide for some reason," Ginnivan added.
The match comes as Ginnivan is again in the spotlight after umpires appeared to ignore obvious free kicks to him in Hawthorn's Easter Monday loss against Geelong.
"If he is (being umpired differently), then the AFL has a process to get in touch with them," Hawks coach Sam Mitchell said.
"If we re-watch them and have a look and think he’s getting unfair treatment, then I’ll get in touch with the AFL this week and get them to have a look at it."
