Collingwood CEO Craig Kelly says despite former premiership forward Jack Ginnivan's trade to Hawthorn, his night out at the races before the grand final weren't to blame for his shock exit.
The 22-year-old was at the Moonee Valley race track on the night before Collingwood's grand final against Brisbane, which the club went on to win by just four points.
Despite Magpies coach Craig McRae publicly expressing his disapproval of Ginnivan's decision to attend the races, CEO Kelly said it wasn't the reason they traded him to Hawthorn.
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"That stuff doesn't come into it, I promise you. Everyone tries to make something … you might have seen another email I sent around, everyone needs to stop talking rubbish. They don't know what they are talking about," Kelly said on Wednesday.
"It's dangerous, and it spreads, and it's not right. It's incorrect."
Kelly went on to explain the true reasoning behind the club's decision to trade Ginnivan, as it allowed them to pick up Fremantle small forward Lachie Schultz, who was keen on a move back to Victoria.
"The reality is, when Lachie Schultz (Fremantle) came, when we saw that opportunity, Wrighty (Footy boss Graham Wright) and the guys had those other conversations (surrounding Ginnivan)," he said.
"I think Jack is loved by all of us, and loved by a lot of supporters, but the reality is he has got a four-year contract with the club (Hawthorn).
"He is a ripping guy, he is a lovely guy we had around the club, but there is a bigger opportunity for him, and he has got a secure contract for four years.
"It's worked for him, and we have got Lachie Schultz coming into our program … he is elite."
Apart from the Ginnivan trade, Collingwood also made another difficult list call, delisting Kelly's son, Will.
He spent five years in the program, but Kelly said it is the correct call for his future.
"As hard as it was for me to not have Will in our program, it's the right decision for the program, because the people running the program made that decision, in 'Fly' (coach Craig McRae) and Wrighty (Graham Wright)," Kelly said.
"I have got so much respect for those two guys because they handled it so well with me and also with Will.
Kelly admitted that not having his son at the club could be a positive, as he aims to land on another list to continue his career elsewhere.
"I also think, maybe, it's not a bad thing that he is not around this club because there is a lot of stuff I have done, and others have done," Kelly said.
"Maybe it's good for a fresh start for him."
Meantime, Kelly said all eyes will be on Collingwood's clash against Hawthorn in 2024, with Ginnivan set to be the star of the show, or the villain, if you go for the Magpies.
"He will go there and try and beat us up when he plays against us," Kelly said.
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