Collingwood chairman Jeff Browne had also sought clarification from the AFL amid claims Ginnivan had been targeted for his technique of going down on tackles.
There were a few controversial calls from the referees, including a high tackle on Ginnivan by Robbie Gray that was not called, but McRae said it was a good lesson to get on with the game no matter what, as the Pies became the first team to win nine games by 12 points or less in a VFL/AFL season.
“I thought there were a couple of opportunities where the free throws didn’t pay off potentially, and we went for it. You know, you’ve got to do it. What if it’s a big final? You just go with it.” he said.
“And Jack’s been doing it today and Ash Johnson’s been doing it, and you know, at the end of the game there could have been a free kick called not against us, or not for us, and you just with him. I think it’s a good lesson for us.”
Brodie Grundy made a successful return to the VFL on Saturday. McRae was hopeful he would return next week and admitted he would be “surprised” if Mason Cox, Darcy Cameron and Grundy made the team.
Taylor Adams was replaced with a groin injury and Jeremy Howe ended up on the bench after taking a knee to the back and appearing to hurt his hip.
“He took a big step forward today,” McRae told Grundy. “We thought he needed the run and he played right up to the last quarter in the VFL and by all reports got better as the game went on.
“I watched two quarters of that game, I was happy with what I saw, he had a little fight, you know, he had the bumps and bruises that you need, that you can’t get in training.
“We’re trying to set it up, whether it’s six days from now, we’ll see how it holds up, but we’re really happy that it got through today.”
Grundy, 28, had 21 hits, 11 disposals and eight tackles. Seven of Grundy’s tackles came in the first half and he was also caught up in two brawls, battling with Southport’s Brayden Crossley, which could see him face a fine from the VFL tribunal.
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Collingwood have a tough AFL run at home until September, facing Melbourne, Sydney and Carlton in the coming weeks, which McRae says will be a good test for the finals.
“I don’t want to look too far ahead, we haven’t done that all year, we’re living in the moment now and looking at what we’ve done well and what we can improve on,” McRae said.
“Every game presents itself as an opportunity to prepare for the final, but these teams in particular [are] in the eight as it is, it will be a great opportunity to see where we sit.”
With Roy Ward