Ginnivan started playing Australian rules football at the age of six, following Hawthorn winning the 2008 AFL Grand Final.

[10] As his second season progressed, he quickly became a high-profile and controversial player, after gaining a reputation among media and rival spectators for ducking or shrugging into high tackles to win free kicks,[11] and later admitting to doing so deliberately and even practising the technique in an unusually frank interview.

[13] In the summer of 2023, Ginnivan was on a training tour with Collingwood in Torquay, where he was caught taking illicit substances in the hotel bathroom.

[15] Ginnivan played only 14 of the club's 26 games, making his first appearance of the season in round 5 against St Kilda, kicking one goal from 13 disposals.

In Round 19 coming up against his old side, Ginnivan collected 31 disposals for 417 metres gained and kicked 2 goals in a best on ground performance, cementing himself as a key player in Hawthorn's revival.