DOB: 11 November 1874
Died: 20 March 1953
VFL Debut: Round 1, 1897 against South Melbourne at Lake Oval
Last Game: Round 17, 1901 against Fitzroy at Brunswick Street
From: City (Hobart)
Honours:
Premiership Player - 1900
Captain - Round 1 to Round 2, 1901
150 Heroes
Victorian state player - 1899, 1900
MFC Hall of Fame - 2006
Games: 84
Goals: 36
Career Statistics
| Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
| 41 | 2 | 41 | 48.80 |
After three seasons in Tasmania, McGinis arrived in Victoria in 1894 intent on playing for Essendon. When he believed he'd struggle to get a game ahead of fellow Tasmanians Vautin and Campbell, McGinis signed for Melbourne instead. He debuted midway through the season, but still finished as one of the team's top goalkickers. Despite a knee injury in 1895, the rover was Melbourne's top goalkicker. He was widely acknowledged as one of the best players in Victoria, unofficially named its best player in 1895 and 1897.
McGinis played in each of Melbourne's first 62 VFL games, despite batting leg pain so severe it affected his sleep in 1898. His streak finally ended after Round 11, 1900, but he returned to be one of the best in the club's inaugural VFL premiership. After battling an ankle injury in 1901 he was appointed captain, but resigned after Melbourne lost its first two games. During the season he began to suffer vision problems which forced his retirement. A benefit match between the VFL and VFA was played on September 2, 1902 between the VFL and VFL, raising £500 for him.
After his retirement, McGinis returned to Tasmania. By June 1903 had regained some of his sight, and was operating a thriving business in Tasmania. From 1912 to 1924 he was a trainer for Cananore.
McGinis also played for VFL representative sides against Bendigo District in 1897 and against Ballarat in 1900.
He was later the inaugural inductee in the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame, and was given 'Legend' status.
1897 |17|10
1898 |17|5
1899 |17|3
1900 |18|10
1901 |15|8||
Notes
In newspaper reports early in his career the surname was often spelt as McGuinness or McGiniss. Some sources show his DOB as 8 November 1876. Urban myth suggests he was supposed to go to the Essendon changerooms before his first match but was waylaid to the Melbourne rooms and decided to stay - he appears to have debuted a week after Melbourne's game with Essendon. McGinis is often listed as the "1897 Champion of the Colony", but there is considerable controversy as to whether such an award actually existed. Some sources say the benefit match raised £200.
Media
Australasian - 03/10/1896, 13/06/1903
Sportsman - 08/06/1897, 07/06/1898
Argus - 11/06/1900, 05/09/1902
Mercury - 07/07/1902
Links
Australian Football profile
Demonwiki image gallery
Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame
Wikipedia profile