As Jordan de Goey, who kicked a couple of crucial goals including one after the quarter-time siren, talks about Collingwood’s flag being the “cherry on top” and Magpies great Peter Daicos speaks of his delight at the success his sons Nick and Josh have achieved, I’m going to take the chance to say thanks again for joining us. That was a tremendous grand final and it was a thrill to be able to provide coverage. Enjoy the night, Magpie fans! And please read Jonathan Horn’s match report from the ‘G.
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Great to have our Guardian readers along for the ride with us. To Bob, who wrote from Athens to say a bar showing the grand final was going on not far from their apartment, what a ripper that place is. I was there watching the Cats dominate against the Swans last year.
Craig McRae, who is in his second season as Collingwood coach, said he always felt the Magpies were a “special” group. “I can see special things happening throughout training and we kept getting better every day. Now they are a premiership team. Two years ago, when we started our journey, this campaign, one of the major focuses was to bring the fans along for the journey. It’s been a hell of a ride. Thank you to the Magpie Army. We love you very much. You are incredible and you drive us every week to win the close games. You inspire us. This one is for you.”
I’m still recovering from the McRae bombshell. Anyway, the Collingwood coach did pay tribute to Chris Fagan and the Lions, with whom he was a premiership player during their dynasty between 2001 and 2003. “I’d like to pay my respect to Fages and the Brisbane Lions. I always have a soft spot for you guys,” he said. “It is one one of the best games I’ve been involved in. Congratulations on your year.”
Collingwood coach Craig McRae delivers a bombshell! His wife gave birth to a daughter this morning. And now he is a premiership coach! What an incredible day for the man known as “Fly”. Peter Moore with the honour of presenting the premiership cup to his son Darcy and McRae as the celebrations continue at the MCG.
As if this day could get any better for Craig McRae!
— AFL (@AFL) September 30, 2023
Congrats, @flybags4 and Gabrielle on the arrival of your daughter this morning 👶#AFLGF pic.twitter.com/RU0kxzcb5e
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Collingwood captain Darcy Moore provokes massive roars of “Colllllllliiinnnngggggwoood” from the MCG stands after praising the support of their “19th man”, the Magpie Army.
Your passion, your loyalty, has made being a Collinghwood player this season something really special. Thank you for all those times you’ve dragged us across the line, all the times you’ve yelled at our TV. We feel it all and we are so grateful.
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Collingwood captain Darcy Moore pays tribute to Brisbane from the podium, saying they should be proud of their season and also their grand final performance. “You’ve played some unbelievable football and you’ve held yourselves in great character and we’ve really admired you all season long,” he said.
Today felt like a fitting end to what was an amazing season of football. Congratulations on an incredible season. We look forward to many more battles like that in the seasons to come.
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Dual-Geelong premiership coach Mark “Bomber” Thompson presents Collingwood coach Craig McRae with the Jock McHale Medallion as the flag winning coach.
The boy presenting Nick Daicos his premiership medallion tells the young Magpie champion he “should be very proud”. Well said. And spot on. What a star Daicos is. The crowd chants “USA. USA. USA” and waves American flags as Mason Cox receives his medallion.
"You should be very proud" 🥹#AFLGF pic.twitter.com/axZjzk3cmD
— AFL (@AFL) September 30, 2023
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Massive cheers for Josh Daicos and Jordan de Goey, among other Magpies, as each player takes to the stage to receive their premiership medallion. But the biggest cheer of all is saved for former skipper Scott Pendlebury, who raises his arms in triumph on the podium.
Bobby Hill wins the Norm Smith medal
Collingwood forward Bobby Hill wins the Norm Smith medal for best afield, former dual-Brownlow medallist Chris Judd announces. What a remarkable recruit he has proven after being recruited to the Magpies from Greater Western Sydney. His four first half goals set the tone for the Magpies and he remained lively throughout the grand final.
I’d like to thank Brisbane for a great game. To everyone at the Collingwood Football Club, thank you for obviously making me and my family welcome here. To the Collingwood faithful, we love you guys. Up the Pies.
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Brisbane co-captain Harris Andrews congratulates Collingwood and sends a message to his team; “Let’s go again next year”.
There are Daicos’s everywhere as popular former umpire Glenn James presents the grand final umpires with their medals for officiating the thriller.
As Collingwood players celebrate on the ground and the Magpie Army is raucous with joy in the grand stands at the MCG, the devastation on the Lions players is clear. To come so close and still fall shy is a bitter blow for all. Across the MCG their despair is clear. It was a mighty season but there are no flags for finishing second. How critical was the 50-metre penalty issued against Jarrod Berry late in the term? What about some of the misses? There are so many what if moments in grand finals and Brisbane, to their chagrin, will have much to consider over the off-season.
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Collingwood captain Darcy Moore is stunned by the success. He said “so much had to go right to pull off today and we did it”. “It was fun to play. I am sure it was fun to watch. There were so many clutch moments. It was incredible. Brisbane was unbelievable all day and kept coming at us. I am lost for words,” Moore said. “I grew up a Collingwood supporter. I was here in 2010, 2003, 2002, sitting in the stands. It feels surreal. It is just bizarre.”
Collingwood captain Darcy Moore is hugging his father, Peter Moore, a Magpies champion. Nick Daicos, who played brilliantly, pays tribute to the Collingwood coaching staff led by Craig McRae. “The coaching staff put a lot of faith in all of us to take it on. It was a fast start and end of the game (we were) composed. I can’t believe it. I’m lost for words.”
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The Colliwobbles are over! After a remarkable grand final, Collingwood win their first premiership in a grand final played in September since 1958. A remarkable performance by the Magpies, which fought grimly to hold off a gallant Brisbane in what was an outstanding grand final. It is their smallest winning grand final margin since their flag in 1903. It is their 16th premiership overall.
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Full-time: Collingwood 12.18 (90) v Brisbane 13.8 (86)
Collingwood are the premiers! The Magpies win a thrilling grand final by four points over Brisbane.
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Q4. 1.30 minute remaining. Collingwood 12.18 (90) v Brisbane 13.8 (86) Daniher. Daniher. Daniher! Joe Daniher gives Brisbane a chance with 90 seconds left with a snap around the corner. Collingwood by four points.
Q4. 3 minutes remaining. Collingwood 12.18 (90) v Brisbane 12.8 (80) Collingwood are defending grimly. Scott Pendlebury has moved to the backline to add another layer of defence to Collingwood’s backline. The Magpies lead by 10 points.
Q4. 4 minutes remaining. Collingwood 12.18 (90) v Brisbane 12.8 (80) Steele Sidebottom puts the Magpies 10 points in front with an incredible goal from outside 50m. What an amazing kick! And what a gift from the Lions. Sidebottom had marked on the wing, but was held up by Jarrod Berry, who gives away a 50-metre penalty. The Pies by 10 points.
Q4. 5 minutes remaining. Collingwood 11.18 (84) v Brisbane 12.8 (80) Collingwood is back in front! Jordan de Goey is the man. He receives a handball from Nick Daicos and kicks a ripsnorter on the run from outside 50 metres. What a grand final this is turning out to be!
Q4. 5 minutes remaining. Collingwood 10.18 (78) v Brisbane 12.8 (80) Cameron! Charlie Cameron puts Brisbane in front, somehow managing to keep his feet after fumbling before snapping truly on his left foot. He leaps in delight after kicking his third for the match.
Q4. 6 minutes remaining. Collingwood 10.18 (78) v Brisbane 11.8 (74) The blood is pumping. Hearts are all aflutter. A premiership is on the line. A flag to be one. Who will prove the hero in the final six minutes? De Goey? Cameron? Neale? Daicos?
Q4. 8 minutes remaining. Collingwood 10.18 (78) v Brisbane 11.8 (74) The crowd is 100,024. A full house for a thriller. And they are going ballistic in the stands!
Q4. 9 minutes remaining. Collingwood 10.18 (78) v Brisbane 11.8 (74) The Lions are coming … one point at a time. This time it is Eric Hipwood missing from outside 50 metres. The last seven scores in the match have been behinds. After both sides kicked nine goals each in the opening half, they have managed just three between them since.
Q4. 11 minutes remaining. Collingwood 10.18 (78) v Brisbane 11.7 (73) Keidean Coleman has caught the inaccuracy bug! Another behind, though admittedly it was a tough one on the run from outside 50 metres. Were there better options?
Q4. 13 minutes remaining. Collingwood 10.18 (78) v Brisbane 11.6 (72) A Brisbane behind! Joe Daniher misses to the left from 40 metres out on a 45-degree angle. The inaccuracy is contagious. Meanwhile, Brisbane triggered its substitute Jarryd Lyons into the grand final, with Callum Ah Chee the Lion replaced.
Q4. 15 minutes remaining. Collingwood 10.18 (78) v Brisbane 11.5 (71) Another behind for Collingwood, though this one is rushed after a long-range attempt from Jordan de Goey. Mason Cox, meanwhile, had heading off the ground and into the rooms after injuring himself in a marking contest.
Q4. 17 minutes remaining. Collingwood 10.17 (77) v Brisbane 11.5 (71) The Magpies keep missing! First Nick Daicos from a tough angle, then Bobby Hill from a set shot. Anguish is evident on the fans of faces. Charlie Cameron was booed by the Collingwood army in the first minute after a heavy bump on Jeremy Howe, who was in agony after being crunched.
The Magpies have outscored their rivals in 13 of the 25 final terms they have played this year. Brisbane are slightly below 50%, having claimed 12 of the final 25 quarters they have played. But it is all to play for. Who will stand up in the last quarter of the 2023 season? Jarryd Lyons, the Brisbane substitute, is yet to be unleashed into the action. Could he have an impact?
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Three-quarter time: Collingwood 10.15 (75) v Brisbane 11.5 (71)
Lincoln McCarthy narrowly misses with a set shot that would have claimed the lead for Brisbane heading into the last term. What a thriller is unfolding at the MCG! Time to stock up for the final term, because this is shaping as a grand final for the ages. Geelong in 2009 is the last team to win a grand final when trailing at the final break, but given the lead changes today, Brisbane will fancy its chances.
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Q3. 3 minutes remaining. Collingwood 10.15 (75) v Brisbane 11.4 (70) Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury kicks his first goal in a grand final to put the Magpies back in front. The Collingwood crowd roars with delight to celebrate Pendlebury, who is playing his 383rd game. Selfless play from Bobby Hill, who gave up a shot from near the boundary to pass to the ex-Collingwood skipper.
Q3. 4 minutes remaining. Collingwood 9.15 (69) v Brisbane 11.4 (70) Mason Cox has been reported! The American Pie is booked for elbowing Darcy Gardiner in the head, though there appeared nothing malicious in the incident.
Q3. 5 minutes remaining. Collingwood 9.15 (69) v Brisbane 11.4 (70) Bobby Hill’s magical run comes to an end with the Magpie missing with a set shot. Inaccuracy is starting to become an issue for Collingwood, with the Magpies having nine more shots than their rivals, but trailing by one point. Mason Cox narrowly missed a shot one minute earlier when attempting to make something out of nothing near the goal square.
Q3. 8 minutes remaining. Collingwood 9.13 (67) v Brisbane 11.4 (70) Deven Robertson kicks the Lions second for the term to put Brisbane back in front! Brisbane was able to catch the Magpies on the run, with Robertson able to mark on his own inside attack. Joe Daniher won possession on the wing, moved it quickly to Callum Ah Chee, who kicked long to Robertson.
Q3. 8 minutes remaining. Collingwood 9.13 (67) v Brisbane 10.4 (64) Just one goal in the first 17 minutes of the third term! The free-flowing footy has been replaced by a stop-start tempo, with the desperate defensive actions from both teams coming to the fore. Collingwood has had eight more scoring shots, with Jack Ginnivan the most recent Magpie to have shot when narrowly missing with a dribble-kick from the boundary line.
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Q3. 12 minutes remaining. Collingwood 9.12 (66) v Brisbane 10.4 (64) Hugh McCluggage kicks the opening goal of the third term after a deliberate setup from the Lions. He marked on the wing but was brought within scoring range when Oleg Markov gave away a 50-metre penalty for failing to man the mark correctly. Brayden Maynard hit the post with a testing shot from just inside 50 metres moments earlier.
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Q3. 13 minutes remaining. Collingwood 9.11 (65) v Brisbane 9.4 (58) Collingwood has had the better of the third quarter to date without a massive impact on the scoreboard. Brisbane have flooded numbers back to provide cover for their defence but, as a result, had few targets to kick for in attack when winning possession. After a free-flowing and high-scoring first half, the contest has tightened up.
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Q3. 15 minutes remaining. Collingwood 9.11 (65) v Brisbane 9.4 (58) Jamie Elliott falls short with a set shot from 35 metres out with the second half underway at the MCG. Shade is starting to cover the MCG, with more than half the ground now shielded from the sun on a blazing day in Melbourne.
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Half-time entertainment. After a frantic opening half, grand final stalwart Mark Seymour delivers some classics topped off by the Holy Grail which, of course, is what Collingwood and Brisbane are chasing. Seymour sets a mellow tone, which is probably a good thing for the hearts of fans given the score changed six times in the opening half. Talk about needing a breather! I’m off for a meat pie, heavy on the tomato sauce, and will be back in a second.
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What happens if it’s a draw? No one wants a repeat of 2010. The AFL have provided some information about the additional time process if scores are tied.
Process:
1. Goal umpires confirm scores are identical;
2. There is a six-minute break;
3. Teams change ends;
4. Three minutes of additional time shall be played, plus time-on;
5. At the end of the first additional time period, the siren will sound and teams will immediately change ends without a break;
6. The ball will be bounced (or thrown up) in the centre and a further three minutes of play (plus time-on) will commence;
7. At the conclusion of this period, the siren will sound and the team with the highest score is declared the winner;
8. If scores are still tied, steps three to eight are repeated until a result is determined.
Oof let’s hope for everyone’s sake that we don’t have to get to step eight.
This has truly been a superb grand final with the brilliance of stars from both sides coming to the fore. From the excellence of Collingwood’s small forwards led by Bobby Hill to Zac Bailey and Lincoln McCarthy’s magnificence at the other end, the skills on show have been sublime. Critical match-ups, too, have been important. Brownlow medallists Lachie Neale and Tom Mitchell have endured an even battle so far, with the Magpie marginally on top. Harris Andrews has been unable to find enough space given the close-checking of Billy Frampton, who is effectively playing as a defensive tall forward. It will be fascinating to see whether the heat plays a part in the second quarter, so frenetic has the action been to date. Collingwood has the lead courtesy of goals after the quarter-time and half-time sirens, but it would be a brave person to predict a victor at this stage.
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Norm Smith medal. Bobby Hill has set the MCG alive with brilliant goals and a proper speccie! If the Norm Smith Medal was awarded at half-time, his eye-catching deeds would surely have him at the forefront of judges minds. Nick Daicos has had 19 touches and used the ball beautifully and is among the contenders. Keidean Coleman has a staggering 22 disposals, 19 of them kicks, and has been creative off half-back. Brisbane forwards Joe Daniher and Zac Bailey, in particular, will also have claims if they can finish the grand final strongly.
Here’s who will be voting for today’s best on ground award, which will be presented by Chris Judd:
The judges for the 2023 Norm Smith Medal have been announced 🏅#AFLGF pic.twitter.com/T8q4AR0Z19
— AFL (@AFL) September 29, 2023
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Half-time: Collingwood 9.9 (63) v Brisbane 9.3 (57)
Collingwood leads Brisbane by six points at half-time after Jack Crisp kicks his second goal for the quarter from a set shot after the siren! It follows a similar effort from Jordan de Goey at quarter-time in a grand final being played at a frantic pace. Credit to Nick Daicos, who has been superb from the opening minute, who used some beautiful evasive skills on the wing to open space for Collingwood.
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Q2. 1 minute remaining. Collingwood 8.9 (57) v Brisbane 9.3 (57) Joe Daniher has his second for the match, and the Lions their first from a set shot, with scores again level in a thrilling grand final! Daniher is not always the truest set shot, but he weaved that shot from a tight angle after taking a strong mark, despite the attention of Collingwood captain Darcy Moore.
Q2. 2 minutes remaining. Collingwood 8.9 (57) v Brisbane 8.3 (51) Bobby Hill, you beauty! The Magpies small forward kicks his fourth for the grand final, using his superb elusive skills to wheel on to his right foot, before bouncing back to his left. It is a career-high for Hill and this grand final is not yet at half-time.
Q2. 5 minutes remaining. Collingwood 7.8 (50) v Brisbane 8.2 (50) Bobby Hill is lighting up the MCG, this time soaring high for a brilliant mark over Brandon Starcevich. He kicks his third for the match and the margin is back to one point. Keidean Coleman, meanwhile, has 18 disposals already, which is more than his season average of 16 touches per game.
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Q2. 7 minutes remaining. Collingwood 6.7 (43) v Brisbane 8.2 (50) Jack Crisp responds for the Magpies with a set shot from outside 50 metres! It is a goal against his former side and also against the tide of the second quarter. Tom Mitchell has been influential with the assist in both of Collingwood’s goals for the term.
Q2. 8 minutes remaining. Collingwood 5.7 (37) v Brisbane 8.2 (50) Lincoln McCarthy, my word! The Lion forward kicks another ripper. After receiving a handball out of a pack, McCarthy kicks his second from near the boundary line with a phenomenal finish. The Lions have kicked five goals to one in the second term.
Q2. 10 minutes remaining. Collingwood 5.7 (37) v Brisbane 7.1 (43) Joe Daniher breaks the deadlock with his first goal for the grand final, making the most of a chance from close range. Both Daniher and Eric Hipwood have been lively around the ground. The Lions are scoring from chances in general play as opposed to set shots.
Q2. 11 minutes remaining. Collingwood 5.7 (37) v Brisbane 6.1 (37) All square at the MCG after Beau McCreery narrowly misses with an ambitious attempt from well outside 50m. The Magpies forward took two bounces on the run before having a shot.
It’s a warm day for the grand final, with the temperature currently at 29C. And the action has been even hotter on the MCG with the big stars all contributing. For those with an interest in the Norm Smith medal, Nick Daicos already has 11 possessions, with the quality of his possessions productive for the Magpies.
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Q2. 16 minutes remaining. Collingwood 5.4 (34) v Brisbane 6.1 (37) Charlie Cameron is on the loose at the G! The star Lion, who has a terrific record against Collingwood, is livening up the Lions. He kicks his second by sprinting into an open goal. Cam Rayner deserves credit for a crucial assist earlier in the passage.
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Q2. 17 minutes remaining. Collingwood 5.4 (34) v Brisbane 5.1 (31) Bobby Hill kicks his second goal as Collingwood’s small forwards continue to have an impact against the Lions. His opponent Kidean Coleman was caught ball-gazing and is left in plenty of space.
Q2. 19 minutes remaining. Collingwood 4.4 (28) v Brisbane 5.0 (30) Hugh McCluggage was quiet in the first term but has burst to life early in the second. After Charlie Cameron zipped the ball into the forward line, McCluggage kicks Brisbane’s second in two minutes to claim the lead for the Lions!
Q2. 20 minutes remaining. Collingwood 4.4 (28) v Brisbane 4.0 (24) Charlie Cameron kicks a superb goal and celebrates wildly as the Lions start the second quarter on fire. But Nathan Murphy is sitting on the bench with his head in his hands having been ruled out of the match due to concussion. Lipinski is into the fray.
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A pretty decent quarter to kick off the afternoon. On a splendid day in Melbourne, the skills in front of goal have been superb from both sides. Nick Daicos was the first goal kicker, Zac Bailey has booted two which could be considered goal of the day candidates and the Magpies nail two in the last two minutes to get on top.
Quarter-time: Collingwood 4.4 (28) v Brisbane 3.0 (18)
Jordan de Goey kicks a superb set shot goal from outside 50m after the siren to give the Magpies a 10-point lead at quarter-time at the MCG! The Collingwood star had been well-held throughout the first quarter but when his time to shine comes, de Goey delivers in a moment that gives the Magpies the momentum.
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Q1. 2 minutes remaining. Collingwood 3.3 (21) v Brisbane 3.0 (18) Collingwood forward Brody Mihocek shows superb composure from near the boundary line to snap a goal that puts the Magpies back in front! But Oleg Markov can claim a hand in the goal, having laid a superb tackle on Lion Cameron Rayner as he was about to put Brisbane into attack.
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Q1. 4 minutes remaining. Collingwood 2.2 (14) v Brisbane 3.0 (18) Collingwood defender Nathan Murphy comes from the ground after receiving a knock to the head from Lincoln McCarthy. He will be assessed, but Collingwood’s substitute Patrick Lipinski is warming up.
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Q1. 5 minutes remaining. Collingwood 2.2 (14) v Brisbane 3.0 (18) Zac Bailey does it again, showing remarkable evasive skills near the boundary to kick his second brilliant goal for the quarter. The smart forward was able to bounce off bodies, compose himself and snap truly from 35 metres out.
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Q1. 8 minutes remaining. Collingwood 2.2 (14) v Brisbane 2.0 (12) Another brilliant goal on the run for the Lions, with Lincoln McCarthy accepting a handball from Eric Hipwood and kicking beautifully from 48 metres out.
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Q1. 10 minutes remaining. Collingwood 2.2 (14) v Brisbane 1.0 (6) Collingwood’s small forwards Bobby Hill, Beau McCreery and Jamie Elliott have been lively early, with the latter two missing difficult chances early on. The Lions forwards are pressing up the ground to offer support to their defenders, which means the Magpies defenders have been able to intercept their rare forays forward. Josh Dunkley is manning Jordan de Goey and has held him quietly early on.
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Q1. 13 minutes remaining. Collingwood 2.0 (12) v Brisbane 1.0 (6) Zac Bailey kicks a ripping goal for Brisbane on the run from the half-forward flank. Oscar McInerney found him brilliantly from the ruck and Bailey was able to kick a goal from a tight angle just inside 50m.
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Q1. 16 minutes remaining. Collingwood 2.0 (12) v Brisbane 0.0 (0) Collingwood are off to a flyer in the grand final after Bobby Hill marked and kicked a set shot from 45 metres. He celebrates wildly afterwards. The Magpies are on top in the midfield.
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Q1. 17 minutes remaining. Collingwood 1.0 (6) v Brisbane 0.0 (0) Nick Daicos receives the opening goal of the match after earning a free kick for too high, with a tackle from Ryan Lester slipping up over the shoulder of the star Magpie.
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The 2023 AFL grand final is under way!
Thanks Jo, great work. Brisbane captain Lachie Neale called heads correctly at the coin toss and we are underway at the MCG! The action is frantic early. Brayden Maynard is tasked with manning star Brisbane forward Charlie Cameron, who has kicked 17 goals in his last four matches against Collingwood. Brisbane co-captain Harris Andrews has picked up Billy Frampton, who was called into the Collingwood side this week, early in the match. The recalled Magpie has been good in two early contests on Andrews.
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I will hand the blog over to Courtney Walsh now for the bounce. Thanks for joining me for the buildup.
Time for the national anthem performed by Kate Miller-Heidke. (Who will also perform at half-time with Mark Seymour and the Undertow – see Geoff Lemon’s piece re Seymour.)
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The official proceedings have started. MC Hamish McLachlan has introduced Josh Kennedy as he brings out the cup. Peter Moore (AFL great and Darcy Moore’s dad) and Brisbane hero Leigh Matthews walk the cup on to the field.
And now Uncle Colin Hunter Jr is performing the Welcome to Country.
The 10-minute countdown starts.
OK I thought this ad was pretty fun. Mainly because Cortnee Vine is in it. Iconic.
Not the match ball…it’s happened again!
— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 30, 2023
Thankfully, it’s #AAMItotherescue 💪#AFLGF pic.twitter.com/bA6d8Wpwp0
And now the Pies. Darcy Moore looks so happy, he can’t wipe the cheesy grin off his face. What a day for the Collingwood captain.
Out come the Lions into the sun. Not the biggest of roars to be fair.
Jordan De Goey, who appears to be having a bop in the rooms, was phenomenal in the semi-final. A sign of what’s to come today?
Then, on Monday night, Lachie Neale surprised everyone including himself to win his second Brownlow medal. He will be one to watch today
And from Jonathan Horn earlier this season, before Hawthorn’s Finn Maginness demonstrated it was possible to take Nick Daicos out of the game.
Here come the umpires and the match ball!
On the whistle today is veteran Matt Stevic in his 11th AFL grand final, with fellow field umpires Simon Meredith, grand final debutant Hayden Gavine and 2023 All-Australian umpire Robert Findlay. Andrew Stephens is the emergency field umpire.
Ian Burrows, Christopher Gordon, Matt Tomkins and Michael Barlow will run the boundary. The goal umpires will be Adam Wojcik and Angus Mckenzie-Wills.
Shame there’s no women umpiring today.
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The teams are confirmed, Kiss have left, Mike Brady has sung Up Their Cazaly.
Now, Craig Little has you covered with where this grand final will be won and lost on the field.
Who wins at a packed MCG on Saturday will come down to pressure, ball movement and making the most of the critical moments. There are several players though, who due to matchups or because of who they are, will likely impact the result.
OK that’s enough of that. We are inching closer to the actual footy. I can almost taste it. That’s a lie all I can taste is maltesers.
It’s 20 years since Brisbane’s three-peat. Jonathan Horn looked back at five classic matches between the two grand finalists.
Kiss finally take to their black, white and glittering stage with the crowd-pleaser I Was Made for Lovin’ You. Accompanied by quite the pyrotechnics display!
🎶 I was made for loving you, baby! 🎶@kiss rocking the @Telstra Pre-Game Entertainment!#AFLGF pic.twitter.com/7DZl7bUIZm
— AFL (@AFL) September 30, 2023
🗣️ "We want to hear you people ... Shout It Out Loud!"#AFLGF pic.twitter.com/qHwUvBfjYF
— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 30, 2023
Oh my god now there are lots of small children dressed up as Kiss members.
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Lineups: Brisbane 22
FB: [37] Brandon Starcevich, [31] Harris Andrews, [27] Darcy Gardiner
HB: [26] Conor McKenna, [35] Ryan Lester, [18] Keidean Coleman
C: [6] Hugh McCluggage, [5] Josh Dunkley, [15] Dayne Zorko
HF: [23] Charlie Cameron, [30] Eric Hipwood, [4] Callum Ah Chee
FF: [16] Cam Rayner, [3] Joe Daniher, [33] Zac Bailey
Fol: [46] Oscar McInerney, [9] Lachie Neale, [7] Jarrod Berry
IC: [2] Deven Robertson, [11] Lincoln McCarthy, [28] Jaspa Fletcher, [44] Darcy Wilmot
EMG: [17] Jarryd Lyons, [29] James Tunstill, [32] Darcy Fort, [40] Jack Payne
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Lineups: Collingwood 22
FB: [28] Nathan Murphy, [30] Darcy Moore, [38] Jeremy Howe
HB: [4] Brayden Maynard, [17] Billy Frampton, [3] Isaac Quaynor
C: [22] Steele Sidebottom, [10] Scott Pendlebury, [37] Oleg Markov
HF: [23] Bobby Hill, [41] Brody Mihocek, [5] Jamie Elliott
FF: [31] Beau McCreery, [2] Jordan De Goey, [7] Josh Daicos
Fol: [46] Mason Cox, [35] Nick Daicos, [25] Jack Crisp
IC: [6] Tom Mitchell, [14] Darcy Cameron, [32] Will Hoskin-Elliott, [33] Jack Ginnivan
Sub: [1] Patrick Lipinski
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Of course by far the biggest name to hang up their boots this year was Lance Franklin. But the notoriously shy Swan is not at the MCG today.
Mike Brady has been very busy this week, as always. The very voice of September himself performed at the grand final parade yesterday, as well as at events earlier in the week and is now taking to the stage in the MCG to farewell the retirees.
Fair crew here ready for the Toyota AFL Retiree Motorcade!#AFLGF pic.twitter.com/JFyckbqkB7
— AFL (@AFL) September 30, 2023
It’s time for this year’s retiring players to say their grand final goodbyes.
It starts with a stunning rendition of Waltzing Matilda by First Nations artists William Barton and Jess Hitchcock. Wow.
And the motorcade begins. Leading the way are Richmond greats Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin.
On announcing his retirement, Riewoldt said he was “ready for the next chapter”, which we now know will involve the AFL’s newest franchise in Tasmania, where he is from.
There’s also West Coast’s Nic Naitanui, Geelong’s Isaac Smith and Sydney’s Paddy McCartin out there today.
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Richmond great Matthew Richardson is interviewing Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of Kiss. It is, umm, insightful. They have their makeup on now.
Stanley says he is PUMPED!
This is exciting for us because we are new, you know, over the years to footy, but the grand final and seeing the two best teams, you know, this season, it’s warriors colliding.
We know American football but to see everybody without shoulder pads and helmets, it’s brutal but incredibly exciting. So, we’re not taking sides, although we may look like we’re taking sides.
Simmons is ready too.
Anybody who’s not out there for the kill, get off the field. Either the Lions or the Pies. Who is it gonna be?
Kiss will take to the stage in about 20 or 30 minutes I think.
A good omen for the Pies?
Collingwood have beaten Essendon by 20 points in the AFLW just down the round from the MCG!
The Pies keep their season alive 💪#AFLWPiesDons pic.twitter.com/GId3WD29v6
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) September 30, 2023
After Barassi’s death there were calls for the premiership trophy to be renamed in his honour.
The AFL have said they will not decide on how best to pay tribute to Barassi until after the grand final, AAP reports.
Outgoing chief executive Gillon McLachlan last week acknowledged there was pressure on the AFL to make a decision on its Barassi tribute before Saturday’s grand final.
But the league was unable to settle on a call in time for the Collingwood-Brisbane Lions season decider at the MCG.
“The AFL will continue to work with the Barassi family on a fitting tribute to Ron,” the league said in a statement on Saturday.
“[CEO elect] Andrew Dillon and his team will do that during the off-season.”
AFL bosses have been consulting with clubs and key industry figures over how to acknowledge Barassi’s contribution to the game.
McLachlan has said the tribute will probably be similar to the league’s acknowledgment of Norm Smith and Jock McHale, who have grand final awards named after them.
There is a bit of a lull in activity now before the grand final motorcade. I thought it might be a good time to reflect on some very sad news from earlier this finals series, the death of Ron Barassi.
Barassi was one of the sport’s biggest champions, on and off the field, in every sense of the word. He was loved for his revolutionary playing style, his advocacy for the sport’s growth and expansion, and his many, many premierships as both player and coach.
As Jonathan Horn wrote in his beautiful obituary, Barassi was the true embodiment of Australian rules football.
Few Australians dominated, influenced and defined their sport quite like him. Few inspired fear, reverence and affection in such equal measure.
Very relevant.
Something that will no doubt feature in this blog, and the stories of many media outlets across the country today, will be the photography of one particular man, Michael Willson.
Jonathan Horn spoke to the renowned football photographer on what it takes to capture such a fast-paced game, and in particular, a grand final.
Who is the fastest AFL player?
Max Holmes from Geelong! Holmes just won the grand final sprint.
Apparently he was the only one wearing spikes which seems pretty unfair. Although he said his opponents made fun of him for that so maybe it balances out.
This was the final lineup 100 metre dash across the hallowed turf:
Adelaide – Mitchell Hinge
Brisbane – Jaxon Prior
Geelong – Max Holmes
GWS – Harry Rowston
Hawthorn – Josh Weddle
Melbourne – Jed Adams
Port Adelaide – Jed McEntee
Western Bulldogs – Ed Richards
Holmes and hosed! 🥇
— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 30, 2023
The @GeelongCats’ Max Holmes blitzes the field to win the 2023 AFL Grand Final Sprint 👏 #AFLGF pic.twitter.com/Mkyt8JCnkL
There is a bit of wind around today, picking up dust from the quite dry Yarra Park and swirling it around the growing crowd outside the G.
Winds gusting close to 30km/h but due to ease in the afternoon. Little bother for these fans. pic.twitter.com/ZHLO4DGVgd
— Jack Snape (@jacksongs) September 30, 2023
On Brisbane and Fagan, my colleague Courtney Walsh, who will takeover from me on the blog in a couple of hours, wrote during the week about how the Lions’ humble attitude had helped get them where they are today – within reach of lifting the premiership trophy.
If a “no dickheads” recruitment policy was a factor in the Swans stunning consistency this century, Brisbane’s rise to grand finalist in part stems from a no-fuss attitude. The humble Lions, if you will. From the chair to the coach, inclusive of the co-captains, flashy forwards and dashing defenders, humility is a common thread at Brisbane.
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has been speaking to Seven.
In terms of our record here at the MCG, I can’t argue with it. It’s not very good. When you get to a grand final, I don’t think it matters where you are playing. To be truthful, I honestly feel like our last two years of playing here, we have had much better performances. And that win in last year’s final against Melbourne gives us confidence that we can do it again.
We have great ground level players … if we can mark it and bring it down, it brings them into play and they are hard to stop. I will be trying to do that again today. And they will be trying to intercept mark. But, yeah, that has been a focus of ours. I don’t know, we have won the last six games against Collingwood, I think.
And on his plan for grand final day:
I will have a little 10-minute meeting with the players. There will be nothing new that I will talk about in there. We will show them a bit of a pump-up video at the end. Just to make theme feel good. Get out and play. It’s about the body of work across the whole course of the seasonal. Today’s the pinnacle of that. To overcook it would be a mistake.
On Kiss:
They are pretty old those guys aren’t they.
And I highly recommend this lovely story from Caitlin Cassidy about how she came to support the Magpies and the inevitable turmoil she has endured since.
For the sake of transparency it is important to disclose that the Guardian’s Melbourne office is full of Pies supporters. Bless them.
Antoun Issa and Caitlin Cassidy are in uniform and ready to go.
The Guardian's Collingwood contingent - we're ready! @caitecassidy #AFLGrandFinal #GoPies pic.twitter.com/aKiV4XGu5p
— Antoun Issa (@antissa) September 30, 2023
Antoun also runs the Pies’ pride group and wrote this great column for us during the finals series.
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OK on to some footy! Before we get into the teams a little later, let’s take a look back at last weekend’s semi-finals.
The first semi was between the Pies and the Giants. Guardian AFL writer Jonathan Horn was at the game and filed this report all about stairs and moments.
All year, Craig McRae has spoken about “taking the stairs”. He was in London over summer and saw a man at a Tube station eschew the escalator and bound up the steps. McRae photographed it, sent it to his players and has used it as a hook all year. It’s a variation on Allan Jeans’ “pay the price” speech at half-time in the 1989 grand final. McRae even had the entire playing list and staff running the stairs at the MCG prior to the Boxing Day Test. He took them to the top of the Shane Warne Stand. “If we don’t take the stairs this year, we’ll be sitting here on grand final day,” he told them.
Collingwood x Kiss
Kiss and Pies fan Robert tracked down this collectors item jumper four years after the band’s 2013 tour. It’s worth $1,000 now. He’s going to see Kiss in Sydney next week. “Lots of brownie points I’ve got to earn from the good lady wife.” pic.twitter.com/yURsV6oQYP
— Jack Snape (@jacksongs) September 30, 2023
MC Hamish McLachlan just described Kiss as “the great rock band of our era, our parents and their parents and their parents’ era”.
I feel like that sums up the choice of artist quite well.
Scottie Pippen aside, there is quite the smörgåsbord of pre-mid-post-game entertainment on offer today. To give you a taste of what’s to come, here is a photo of the main act, but without their normal stage makeup.
There will be AFL players running fast, classic Aussie rules anthems, American rockers rocking, and the actual anthem.
That all starts at the MCG in less than half an hour, until then I highly recommend reading Geoff Lemon’s thoughts on the performers of past finals:
It’s Scottie Pippen! Because that makes total sense at the AFL grand final …
The six-time NBA champion is in Australia (I assume for the start of the NBL season, he is wearing a NBL-branded bomber jacket), and is putting in an appearance at the MCG.
The basketballer tells Brian Taylor that he has been a fan of footy his whole life, hmmm.
We were arguing last night over dinner about the best athletes in the world are. AFL athletes are in the competition. About the amount of distance they travel.
I have to go for the Lions.
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Conditions
To put it simply … day for it.
It feels like a glorious summer day in Melbourne, but then you remember it’s only September and it becomes slightly more worrisome.
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a top of 29C and sunny conditions, making it one of the warmer grand final days. That temperature is well above average, although a few degrees off the hottest temperature which was in 2015.
Also spare a thought for our cross-code friends in Sydney tomorrow. The forecast for NRLW grand final at 3.55pm AEDT is a whopping 34C. If the men are lucky it may just dip below 30C in time for the NRL decider later in the evening.
On tickets, there were issues at the start of the week with some Collingwood members not able to access the right allocations and some missing out.
It prompted the Magpies’ CEO Craig Kelly to call for more tickets to be on offer for the teams competing in the grand final:
As usual fans are out and about early today, making their way to the MCG and soaking in the atmosphere.
Jack Snape is on the ground and has met some supporters still on the hunt for those elusive tickets.
Down at the MCG and tickets are in hot demand. The lowest offer to these fellas so far is $1,000, but opportunists are quoting as much as $5,000. pic.twitter.com/6UPWwlGPcI
— Jack Snape (@jacksongs) September 30, 2023
Here’s an update from Yarra Trams about getting to the G
@AFL finals football is live at the @MCG today when @CollingwoodFC do battle with @brisbanelions. We’ve got extra trams to get you to and from the big match!
— Yarra Trams (@yarratrams) September 30, 2023
Details: https://t.co/WIsIwFhq8r
Plan your journey https://t.co/TXiiaUZGtV#Collingwood #BrisbaneLions #PTV pic.twitter.com/Q1OFiS2yi8
And while we’re on transportation, earlier this week we heard that some fans were going to extraordinary lengths to get to Melbourne, and that flight and accommodation prices were soaring.
Guardian sport reporter Jack Snape met a couple at the parade yesterday who had driven down from Brisbane (straight after arriving back from an overseas trip) and were still on the hunt for tickets and accommodation. Serious dedication, or foolishness, not sure. I hope they found somewhere.
Have you been on the road for three days, or are you flying in from overseas for this? I would love to hear your grand final travel stories, and just generally what people are up to today.
My (English) parents used to always book a holiday for this weekend because it was quiet out of town! Thanks mum and dad.
A sight for sore eyes this morning. Would you look at this stadium … just magical.
Good morning and welcome to Grand Final day. pic.twitter.com/PhYw3pM73u
— Melbourne Cricket Ground (@MCG) September 29, 2023
Preamble
Hello, Jo Khan here with you on this glorious spring day. Congratulations! We have made it to the greatest Saturday in September, that one day, when football’s best and brightest – in this case the Pies and the Lions – go head to head in the AFL grand final. The game that stops a nation state and sends even those with the most tenuous connections to AFL into a frothing frenzy, and so it should.
If the scenes at the parade in Melbourne yesterday are anything to go by, Collingwood will dominate this grand final – in the stands at the very least – and it is going to be a raucous day. The AFL estimated there were 300,000 fans along the route through the city and along the Yarra River.
The first bounce is at 2.30pm but there is a lot to get through in the next few hours. I’ll be taking you through all the pre-game news and entertainment, plus sharing insights and analysis from the Guardian’s sportswriters on these two teams, and bringing you the latest from inside and outside the MCG in the lead-up to the first bounce.
Please get in touch with any questions or thoughts, Collingwood, Lions or other. You can find me on X, formerly Twitter, @_jokhan or shoot me an email.
The AFL grand final, and indeed this blog and blogger, are coming to you from Wurundjeri country today. Uncle Colin Hunter Jr will deliver the Welcome to Country before the bounce.
Let’s get into it!
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