Staff writer and Collingwood Superfan Mitch Baker ’25 (photo provided)
The Pies won! The 2023 Australian Rules Football Grand Final was won by the Collingwood Football Club (The Magpies or “The Pies”) in what has been described as the best final ever against the Brisbane Lions. In the end, Collingwood won by a slender margin of 4 points in a see-sawing battle that saw the lead change several times. The final score was 90 to 86, and it came down to the final seconds.
Collingwood has been known as a team that wins the close ones, and after losing a key player to a concussion early in the match, were up against it in hot conditions. The temperature was the highest ever for a Grand Final (Spring) at 85 degrees.
The 70’s/80’s band KISS provided the musical entertainment prior to the game with their hits “I was Made for Loving You” and “I Wanna Rock and Roll All Night” and did a great job on what was their last tour of Australia in front of the 100,024 people in the crowd.
Texan Mason Cox is now the only American who has won an AFL Premiership. And my idol, Scott Pendelbury, dominated in the last quarter despite being the oldest player on the ground. It was because of him that I developed a left foot!
Collingwood’s Coach, Craig McRae, took the role two years ago and has brought a change in culture and attitude. His mantra has been to create winning habits and do them daily. He’s told the players to focus on the moments and has encouraged a family environment at the club. As a result, the players are enjoying their football, and the team spirit and belief have carried them across the line.
I started supporting Collingwood as a kid, and whilst they won a Premiership in 2010, I was too young to remember it. But I go to games when I’m at home and will savor this win, as will my family!
Go Pies!
