Murphy passed concussion test; Sidebottom considered faking cramp; McRae tells Ginnivan to ‘read the room’

The 23-year-old defender, who has been a critical part of the Pies’ success, emerged from the rooms and was at the quarter-time huddle, but he was substituted for Patrick Lipinski early in the second term after his latest concussion.

“Unfortunately, I couldn’t be out there for too long today, but it was just awesome seeing the boys do their thing,” Murphy told this masthead.

“I passed the test, but I ruled myself out. I had a bit of blurry vision, and with my concussions, I kind of get them delayed. I know the concussion test off by heart now ... I’ve done that a couple of times now, where I’ve passed it, then we’ve ruled me out.

“I’m totally fine now, actually pretty good. I can’t remember too much of the game, but I’m remembering a lot of this [post-match celebration], so that’s all that matters.”

Murphy spent the rest of the match watching helplessly as Collingwood and the Brisbane Lions traded leads before magnificent Jordan De Goey and Steele Sidebottom strikes from long range delivered the Pies a four-point win.

“It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” he said, while holding the premiership cup in his left hand.

“I would have loved to have a camera on me, just seeing it, but that moment at the end was one of the best feelings ever, sharing it with everyone, so it was amazing.

“A lot of us are saying this, but it just doesn’t feel real. It feels like I need to wake up. I’ve got this medallion around my neck and I don’t know what to do with it. It’s so nice seeing everyone in here. This is like everyone’s journey mixed into one, and it’s hard to describe what’s going on right now. It’s just awesome.”

Murphy hailed everyone from Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill to American Pie, Mason Cox, while sparing a moment for hard-luck stories Dan McStay, Taylor Adams and John Noble – but saved the most praise for coach Craig McRae.

“He’s just an amazing person. It’s been a big day for him – he had his daughter this morning and now a premiership today,” Murphy said of McRae.

“We’re so lucky to have him. This wouldn’t be happening without him and the coaching staff, and I love the man to bits. Being a head coach is a tough gig sometimes, but he’s just been amazing.”

‘Everyone wants to kick you when you’re down’: Mitchell takes aim at critics

Marc McGowan
Collingwood midfielder Tom Mitchell has taken aim at his critics after a standout grand final performance, declaring he is the happiest he has ever been in his life.

The 2018 Brownlow medallist has worn significant and ongoing criticism throughout his career, even while breaking records as one of the game’s best-ever ball-winners.

The latest came when Mitchell started as the substitute, then was subbed out, in rounds 18 and 19 this year, leading some to suggest the ex-Swan and Hawk was in danger of losing his spot for the Magpies’ finals campaign.

Mitchell responded with 24 disposals, 13 tackles and seven clearances in Saturday’s four-point grand final triumph, as he became a premiership player for the first time, seven years after tasting defeat on the same stage at Sydney and 11 months after his trade from Hawthorn.

“It’s amazing. I remember I was in these exact change rooms in 2016, when we lost, and that feeling was absolutely shattering,” he told this masthead.

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“There are so many ups and downs in footy, like snapping my leg in half [in pre-season training at the start of 2019] and thinking I might not play again.

“I really wasn’t enjoying my footy last year – I wasn’t happy as a person and, to be honest, this is the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. ‘Fly’ [coach Craig McRae] always preaches that happy players produce the best results they’re capable of. I’m a believer in that, too.

“I go to training every day with a smile on my face, and I love this group of boys. They wrapped their arms around me, and all the new players, as soon I walked into the club, and I felt a part of it straight away.”

As for those critics, Mitchell did not miss them. He is typically more guarded when he speaks in the media and rarely bites back at his doubters, but this time was different.

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“I feel as though everyone’s been pretty keen to write me off throughout my whole career. I feel like I’ve proven them wrong again today – apparently, I’m not in the best 22,” he said.

“Everyone wants to kick you when you’re down, and that’s the culture we live in, unfortunately. When you have an off game, it’s the end of the world. You don’t buy into the hysteria outside the footy club – you do hear bits of it, obviously, but, to be honest, it didn’t distract me ... I’m just happy to play my small part for the team.

“We’re the most connected team I’ve ever been a part of, so I’m just proud to be a part of it. I’m so lucky that Fly and ‘Wrighty’ [football boss Graham Wright] got me to the club, and they’ve just embraced me with open arms, and given me the belief in myself, when other clubs haven’t wanted me, so it feels pretty good.”

‘Thought I would pretend to cramp’: Sidebottom reveals thoughts before kicking the match-winner

Collingwood hero Steele Sidebottom considered faking cramp to kill the clock before kicking the goal that sealed the 2023 premiership.

The veteran, who declared this flag as more special than his first in 2010, said he was initially not intending to go for glory, and passing to Nick Daicos instead, but he changed his mind when he felt the wind at his back after being awarded a 50-metre penalty.

Sidebottom’s goal proved vital in a frenetic conclusion to the grand final, giving the Magpies the buffer they needed to withstand the Lions’ late charge.

“I just thought I would pretend to cramp to try and just kill a little bit of time,” Sidebottom said. “Because we were obviously in front at that stage. And then when I got there, I realised there was a little bit of a wind and I thought I would have a crack at it. Luckily enough, it come off.”

Already, the length of his kick, from about 55 metres, is being exaggerated. “From 80, I think it was, wasn’t it?” Sidebottom said.

“How do you reckon it felt? Unbelievable. Usually, my kicks go left to right, it probably just brought it back nicely. It felt nice. I’ll remember that one for a while.”

Sidebottom was part of the Magpies team that was triumphant in 2010 – just his second season. The Pies, under Mick Malthouse, had the makings of a dynasty, but things gradually went awry.

Defeat in the 2011 grand final after being minor premiers, followed by a preliminary final loss in Nathan Buckley’s first season, a week-one exit in 2013 and missing September entirely the following season, not returning until 2018.

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“I was very young when I won the first one, this one will mean a hell of a lot more to me.”

Sidebottom was among the Pies’ best, with 20 possessions and a goal playing on the wing. He and Josh Daicos’ efforts ensured the Pies won both wings, dulling the Lions’ usual attacking panache.

When the game was on the line late, his 32-year-old legs and the mind of the oldest man on the field Scott Pendlebury ticked quicker than most.

“Our fitness staff are so good,” Sidebottom said. “They put things in place so that when it comes down to five minutes to go, we were running on top of the ground and I think our numbers throughout the year show that we finish off games.”

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‘Read the room, Jack’: Ginnivan gets a clip from McRae

Damien Ractliffe
Collingwood coach Craig McRae gave Jack Ginnivan a clip in his post-match press conference after the young Magpie spent grand final eve at Moonee Valley at the races.

“Jack’s growing up. Is he the youngest player in our team? I think he could be [after Nick Daicos],” McRae said in his post-match press conference. “There’s so much he learns from today, and don’t go to the races the day before is something I’d say.”

Asked if he wasn’t happy about Ginnivan going to Moonee Valley, McRae said: “Read the room, Jack”.

“You’ve got to grow up, but you’ve got to make mistakes to learn from them,” he said.

“He’s the youngest the player in the room [after Daicos], and he’s got great role models and resilience shown here [Bobby Hill] is a great role model for him. We’ll keep trying to educate.

“We’re not finished. We are nowhere near finished. We’ll grow and make more mistakes and then try and get better.”