Collingwood’s rooms were emotional but proud after a heart-breaking Grand Final defeat

THE sniffles broke the silence in the Magpies’ rooms but the overwhelming emotion in Collingwood’s rooms after its devastating Grand Final defeat was pride.

THE sniffles broke the silence in the Magpies’ rooms.

Workhorse midfielder Chris Mayne walked in there with tears rolling down his cheeks. while Brodie Grundy wrapped his arms around injured teammate Tim Broomhead.

President Eddie McGuire walked along the line of long faces and uttered “C’mon boys, heads up”.

ROBBO: PIES’ GREATEST STORY ENDS IN HEART-BREAK

YOUR 32-PAGE PREMIERSHIP SOUVENIR SUNDAY HERALD SUN

PROUD: BUCKLEY “NUMB”, EDDIE’S EAGLE PRAISE

Speedster Travis Varcoe bee-lined to his family, with his sister’s name Maggie written in a taped tribute around his left bicep.

And goalkicker Will Hoskin-Elliott cradled his son Flynn, rocking him with doting affection.

Collingwood has been incredibly brave this season, but it couldn’t soften the pain at 6.30pm.

Collingwood players leave the MCG as West Coast celebrates. Picture: David Caird

Nathan Buckley with his wife and sons and Will Hoskin-Elliott.

It was the opportunity of a lifetime for many of these young men, and their parents, partners, siblings and best mates ride every bump.

You could tell coach Nathan Buckley was incredibly proud of his troops and the senior coach must have dished out a hug to every player.

And everything was so genuine, so heart-felt.

He bent down on his knees to console his own two sons, Ayce and Jett, who were seemingly feeling the disappointment as much as anyone.

Only minutes earlier, in Buckley’s behind-closed-doors-meeting with the players, there were two rounds of applause.

It was a thank you, captain Scott Pendlebury said, to all the players, staff and the coaches for everyone’s around-the-clock efforts this season.

Chris Mayne, Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom after Collingwood’s loss.

What a story the Pies have been this year.

But when the players were let out from the final post-game meeting of the year, the emotional conversations with family members began to flow.

Gun defender Jeremy Howe spoke with his brother Justin, clearly devastated the Pies were so close, yet so far.

Yet the Howe family was amazed he was even out there at all after rolling his ankle in the preliminary final win over Richmond last weekend.

Justin said it looked all week like his younger brother would fail to recover from the injury.

He was struggling big-time, even to walk around his loungeroom at home, yet take on Jack Darling out on the MCG.

Jeremy Howe is consoled in the rooms after the Grand Final.

A dejected Collingwood president Eddie McGuire.

“We were at his house with him last Saturday and I looked at him icing his leg up and he couldn’t move,” Justin Howe said.

“I thought he was no chance (to play), I honestly didn’t think he would be a chance to play, so I was pretty nervous and so was the rest of the family.

“But he said ‘look, my leg would have to be broken to not play’.”

Brayden Sier’s parents Joe and Wendy were also proud after seeing their son come from nowhere earlier in the year to cement his place in the team.

“At the start of the year he was nowhere near the side,” Joe said.

“But from his first game up at Gold Coast, he has had a couple of 25-possession games and just slotted into the midfield nicely.

“It was very disappointing today, but he has got a bright future. He is only 20, turns 21 in December.

“Hopefully next year he can come back next year bigger and better.

“He has got to keep his head up and go again.”

Originally published as Collingwood’s rooms were emotional but proud after a heart-breaking Grand Final defeat