How Collingwood celebrated its narrow premiership victory against Brisbane

Scott Pendlebury didn’t have a big night – but he saw a lot of teammates on Sunday morning who did. See how the Magpies celebrated their premiership triumph.

How the Magpies celebrated their premiership success.

There’s many a bleary-eye among Collingwood players on Sunday morning amid what former skipper Scott Pendlebury said looked like some heavy celebrating by the group into the wee hours.

Pendlebury, 35, said he had always planned to keep things in check in his second premiership victory, which came on Saturday some 13 years after his first, unlike some younger players who have done their best to secure best-off-ground honours.

“It’s starting to sink in now ... I didn’t have too big of a night, considering some of the faces I’ve just seen walk in who look like they’ve been enjoying themselves,” Pendlebury said on The Sunday Footy Show.

“I just wanted to wake up today and have a coffee and sit outside and just soak it all in. It’s been unbelievable since we won it. It’s a special feeling.”

Collingwood’s best and fairest awards night is this Friday, which Pendlebury said meant most players will party hard all week before heading away.

Ever the football analyst, preparation and recovery specialist, Pendlebury said it was refreshing on Sunday morning to have “gotten the job done” and truly switch off.

“My mind is at peace and no one can take this away from me,” he said.

Jamie Elliott enjoying the celebrations.

It might now be the new era of Collingwood success, but players turned back the clock on Saturday night and took inspiration from Australian party tradition in the immediate aftermath of their premiership triumph.

Unlike last year, there were no medals on cows — that we know of yet, anyway.

But the same vein as Hawthorn’s famous three-peat flag success a decade ago, it was the great Daryl Braithwaite who provided the live soundtrack to the Pies’ party – with a few back up singers.

Braithwaite’s iconic anthem Horses raised the roof at Collingwood headquarters where players, families and staff partied into wee hours in the wake of the team’s four-point heart-stopping victory over Brisbane just over the road at the MCG.

Collingwood players Tom Mitchell, Isaac Quaynor, Nick Daicos and Josh Daicos lap up their victory on the MCG.

Ruckman Darcy Cameron led the charge with a microphone that, depending on your musical taste, you may see as unfortunate that it was actually switched on.

It came after players returned to the playing field long after fans had left the stadium to share some special moments on the hallowed turf.

Tom Mitchell, Steele Sidebottom, Isaac Quaynor and Jack Crisp at Collingwood HQ. Picture: Getty Images

It included a big rendition of the team song with support staff, the famed “Collingwood” chant and plenty of snow angels in the remaining confetti, before the 23 that played in the game gathered in a circle for an extended period before lifting the cup.

American ruck Mason Cox was draped in the flag of his home nation and appeared to take a moment alone to reflect on what he has achieved as the first US player to win a premiership.

Most players were clad in premiership memorabilia, including Isaac Quaynor, Tom Mitchell and the Daicos brothers, Nick and Josh, on the MCG.

Collingwood forward Jack Ginnivan parties after the win.

All then returned to the club where they were presented to tens of thousands of supporters on the club’s balcony before the official function.

Thousands of supporters flooded Richmond’s Swan Street where tattoo parlours stayed open to commemorate the victory more permanently that some memories may allow come Sunday morning.

Players will be back at the AIA Vitality Centre on Sunday, with a family day set to kick off at 10.00am.

Beau McCreery.

Midfielder Jack Crisp declared on social media that he, forward Brody Mihocek and Mitchell were “built different”, while also capturing special moments alongside wife Mikayla who is due to give birth to their third child any day now.

Mason Cox in the middle of the MCG. Picture: Michael Klein

Beau McCreery fully embraced the party with sunglasses and donning a Bluetooth speaker around his neck before appearing to move on to another nightspot from the club function.

Electric young forward Jack Ginnivan and Jamie Elliott — who partied on top of shoulders downing drinks — launched their own line of hoodies and t-shirts, dubbed “Flagpies” in the hours that followed victory, Ginnivan having donned two pairs of sunglasses on the waist of his playing shorts in the changerooms in preparation for the party.

Jack Crisp and Beau McCreery.

“I reckon you’ll be seeing these in a few photos (over the next 24 hours),” he laughed.

Coach Craig McRae had been set to enjoy a different tone of celebrations at some stage throughout the night having welcomed new daughter Maggie just hours before the game.

“I’m going to steal that cup and I’m going to get a photo with my gorgeous little girl Maggie and my wife and the cup,” he said.

Originally published as How Collingwood celebrated its narrow premiership victory against Brisbane