AFL 2023: Collingwood president Jeff Browne in hospital with illness

A week out from the club’s blockbuster qualifying final against Melbourne, Collingwood president Jeff Browne is laid up in hospital but hoping to be at the ‘G next Thursday night.

Collingwood president Jeff Browne is in hospital and could miss next week’s blockbuster qualifying final against Melbourne.

The Pies and Demons last faced off in an elimination final in 1989 but Browne has spent the past week laid up at the Cabrini Hospital with illness.

“I’m going to do everything I can to be at the game,” Browne said.

The former Channel 9 boss has played a leading role in transforming the Magpies, who finished 17th when he took charge at the end of 2021 after more than a year of boardroom warfare.

Collingwood president Jeff Browne handing Scott Pendlebury the match ball after he broke the disposal record in round 17. Picture: Michael Klein.

“The next five weeks is about the footy but you’ve got to get everything right to create the best environment for your athletes to perform at their best,” Browne said from the Cabrini of the Magpies rebuild.

“We have got the right coaching group, we’ve got a playing group that can achieve at the highest level and I know they will give their very best.

“But what burns in my memory is not that we were 17th on the ladder when I took over, it was that we lost to Sydney by a f#@*ing point in the preliminary final last year – and I reckon that burns in everyone’s hearts and minds at Collingwood. That is one of the things that motivates us.”

Browne revealed he had made peace with long-time director and 2021 president Mark Korda, who he unseated in a board dispute led by businessman Francis Galbally, and detailed how he lured 1990 premiership defender Craig Kelly to accept the job as Magpies’ CEO.

He said former Pies supremo Eddie McGuire was “very happy for the club and enjoying our success”.

“We talk about the club but he doesn’t give me any advice. He respects the new broom. There are different styles for different times,” Browne said.

Originally published as AFL 2023: Collingwood president Jeff Browne in hospital with illness