AFL grand final 2023: Darcy Moore played through pain on grand final day

Darcy Moore was already recovering from a recent hamstring injury and battling a wrist problem. But the sore skipper had another issue to deal with on grand final day.

Collingwood premiership captain Darcy Moore has revealed how a heavily swollen ankle made for a challenging lead-in to Saturday’s grand final, but he insists the pain was worth it to taste the ultimate success.

Moore was limping in the rooms after the game and again at the club’s family day on Sunday, saying he had to deal with the “bumps and bruises” of a tough six-week block at the back end of the season.

That included strict maintenance of the hamstring soft-tissue injury he experienced in the round 22 clash against Geelong, and a wrist issue that made touch work all the more difficult.

But the 27-year-old All-Australian defender said he was never a chance of missing out on his shot at history, determined to push through the pain to lead his Magpies’ team.

“I’ve had a few bumps and bruises,” Moore told the Herald Sun’s premiership magazine, which comes out on Saturday.

“I rolled my ankle last week, which came up with a fair bit of swelling and bruising. I have been managing that all week, and I’ve had an issue with my wrist for the last few weeks and obviously rehabbing my hamstring in the last part of the season.

“It has been a challenging four to six weeks.

“On the field at any given time there are probably eight footballers out there with sore ankles … you strap it up and it is usually OK, but it is pretty sore (on Sunday).”

Darcy Moore makes a flying spoil in the grand final. Picture: Michael Klein

Darcy Moore in celebration mode at the Magpies’ fan day. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Moore said the minor hamstring strain he suffered against the Cats had been a cause of concern because any further setback in his rehabilitation or preparation could have put the rest of his season in jeopardy.

But he returned for the Magpies’ qualifying final against Melbourne and played out all three of the club’s finals.

“Soft tissue injuries are a constant management process, when you have that injury late in the season, you have got to keep managing your training program and staying on top of our rehabilitation because you can’t afford to have a slip up or an issue.

“It probably just turns up the pressure on all your training, everything matters a little bit more when something like that happens.”

Moore couldn’t have been more proud of the Collingwood team he leads, saying the Pies are determined to keep the momentum rolling next season.

DON’T MISS DARCY MOORE’S EXCLUSIVE COLUMN IN THE HERALD SUN’S PREMIERSHIP MAGAZINE ON SATURDAY

Originally published as AFL grand final 2023: Darcy Moore played through pain on grand final day