Collingwood banner co-ordinator Voula Bitsikas speaks of horror banner collapse at AFL Grand Final

THE WOMAN in charge of Collingwood’s banner feels ‘numb’ after the disastrous gaffe at Saturday’s AFL Grand Final — and she believes pressure from the MCC played a role in the incident.

The devastating moment at the MCG during the AFL Grand Final. Picture: Michael Dodge/AFL Media.

THE WOMAN in charge of Collingwood Football Club’s banner says she feels “numb” after the disastrous gaffe at yesterday’s AFL Grand Final.

Moments before players ran onto the hallowed turf of the MCG, the club’s banner was torn to shreds by the wind.

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Voula (centre) and members of the Collingwood cheer squad. Picture: Jason Edwards

Collingwood Banner Co-Ordinator Voula Bitsikas said it was a “terrible” moment and she felt as though she’d let down the team.

“It is horrible, it is just terrible,” she told the Herald Sun.

“It kills you for the rest of the day. I felt nothing. I felt numb.

“We bleed black and white, that is what it is all about.

“I’m scared Eddie might have a go at me. I saw his face and I thought, I’ve let him down.”

Ms Bitsikas said the cheer squad were rushed by the MCC and didn’t have the usual 15 minutes to prepare the banner as Collingwood ran on the ground first.

The devastating moment at the MCG during the AFL Grand Final. Picture: Michael Dodge/AFL Media.

“It was chaos, chaos. We had three minutes to set the banner up,” Ms Bitsikas said.

“The team that goes out first needs more time. Of course it went wrong. There just wasn’t time.

“We made it perfectly.

“It was not the way we made it...we’ve made hundreds.”

The MCC and the AFL have both been contacted for comment.

Pictures of coach Nathan Buckley embracing the emotional cheer squad immediately after the stuff up, went viral.

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Ms Bitsikas said Buckley was a gentleman.

“He is a gem, he is a gentleman,” she said.

“He is an absolute legend. I cannot wait until he holds up the cup.”

“To take the time to come up to me when he saw me crying, it means a lot to me.”

Ms Bitsikas said she volunteers 25-30 hours a week to the club preparing the banner.

The cheer squad was heavily critiqued on social media.

Voula will be attending a fan day at Olympic Park today.

Voula Bitsikas was visibly upset after the incident. Picture: David Caird

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