AFL Collingwood defeats Adelaide: Darcy Moore’s accidental F-bomb in halftime interview

Five days ago Darcy Moore gave one of the great Anzac Day speeches. Speaking to Fox Footy’s Mark Ricciuto on Sunday, things didn’t quite go to plan.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 25: Tom Mitchell of the Magpies looks on during the Anzac Day observance ceremony during the 2023 AFL Round 06 match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Essendon Bombers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 25, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Collingwood captain Darcy Moore accidentally dropped a F-Bomb on live TV after a brutal half of footy against Adelaide.

The Crows took a six-point lead into halfime at Adelaide Oval in a bruising contest.

Adelaide came out firing in the first quarter, but when the rain came Collingwood fought its way back into the match.

And as he spoke to Crows legend Mark Ricciuto on Fox Footy, Moore had a slip of the tongue.

“We’ve had to work really hard to get back into this game,” he said.

“They absolutely slaughtered us in the first quarter, it feels like we are doing one too many handballs, their big guys came to play and they are f***ing marking everything, so we had to fight really hard to stay in that one.”

Moore proved inspirational in the frantic finish with Collingwood claiming yet another heart-stopping win with Steele Sidebottom kicking the winning behind with under a minute left.

Magpies coach Craig McRae revealed post-match that Moore was ill before the match and almost didn’t take the field.

Darcy Moore haha 😂😂 https://t.co/n6rjCxLkV4

— Skippy Johnston 🦘 (@LukeAFoley) April 30, 2023

Darcy Moore 2 brilliant speeches in 2 weeks.. well aged lad. pic.twitter.com/vahqAUPunb

— Bayley Fritsch's high hair (@FritschHair) April 30, 2023

Missed the best part

— Troy Tucker (@thelawndad) April 30, 2023

Pies’ injury woes continue as big man goes down

Collingwood has lost Nathan Kreuger early in the Magpies clash against Adelaide as the big man’s injury issues continue.

The 23-year-old was rushed back into the Magpies team for their ANZAC Day win over Essendon after he had a right shoulder reconstruction in January because of Collingwood’s lack of fit tall players.

The injury woes for the Magpies when it comes to big men looks set to further worsen with Kreuger subbed out of the game in the first quarter with another injury.

On Twitter Collingwood said it was a knee injury that ended Kreuger’s game.

Kreuger only managed five appearances last year, his first after moving from Geelong, because of injuries to his left shoulder.

Kreugs is off due to an injury to his knee.

We'll provide an update in due course.

— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) April 30, 2023

Pies star’s Anzac Day sorrow after second great loss

– Lauren Wood

When Tom Mitchell and his grandfather, Billy, sat together for a yarn recently, family was at the top of the agenda.

There were Billy’s parents to talk about, and his grandparents, too.

When Collingwood fought back from 28 points down to surge past Essendon on football’s biggest home-and-away day, Anzac Day, Tom couldn’t help but think of his paternal grandfather.

It was the last chat they’d shared, words of warmth, and of war.

Billy was farewelled on Monday.

He passed away in the days leading up to what Mitchell described as one of the biggest games of his 11-year AFL career.

“I had a really good conversation with him before he passed,” Mitchell said.

“We actually had a conversation about his parents and his grandparents who went to war.

“He’s left some of his medals for me which will be great memories to hold on to.”

It marked the second great loss for the 29-year-old Magpie within as many months.

His beloved golden retriever, Macy, was killed in an accident at a park in February.

At the time, Mitchell described his gratitude for being able to “hold her for her last 10 seconds before she passed away”.

Tom Mitchell's dog Macy died in an accident at a Melbourne park. Picture: Instagram

“We have lost our best friend,” he said upon her passing, and admitted the off-field challenges had been difficult to surmount in his first season at Collingwood.

“There’s been a few things that have been a bit challenging this year,” Mitchell said.

But, come moments like Tuesday’s epic comeback victory, Mitchell said it was important to recognise loss – and what has been gained.

“To have these moments and remember what’s important in life, I feel so grateful to be a part of this,” he said. “And to be able to celebrate those people.”

And to salute as victorious? “Even better.”

Mitchell’s first Anzac Day clash was one for the books.

There were 23 touches of his own, eight tackles and six clearances in front of 95,179 fans, the second-biggest home-and-away crowd the game has ever seen.

It was “deafening”, Mitchell said, having been dubbed “Wombat” by his mates for his ability to get down and dirty at stoppages and deliver the grunt work to his outside teammates.

He’s “loving it” – and said coach Craig “Fly” McRae had every player walking taller.

“Fly instils so much confidence in me,” Mitchell said.

“So do every one of my teammates. They just want me to get to work on my strengths and I think that’s the best thing about my team – everyone’s in a position to play to their strengths.

“The boys just help me to get to work on the inside and pressure well, attack it well and hopefully complement the guys on the outside like the Daicos boys and Jordy (De Goey).

Mitchell is loving his time as a Magpie. Picture: Getty Images

“That’s just the way Fly operates. He just instils confidence in every player. He’s very positive and upbeat, not only with myself, it’s with every player on the list.

“He puts so much belief in you as an individual and then us as a team.”

Taylor Adams is set to return against Adelaide on Sunday afternoon, having served a one-match ban that sidelined him for Anzac Day in what Mitchell said has shaped into a multifaceted midfield.

“It’s been working really well that midfield mix – Tay, Crispy (Jack Crisp), Jordy, the Daicos boys, Pendles (Scott Pendlebury), myself, Steele Sidebottom,” he said.

“We’ve got a deep midfield and we rotate through there heavily. Looking forward to having Tay back, especially off a short break.”

Nick Daicos, right, is a “freak” young talent, Tom Mitchell says. Picture: Getty Images

A Brownlow medallist himself, Mitchell has a front-row seat to Nick Daicos’ brilliance which this week saw him wound into heavy favouritism for this year’s medal – in just his second season.

“Nick’s an unbelievable talent,” Mitchell said.

“His work rate, his character, is unbelievable also. He does everything right throughout the week, he’s a great teammate.

“He’s just enjoying being a part of this team as much as anyone. We’re rapt that he won the Anzac medal and that he’s had such a stellar start to the season but, more importantly, he’s just enjoying being part of a winning team.”