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Port Adelaide and Collingwood fans cheer terminally ill Pies fan Kyron McGuire as he ran through the banner

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has spoken of his pride in his club after the Pies made footy blur into the background with an emotional tribute to terminally ill fan Kyron McGuire.

Michael Randall
2 min read
May 4, 2019 - 10:55AM
Young Pie fan and brain cancer sufferer Kyron McGuire, chaired off the ground by favourite player Adam Treloar and Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury, has had one of his dreams fulfilled. Picture: Getty Images
Young Pie fan and brain cancer sufferer Kyron McGuire, chaired off the ground by favourite player Adam Treloar and Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury, has had one of his dreams fulfilled. Picture: Getty Images

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has spoken of his pride at his players and club after an emotion-charged night at Marvel Stadium which the Pies dedicated to a terminally-ill fan.

Collingwood and Port Adelaide, players and fans, put their differences aside and united to grant the dying wish of five year old Kyron McGuire.

Earlier this week Kyron met his Collingwood heroes and on Friday night he led the players through the banner as fans — led by the Magpies cheersquad — roared his name.

Later, he was on the ground after the Magpies big win, being chaired from the ground by Adam Treloar and Scott Pendlebury before joining the team for a rousing rendition of the club song.

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Young Pie fan and brain cancer sufferer Kyron McGuire, chaired off the ground by favourite player Adam Treloar and Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury, has had one of his dreams fulfilled. Picture: Getty Images
Young Pie fan and brain cancer sufferer Kyron McGuire, chaired off the ground by favourite player Adam Treloar and Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury, has had one of his dreams fulfilled. Picture: Getty Images

Buckley, who spoke about the emotional night after the game, took to social media on Saturday to again share his pride at the post-match scenes.

“All 3 in this photo have been 5yo’s with stars in their eyes,” Buckley wrote on Twitter.

“It was awesome to dedicate last night to Kyron and his family. It was also great to see the humans beneath the armour they wear on the weekends. I’m proud of our humans.”

Mason Cox said the club’s response to the youngster was a testament to its culture.

“For everyone to get around him during the week and also today, just going out there, everyone gave him a high five coming off and cheering him off in the end was pretty epic, pretty awesome,” Cox said on Seven.

“It gives you those goosebumps and just kind of makes you realise that life’s a bit bigger than football.

“It’s amazing how you can sit there and obviously you can see the reaction of his father was just amazing.

“You know how much it means to him and I think for us to just do something as simple as that to help someone out in need, is definitely an awesome thing.

Kyron sings the Collingwood theme song in the rooms with his father and the Magpies’ players. Picture: AAP
Kyron sings the Collingwood theme song in the rooms with his father and the Magpies’ players. Picture: AAP

As Kyron’s father, Kyron Sr, looked on in tears as he ran through the banner, Buckley said he felt for the family.

“I had a chat with his old man and I really feel for the mum and dad,” Buckley said on Seven.

“The young fellow is going through a tough time and for us to be able to do this and be in a position to put a smile on a face for a moment and the family, we’re blessed.

“I had a five-minute chat with him (Kyron’s father) on Wednesday and it’s hard yards for them and that’s their reality which is tremendously sad.

“Hopefully there is some enjoyment for them in this isolated occasion.”

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley hugs Kyron’s father (also Kyron) after the game. Picture: Michael Klein
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley hugs Kyron’s father (also Kyron) after the game. Picture: Michael Klein

Last year, doctors thought Kyron Jr had had a stroke, but instead found a brain tumour the size of a 50c piece. He has suffered through radiation therapy and immunotherapy.

Buckley said, post-match, the McGuires’ situation “makes the game less significant”.

“To have Kyron and his family in and to share the last couple of days with them … and the way that our boys handled it after the game was amazing, really, and quite emotional,” Buckley said.

“That’s real life and it was great to put a smile on a young fella’s face.”

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/collingwood/port-adelaide-and-collingwood-fans-cheer-terminally-ill-pies-fan-kyron-mcguire-as-he-ran-through-the-banner/news-story/d81d35fbc5764f1832690237ff40dc94