Collingwood’s Jack Crisp opens up on the toughest year of his career following the social media images saga

Jack Crisp’s wife Mikayla is due to give birth to the couple’s third child around grand final day. But don’t worry Pies fans, he wouldn’t miss it.

Jack Crisp has experienced a wild 2023. Picture: Getty Images

Collingwood star Jack Crisp says he and wife Mikayla have decided he will play in a grand final even if he misses the birth of their third child as he paid tribute to her unwavering support after the toughest year of his career.

Wife Mikayla is 35 weeks pregnant but is due around the grand final, with reigning best-and-fairest winner Crisp a chance to be playing deep into September with the Pies.

Crisp spoke for the first time on Sunday about the challenging aftermath of the social media episode that saw him apologising to his wife after lewd images with drug references emerged from social media on the eve of an early-season game against Brisbane.

The AFL ultimately ruled the historical images from 2018 would not see him punished, with Mikayla later putting out a message in which she said “no marriage is perfect” as the couple pledged to learn from that chapter of their lives.

He spent Father’s Day with his children Lilah (five) and Sloane (four) at the club as the Pies prepare for a Thursday clash against Melbourne.

Crisp said the episode has brought the couple closer together.

Jack Crisp took to the field while the social media images saga was playing out. Picture: Getty Images

He told this masthead he could not wait to bring a third child into the world with Mikayla, even if the timing is not perfect from an AFL perspective.

“Father’s Day is a very special day. It means so much to me. Last night the girls gave me flowers and it just melted my heart. It is just an amazing feeling knowing I am going to bring a third child into the world,” he said.

“It’s probably this month to be honest. She is 35 weeks but she is measuring a bit ahead (of schedule) so we will see how it goes. It’s the last Father’s Day as a father of two. It would probably be around the time (of the grand final) but we have had that conversation where she is right for me to play and we would have a lot of family around for help so we have had that discussion.”

Crisp says he was not aware the images that went viral mid-year existed so he was floored to be confronted with them after sharing them privately with another person in 2018.

“I didn’t really know about it to be honest. It came out as a bit of a shock,” he said.

“The first day was pretty hard, knowing it had just come out. The game was that day and I was just so determined to play and I wasn’t thinking about not playing.

“It was a fantastic outcome (not to be suspended) and then as soon as it was done I moved on and focused on family and football and got back to being the best dad I could be and the best husband and the best teammate at the footy club.

“I got through it with the footy club for one, but then as a family and with heaps of support from around Australia with supporters as well.”

Crisp with his wife Mikayla and two children Lilah and Sloane. Picture: David Caird

On the weekend after the Brisbane game the Crisps went to Noosa with his parents, emerging from the controversy determined to learn from the experience rather than be defined by it.

“ (Mikayla) is amazing. She is the one who I was worried about most. It affects the family but seeing how strong it made her, we are still extremely strong now and it probably made us stronger. And we got through it all while she was pregnant,” he said.

“I have seen her come through at the end of the tunnel, as brave as she is and confident and really owned it and being a wonderful mother and wife.

“It’s been a long year but a great year for the footy club and we are keen to finish it off well, celebrating as a footy club and a family.”

Is he a better person as a result of those lessons learnt?

“One hundred per cent. I feel like I can be myself a bit more,” he said.

“The same as Mikayla. A bit more of not caring what other people say. Which is a great attitude to have. And just worry about the people who care about you and the people who matter most.

“I learnt you can go through a fair bit but you are never alone. The people who are close to you mean so much. I already know it but you have a greater appreciation for that support.”

Crisp has now hit 211 consecutive games and sits behind only the great Jimmy Stynes (244) and Adem Yze (226).

He admits he has been incredibly lucky to dodge serious collision-based injuries but does invest increasing amounts of energy into his own rehab routine.

“I feel like the whole footy world is on my back helping me through it now which is great. I get asked a fair bit about it. It is something I am really, really proud of.

Crisp has played an incredible 211 consecutive games and will play on grand final day if it means he will miss the birth of his third child. Picture: Getty Images

“I do have the other targets in mind, but they are something which would happen as we continue to play week in week out.

“I have had one or two games sickness wise (where I only just played). It had bad hips in 2018 and 2019 and I had a stress fracture in my back for a while in 2018.

“Luckily it was the end of 2018 and we actually didn’t get the scan until the end of the season. My physio said he knew what it was. It was a bit painful but I got through.

“I didn’t run for three months after with my hips and the back so there were periods where I had different injuries but I have managed to get through the year.

“I put a bit of time into my body with a fair bit of sauna work, infra-red saunas, ice baths, cryotherapy, a bit more hands-on treatment with myotherapy and Mikayla is good enough to allow me to get enough sleep, she send me to the spare bed at times. Sometimes she just kicks me out.”

This week the focus will turn to football – although at Collingwood under Craig McRae there is always room for family in that equation,

“Fly (McRae) has done a great job with the culture and environment here and family is the main thing. Even days like today with Father’s Day and having everyone at the club.

“Even at games getting the kids in to sing the song and embracing everyone. The want to bring everyone together, not just family but fans and supporters. We are keen to have them with us through September. We are keen to paint the town black and white.”

Originally published as Collingwood’s Jack Crisp opens up on the toughest year of his career following the social media images saga