AFL Grand Final 2023: The people and family behind premiership Pies

As Beau McCreery and his mum Julie shook each other with unbridled excitement in the rooms, it was clear this win meant the world to many more than just the men on the field.

Footy is about family. At Collingwood, its premiership party inside the MCG rooms on Saturday night was layered with loved ones who were lapping it up.

It was with good reason. Those closest to the on-field stars live and breathe every step of the season with care and compassion.

The initial exchange between Beau McCreery and his mum Julie was heartwarming.

They kissed and hugged and kissed and hugged on repeat while shaking each other with unbridled excitement.

“I think I just screamed in his ear and said, ‘Oh my god! I’m so proud of you, you’re amazing’,” Julie McCreery told this masthead.

Last week, Julie and her partner spent more than 40 hours in the car to attend the preliminary final.

They drove from Darwin to Adelaide to Melbourne and to the MCG ... and then back to the Top End, after the one-point win against Greater Western Sydney.

They flew in for the grand final, landing at midnight on Thursday.

But they gave the qualifying final against Melbourne a miss because the Magpies were guaranteed of playing in another final.

“We were living in a caravan park and working and whatever up there, and we booked out the whole camp (for the Demons match),” Julie said.

“And then I actually stole the remote so nobody else could watch the TV. And I organised a big barbecue, so we all had food and drinks and everything and watched the boys.”

Beau McCreery with the premiership cup on Saturday. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

And with his mum Julie. Supplied

Julie became a media star on Mother’s Day with her spine tingling pre-match rev up delivered with a blend of gusto and warmth that Hollywood producers would be proud of.

“It sort of seems funny that you say I’m a media star. But I love it, I absolutely love it,” Julie said.

“But I’m very conscious of Beau’s feelings towards it as well. I don’t want to embarrass him or anything like that, but I think he embraces it.

“I am who I am, Beau knows that and I’ve always supported him throughout his whole football career.

“We just love having a bit of fun, both of us. We’re best mates.

“We are best mates – Beau is my best friend, ever, and we just bounce off each other and take it for what it is.”

McCreery celebrates with the crowd before embracing Julie in the rooms. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

When Jack Ginnivan was promoted from substitute into the 22 for the grand final his father could not contain his excitement.

Craig Ginnivan broke the news on Facebook, posting: “He’s in the 22, wow we go pies” in a selection story to saviour for the Castlemaine crew.

The Ginnivans were understandably giddy at the grand final call-up.

Peter Daicos let slip that son Nick should have been out for 12 weeks with what was a nasty knee injury.

But the 20-year-old’s dedication delivered a return in just seven weeks for the preliminary final as the family rode every medical milestone.

Australian Ashes and Twenty20 World Cup hero Matthew Wade had a similar behind-the-curtain insight into his cousin Jeremy Howe’s bumpy season.

Howe’s horrific arm injury in round 1 understandably rocked the family.

“I was across it. I left him for a week to get over the initial scars and have his first surgery,” Wade told this masthead.

“To see the space he was in, professional sport is hard work – and injury makes it even harder.

“He wasn’t in a good head space to be honest.

“I wasn’t sure if he’d come back at all this year, and then to see Collingwood go so well through that period really sparked the fire for him to come back.”

Jordan De Goey and grandmother Elisabeth. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Jordan De Goey said draping his premiership medallion around grandmother Elisabeth’s neck was a moment to cherish.

“Unfortunately, she has terminal cancer, so this will be the last game for her,” De Goey said.

“That means the world to me to have her here.”

The Magpie family grew hours before the game with the arrival of coach Craig McRae’s daughter Maggie.

Wife Gabrielle gave birth at St Vincent’s Hospital in the morning and across Fitzroy Gardens at the MCG later that day McRae became a premiership coach.

Wow, what a whirlwind for the wonderful coach.

Darcy Moore received the premiership cup from his father, Peter. What a moment for the Moores.

There weren’t fairytales everywhere — unlike the Moore and the Daicos brothers, chief executive Craig Kelly’s son, Will, has not enjoyed the same father-son fame. Kelly last played in April as the 23-year-old’s career hangs in the balance.

Oleg Markov with dad Dmitri and brother Tony. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

Nick and Josh Daicos with parents Peter Colleen Daicos and partners Arlette Amor and Annalise Dalins. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

Outside the MCG, the merchandise shops quickly sold out of premiership memorabilia.

Shortly after the game, hats were gone and t-shirts were thinning out in sizes with supporters told to purchase the full suite online instead.

Last year, Geelong generated more than $500,000 in merchandise sales the day after the grand final alone as the Cats ended up selling 10,900 stubby holders for the season.

The Magpie Army sweated through three September victories that totalled just 12 points (seven points against Melbourne, one point against the Giants, four points against the Lions).

Last year, the Cats chalked up wins totalling 158 points en route to the flag, only to miss the eight this season.

But as McRae’s family grew with the arrival of another girl, his coaches were also able to tinker with the Magpies’ ball movement in the most important of weeks.

Premiership coaches including Damien Hardwick and Alastair Clarkson favoured the Lions because they suspected Collingwood’s form was weaker after peaking mid-season.

But the Pies changed the way they played. They changed the angles and found a way to generate a winning score.

Brisbane’s unheard of accuracy was, really, the only reason it stayed in the game.

It was the mother of all performances from the Magpies, and one that meant the world to many more than just the men on the field.

Originally published as AFL Grand Final 2023: The people and family behind premiership Pies