Collingwood star poised for additional stress in grand final week

A Collingwood star will have more on his mind than just his opponents in the AFL grand final next weekend.

Jack Crisp explains to Taylor that he’s not joking.

A post-game revelation from Collingwood midfielder Jack Crisp just made grand final week that little bit bigger for himself and wife Mikayla.

Crisp was a standout in Collingwood’s thrilling one-point victory over the Giants on Friday night, finishing with 19 possessions, five marks, five tackles and a goal.

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While that was an impressive effort, Crisp’s comments post-game were perhaps more eye-catching and caught Brian Taylor completely off guard.

Asked by Taylor in the Collingwood rooms after the match what was going through his mind after the 8.10 (58) to 8.9 (57) victory, this was Crisp’s reply.

“Just need to go check on my wife and make sure she hasn’t gone into labour,” he said as Taylor laughed.

“Need to go check on my wife”: Jack Crisp and Brian Taylor.

Jack Crisp explains to Taylor that he’s not joking.

“True. We’re 38 weeks on Monday I think.”

Taylor then suggested the couple “better get that done early this week” ahead of the grand final, when the Pies will play either Carlton or the Brisbane Lions.

“We’ve got a scan on Monday, we’ll see what happens,” Crisp replied.

“We’ve got family down anyway.

“It’s Mickey’s idea not to miss. I’ll be playing next week.”

"What's going through your mind?"

"Just got to go check on my wife and make sure she hasn't gone into labour. True. She's 38 weeks."

Jack Crisp's post-match priorities are a little different from normal! pic.twitter.com/MV4ptbrBUN

— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 22, 2023

The couple at least has experience in this department as this will be a third child to go with their two daughters.

In years gone by, there have been instances of professional sportswomen or their sports playing partners missing big games due to pregnancies.

So Crisp was quick to put any chance of that story unfolding to bed.

Crisp, who turns 30 on October 2, was embroiled in a controversy of a very different kind with his wife earlier this year.

Jack and Mikayla Crisp make the announcement they are expecting on Instagram.

The midfielder was forced to make an awkward public apology in April when a video surfaced of him making lewd comments towards women and referencing drug use.

It later came to light the images were five years old.

About a month later, when some of the heat had died down, Mikayla took to social media to reveal the couple was expecting.

So it’s looming as an extra big week for Crisp, regardless of who the Pies are playing on Saturday.

Originally published as Collingwood star poised for additional stress in grand final week