You, you don't look like slowing down, but, uh, does it give you, uh, a chance to pause and think about what the next couple of years look like for you?

Yeah, a little bit.

Um, it's a...

When you stop and think about it, it's quite sad.

You know, when Steele came in and retired, it was very emotional for everybody.

And then you think about, like, yeah, Harry's going around again, which is great, but not sure about Pendles.

And then once all those blokes leave, I think, you know, it's just Jack me that's gonna be at the Lemmy.

Yeah

You don't look like slowing down, but does it give you a chance to pause and think about what the next couple of years look like for you?

Yeah, a little bit.

When you stop and think about it, it's quite sad.

When Steele came in and retired, it was very emotional for everybody.

And then you think about how he's going around again, which is great, but not sure about Pendles.

And then once all those blokes leave, I think it's just Jamie that's going to be able to let me.

So I'll be the really old fella then.

Did you look much at the Brisbane edits last week or did you move on pretty quickly? Nah,

You, you don't look like slowing down, but, uh, does it give you, uh, a chance to pause and think about what the next couple of years look like for you?

Yeah, a little bit.

Um, it's a...

You know, when you stop and think about it, it's quite sad.

You know, when Steele came in and retired it was very emotional for everybody, and then you think about, like w- yeah, Howe is going around again, which is great, but not sure about Pendles.

And then once all those blokes leave, I think, you know, it's just Jack and me that's gonna be able to let me.

So I'll, I'll be the r- really old fella then.

Yeah

Um, hey, Crispy, does it feel like sort of Collingwood has its mojo back at just the right time of the year? You know, you've been on a great little run back end of the season, and s- many are saying you've got your finals DNA back.

Yeah, it, it does a little bit.

I think, like the past few years going into finals, we've probably started the year well, but finished the year poorly.

Um, so probably haven't had as much confidence or, uh, you know, team chemistry going in.

Whereas this year we've, you know, I think we've won eight, seven or eight games, drew, drew one and lost two.

So, um, we've played some really good football, got a lot of experience into a lot of our young guys as well, um, to fill those holes with injury.

Um, so yeah, we're feeling pretty confident, um, yeah, with how we're attacking the ball at the moment, how we're defending.

... than 50/50?

Um, hey Crispy, does it feel like sort of Collingwood has its mojo back at just the right time of the year? You know, you've been on a great little run back end of the season, and s- many are saying you've got your finals DNA back.

Yeah, it, it does a little bit.

I think, like the past few years going into finals, we've probably started the year well, but finished the year poorly.

Um, so probably haven't had as much confidence or, uh, you know, team chemistry going in, whereas this year we've, you know...

Well, I think we've won eight, seven or eight games, drew, drew one and lost two.

So, um, we've played some really good football.

Got a lot of experience into a lot of our young guys as well, um, to fill those holes with injury.

... than 50/50?

But I wanna ask you this: in the 2032 Olympics, what do you think, or what sport do you think Abby Holmes would be good to rely on gold for?

Uh, football.

Is it flag football's going in the 2032 Olympics?

OzAlert came through?

Ah, great question.

I was actually at Marvel doing some filming for Primo, uh, for the club.

Um, talking about the new beef jerky flavor.

Smoky barbecue.

What's it come to mean to you?

It's just, yeah, something I'll continue to chip away at, something I'm super proud of.

I'll look back probably more at the end of my career and, you know, think how good it was or what I did would probably mean a bit more to me but at the moment I'm just taking it each week as it comes enjoying every game of football I can continue to play and tonight I get to play in Geordie's 200th and Q's 150th so every moment I get to play with my teammates as well as they hit big milestones it's pretty surreal so not taking it for granted and never will but yeah definitely something I'm proud of.

Give us an insight into what he's been as a teammate all the way through.

Yeah, it's been great to see him grow right before my eyes.

Like I say, we came to Collingwood at the exact same time.

He came in with an early hype draft pick and showed a lot of potential.

As we've seen over the years, he's a great impact player and has played that role pivotal for us over the last few years.

What's it come to mean to you?

It's just something I continue to chip away at, something I'm super proud of.

I'll look back probably more at the end of my career and think how good it was or what I did would probably mean a bit more to me.

But at the moment I'm just taking it each week as it comes, enjoying every game of football I can continue to play.

Tonight I get to play in Geordie's 200th and Q's 150th, so every moment I get to play with my teammates as well as they hit big milestones, it's pretty surreal.

Not taking it for granted and never will, but yeah, definitely something I'm proud of.

Can you give us an insight into what he's been as a teammate all the way through?

Yeah, it's been great to see him grow right before my eyes.

What

are you doing? Just in the city.

So the club's looking after all the old boys this weekend.

So I rent this dart.

bar called flight club um you know i was playing my round of darts so uh yeah i do apologize on russell street and um what's it like

Were you a little bit nervous in the 24 hours after that? And how was the heart rate when the news came through that you were all clear and the consecutive game streak was able to continue?

Yeah, well, look, to be honest, I didn't know anything about it until after the game until my wife actually mentioned it to me.

Because, yeah, I didn't know anything about it at all.

Good game of footy, and you find yourself on the right side of it in the end.

Yeah.

No, it was definitely a hard-fought win.

Um, we know it always is, no matter where we are on the ladder against Carlton.

And, um, yeah, we love big build up to the game.

Um, and then, yeah, to see 80,000-plus supporters turn up and, uh, yeah, on a cold Saturday night, it was unbelievable.

Were you a little bit nervous in the 24 hours after that? And how was the, uh, the heart rate when the, the news came through that you were all clear and the, the consecutive game streak was able to continue?

Yeah.

What would you think, um, if there's a suspension for him after getting a hit like that? It's, it's just an interesting position to be in, to receive that kind of hit and then be the one potentially facing a ban yourself.

Yeah, it is difficult.

I mean, like, you look at how we didn't get a...

He didn't get a free kick for that either, I think.

You know, and we see plenty of other games where a bloke gets hit after a shot on goal, and then all of a sudden they get another shot straight in front, or it's a...

Brawls are coming out left, right and center because it was such a, a hit off the ball, um, and so unexpected.

Um, yeah, it's gonna be an interesting one to see how it plays out.

Yep.

What would you think, um, if there's a suspension for him after getting a hit like that? It's, it's just an interesting position to be in, to receive that kind of hit and then be the one potentially facing a ban yourself.

Yeah, it is difficult.

I mean, like, you look at how we didn't get a, we didn't get a free kick for that either, I think.

You know, and we see plenty of other games where a bloke gets hit after a shot on goal, and then all of a sudden they get another shot straight in front, or it's a...

Brawls are coming out left, right, and center because it was such a, a hit off the ball, um, and so unexpected.

Um, yeah, it's gonna be interesting one to see how it plays out.

And it's obviously a massive talking point.

Yep

Do you feel as a c- as an opponent that they've got young players, so there is an opportunity to potentially put two or three of them in a row?

Yeah, no, definitely.

Um, I feel like we did put some scoreboard pressure on early in the game, which is great, but I think the third quarter, we fell away in our ground ball and drop ball, like the long contest stuff, and that's where they started to get a run on with their numbers and use their hands, um, and get a few of us out the back.

So, um, we'll probably sharpen up on our defense a little bit so we don't get so disconnected as a group.

But overall, yeah, really great performance.

Um, our pressure was pretty good to come forward when the...

Yeah, cut the ball in half and turn it over.

And you play 277 of them without missing.

How did you sort of reflect on the opening half of the season?

Yeah, no, it is.

Like we've, we've definitely d- dove into those close games a little bit more I guess.

Um, you know, we've been in front at different times against some quality opposition as well, and just haven't been quite able to get the op- um, the game done.

That last five minutes, I think we've probably gone away from our best football that we're used to in 2022 and 2023, and, um, you know, really finish off those close games.

But, um, yeah, we, we see ourselves in a really good spot still, where our best footy stacks up against the best.

And I'm sure Howie said that the other day, we're doing a lot right.

What, what gives you that confidence that your best is still as good as anyone's?

Mm

... and play close to four quarters and could probably nearly come away with, you know, four wins there.

But instead we've, um, you know, we've had three losses and a draw.

Um, you know, the, we could be sitting much higher on the ladder.

And then, yeah, we play, you know, the game on Saturday night, we probably didn't perform at our best at all for the first three quarters, and then we play a really good quarter, put the pressure back on the Bulldogs when we, um, we're getting some territory from stoppage, and it actually, yeah, changed the whole game.

So we've gotta find that balance of when we can go fast and when we can play a bit slow and just make sure we've got our defensive system intact.

Now, Crispa, what a great privilege it is for Melbourne and Collingwood to get to the MCG Monday, especially with the passing of the great Neil Danaher, and make, make this a celebration of one of the great lives.

Yes, it's fantastic.

Now, Big Freeze 12, Neil Danaher would have addressed you personally and your teammates plenty of times, quite profoundly too, I'd imagine, down the years.

Yes, yes, correct.

Normally him and the family and a bit of the Fight MND team come to the football club to talk to the footy players, the AFL women's and just the whole football club as one.

This year was a little bit different, obviously, with the circumstances.

We joined Melbourne Football Club over at the MCG throughout the week.

Beck and Jan spoke? Yeah, yeah, they did.

It was quite special.

And now he's coming straight in.

Now, Big Freeze 12, Neil Danaher would have addressed you personally and your teammates plenty of times, quite profoundly too, I'd imagine, down the years.

Yes, yes, correct.

Normally him and the family and a bit of the Fight MND team come to the football club to talk to the footy players, the AFL women's, and just the whole football club as one.

This year was a little bit different, obviously.

With the circumstances, we joined Melbourne Football Club over at the MCG throughout the week.

Becca Jan spoke.

Yeah, yeah, they did.

And now he's coming straight in.

What was it like?

Yeah, it was pretty, um, amazing to obviously have that experience.

Like, usually, um, for this game, the last 12 years we've had, um, the Danaher family come into the club and talk, um, and promote obviously MND and the fight that they're doing.

Um, but obviously, yeah, in l- lack of recent events, we, um, yeah, all met together at the MCG.

It was quite special.

Um, had a few people speak.

Um, yeah, it was an amazing experience obviously.

... how are you set for it?

What was it like?

Yeah, it was pretty, um, amazing to obviously have that experience.

Like, usually, uh, for this game the last 12 years, we've had, um, the Danaher family come into the club and talk, um, and promote obviously MND and the fight that they're doing.

Um, but obviously, yeah, in light of recent events, we, um, yeah, all met together at the MCG.

It was quite special.

Um, had a few people speak.

Um, yeah, it was an amazing experience obviously.

... how are you set for it?

It'll be a hundred, there'll be nearly a hundred thousand there.

Yeah, no, it definitely is something we don't take for granted.

That's for sure.

Um, and as you said, we are lucky enough to play in those big games.

Um, I suppose this Monday is going to be extra special given recent events last of the last week.

Um, you know, we're at the MCG yesterday with Melbourne football club as well on the fighting team.

Yeah, it was pretty special.

Is your seven-year-old down at

Mm

... play close to four quarters, and could probably nearly come away with, you know, four wins there.

But instead we've, um, you know, we've had three losses and a draw.

Um, you know, that we could be sitting much higher on the ladder.

And then, you know, we play, you know, the game on Saturday night, we probably didn't perform at our best at all for the first three quarters, and then we play a really good quarter, put the pressure back on the Bulldogs when we, um, we're getting some territory from stoppage, and it actually, you know, changed the whole game.

So we've gotta find that balance of when we can go fast, when we can play a bit slow, and just make sure we've got our defensive system intact.

Mm.

You know, earlier in the game, you know, if you do that and you get sieved the other way, 'cause everyone's still pretty fresh at the start of the game and things might not go your way as such.

Mm

... and play close to four quarters and could probably nearly come away with, you know, four wins there, but instead we've, um, you know, we've had three losses and a draw.

Um, you know, the...

We could be sitting much higher on the ladder.

And then, yeah, we play, you know, the game on Saturday night, we probably didn't perform at our best at all for the first three quarters, and then we play a really good quarter, put the pressure back on the Bulldogs when we, um...

We're getting some territory from stoppage, and it actually, you know, changed the whole game.

So we've gotta find that balance of when we can go fast, when we can play a bit slow, and just make sure we've got our defensive system intact.

Now, Crispa, what a great privilege it is for Melbourne and Collingwood to get to the MCG Monday, especially with the passing of the great Neil Danaher, and make, make this a celebration of one of the great lives.

What makes them so special? And have you seen a player, have you ever played with a player, Nick Dacos, coming at his age and just dominate the competition the way he has?

Nah, I've never seen someone come in and have an immediate impact like that.

But it's no surprise with all the work that he does behind the scenes.

Always in the club, even though he stays off, he's doing extra picking or work on his body.

Within the club, he's in early sometimes.

I remember early years.

He was paired up with Pendles a fair bit.

we love from that is that moment can probably dwell on your shoulders for a long period of time, but did that help you move forward after that moment?