At age 7 my father took me to my first VFL game in 1960 against Melbourne at Victoria Park. I had to stand on a greengrocer's box to be able to see the action from the Yarra Falls end. Murray Weideman was captain and the Pies prevailed over the Demons and so began a lifelong love affair with the Pies. I'm now 73 and am proud to say my two sons and grandchildren have followed the family tradition.

It's all about family. I can't think of one moment without my family being involved. Sitting at Vic Park as a child with my parents or attending now with my own children. Every memory of Collingwood is love, happiness, sometimes heartache.

It was 1999 and I'd just undergone my first knee reconstruction thanks to a netball injury. I was 16 years old from a small country town in North Eastern Victoria and my family and I (all die hard Collingwood supporters) had travelled down to tour Victoria Park. We were lead to the gym where we found then current player Lee Walker doing rehab for one of his many knee injuries. He took time out of his program to talk me through and show me different exercises to aid in my recovery. He spent a good half an hour chatting to me and my family. It meant so much to me and we all still talk about what a lovely bloke he was. At 43 years old now I have many a Magpie memory, the highs and the lows, being witness to grand final wins and losses, the last game at Victoria Park, chasing my idol Nathan Buckley around during footy clinics, my mum driving us three hours on a Thursday afternoon to be part of the meat pie and signing nights at Vic Park, and to now watching Darcy Moore, Fly and the boys engage so enthusiastically and positively with my kids at training (both mad Magpies now too). Forever proud to be part of the Magpie family.