My Nan grew up in Collingwood and was the matriarch of what has been four generations going together until she passed in 2024 (last game a winning Grand Final!) In a close final in full passion she grabbed onto my arm shaking it as we kicked a goal - not seeing the drink in hand spraying everyone in the surrounding rows in full celebration.

The 100th anniversary of the Anzacs. My brother and I both with defence force service, purchase tickets to our first AFL game together. We get seats on the fence, on the 50m line. The rain started and dispersed the less passionate but my brother and I arm in arm as the national anthem silences the stadium. The silence ends with the siren and the roar of the crowd shakes the stands, 95,000 people joined in applause and cheering for our countries anthem. The game starts, 3 minutes in, the ball comes to Jamie Elliot, he's chasing the ball, running along the boundary. My brother and I standing in our Anzac Day jerseys hanging on the fence, Elliot gets the ball, bombers defenders in hot pursuit, he steps out, lines up the sticks and kicks a miracle goal over the boundary line 50m out, 2m from where we are standing, screaming! What a way to kick off our first Anzac Day clash, first AFL game together and what was to us and many other veterans a day of mass celebration! I'll never forget the roar of the crowd on that moment!

I was unfortunate not to get a 2023 Grand Final ticket but it didn't matter as I was able to experience the game at the Magpie headquarters... once the final siren went everyone was in elation. I looked in front of me and saw a young man to be in his early twenties wiping his face full of tears and smiling at the same time, as we all were... thank you for my great experience that I will NEVER forget. GO PIES!