Standard Reserved Bay

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.

My love for footy started early, watching with friends and family - even my Blues-supporting brother. Some of my best childhood memories are cheering on Collingwood at home or at the 'G!

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!