Words such as ‘courageous’, ‘determined’ and ‘committed’ are bandied around frequently in football circles.

But few players have epitomised the true meanings of these words like Gavin Crosisca.

For more than a decade, Crosisca was among Collingwood’s most reliable players in both good times and tough.

But what many don’t realise is the Queenslander had originally landed in Melbourne to join the enemy.

“I actually signed with Carlton but they gave me a two week thinking period where I could change my mind and eventually I did change my mind and decided to go to Collingwood who at the time had a very young group and were rebuilding,” Crosisca told Collingwood Media’s James Foster in 2000.

“Carlton was very much a steady and mature side and I felt I would get more opportunities at Collingwood.”

The teenager was one of seven debutants against Sydney in the opening round of the 1987 season, and he quickly set about forging a reputation as one of Leigh Matthews’ most trusted lieutenants.

He finished third in the Copeland Trophy in just his third season, and spent much of the next ten years collecting awards across his 246 senior games.

Three Wrecker Awards, two Darren Millane Memorial Trophies and a Best Clubman gong were among the titles the left footer earned.

They are awards that have Crosisca’s name written all over them, for they honour those who give of themselves to the team no matter the situation. And as many AFL stars will tell you, few players tackled with greater intent than Gavin Crosisca, as he regularly topped the club’s leaderboard for one-percenters during much of the ‘90s.

Due to his endurance, Crosisca played predominantly off the half back flank, but was sometimes employed further afield on the wings and even at half forward, where he made helped steer Collingwood to premiership glory in 1990.

“We weren’t the best side during the season as we finished third after the home and away season (equal with West Coast and Melbourne) but we had a really good September and October,” Crosisca said.

“We were also a very good young group as well and without doubt, playing in a premiership is the pinnacle of everyone’s career.”

Crosisca bagged five goals in three finals, including two famous majors against Essendon during the Magpies’ six-goal second quarter blitz in the Grand Final.

“When the siren blew it was more of a relief than anything else that we won because it had been a long finals series because of the draw plus the fact that it has been 32 years since Collingwood had won a Grand Final.

“It was a relief to know we had finally been a part of a premiership.”

His career hit a rare flat spot in 1997 when he was omitted from the senior side midway through the year, but he rebounded emphatically, collecting 31 disposals (the equal third highest return of his career) and scoring his first goal in more than a year against Brisbane at the Gabba.

He rarely let up for another two years, and even in his twilight, Crosisca refused to drop his guard, running second in the Copeland Trophy on the eve of his thirtieth birthday.

A nagging foot injury put paid to much of his 2000 campaign, but it was fitting that it was Crosisca and Gavin Brown who finally drew the curtain on behalf of the men of 1990, when they were chaired off the MCG after their final game against Essendon in round 22.

As so much of their careers were so closely entwined, these final words from Brown on his premiership teammate on the eve of their retirement sixteen years ago are an appropriate summation.

“Gav is one of those players you are glad to have in your team because they are so unselfish.

“You also knew he would never let you down if the ball was within his area and someone was coming at him. It is those sorts of blokes that I love playing with.”

Gavin Crosisca
Games: 246
Goals: 64
Born: 15 September 1968
Recruited From: Western Districts (QLD)
Debut: Round 1 1987 v South Melbourne
Honours: Collingwood premiership player 1990; Life Member 1997; R.T. Rush Trophy (runner up in the best-and-fairest) 1998; J.J. Joyce Trophy (third in the best-and-fairest) 1989, 1995; (Wrecker award 1990, 1995, 1997; Best Clubman 1997; Best Teammate 1995, 1999;