> Hear from all 22 players, coach and president at Sunday's family dayClick here to view the family day photo gallery
AT COLLINGWOOD'S family day on Sunday it has been revealed that a number of players played through significant injuries, during Saturday's 56-point grand final win over St Kilda.
The team was presented before 20,000 fans at the Pies' training ground with defender Ben Reid appearing with his right foot encased in a moon boot.
The 21-year-old injured his foot in the second quarter of Saturday's premiership win but returned to the ground to play out the game.
The exact extent of the injury is yet to be determined but Reid said the celebrations from the triumph had alleviated any concern he had for the potentially broken leg.
It was also revealed on Saturday night at the Pies' official grand final dinner that forward Alan Didak relied on pain-killers to get him through the final four games after he tore his pectoral muscle off the bone in round 21.
The injury should have been operated on immediately but Didak was determined to get through the remainder of the season.
Norm Smith Medallist Scott Pendlebury, who had issues of his own when he played the drawn grand final after a four-day bout of gastro, praised the brave efforts of his teammates.
"We all knew internally what they were going through, and 'Reidy' came back on yesterday after we think breaking his fibula," Pendlebury said.
"'Dids' with his pec, we all knew it was going to be a battle for him to get up and for him to contribute the way he did was a phenomenal effort."
All players were in attendance at the family day, although some were worse for the wear after a long night of celebrations.
Didak said he hadn't slept, Harry O'Brien revealed he had told his teammates he loved them "around 2000 times", Dayne Beams said he was feeling "dusty", Dale Thomas hid behind dark sunglasses and Darren Jolly and Steele Sidebottom had almost no voices.
A philosophical Dane Swan said his teammates had created their own history and "would never forget each other now", while Tyson Goldsack - who came in for the replay at the expense of Leon Davis - said moments like Saturday night "took your breath away".
Former North Melbourne and Fremantle player Leigh Brown said it was a dream to play in a premiership after being on football's scrapheap at the end of the 2008 season.
"Two years ago, it was all gone. When you get delisted, it's all said and done. It's probably the biggest kick in the bum you're going to get," Brown said.
"I came down here and trained for a couple of weeks and was lucky enough to get picked out, at 73 or something in the draft.
"I'm very grateful to Mick Malthouse and Geoff Walsh for having a bit of faith in me, having that confidence and giving me a role and the opportunity to be a part of yesterday with the other 21 guys."
President Eddie McGuire said he had gone out and bought the papers on Sunday morning to make sure the victory was a reality.
Coach Mick Malthouse thanked not only the club's enormous fan base but also his assistant coaches and support staff.
"You've all played a significant part in our psyche in wanting to win this premiership for you guys," he said.
"All I can say is thank you so very, very much. The group we've got, all 48 players, are all elite sportsmen and they're selected because of the great talent they've got.
"But a football club is only as good as the strength of its army, and how many armies are as strong as that of Collingwood?"
