They're the Magpies who are yet to experience the big stage. But maybe they've got more finals experience than we think. 

Ahead of the Pies' blockbuster Qualifying Final clash with West Coast, Collingwood Media caught up with Tom Phillips, Brayden Sier, Jack Crisp, Will Hoskin-Elliott and Brody Mihocek to reflect on past finals experience. 

All five are premiership players at various levels of football, and all will be looking to taste success again when September arrives on Saturday night.

Tom Phillips
"The last final I played in was a VFL loss to Footscray in 2016. Ben Long kicked six and dominated. It was a bit disappointing, but the finals I’ve played before that have been a bit more successful. In 2014 and 2015 I played in premierships with the Oakleigh Chargers.

In 2014, I got in that team and played for most of the year. I was dropped once in round four. I wanted to try and make a point to the coach and the club. I knew the team was successful… I wanted to be a part of the team and not left out in September. Luckily enough I managed to do that and play a role with Darcy Moore, Benny Crocker, Jordy De Goey and a few others. That was a great year. Eight guys got drafted.

Going back-to-back in 2015 was special, but probably a bit different. We finished sixth and came home really strong. That was as good, if not better than the 2014 one because we weren’t pigeon-holed to win that, or even be close in the finals. The way we turned it around in a month was astonishing."



Tom Phillips and fellow Magpie Ben Crocker (#9) celebrate the Oakleigh Chargers 2014 TAC Cup premiership. Image: AFL Photos.

Brayden Sier
"I’m one-from-one in Grand Finals. I played in a Grand Final for Marcellin when I was at school.

There’s some good atmosphere in the AGS. The whole school and a lot of the old boys were sitting on the boundary line near the scoreboard. There was a little fence up trying to stop them from running on the field when the siren went. But one or two went, and then everyone rushed. Down came the fence and all of a sudden there were probably three or four hundred people storming the field, getting around all the boys in the middle of the ground. It was fair to say we enjoyed that. I definitely have that memory in the back of my mind."



Editors note: Sier had left Marcellin and was listed by Collingwood when the video embedded above was recorded. But you get the idea! 

Jack Crisp
"My last final was in the NEAFL, back in my Brisbane days. It was the Grand Final, we won and I got best on ground – don’t want to toot my own horn too much, but I was!

I remember not even in the Grand Final, but all the way through the finals and the lead up, I was always so happy. I was in the car singing to myself because I was so happy, excited and ready to play finals football.

It’s probably going to be like that again this week. I’ve been pumped up all last week as well, just ready to go."



Jack Crisp in action during the Brisbane Lions 2013 NEAFL Grand Final against Aspley. Image: Steve Ripper.

Will Hoskin-Elliott
"It was actually my last game at the Giants. We played in a winning NEAFL Grand Final. I remember the last five minutes really well. (Sydney’s) Teddy Richards dropped an easy chest mark in the goal square and one of our boys picked it up to win the game for us by about two points."



Will Hoskin-Elliott (front right) celebrates a NEAFL premiership with his former GWS teammates in 2016. Image: Simon Bullard.

Brody Mihocek
"I’ve been lucky. I won a premiership when I was 19 for the Burnie Dockers in Tassie. I probably didn’t appreciate it much back then, so I made the most of it last year (Port Melbourne’s VFL premiership).

Going through what we did last year was a tough month. We had to play every week leading into the Granny, so it took a toll. It’s a stressful time, but in the end it’s what you play for. We were lucky enough to win it. To get that feeling again is what I strive for."



Brody Mihocek in Port Melbourne's 2017 VFL premiership against Richmond. Image: AFL Photos.