Craig McRae drops baby bombshell after Collingwood triumph in AFL grand final

Collingwood coach Craig McRae has double the reason to celebrate after welcoming a baby girl called Maggie on the morning of Collingwood's AFL grand final triumph. McRae revealed in his victory speech that wife Gabrielle gave birth on Saturday morning, just hours before the decider at the MCG.

In a wonderful twist for the Collingwood coach, it emerged last weekend that he was expecting with his wife. Gabrielle was reportedly due in mid-October, but little Maggie obviously couldn't wait.

HOW GOOD: Darcy Moore moment sends AFL fans into frenzy after GF

TAKE A BOW: Taylor Adams' incredible act of selflessness revealed

"Today was already the best day of my life because my wife gave birth to a little girl at 7.45," he said in front of 100,000 fans in his speech. "I'm coming home tonight with the cup! I love you."

The 50-year-old McRae married Gabrielle last year. He has two daughters - Charlie and Chelsea - from his first marriage. The coach was seen celebrating with Gabrielle and daughter Charlie in the Collingwood rooms after their preliminary final win over GWS last weekend.

McRae isn't the only Magpie with babies on their mind, with Jack Crisp revealing after the win over GWS that he wasn't sure if his wife had gone into labour yet. Crisp's wife Mikayla is 39 weeks pregnant with their third child, making for an unwanted dilemma heading into the grand final.

During an interview with Channel 7 after the preliminary final, Crisp said: “Just need to go check on my wife and make sure she hasn’t gone into labour." The midfielder said Mikayla had given him her blessing to play in Saturday's decider.

“We’ve got a scan on Monday, we’ll see what happens,” he said. “We’ve got family down anyway. It’s Mickey’s idea not to miss. I’ll be playing next week.”

Craig McRae leads Collingwood to drought-breaking AFL flag

Bobby Hill kicked a career-best four goals to lead Collingwood to a record-equalling 16th premiership with a thrilling four-point win over Brisbane. Hill booted all of his majors in the first half and was awarded the Norm Smith Medal in the Magpies' epic 12.18 (90) to 13.8 (86) victory.

The result came despite McRae's side losing key defender Nathan Murphy to concussion in a huge blow before half-time. It marks Collingwood's first premiership since 2010, following heartbreaking grand final defeats in 2011 and 2018, and means they draw level on a record 16 flags with old rivals Carlton and Essendon.

It also erased some of the Magpies' pain from losses to Brisbane on the same stage in 2002 and 2003. Collingwood great Peter Moore presented the cup to Magpies captain and son Darcy Moore - in his 150th game - along with second-year coach McRae.

"I grew up a Collingwood supporter. I was here in 2010, 2003, 2002, in the stands and it feels surreal, it is just bizarre," Darcy Moore told the Seven Network. "So much work goes in for so long, so much has to go right to pull it off today, and we did it."

with AAP

Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.