Treloar's attempted humility backfires spectacularly

Adam Treloar didn’t put a foot wrong at the MCG for Collingwood yesterday as he won the Anzac Day Medal – until he had to speak about the honour.

The star midfielder, playing in his third Anzac Day clash since moving south from GWS, racked up 34 disposals and kicked two goals in the Pies’ 49-point victory over Essendon.

Treloar finished four votes ahead of Steele Sidebottom for best-on-ground.

And while he thought he knew the history of the medal, which was officially introduced in 2000, his attempted humility backfired spectacularly.

Sitting alongside Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley for a post-match press conference, Treloar was asked what it means to join the honours list alongside the likes of James Hird, Scott Pendlebury and Dane Swan.

“It’s something I’ll probably look back on once I’m retired,” he said.

“Like you (the journalist) said, there’s some champions who have won it, like the man next to me.”

Treloar was immediately interrupted by his coach with a dry fact.

“Nah, I didn’t win one, mate,” Buckley said, cracking up the journalists in the room.

Treloar was gobsmacked: “You didn’t?!”

“Nah, nah.”

“Oh! Sorry, mate,” Treloar added with a smile.

“Thanks for that, mate.”

“You want to wear this one?”

“I was robbed!”

Often among Collingwood’s best, Buckley polled three Brownlow votes in two Anzac Day clashes – the 1995 draw and in the Pies’ 1998 win – as well as two in Essendon’s 66-point victory in 2003.

The coach also missed out on the medal and even a single Brownlow vote for his 31-touch, four-goal game in 2000, though the Bombers’ 40-point win does explain that.

The important thing is Buckley can laugh about it now.