When people ask Pakenham resident Tam Murphy what her greatness life achievement is, most expect a gushing story about the birth of her child, or a tale about saving her hard-earned to purchase a home.
But for the born and bred Collingwood supporter, it is watching her Magpies win the 2010 AFL grand final, after a torturous 68-point draw the week before.
This weekend, she hopes to join 20,000 fellow members of the Magpie Army at the MCG to cheer on the pies to another premiership flag.
“The biggest love of my life is supporting my football team and watching them every week,” Tam said.
Born to Pies-supporting parents, it’s a passion Tam has revelled in since her junior years.
Her earliest memories include travelling with the family to the junior supporters club at Waverley Park each Saturday morning.
Since then, her passion for the pies has remained feverish.
You only have to step inside her Pakenham home to see walls plastered with memorabilia – scarves, cups, jerseys, posters, balloons – all of which only multiply during finals season.
A member of the club for 21 years, on Saturday, Tam will don the black and white once again and make the ritualistic journey to the MCG for the opening bounce.
“I love nothing more than to get in my car, drive to Tooroonga [station], get on the train, get off the train, walk to the G, get in my seat, always have a pie and a beer. That’s me.”
“The butterflies are killing me, I’m so excited.
“I will soak up every bit of that atmosphere and just hope that our boys can believe in themselves and get across the line, because it’s not going to be easy.”
The key to triumphing over the Brisbane Lions, Tam believes, lies in Collingwood’s small forwards.
“I think it’ll be very very close.
“Our small forwards need to be able to get forward to win this game.
“I do believe Brisbane are a fantastic defensive side and they always get us on a smaller ground, so I’m just hoping that the MCG ground gives us an edge.”
When it comes to her team, Tam doesn’t pick favourites, instead preferring to support the entire team.
“I love Scott Pendlbury, prior to that I always supported Tyson Goldsack because he’s a Pakenham boy and I wore number six, prior to that it was Brodie Holland.
“Nowadays I just don’t want to wear a number, I’m just so proud of my team as a whole.”
But she does reserve a soft spot for skipper Darcy Moore.
“Just with the way he handles himself, in the media and everything, you can’t go past him.”
Collingwood this year broke the AFL’s all-time member record, surpassing 106,470 members.
Tam believes the club’s supporters hold the key to its success.
“What I love about our club is just the supporter base, just how many people support the team and that’s the greatness of it all.
“I love the fact that when we come, we come all. It’s not half-hearted, we’re all there.
“I just wish all the boys the best of luck, but I do believe that if they believe in themselves, like they have been doing, they can do it.”
The 2023 AFL Grand Final will be played between the Collingwood Magpies and the Brisbane Lions on Saturday 30 September.
As part of the event, extra train services will run on the Pakenham line before and after the game.
