Collingwood coach Craig McRae recalls a commitment he made to his wife just hours before the AFL Grand Final – and her funny reaction when he violated it right away.
- READ: Craig McRae revealed his incredible baby news after the grand final
- READ: Who is Craig McRae’s wife Gabrielle?
- He revealed the vow he made after Maggie’s birth
Craig McRae has admitted that he had no intention of ‘telling the world’ about his baby delight following the AFL grand final.
However, the ‘euphoria’ of Collingwood’s thrilling triumph against Brisbane prompted the Magpies coach to reveal his astonishing news to the football community as he held the premiership cup.
McRae, 50, was overcome with emotion on Saturday after giving birth to his first child with wife Gabrielle on the morning of the grand final.
McRae oversaw the Pies’ epic victory just hours after Maggie’s birth, ending their 13-year quest for a premiership.
‘Today was already the finest day of my life since my wife gave birth to a newborn girl at 7:45 this morning,’ he said on stage at the MCG.
‘I’m going home tonight with the cup, dear – I love you!’
However, he has now admitted that he did not intend to make the baby announcement public, and that his wife was caught aback by his surprise.
‘I’ve got to say, I’m a private guy,’ McRae admitted to Fox Footy. ‘My wife and I are very private people.
‘This is how secretive we are; I said, ‘I’m not telling anyone we’ve had the kid,’ and then I started thinking, ‘oh, maybe I’ll tell the players,’ and then there’s tape of me acting ridiculous in the rooms.
‘Then, after the game, I told everyone!’ ‘What happened?’ she asks. I’m not sure, maybe it was just the pleasure of it all.’
McRae, who had two children from his first marriage, revealed the joy of becoming a father.
‘[I’m] trying not to cry, because it’s such a wonderful thing,’ he remarked. ‘It’s just the thrill. If you’re fortunate enough to be a father, you’ll appreciate all your wife has done and continues to do, as well as how special this moment is.
‘You’re wiping away tears for two hours, then you have to go to the big game. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.’
McRae married Gabrielle last year, and she was present in the rooms after Collingwood defeated GWS in the preliminary final last week.
McRae told Channel 7 following Saturday’s victory, “My wife is incredible.” She went into labor yesterday afternoon without telling me, just saying she wasn’t feeling well.
‘I got a phone call at quarter to six this morning saying, ‘You better go to the hospital, this baby’s coming.’
‘Amazing day, it’s already the finest day of my life – it simply appears to have grown a little better,’ says the author.
McRae has two other daughters, Charlie and Chelsea, and has put a sign on his collar all season regarding Collingwood’s playing roster consisting of his 44 boys.
‘Everyone has something inside their sweater they wanted to be known for,’ he said. ‘There was an action.
‘I had 44 sons within mine. I now have three lovely daughters. I don’t have a son, but I consider everyone in the squad to be my sons, therefore I wore that under my collar today.’
‘I just told everyone I hugged (during the celebrations) how much I love them.
‘I adore them to pieces.’
Gabrielle had planned to attend the grand final to support her husband, but Maggie’s visit forced her to cancel her plans.
