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A Crisp 250 - from 'Steak Knives' to Collingwood premiership great
Lachlan Geleit • March 9th, 2025 10:36 am
Once the loose change in a deal that helped send Dayne Beams from Collingwood to Brisbane, JACK CRISP has become one of the mainstays of Collingwood. He caught up with LACHLAN GELEIT.
All Jack Crisp wanted to do when he arrived at Collingwood before the 2015 season was to make the round one team. Little did he know that 231 consecutive games later in black and white, he would be suiting up for the 250th time in his career in the Opening Round of 2025.
That move to Collingwood a decade ago came after 18 games in three seasons at Brisbane, after being taken by the Lions with the 40th pick in the 2012 Rookie Draft. After 10 games in year one and two more in 2013, Crisp managed to finally crack Brisbane’s team for the last six games of the 2014 season. He played well enough during that stretch that when wantaway Pie Dayne Beams was looking to return to Queensland to play for the Lions, the Magpies weren’t willing to deal unless Crisp was part of the package coming the other way. With picks No. 5 and 25 the bedrock of the deal, Crisp was described as the ‘steak knives’ that were thrown in to secure the trade.
What a set of steak knives Crisp has proven to be.
“It came as a surprise, but I was wanting a fresh start and more opportunities to play senior football,” Crisp told the AFL Record.
“It came up kind of at the last minute, I think I was at my 21st back home in Myrtleford (when I heard of Collingwood’s interest).
“Then it all moved pretty quick; two days later I was down at Collingwood doing a medical.
“All I really wanted was a fresh start and to make the round one team. Then it was round two, then round three and I kind of took it week-by-week from there.”
Even though he arrived at the Magpies largely unproven, it didn’t take him long to find his stride under Nathan Buckley – the same coach who cut him from the Vic Country under-16 squad in 2010. Crisp would finish third in the Copeland Trophy in 2015.
Crisp backed up that effort with top 10 Copeland Trophy finishes in 2016 (ninth), 2017 (seventh), 2018 (fourth), 2019 (third), 2020 (third), 2021 (first), 2022 (first), 2023 (seventh), and 2024 (fourth). And yes, that’s every season he has suited up for Collingwood.
It was in 2018 – early on in that remarkable stretch of consistency – when Crisp got his first crack at finals footy, and September has become the stage that has only elevated his status as a club great.
On top of his Bob Rose Award for best finals player in a premiership-winning 2023 campaign, Crisp also finished second overall in the 2022 Gary Ayres Medal for the AFL’s best finals performer.
Some of his greatest September moments include a two-goal, 30-disposal outing in the 2018 preliminary final upset over Richmond, two goals and 24 disposals in the 2022 semi-final win over Fremantle, and a one-goal, 29-disposal, 11-clearance monster in a tight preliminary final loss to Sydney that same year. Then there is the best of them all – two huge goals, 25 disposals, and seven marks in the 2023 Grand Final victory over Brisbane.
So, what is it about September that brings out his best?
“I don’t know, it’s interesting,” he said. “I just really love the feel and the environment of finals. Since we started playing finals back in 2018, it’s been such an amazing feeling. I’d been starved of it up until then in my footy career.
“When we first started in 2018 it was a lot of guys’ first finals series as well, so I’ve been on that journey with some close friends. I’ve been able to have a couple of cracks at the flag, and it was great to get one obviously.
“I just feel like I can get myself right preparation-wise and get myself mentally and physically right to perform my best.”
Apart from his finals record and consistency, the one thing that Crisp has truly become renowned for across the competition is his incredible durability.
His streak of 237 overall consecutive games (including six with the Lions in 2014) is easily most of the current AFL playing cohort. Brisbane’s Charlie Cameron sits second with a current streak of 145 – that’s 92 games behind Crisp.
Crisp’s consecutive games streak is the second most in League history, and he is on track to pass footy icon Jim Stynes (244 games) before too long. Doubtless, Crisp would love to break the record in round eight against Geelong at the MCG, but there is no surprise that he will continue taking a week-to-week mentality to his footy.
“It definitely would be a goal because it’s something in reach, but I’m not really focusing on that,” Crisp said.
“I’m just sort of trying to start the year off right ... of course it will be a pretty surreal bonus if or when it comes, but that’s still a few months away … I’ll start with Opening Round.”
This season, starting with Sunday’s clash with the GWS Giants, is firmly front of mind for Crisp and his Collingwood teammates. There is only one thing that the Magpies want to achieve this season – getting back to where they were in the premiership season of 2023.
“We’ve put in a power of work, and I think we’re ready to get the ball rolling and start the season off well this year,” Crisp said.
“We’ve been able to build some good chemistry over the summer by having a lot of guys on the track. I’m really looking forward to how we start the year.”
Crisp can’t see himself slowing down much after 2025 either. He has a year remaining on his current deal and has serious proof that his body can handle the rigours of League footy. As a result, the 31-year-old hopes to play on for the foreseeable future.
“I want to keep playing as long as I can,” he said. “If I can keep playing at the level at a good standard and the club can see that, then hopefully we can work hand in hand because I’d love to play as long as I can.”
After 10 years of elite service at Collingwood in which he has been a constant, there’s little doubt that the Magpies faithful would love to continue their journey with the ever-reliable Crisp.
FACT FILE - JACK CRISP
Age: 31Height: 191cmRecruited from: Myrtleford (Vic)/Murray U18 (Vic)Debut: Round 4, 2012, v Gold CoastGames: 249 (Coll 231, BL 18)Goals: 87 (Coll 77, BL 10)Honours: best and fairest 2021, 2022; 3rd best and fairest 2015,2019, 2020; All-Australian squad 2022; Brisbane pre-season premiership 2013; Collingwood premiership 2023.Brownlow Medal: career votes 39.
