“Best Anzac Day game story of all-time”: How former Pie was sure he’d win the medal in 2008

Former Collingwood midfielder Brodie Holland has reflected on his favourite Anzac Day game story.

Holland played in five Anzac Day games across his career in the black and white, but his favourite story was when he was still on the club’s list but was in the grandstand as an onlooker in 2008.

That year the Pies would win the big game 154-81 and it was Paul Medhurst who starred, kicking six goals to go with eight marks and 17 disposals.

Speaking to Medhurst before the game, the small forward told Holland he was certain he was going to win the medal after dreaming about it the night before.

While Medhurst only had five three Brownlow vote games across his 168-game career, Holland says he was 100 per cent certain that one was going to be against the Dons in ’08 during the biggest game of the home and away season.

He spoke about the confidence that Medhurst had throughout the entire day after the thought of winning the medal came to him the night before.

“I was just thinking about this on the way in, it’s the best Anzac Day game story of all time,” Holland told SEN WA The Run Home.

“I walked into the change rooms (pre-game) and he dreamt that night that he’d won the medal.

“I walked in, he said, ‘Mate, I'm going to win the medal today’, I said, ‘What are you talking about?’. He said, ‘I dreamt that I’m going to win the medal’. 

“I was like, ‘Are you sure?’, but he goes, ‘Mate, I am that confident. I’ve been practising my speech in the mirror all morning.’ That's what he said to me.

“Then I went up to the grandstand and then he went on to kick three goals in the first half and was best on ground by half-time.

“So I go down to the rooms and I was just about to tap him on the shoulder while he was getting a massage and he knew it was me. He goes, ‘Dutchy, three down, three to go’. I’m like, ‘Are you kidding me?’.

“So I went back up in the grandstand, and he dominated the second half, kicked another three and did the iconic celebration to the crowd which we all remember with the double fists in the air.

“Then he got the Anzac Day medal, and guess what, his speech when he won the medal was absolutely flawless … he didn't stammer or stutter, he knew exactly what he was gonna say.

“He 100 per cent had been practising that all morning in front of the mirror.”

There have been 15 Anzac Day games since Medhurst’s big day and Holland is picking another Pie to claim the medal in the 2024 version of the game.

That player is young superstar Nick Daicos, who Holland is picking to go back-to-back after winning it in 2023 for his two-goal, 40-disposal performance.

“I’m not going to pick one that’s left of centre,” Holland said.

“It gives me a 50/50 chance of getting it if I just say Nick.

“So, I’ve got Nick Daicos for the medal.”

Thursday’s big game begins at 3:20 pm (AEST) at the MCG.