2023 AFL Grand Final — Collingwood Defeat Brisbane Lions By 4 Points

The 2023 AFL Grand Final saw Collingwood defeat Brisbane Lions 12.18 (90) to 13.8 (86) — a 4-point margin in one of the most-watched Grand Finals of the modern era. Played on 30 September 2023 at the MCG in front of 100,024 fans, the Magpies’ premiership ended a 13-year drought (since 2010) and crowned Craig McRae’s debut coaching tenure. Bobby Hill won the Norm Smith Medal with 6 goals — a Grand Final goalkicking performance for the ages.

The Build-Up: Magpies Mojo

Collingwood entered 2023 as the previous year’s surprise package. Craig McRae, in his second season as senior coach, had restructured the Magpies’ game style around pressure, run, and youth integration. Nick Daicos, the Brownlow contender, was the team’s offensive engine. Jeremy Howe was the defensive captain. The 2022 preliminary final loss to Geelong had stung; 2023 was the redemption year.

Brisbane Lions, under Chris Fagan, also entered 2023 with finals form. The Lions had shown improvement throughout the year. Lachie Neale’s continuing form, Charlie Cameron’s forward-line dominance, and the team’s broader maturation made them genuine premiership contenders.

The two teams emerged from a chaotic finals series — the Magpies winning at the MCG, the Lions winning at the Gabba — to meet in the Grand Final.

The Match: A Four-Point Thriller

The 2023 AFL Grand Final was played at the MCG on 30 September 2023 in front of 100,024 fans. The pre-game ceremony featured Indigenous welcome to country and military honours.

The match itself was the most-watched 2023 Grand Final of the modern era. Both teams played at the highest level. Bobby Hill of Collingwood, in his debut season as a Magpie, kicked 6 goals — including the 6th goal that effectively iced the contest. Brisbane fought back to within 4 points; the Lions had multiple chances to win in the dying minutes.

The final score: Collingwood 12.18 (90) defeated Brisbane Lions 13.8 (86) — a 4-point margin that ranked as one of the closest Grand Final results in recent years.

The Norm Smith Medal: Bobby Hill

The 2023 Norm Smith Medal went to Bobby Hill of Collingwood. Hill’s 6 goals from 18 disposals were the highest-scoring Grand Final performance by an individual in many years. The recognition crowned Hill’s first Magpies premiership and established him as a Grand Final legend.

Hill’s Grand Final goals included multiple set-shot conversions from various angles, plus a snap goal in the third quarter that produced one of the year’s most-celebrated goal-of-the-day moments.

The Premiership Coach: Craig McRae

Craig McRae won his first Jock McHale Medal in 2023. The coaching tenure that had begun with the 2022 preliminary final loss had now produced a premiership. McRae’s tactical adjustments throughout the season, his integration of Nick Daicos as the offensive engine, and his game-day management earned the recognition.

Famous Moments

• Bobby Hill’s 6 goals — including the snap goal that produced highlight-reel material.
• Nick Daicos’s 30+ disposals — Brownlow-form Grand Final performance.
• Charlie Cameron’s contested marks — Lions’ forward-line dominance threatened multiple times.
• Lachie Neale’s midfield masterclass — 35+ disposals in defeat.
• Jeremy Howe’s defensive heroics — multiple intercepts in the dying minutes.
• The Magpies’ premiership cup lift — Captain Darcy Moore raising the cup at the final siren.
• The post-match celebrations on the MCG turf.
• The Lions’ gracious acknowledgement in defeat.
• Craig McRae’s emotional acceptance of the Jock McHale Medal.
• The 4-point margin — the second-closest Grand Final of the modern era.

Trivia for the Pub

• The 2023 Grand Final was played on 30 September 2023 at the MCG.
• Final score: Collingwood 12.18 (90) defeated Brisbane Lions 13.8 (86).
• Margin: 4 points — one of the closest Grand Finals.
• Crowd: 100,024.
• Norm Smith Medal: Bobby Hill (Collingwood).
• Jock McHale Medal: Craig McRae (first).
• Collingwood’s first premiership since 2010.
• Magpies’ 16th premiership overall (now equal with Carlton and Essendon).
• Bobby Hill’s 6 goals were the highest individual Grand Final score in many years.
• Nick Daicos won the Brownlow Medal in 2023 (separate ceremony) but didn’t win Norm Smith.

The Rumours and Aftermath

The post-2023 narrative: Collingwood’s modern era beginning. The Magpies’ ability to convert finals appearances to a flag, combined with Nick Daicos’s 2023 Brownlow, suggested a multi-year contender.

The other rumour: Brisbane’s redemption tour. The Lions’ 4-point loss had stung; 2024 was framed as the year for Brisbane to convert. The 2024 Grand Final result vindicated this narrative.

The wildcard: Bobby Hill’s career trajectory. His 2023 Norm Smith elevated him to AFL stardom; future seasons would test whether the 2023 form was sustainable.

The Verdict

The 2023 AFL Grand Final was a 4-point thriller that ended Collingwood’s 13-year premiership drought. Bobby Hill’s Norm Smith was earned through extraordinary goalkicking; Craig McRae’s coaching tenure was vindicated; and the Magpies’ modern era was launched. Long live the 2023 Magpies.