16/04/2026
When Collingwood Football Club players Wil Parker and Jack Buller stepped into Brian’s room at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, time seemed to pause.
Brian, a lifelong Collingwood supporter had endured a difficult day in the palliative care ward. Their visit delivering a moment of light that cut through the heaviness of the days surrounding it.
His hospital room told the story of a devotion built over decades. Black-and-white Magpies posters lined the walls. A Collingwood dressing gown resting across him like a badge of honour.
Brian told the players he was even wearing Collingwood shorts under his blanket.
As a boy, he stood at the gates of Victoria Park alongside his dad, collecting tickets on game day. Week after week, season after season, Collingwood wasn’t just something he followed - it was something he lived.
So when Will and Jack placed a guernsey signed by the whole team in his hands, the moment carried far more weight than the gift itself. It was a bridge between past and present. Between the roar of the crowd and the quiet of a hospital room.
For Brian and his wife, it was a moment they are unlikely to forget.
Nurse Unit Manager Holly Pitt, who witnessed the visit, said the impact was immediate.
“The presence of the players brought an energy and joy that can’t be underestimated,” Holly said.
“To see the smile they put on Brian’s face was really special. It lifted the entire room.
“Moments like this remind us that care is about so much more than medicine.”
It was a powerful reminder that even in the most difficult circumstances, small acts of kindness can carry enormous meaning.
The visit was a perfect reflection of what the AFL Peter Mac Cup represents - community, compassion, and the deep connections sport can create beyond the field.
The match is on tonight at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) at 7:30pm.
If you would like to support cancer research, donations can be made via: https://foundation.petermac.org/peter-mac-cup
