Julie McCreery took a deep breath and opened the door into the world of professional football — she wasn't just speaking to her sons any more but 23 players in the AFL's hottest team.
"I was so nervous and you could probably tell in my voice," she said.
The Adelaide mum had been asked to address the league-leading Collingwood side on the eve of its match against the Giants on Sunday, Mother's Day.
The idea had been hatched by senior coach Craig McRae, after Ms McCreery and her 43-game son Beau appeared on a Foxtel football show, recounting the rev ups she used to give her sons when they played junior football.
"I thought I better try to pull something together, but yeah it was pretty well what I used to say to Jake and Beau before they'd go out through all their junior football," she told ABC Radio Adelaide.
Her son, who is the epitome of pressure on the footy field, had no idea his Mother's Day dressing room speech was coming.
"He didn't know at all, probably why the look on his face when I walked in was sheer terror," Ms McCreery said.
The 22-year-old started with his hands over his mouth as the speech began, but ended up cheering and clapping along with his teammates.
"One of the boys mentioned it and I thought they were taking the piss. Then 'Fly' (McRae) mentioned something and I thought: 'No way, mum is going to walk through these doors'," Beau McCreery told AFL.com.au.
"I put my head down and I saw the doors open and mum walked through and got into it and got all the boys up. I think all the boys loved it, which was pretty good."
The minute-long rev-up turned into an outstanding success.
"Righto boys," she began.
"First of all I just wanted to thank you so much for the hard work that you've done so far this season, going out there and doing what you do best.
"What a special day today in front of all your beautiful mums and partners on Mother's Day.
"So go out there and make us proud, believe in yourselves, believe in each other, chase that ball and tackle hard, win those contests and when you're in front of the goals, make it count.
"And when you do, blow your mummas a kiss, so go out and rip it up, boys," she finished to raucous applause.
Beau McCreery played junior football with Cove at Hallett Cove, before ending up with South Adelaide.
He was drafted to Collingwood in 2020 and was part of a Magpies team that fell just short of last year's AFL grand final.
Sunday's match was a special one for families of Collingwood players, with mothers gathering for a club lunch, before going to the MCG for the game — and Ms McCreery's special appearance.
"Oh my goodness, I was so nervous I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest," she said.
Ms McCreery joked that there should be a more permanent role for her on the coaching staff.
"I spoke to (Collingwood chief executive) Craig Kelly after the game and I said 'mate, we're going to have to have a chat to talk about salaries here'," she said.
She would probably settle for a premiership for her son — the Magpies are currently on top of the ladder and a hot fancy to play in the grand final.
