Teammates have hailed Taylor Adams as the "heart and soul" of Collingwood after the veteran midfielder missed the club's epic grand final victory through injury.
Adams hurt a hamstring at training after the qualifying final, ultimately ruling him out of the last two games of the premiership campaign.
Off-season recruit Daniel McStay also missed the decider against his former team the Brisbane Lions after straining a knee ligament during the preliminary final.
John Noble was squeezed out of the side in September after playing all 23 of the Magpies' home-and-away games.
Together, the trio were the hard-luck stories of Collingwood's 16th AFL/VFL premiership.
"I saw them out on the ground ... I gave Tay (Adams) a big hug," Magpies defender Brayden Maynard said after the thrilling four-point victory.
"They were vital players to our team. It's shattering that they weren't able to get one but I tell you what, they probably deserve it more than anyone."
Versatile tall Billy Frampton replaced McStay and played as a defensive forward on Brisbane's intercept king Harris Andrews.
Frampton, who was told of his call-up four days before the grand final, finished with just two disposals but played an important role with advice from McStay during the build-up.
The former Adelaide and Port Adelaide tall said playing in the flag felt like a "strange dream" in his first season with the Magpies after his late selection reprieve.
"There were so many times when I felt like I wasn't playing well enough or was playing well enough and just wasn't getting picked," Frampton told AAP.
"You just try to stick to the course and keep going, and it paid off."
Hard-running Patrick Lipinski was relegated to the substitute role but was called upon earlier than expected when teammate Nathan Murphy failed a concussion test.
Murphy copped a head knock in a collision with Brisbane's Lincoln McCarthy, leading to Lipinski's injection soon after quarter-time.
"I had to accept that role and I'm so grateful to even be part of a grand final," Lipinski told AAP.
"I was still very excited and it's all worth it now.
"It's so unfortunate for Murph but I think he'll be pretty happy regardless and we're premiership teammates forever."
