Collingwood coach Craig McRae reveals incredible baby news to grand final crowd after wife gave birth just hours before kickoff: ‘Best day of my life’

Craig McRae has delighted in ‘one of the best days of my life’ after seeing Collingwood win the AFL premiership mere hours after his wife gave birth.

McRae, 50, welcomed his first child, Maggie, with wife Gabrielle on Saturday morning, having had two daughters – Charlie and Chelsea – in his first marriage.

He then went on to oversee a dramatic four-point victory for the Pies over his former side Brisbane Lions in front of a sold-out MCG, the 16th premiership in Collingwood’s history.

Speaking after the final siren, McRae revealed the great news.

‘Today was already the best day of my life, because my wife gave birth to a little girl this morning at 7:45,’ he said.

‘So darling, I’m coming home tonight with the cup – I love you!’

Speaking to Channel 7, McRae added: ‘My wife’s incredible. She went into labour yesterday afternoon, didn’t tell me, she just said she wasn’t feeling very well.

‘I got a phone call this morning about quarter to six saying “you better get to hospital, this baby’s coming.”

‘Amazing day, it’s already the best day of my life – it just seems to have gotten a bit better.’

The Herald Sun reported this week that the pair were expecting their first child together in mid-October.

‘Collingwood coach Craig McRae gets the mike-drop moment announcing his wife gave birth on Grand Final morning to their first child together,’ the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph tweeted. ‘Which AFL coach will ever top that moment on the victory dais?’

McRae added: ‘I’d like to pay my respects to Fages [Chris Fagan] and the Brisbane Lions.

‘I’ve always got a soft spot for you guys and it’s one of the best games I’ve ever been involved in. I’ve always seen this group as a really special one and now they’re a premiership team, congratulations.