Collingwood sealed a 39-point win over Port Adelaide on Friday night to solidify its early premiership credentials.
However, for a few fleeting moments, football took a back seat.
Five-year-old Kyron Maguire, a terminally ill Pies supporter, was given experiences many fans could only wish for.
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Maguire, a brain cancer sufferer, spent time with the club in the week leading up to Friday's game.
Kyron Maguire is a mad Collingwood supporter.
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) May 1, 2019
Unfortunately, this 5-year-old legend was diagnosed with brain cancer last year.
Today, he met his favourite player Adam Treloar and had lunch with the boys before he runs through the banner on Friday night. pic.twitter.com/9hssHcgGun
On Friday night, wearing a Pies beanie and guernsey, Maguire ran through the banner before the game, was chaired off by players after the final siren, and joined the huddle for the team song.
Even for the most hardcore footy fans, seeing Maguire chaired off by Scott Pendlebury and favourite player Adam Treloar put everything in perspective.
For Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley, seeing what his club gave Maguire helped he and the players keep in touch with "real life".
"It actually makes the game less significant doesn't it?" Buckley told media after the game.
"We are playing a game of footy and we all take it really seriously and we spend a lot of time on it.
"To have Kyron and his family in and to the share the last couple of days with them and the experience, and the way our boys handled it after the game, was amazing really and quite emotional.
"That's real life and it was good to put a smile on the young fella's face."
After full-time, as Maguire celebrated with players, Treloar ushered him over to where he was being interviewed.
"I met him two days ago, and when I heard the story about the little fella, it breaks your heart," Treloar said.
"It makes you appreciate everything that you have.
"I get to play football, and I get to live my life... he enjoyed today.
"It's for his family too, they're massive Collingwood people. We know Kyron loves the footy club.
"To show them around the club on Thursday was very special for us, it touched a lot of us.
"For him to be with us today, to run out with us, hold his hand and give him a hug, I know he loved it."
🙌 All 3 in this photo have been 5yo’s with stars in their eyes. It was awesome to dedicate last night to Kyron and his family. It was also great to see the humans beneath the armour they wear on the weekends. I’m proud of our humans. pic.twitter.com/pCq16Qyn1S
— Nathan Buckley (@ncb_cfc) May 4, 2019
