The Culcairn football club secretary of more than 45-years has been a fanatical Collingwood supporter his entire life.

But this match was different - even for a one-eyed Magpie man.

His beloved Pies were up against GWS with Culcairn junior Jeremy Finlayson one of the enemies and playing for the opposition.

With the match up for grabs in the dying stages Smith was suddenly torn between what he wanted more.

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Collingwood in another decider or Finlayson being the first Lion in the club's history to play in an AFL grand final.

Smith said Finlayson couldn't resist the temptation of making a cheeky phone call to him on Sunday to jibe him on yet another case of the 'Colliwobbles.'

"Jeremy rang up and said: 'I've heard you haven't stopped crying since Collingwood got beat,' Smith said.

"I just said 'I'm disappointed Collingwood got beat but I'm thrilled for you.'

"It's amazing really and I couldn't be more rapt for the kid.

"His old man, Gordon, was president of Culcairn for seven years including our most recent flag.

"I'm close to the whole family but it's just a proud moment with Jeremy becoming the first Culcairn kid to play in a grand final."

Gordon notched more than 400 matches in the maroon and blue while Jeremy played nine senior matches in 2012 as a 15-year-old.

REALTED: 'Jezza' one Giant step from fairytale grand final victory

At the den, Gordon was better known as "Froggy" while Jeremy inherited the nickname "Tadpole."

"It's not the most flattering nickname but I've had it most of my footy career," Gordon said.

"'Doc', my brother, nicknamed me that because he reckoned when I went up for a mark I used to spread my legs like a frog."

Gordon revealed Smith wasn't the only one crying after Collingwood got beat.

The proud father said he was reduced to tears in the GWS rooms as the jubilant players celebrated the fledgling club's biggest win since their inception in 2012.

"We were all emotional," he said.

"I was tearing up but so was Jeremy.

"There are a lot of ups and downs in AFL and it's a real roller coaster of a ride.

"It's hard to believe but Jeremy always had two dreams growing up as a kid.

"The first one was to play AFL and the second one was to play in a grand final."

Gordon fondly remembers Jeremy as a kid being a sports fanatic.

"Jeremy always had a football, cricket or tennis ball in his hands," he said.

"He even played bowls and captained the division four side as a 14-year-old.

"He was pretty handy at all sports but football was his favourite.

"I always told him growing up, if you work hard, the rewards will come.

"He stuck with it, and now the kid from Culcairn is playing in the grand final."

While one of Jeremy's biggest assets is his leg speed, Gordon said he had never seen his son run as fast as the day he smashed a cricket ball through the back window of the family home.

"I remember my wife, Carol, told me not to let the boys play cricket on the back verandah because one of the windows would get smashed," he said.

"Sure enough we were playing cricket on the back verandah and I was bowling to him and he clipped one off his feet and it went straight through the window.

"Jeremy took off and he would have beaten Usain Bolt that day how fast he ran out the side gate.

"I didn't even get the chance to tell him it was my fault for bowling one down the leg side."

Jeremy is one of the youngest kids ever to make his senior debut for Culcairn in 2012 under coach Chris Willis as a 15-year-old.

Gordon said he was naturally worried about his son playing against grown men.

"In the back of your mind, you are always worried," he said.

"But he always had elite decision making and skills that kept him out of trouble.

"While my lack of skills always got me into trouble."

Jeremy left Culcairn as a 16-year-old to join the Giants Academy and played for the NSW-ACT Rams in the TAC Cup, as well as the UWS Giants in the NEAFL.

He completed his HSC at Patrician Brothers' College in Sydney.

And while most teenagers from a small country town could be forgiven for getting homesick, Gordon said it was never an issue for his youngest son.

"For a kid to leave a small country town at 16 and then go to a school with 1200 boys which is bigger than Culcairn - it would have been a real eye-opener," he said.

"It's a huge commitment for a kid - but to his credit he stuck with it.

"He was our youngest boy but he just knew that he had to leave home if he wanted to chase his dream.

"I remember when he was about 14 he told me that he was going to play AFL.

"He was very strong and determined and knew what direction he wanted to be heading."

After spending his early years living with a host family as well as with other players, Jeremy recently moved into a house by himself.

Gordon said Jeremy loved the city but hadn't let his success go to his head.

"He loves Sydney but is still very mindful of where he comes from," he said.

"Culcairn is still a big part of him.

"It's no coincidence two of his closest mates at the Giants are Harry Himmelberg (Mangoplah) and Harry Perryman (Collingullie) who are both country kids."

Gordon is one of the longest serving Lions in club history with 432 matches.

He was 42 when he finally hung up the boots after suffering broken ribs.

Although Gordon is lucky to be 180cm, Jeremy is a towering 196cm and 92kg.

"My brother, Doc, was that tall and my wife's family, the McFarlane's, are a tall family as well," he said.

"But Jezza is a big boy and doesn't realise it because he likes to get me in a headlock every now and then.

"It then takes me about six hours to crack my neck back in when we are driving home."

CHRIS WILLIS

(Culcairn coach 2012)

I don't know why I remember but I'm pretty sure Jeremy made his senior debut against Lockhart. Jeremy started his highlight reel early when he got the ball on the wing, took a bounce and nailed the shot from 40m. I just remember thinking to myself 'Geez this kid can play for a 15-year-old.' He only ended up playing a handful of games before joining the GWS academy, so we didn't get to see a lot of him. Jeremy has done extremely well for himself and hopefully he can become a premiership player.

BRENT BARBER

(Dual Azzi medallist)

Even as a kid playing against men, Jeremy always had an X-factor about him. Jeremy was only 15 but you could tell he was talented and was going to go onto greater things. It's a credit to him that he has established himself at the elite level. The thing that stood out to me most was his ability to take a contested mark despite only being a scrawny teenager. I remember in the lead-up to a final we contemplated playing him one out in the 50m and just let him work his magic.

ROGER PHILLIPS

(Culcairn stalwart)

I don't remember much of him playing seniors at Culcairn but for some reason there was one mark that he took in the under-14s that has stuck in my head. I saw him take a hanger over another kid and the way he landed on his feet and kept running - it was like a cat. I've never forgotten it and just remember thinking to myself "Wow, I can't believe what I just saw.' I am good mates with, Gordon, and Jezza would always tag along with his old man and have a footy in his hands.