Quaynor’s 2023 just the beginning

In the run-up to the 2023 season, Isaac Quaynor had big ambitions.

Although his first four seasons at the Club had been solid, he wanted to take it to a new level after the 2022 Preliminary Final.

So the defender has set some goals.

“I am a big believer in manifestation. At the beginning of this year I got a whiteboard behind my TV in my room,” Quaynor told the Dyl & Friends podcast.

“I wrote at the start of the year that my three goals were to make the All-Australian team – which was close and to be honest it was quite far-fetched for me at the time, so to even be in the squad was pretty cool.

“The second was winning a premiership and the third was starting or investing in a business and the year isn’t over yet.”

So when one goal was accomplished and the other two were close to being accomplished, Quaynor treated himself—even though his mother might not have approved.

“I was going to buy myself a nice watch,” he said.

‘I haven’t told mum yet because she’ll crack it… but it’s a timeless piece and it will stay with me for a long time.

“This would have been there (the whiteboard), but if mom came into my room and saw it, she would have cracked them, but I’m very lucky.”

But don’t think this means Quaynor is happy with where he is now.

The vision of the 23-year-old hitting the gym just days after winning the premiership reflects the drive Quaynor has to win again and again.

His emergence in 2023 saw him become one of the league’s key lockdown defenders, having lost just two one-on-one games at one point late in the season.

He showed that again with crucial final quarters during the finals series, but credits his success to the connection in the Pies’ backline.

“When people talk about a strong defense, they say this is a team within a team,” he said.

“It’s really true, we have a lot of experience there and it’s a very close group.

“Every backman has their fingernail painted before the game and I will rock this until it comes off because I feel like it just connects me to those guys.

“We have had some very special moments throughout the year and have been able to celebrate Darcy, especially in relation to his All-Australian year.

“It’s just one of those strong six or seven backs that has basically remained unchanged over the last two years.”

As a Collingwood fan growing up, the fact that he is now a premiership player for his boyhood club still sinks in.

“During points, I looked at my desk and my medal just hanging there, and it doesn’t quite feel like it’s sunk in yet,” he said.

“Even the fact that I was able to celebrate it with all my family, friends and people who have been there for me for a long time was a very special moment.

“We have the second largest average audience for a sports team in the world, which for me is just incredible, it shows the power of the Magpie Army.

“Every game when we come out they roar.

“Even the Collingwood chant, as a Collingwood fan, sends tingles down my spine, so it’s surreal.”

Isaac Quaynor’s 2023 stats

• Ranked No. 1 at Collingwood for points
• Inaugural All-Australian selection
• Played every game in 2023