COLLINGWOOD assistant coach Max Hudghton says being involved with the Magpies' 2010 premiership team has helped him move on from some of his on-field disappointments.

Hudghton played 234 games for St Kilda, but never tasted the ultimate success.

He retired at the end of the 2009 season, having missed out on a place in the Saints' grand final side that was narrowly beaten by Geelong, and then joined Collingwood as a backline coach.

Speaking in the packed change rooms at the MCG as the Magpies celebrated their 56-point win over St Kilda in the grand final replay, Hudghton said it had been a bittersweet day for him.

"I spent a lot of time over at St Kilda and I really feel for those boys, but when I came to Collingwood I put all that behind me," he said.

"I'm just really happy to be a part of it and I suppose it's some consolation for what happened in my career."

Hudghton said the Collingwood players had entered the replay desperate to atone of their second-half fadeout in last weekend's drawn match.

"The players prepared really well and there was a lot of belief in the group that they could make up for last week, when they let the lead slip," he added.

"It was a great effort and we're all really proud of what they were able to achieve."

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