Nick Maxwell always had big shoes to fill.

He entered a Collingwood side in 2004 which had been dominant in the early 2000s, but lost two heartbreaking Grand Finals in 2002 and 2003.

By Maxwell’s round nine debut the Magpies were languishing near the bottom of the AFL ladder and had won just one game of their first eight.

The season itself was beyond salvation. But a premiership captain was unearthed.

Wearing the number 43, Maxwell slotted into a Collingwood defence already featuring James Clement, Shane Wakelin and Simon Prestigiacomo.

He played nine games in his debut season before becoming a regular fixture in the Black and White the following season.

Maxwell was a coach’s dream. Tough, uncompromising, disciplined and vocal.

He was also a face of consistency.

After establishing himself with 20 games in his second season, Maxwell quickly became one of the first names picked.

Over the next four seasons he played 93 of a possible 100 games. 12 of these were finals as Maxwell led a Collingwood side which finally tasted the ultimate glory in 2010.

Leadership was a trait that came naturally to Maxwell.

He described the honour of becoming Collingwood’s 45th captain as “a role I cherished and poured everything into”.

While there were more talented players on the list when Nathan Buckley retired in 2007, few rivalled Maxwell’s ability to take charge of a rebuilding Collingwood team.

He inherited the famous number five guernsey from Buckley in 2008 before taking over the captaincy from retiring Scott Burns at the conclusion of the 2009 season.

Once again, big shoes to fill. But shoes that Maxwell quickly and comprehensively made his own.

2010 was the year that Maxwell ensured his name will be forever referenced in Collingwood history.

Few will forget Maxwell’s frantic dive to prevent an almost certain Nick Riewoldt goal in the dying stages of the first Grand Final. Had it not been for the captain’s last-ditch effort to chase the ball, Collingwood may not have been returning to take part in a replay a week later.

It was a replay that resulted in Maxwell triumphantly holding the Premiership cup aloft alongside Mick Malthouse as the Magpies claimed their 15th flag.

Remarkably, Maxwell was one of seven players in Collingwood’s Grand Final team who began their careers at the club on the rookie list.

The ever-reliable defender will arguably go down as one of the greatest rookies in Collingwood history.

In addition to being a premiership captain, he was named All-Australian in 2009, won three Best Clubman awards (2007, 2010 and 2011) and placed second in Collingwood’s Best and Fairest in 2009.

He has been described as a “living club treasure” and one of the “greatest Collingwood people of all time”.

Now Nick Maxwell can forever be described as a Collingwood Life Member.