History of the Collingwood Football Club facts for kids

The Collingwood Football Club is a famous Australian rules football club. They play in the top league, the Australian Football League (AFL).

Collingwood has a long and exciting history, going back over 130 years! The club started in the inner Melbourne suburb of Collingwood, Victoria. Today, their fans are all over Australia. Collingwood has won 16 VFL/AFL premierships, which means they are tied with Essendon and Carlton for the most wins ever. They also hold the record for winning four premierships in a row (1927–1930). Plus, they are the only VFL club to go through a whole season without losing a single game (1929).

This article will tell you about the club's journey from its start in 1892 to recent times.

Early Days of Collingwood Football Club

How Collingwood Started

The Collingwood Football Club began in February 1892. This was during a tough time for the world, with a big economic depression. Collingwood played its very first game in the Victorian Football Association (VFA), which was the main football competition back then. Their first match was against Carlton Football Club on May 7, 1892.

At first, Collingwood only had 17 games planned. They needed 18 games to join the VFA season. Luckily, the Carlton Football Club added an extra game to their schedule. This helped Collingwood get the 18 games they needed. Carlton even gave Collingwood the money from ticket sales for that game!

First Premiership and Joining the VFL

The Collingwood team that won the VFA premiership in 1896.

Even though Collingwood was the newest team in the VFA, they got good very quickly. They won their first and only VFA premiership in 1896.

At the end of the 1896 season, Collingwood and South Melbourne were tied at the top. This meant they had to play an extra game to decide the champion. This was the first time this had ever happened in VFA history! Collingwood won this special game, called a "Match for the Premiership," by one goal. About 12,000 fans watched the game on October 3, 1896.

In 1897, Collingwood and seven other VFA clubs decided to form a new league. This new league was called the VFL (Victorian Football League). The other clubs were Fitzroy, Melbourne, St Kilda, Carlton, Essendon, South Melbourne, and Geelong.

Early 1900s Success

The years from 1900 to 1909 were very important for Collingwood. They built a strong foundation for the future. During this time, the "Pies" won 119 out of 172 games. They also won two Grand Finals out of four tries. Collingwood became known as a very tough team, even though their town was struggling.

In 1904, Collingwood hired its first-ever coach, club legend Bill Strickland. A true star, Dick Lee, joined the club in 1906. He played 230 games and kicked an amazing 707 goals! Collingwood won Grand Finals in 1902 and 1903. In 1902, they beat Essendon by 33 points. The next year, they won against their rivals Fitzroy by just two points.

The McHale Era: A Dynasty (1920s-1940s)

Collingwood became a super-strong club in the 1920s and 1930s. This was thanks to their amazing coach, Jock McHale. He coached Collingwood for 37 years, from 1912 to 1949! This is the longest coaching career in VFL/AFL history.

During this time, Collingwood achieved incredible things:

• They won four premierships in a row (1927-1930). No other VFL/AFL team has ever done this!
• In 1929, they had the only undefeated season in VFL/AFL history. They didn't lose a single home-and-away game!

This period brought six premierships to the club. Many great players became legends, like Syd Coventry and his brother Gordon Coventry, and Harry Collier and his brother Albert Collier. These players helped make Collingwood a club known for strong family connections.

Gordon Coventry was the top goal-kicker every year from 1922 to 1927. His brother Syd was captain for eight seasons. Albert Collier won the Brownlow Medal (the award for the league's best player) in 1929. His brother Harry won it the very next year! The Collingwood team of the late 1920s is often called one of the greatest "dynasties" in football history.

After McHale: New Coaches and a Premiership (1950s)

After Jock McHale retired in 1949, Phonse Kyne became the coach. In 1953, Collingwood won another premiership! They beat Geelong by two goals, led by star player Lou Richards. This team was special because it had three sets of brothers playing together: Ron & Lou Richards, Bob & William Rose, and Bill, Pat & Mick Twomey.

Their 1958 premiership was a big surprise. Collingwood was the underdog, but they were determined to stop Melbourne from winning their fourth Grand Final in a row. They succeeded! This victory was their last premiership for 32 years.

The "Colliwobbles" Era (1959–1989)

After 1958, Collingwood entered a tough period. In 1959, Melbourne won again. After Collingwood's poor performance in the 1960 Grand Final, the term "Colliwobbles" was born. This term meant that Collingwood often struggled to win big games, especially Grand Finals.

Bob Rose coached the team from 1962. He was unlucky to coach three Grand Final losses by very small margins: 4 points in 1964, 1 point in 1966, and 10 points in 1970.

The 1960s and 1970s saw many amazing players at Collingwood. Players like Len Thompson, Des Tuddenham, and Peter McKenna were stars. But none of them managed to win a premiership.

In 1976, the club finished last, earning its first-ever wooden spoon. The next year, Collingwood did something new. They hired Tom Hafey, a successful coach from another club (Richmond), as their coach. Hafey quickly turned the team around. He took them from last place to the Grand Final in 1977!

Under Hafey, Collingwood played in many Grand Finals: 1977 (they drew, then lost the replay), 1979, 1980, and 1981. They kept getting close but couldn't win. This is why the "Colliwobbles" term became so well known.

Tom Hafey was surprisingly fired in 1982. After a few other coaches, Leigh Matthews took over. He built a strong team that would finally break the premiership drought in 1990.

The 1990s: Breaking the Drought and Tough Times

1990 Premiership

The 1990 Premiership was a huge relief for Collingwood fans! Coached by Leigh Matthews and captained by Tony Shaw, the Magpies beat Essendon by 48 points. This ended a 32-year premiership drought that included eight Grand Final losses and one draw.

After this big win, the club went through a period of decline. They only made the finals twice after 1990, losing both times. Leigh Matthews left the club after ten years as coach.

Challenges in the Mid-to-Late 1990s

Tony Shaw became the new coach in 1996. The team often started seasons well but then struggled later on. The team also had a mix of older players who were past their best and some poor new recruits.

In 1997, there was a lot of hope when Anthony Rocca, the younger brother of star player Saverio Rocca, joined the team. Collingwood even reached the top of the league ladder after eight rounds. But then, they lost a key game against Sydney and their form dropped. The team couldn't make it to the finals.

The year 1998 was similar, with another bright start followed by heavy losses.

1999: A Low Point and New Beginnings

The year 1999 was a very tough one for Collingwood. The team lost six games in a row and finished last, earning their second-ever wooden spoon. A particularly bad loss to their rival Carlton in round 21 showed how far the club had fallen.

However, this low point led to big changes. Eddie McGuire, a media personality, became the club's president. He started a major rebuilding of the Collingwood Football Club. Also, star player Nathan Buckley won his third Copeland Trophy (club best and fairest award) and became the new captain.

Victoria Park, Collingwood's home ground for many years, hosted its last league games in 1999. The club was changing, with new players like Josh Fraser, Rhyce Shaw, and Ben Johnson joining. Mick Malthouse also became the new coach at the end of the season.

The 2000s: Rebuilding and Grand Final Appearances

2000: A Fresh Start

The year 2000 marked a new era for Collingwood. Mick Malthouse, a premiership coach from West Coast, was hired. Nathan Buckley re-signed for five years. The club also made smart choices in the draft, picking talented young players like Josh Fraser, Rhyce Shaw, Ben Johnson, and Leon Davis.

Under Malthouse, the team showed signs of future success. The young players, along with Buckley and the Rocca brothers, played well. They started the season with five wins in a row! However, they then faced reigning premiers Essendon, who gave them a tough lesson. The team had some ups and downs, but fans knew Malthouse had a plan for the future.

At the end of the season, two long-serving players, Gavin Brown and Gavin Crosisca, played their last game. This meant that no players from the 1990 premiership team were left. A new generation of Magpies was ready to take over.

2001: Building the Team

The 2001 season was all about new beginnings. The club traded some older players and brought in new talent. They also changed their famous black and white striped jumper! The new jumper had a black back with a white number.

New recruits like James Clement, Jarrod Molloy, and Shane Wakelin made a big impact. Young players drafted in the past two seasons, such as Alan Didak and Ryan Lonie, added excitement to the team. Lonie, in particular, became a fan favorite with his fast runs and long kicks.

The team showed more maturity under Malthouse. They had some close losses but also big wins. They finished 9th, just missing out on the finals. This was their highest finish since 1994, and it showed that September action was just around the corner.

2002: Back in the Finals!

In 2002, Collingwood finally returned to the finals after seven years! They even reached the Grand Final for the first time since 1990. The team won 13 games during the regular season.

Even though many experts didn't think they would do well in the finals, the Magpies surprised everyone. They beat top team Port Adelaide in the Qualifying Final. This win gave them a week off and a spot in the Preliminary Final against Adelaide. They won that game convincingly, with Anthony Rocca kicking an amazing 75-meter goal!

The young Magpies played brilliantly in the Grand Final, but they lost by nine points to the strong Brisbane team.

2003: Another Grand Final

The 2003 season started well for Collingwood, with three wins in a row. They also reached the Wizard Cup Grand Final, but lost to Adelaide. The team had some ups and downs, but Nathan Buckley played some of his best football, leading the team to finish second on the ladder. They won 10 of their last 11 games!

They had a tough win over Brisbane in the Qualifying Final, then easily beat Port Adelaide in the Preliminary Final. This meant they were in the Grand Final for the second year in a row, again against Brisbane.

Before the Grand Final, there was some exciting news. Collingwood's VFL team, Williamstown, won their Grand Final. Then, on Monday night, Nathan Buckley finally won the Brownlow Medal! However, a big blow came when key forward Anthony Rocca was suspended for two weeks. This meant he would miss the Grand Final.

Even though Collingwood was favored to win, Brisbane beat them by a huge 50 points. The Lions were too strong and fast. This loss was tough for the club and its fans.

2004–2006: Rebuilding Again

In 2004 and 2005, Collingwood finished 13th and 15th, which was disappointing. Many thought the team was broken. But Coach Malthouse brought in new young talents like Dale Thomas, Scott Pendlebury, and Travis Cloke.

In 2006, Collingwood started strong but then lost form. Still, they managed to finish fifth. However, they were knocked out of the finals by Footscray. This made some people wonder if Collingwood's successful era was over.

2007: Close to the Top

Coach Malthouse did a brilliant job in 2007. He brought in 10 new players, even while stars like Buckley, James Clement, and Paul Licuria were injured. The team showed great toughness and never lost more than one game in a row.

Even though they finished outside the top four, the Magpies made it to the Grand Final qualifier. They had exciting wins over past champions Sydney and West Coast. They then lost to Geelong by just five points in front of a huge crowd of 98,002 fans. This game was so good, some called it the "real" 2007 Grand Final!

After the season, captain Buckley retired, along with Clement and Licuria. This was a big change, but young players like Dale Thomas, Scott Pendlebury, Martin Clarke, and Nick Maxwell showed they could keep the club at the top.

2008: A Mixed Season

Collingwood had an up-and-down start to 2008. They had a big loss to Hawthorn but then beat St Kilda. They also had a stunning 86-point win over Geelong, which was Geelong's only loss of the regular season! They looked like they could challenge for the top, but then lost three games in a row.

They finished 8th and played Adelaide in the Elimination Final. They came from behind to win by 31 points! However, they were then beaten by St Kilda in the semi-final, ending their season.

2009: Semi-Finalists Again

Many expected Collingwood to be a top team in 2009, but they started poorly. However, they recovered to win seven games in a row. They finished 4th on the ladder.

In the Qualifying Final, they lost to St Kilda. Then, in the semi-final, they faced a strong Adelaide team. Collingwood was down by 32 points but fought back to win by 5 points in the last seconds! However, they were no match for Geelong in the Preliminary Final, losing by 73 points.

2010: Premiership Glory!

In the off-season, Collingwood brought in new players like Darren Jolly and Luke Ball. The team focused on strong tackling and keeping the ball in their attacking half. This strategy helped them become very successful over the next two years.

Collingwood started the season well, beating the Western Bulldogs. They had some close games and some big wins, including a 65-point victory over Essendon on Anzac Day. They were criticized for kicking too many behinds (missed goals), but their game plan was unique.

They had a tough loss to Geelong but then bounced back. They finished the regular season on top of the ladder! In the finals, they easily beat the Bulldogs. Four Magpies were named in the All-Australian team: Harry O'Brien, Alan Didak, Dane Swan, and Scott Pendlebury.

In the Preliminary Final, Collingwood had an amazing win over Geelong, leading by 62 points at half-time! This secured their spot in the 2010 Grand Final.

The Grand Final against St Kilda was incredibly exciting. Collingwood led for most of the game, but St Kilda fought back, and the game ended in a draw! Collingwood was again criticized for their inaccurate kicking. However, in the replay Grand Final, Collingwood played brilliantly and won by 56 points! This was Collingwood's biggest Grand Final winning margin ever.

2011: Defending Champions

Collingwood started 2011 as the clear favorites to win the premiership again. They brought in former champion Chris Tarrant and Andrew Krakauer.

They had an amazing start to the season, winning their first seven games by huge margins! Many people thought they might go undefeated. They beat Port Adelaide by 75 points, North Melbourne by 87 points, and Carlton by 28 points in front of a massive crowd. Scott Pendlebury won the Anzac Medal for the second year in a row.

Their winning streak ended in round 8 with a controversial 3-point loss to Geelong. Despite this, Collingwood continued to play strong football, smashing Melbourne by 88 points even without many key players.

2012: Buckley Takes Over

As planned, Nathan Buckley became Collingwood's coach in 2012, replacing Mick Malthouse. The team had a shaky start but then won 10 games in a row. They finished 4th on the ladder.

They lost to Hawthorn in the Qualifying Final. Then, they beat West Coast in the semi-final. However, they lost to eventual premiers Sydney in the Preliminary Final, ending their season.

2013: A Mixed Bag

Collingwood had an up-and-down season in 2013. They lost to a lower-ranked team but also beat strong teams like Sydney, Essendon, Richmond, and Geelong. They finished 6th but were surprisingly knocked out of the finals by Port Adelaide in the Elimination Final.

2014: Missing the Finals

Collingwood started 2014 slowly but then won 7 of their next 8 games. However, they then had some tough losses and finished 11th. This meant Collingwood missed the finals for the first time since 2005.

Images for kids

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  Victoria Park, Collingwood's home ground until 1999