CollingwoodCollingwood
Collingwood was formed five years before the start of the VFL, but they were a very strong club from the start. The Britannia Football Club is regarded as the father of Collingwood, but this is not true. Britannia was a strong club that played at Victoria Park, Collingwood’s home ground, but they also had links with Fitzroy.
A group of citizens met in 1889 to form what was dubbed the Collingwood Football Club, they then sought Britannia’s assistance in arranging for a joint Collingwood-Britannia deputation to approach the VFA about possible admission.
But Britannia’s interest dropped after the VFA rejected the possible merger, but Collingwood kept pushing for it even thought they only had a club in name only. In early 1891 the VFA amended its rules to allow Collingwood into the competition. Collingwood then asked the VFA if Britannia would be admitted into the competition if Victoria Park was upgraded to VFA standard, the plan was accepted. The Collingwood momentum started when the local parliamentarian announced that they would win the flag soon and ‘the very name Collingwood would strike terror into the hearts of opposing players.
When the club was looking for the teams colours, they realised that they couldn’t use Britannia’s colours because they were the same as Footscray’s, red, white and blue. According to the clubs records a supporter had suggested that black and white be used after being impressed by the black and white magpie on the SA coat of arms.
Collingwood’s debut in May 1892 attracted 16,000 people and though they went down to Carlton, they showed enough to justify it’s inclusion in the VFA. At the end of the season Collingwood defeated Carlton. The ever improving Collingwood finished 8th in 1894 and finished 4th in 1895.
Even at this early stage, the aura of Victoria Park was gathering steam and Collingwood was said to be nearly invincible at home, after losing 1 game at home in 1895. Collingwood then went on to win the 1896 premiership. Within the first six years in the VFL, the club had a top 3 position and a flag.
Collingwood has participated in games with the biggest crowds. In 1958 Collingwood played Melbourne in front of 99,346 people, the largest home-and-away crowd. The 1970 Grand Final against Carlton was played in front of 121, 696 people.
Collingwood didn’t win a flag for 32 years, until, they won the premiership 1n 1990. The club was said to suffer from the ‘Colliwobbles’ a case of fright when finals football arrived.
Due to the fact of a large number of magpies frequented on the banks of the Yarra River near Victoria Park, the colours of the club, and the clubs motto ‘Floreat Pica’ (May the Magpie prosper), a magpie was placed on the clubs emblem.
In Brief
Joined League: 1897
Premierships: 14
Premiership years: 1902-03, 1910, 1917, 1919, 1927-28-29-30, 1935-36, 1953, 1958, 1990.
Brownlow Medallists: Sid Coventry (1927), Albert Collier (1929), Harry Collier (1930), Marcus Whelan (1939), Des Fothergill (1940), Len Thompson (1972), Peter Moore (1979).
