Retired #9: Che Cockatoo-Collins

[Doss]

Che is a 1990s player who seems to very rarely get mentioned nowadays, but I certainly well remember him in Essendon colours and at times he was quite the handy player.

Kicked 109 goals in his 85 games with Essendon. Didn't quite kick on from his 1996 zenith and that may have been part of why we seemed happy enough to offload him to Port Adelaide at the end of 1998. But he did end up with a further 75 games and 106 goals for Port and was a very solid player for them too. His career ended in 2003, giving him a very respectable 160 games and 215 goals.

What are your memories of the Cocky? What he is doing with himself these days?

I completely missed this two years ago:

http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2015-05-28/indigenous-stars-of-essendon-che-cockatoocollins

 

[Howard Moon]

dont reckon ive seen a more dominant little spell than his during that lightening premiership before the centenary season, he was classes above!

a memory i have (i think) was of us winning the flag in 93 - then there was an interview with bomber a little later, he said i dont think complacency will be an issue, we have a young kid called cockatoo collins over in sa, and a full forward over at swan districts, both could walk in to AFL footy tomorrow.

I rememebr id been looking at the papers each week for the state league results, this cummings guy kept kicking bags

anyway, maybe the next pre season cocky arrived, and played an ok game, channel 7 interviews him post game, and he gives this totallly aloof , relaxed, confident, almost arrogant interview... seemed so out of place for a first year rookie. The comms were astounded, when they finished they said what a confident young man!

 

[eth-dog]

Cocky was always one of my favourites when I was 5/6 and when I saw him line up for Port Adelaide (not knowing that players actually changed clubs at that age) I asked my Dad why he played for them now and I was really disappointed. Wish we got his nephew too, not that I'm disappointed with Langverde

 

[Pweter]

I remember walking past the Playford Hotel (was then The Raddison, now The Sebel) one day before a Dons v Port game over here in about 2000(ish) and who should I see sitting at a table, drawing footy ovals and arrows etc all over napkins, but Sheedy and Che.

 

[Doss]

I remember walking past the Playford Hotel (was then The Raddison, now The Sebel) one day before a Dons v Port game over here in about 2000(ish) and who should I see sitting at a table, drawing footy ovals and arrows etc all over napkins, but Sheedy and Che.

Interesting. What exactly what they were doing, presuming he was at Port by then? Che spilling a few beans?

He did most of the 2000 season with injury so he wouldn't have been playing, I guess.

 

[Howard Moon]

I remember walking past the Playford Hotel (was then The Raddison, now The Sebel) one day before a Dons v Port game over here in about 2000(ish) and who should I see sitting at a table, drawing footy ovals and arrows etc all over napkins, but Sheedy and Che.

interesting indeed, what were they playing at?

 

[Pweter]

Interesting. What exactly what they were doing, presuming he was at Port by then? Che spilling a few beans?

He did most of the 2000 season with injury so he wouldn't have been playing, I guess.

interesting indeed, what were they playing at?

View attachment 381591

Che was definitely at Port then, and I have no idea what they were exactly talking about. They were sitting at a window seat and I walked past on the footpath so while I noticed them I didn't pause to take in the detail.

Knowing Sheeds though it was the chance to catch up with an old acquaintance and, as I assume happens when you talk to Sheeds, you start talking footy which evolved into running patterns/strategy/whatever.

 

[Daniel Flynn]

Great player back in the day his son Sachem a gun as well who played for Queensland and is now waiting for the draft hopefully he comes to us at the power instead of anywhere else

 

[windyhill]

Drove me mental.

 

[Doss]

Great player back in the day his son Sachem a gun as well who played for Queensland and is now waiting for the draft hopefully he comes to us at the Dons instead of anywhere else

Agreed.

Drove me mental.

Why?

 

[windyhill]

Not as good as he thought he was.

 

[Daniel Flynn]

Great player back in the day his son Sachem a gun as well who played for Queensland and is now waiting for the draft hopefully he comes to us at the power instead of anywhere else

Agreed.
I see what you did there

 

[yaco55]

Windy Hill summed it up perfectly.