Let us see if I can scratch enough brain cells together to remember a few in my lifetime:
Round 6 2001 Carlton v Collingwood MCG
The game earmarked as the "Federation Game" and it was evidently my birthday, and around the time I got SUPER serious about watching football. I was out and didn't watch the game (thanks Mom!) but I know that Pebbles kicked six, and Buckley played a blinder against the old enemy. Thanks for coming Bloose.
Round 8 2001 Port Adelaide v Collingwood Football Park
I watched the tail end of this one. Jumped out of the blocks after the Power kicked the first four goals, Tazza kicked five of the best. Held off a fast finishing outfit that were up and about, and eventually played a Preliminary Final. Another Buckley special, and mention to Ryan Lonie for the hattrick.
Round 13 2001 Adelaide v Collingwood Football Park
None of our players kicked more than a brace, but with Darren Jarman kicking half a dozen at the other end to half time, we were in deep sh*t. Up pops the skipper to get the lazy forty plus pozzies and two goals, and we down the Croweaters by two points. I was at the Grandparents, and found out from the Grandfather the next morning. Trust me when I say, the sense of anxiety and apprehension was completely lost on me!
Round 8 2002 Collingwood v Brisbane Docklands
Having seen the Bad News win nearly twenty in a row, you would excuse me for thinking we would get flogged. This was some juggernaut, with all the cash pumped into them and Sydney by the AFL. Alas with Tazza kicking five, Buckley shading Voss, and Pebbles and Rup Betheras running amok, we pipped them at the post. Great game for Clokey down back too. The lid well and truly came off, when Betheras put us in front in the third stanza. Wowee indeed.
Round 14 2002 Adelaide v Collingwood Football Park
Brisbane have been done by the Demons at the Gabba, having the former sold a home game to the latter. This clash becomes a fight for the coveted second spot on the ladder, and we are playing a much improved Crows outfit on the home deck. What happens? I switch on to the delayed telecast of Nine's coverage, hosted brilliantly by our own Tony Jones, and we proceed to kick nine goals unanswered in the second quarter, while holding of a flying Brett Burton and fast finishing Crows outfit coming back from ten goals down. Four goal win doesn't reflect the shear relief and frustration this game had on me as an eleven year old!!
Qualifying Final 2002 Port Adelaide v Collingwood Football Park
Nobody gave us a hope in Hell of going over there and winning it. No Buckley? No worries. The Davis "brothers" running riot, Betheras turning it on in the first term, and Licuria smashing Francou and nabbing forty possessions. This one shades the Brisbane game JUST, because of the atmosphere of an away final, the vocal and ferocious home crowd, and the sense of history being against us.
Qualifying Final 2003 Collingwood v Brisbane MCG
This was one of the epics, and certainly shaded the final above mentioned from the year prior. Few things to remember. The cheersquad, of which I was a member, was shifted from behind the goals to practically the wing, to accommodate the travelling Brions supporters. We had not beaten the Brions all year (not through lack of trying), and had lost three games in a row by hefty enough margins. Close all night, Buckley superb, but Didak's junk time goals to get us in front, which sandwiched a centre clearance, strong mark and goal to Pebbles just topped of the night. A shame we couldn't repeat the dose on Grand Final Day.
Round 9 2004 Collingwood v Adelaide Docklands
Previous years Grand Finalists, and now a rabble, one win from the first eight rounds. The Crows should probably have pumped us, but determination of a proud club to hold on by half a kick. No Buckley, who was out for practically two seasons following with hamstring torn to shreds, coming back from almost five goals in arrears, and Tazza kicking a bag of five when we only kicked nine for the night. This passes for an epic, especially when you discover the game ended deep in their forward fifty.
Round 9 2005 Collingwood v West Coast MCG
Curious how at the home of football we weren't given a shady chance, but again, Melbourne being second on the ladder had slipped up against the Eagles in the earlier rounds at the same venue, so the Eagles as their song says were "flying high". I listened with the Grandfather to the first quarter, and bugger me, a three goal head start to Cox, Cousins and co. No Judd for this fixture, so take from it what you will. Second quarter was electric, vintage Collingwood, with six goals and a half time lead. Ground out the rest for a famous win, with the journeyman Caracella kicking five, and Egan in his first game kicking a brace.
Round 11 2005 Collingwood v Geelong Docklands
This game gets a mention because Geelong were entrenched in the top four, and on a Friday night should have buried the wobbles. They didn't. Thanks once again to Didak kicking five, including I believe some incredible mercurial efforts, and an eleven goal first half, we held off a fast finishing Pivotonians outfit. I remember Scott Burns kicking one on half time to extend the lead to beyond seven goals, from the arc no less. I love how good it was to listen to football on the radio.....once upon a time.
Round 8 2006 Collingwood v Geelong MCG
Huge arrival of a young team who had gone through such a low ebb for two years after successive Grand Finals. Hundred point drubbing of a Cats team who had played off in a Semi Final previous year and given Swans a run for their money, but for Nick Davis and four goals, and who had been heralded as taking the next step in 2006. Memories of attending this game as a fifteen year old, and paying only $2 for a concession ticket. Watching Leon run the Cats into the ground, including Tim Lane's "coup de grais" from beyond the arc in the pocket on the run, in the second quarter. A young, tattoo-less Dane Swan arrived on this night, with four goals.
Round 10 2006 Collingwood v Brisbane MCG
Hadn't beaten the Brions since 2003, and had been flogged in every fixture since. Buckley showed further form forward, in his most famous six goal game. Sadly the game where Jamie Charman sat on Caracella's head, and broke his neck, to end what would have been a promising twilight of his career had he continued with us. Sat in the cheersquad, and loved every moment, including some of Buckley's marking prowess. Also Scott Pendlebury's first game. I had no idea that night he would become a Norm Smith medalist, future captain, and 250 game player, despite goal with one of his first few kicks.
Round 20 2006 Port Adelaide v Collingwood Football Park
I remember watching this on Channel Nine. The Maggies had a really fast start, and at one point led by about five goals plus, before completely capitulating with the help of Brett Ebert, to hold a slender lead at half time, and then fail to kick a goal, to trail at three quarter time. I remember Buckley's speccie and goal, then Didak sliding one through from the pocket to send us in front. Unfortunately there was the horror of the Burns miss beforehand, hitting the post from the square, and then handball to give the Power the clearance and opportunity to goal, following Didak's ice cool effort. Mick might have smashed up the box due to the Burns handball, also.
Round 1 2007 Kangaroos v Collingwood MCG
Same mob who had beaten us by eight goals on the Gold Coast in pre-season. Behind all day, but epic seven goal last quarter that was almost ruined by Heath Shaw conceding a fifty metre penalty to Shannon Grant, but fortunately saw him hit the post from the square. Watched this with my North supporting Brother, who was shattered. Medders first game for Collingwood with the departure of Tazza, and memorable for Cloke's boundary line effort, and Ben Johnson's cool check-side goal in the last.
Semi Final 2007 West Coast v Collingwood Subiaco
This was the final to beat all finals. The fact we got to be four goals down at one point in the third, to see that lead evaporate within five minutes afterwards, Pebbles badly out of form and bagging a hattrick on the dour Darren Glass, and Didak popping up from beyond the arc to put us in front. Special mention to Daisy for ice cool kick to put us back in front late in the last, and the last minute, where players were smashing into each other in our forward fifty, with no clean hands, and no behind to put us in front. My first time seeing a draw, first time seeing extra time, and young blokes like Swanny and Pendlebury kicking some late goals in the second five minute period to win it. First win against the Eagles in Perth since 1992. That is probably equal, if not better than the 2002 final against the Power, but they didn't have Kerr, Judd, or Cousins. Still a damn good team despite this fact.
Special mention:
- Round 3 v Richmond MCG (down by three goals half time, first game for Brad Dick, Shannon Cox, Alan Toovey)
- Round 6 v Adelaide Football Park
- Round 9 2007 (first win against the Bad News at the Gabba, and first win at the Gabba since 1993)
- Round 14 v St Kilda MCG (last quarter comeback, my first day on the workforce pushing trolleys at woolies, absolute torrential rain all day, and Daisy's disallowed goal, which would have been goal of the decade EASILY).
Round 9 2008
The Cats hadn't lost a game since round 5 2007, and nobody gave us a chance. It was being marketed as the revenge game for Geelong stealing the Preliminary Final from us the previous year, from which I have no doubt we would have smashed the Power and won the long coveted Grand Final. I listened in the darkness of my room on the radio, potentially to shut all outside noise from focusing on the game. I can only call it an obliteration. The first time a team had achieved almost one hundred tackles, and pressure unheard of before the present era, and which has been replicated by Collingwood teams since. Keeping the perennial Cats to seven goals was a feather in the cap, and Medders "brought his trow" with a goal on the final siren. Epic.
Round 4 2009 Brisbane v Collingwood 'Gabba
Remember watching this on Channel Seven, and the Brions being up and about, with Jonathan Brown taking all before him, before being blanketed by Presti-gerry-como. This was also the game Medders kicked four, was knocked out, and recalled nothing of his sensational goal from the pocket that bounced through for a crucial goal. This was redemption for the corresponding fixture the previous year, where we had them buried at three quarter time, and we got done.
Round 15 2009 Western Bulldogs v Collingwood Docklands
Battle between third and fourth, and the Dogs had destroyed the Dawks with a fourteen goal half time lead the previous week. Could be excused for thinking we might fall victim to them also, but the Maggies had other ideas. Remember listening on the radio to the Pies extend the lead at every change, six goals at the end of the premiership quarter, and Leon be on fire with four, and all of them special efforts. Daisy kicked the crucial goal late in the last to extend the lead to seven points, and we win by the barest of margins. Crocodile tears Foot-es-cray!
Round 19 2009 Adelaide v Collingwood Football Park
Always found a way to win in Adelaide over the years. Battle for fourth spot this one, and I remember watching the Pies kick away in the second half on Channel Ten, with "Jack" Anthony starring with a hattrick, and Alan Didak and Swanny running riot. Did this one easy in the end, and an away win was thoroughly memorable.
Semi Final 2009 Collingwood v Adelaide MCG
Already mentioned here, but was my second weekend at the MCG, after working the Qualifying Final loss to the Saints. Having been five goals down, and a very dour second quarter, to see the Maggies fly back and then almost get done was a real heart attack waiting to happen. "Jack" Anthony was ice cool just before the siren, don't know if it was a free kick, but hell that's history. "RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!!"
Round 15 2010 Port Adelaide v Collingwood Football Park
Was staying with the Grandparents for this one. Blowing a six goal gale down one end of Footy Park, to which the Power kicked a five goal to nil lead to the first break. Arrested with a seven goal second term, and from there we were never headed. Harry and Daisy's hundredth games, Jarryd Blair snagged a nice one from the pocket on the arc, and the Anvil dobbed one on the left from much the same position, on the run. Swanny had a field day to receive the three votes.
Round 16 2010 Collingwood v St Kilda MCG
Worked this one. This was touted as the first litmus test for the Pies, having not beaten the Saints since 2008, and having been crunched in clashes since. McCaffer, Swan, and even the Anvil had a field day, we kept Saints to six goals, won by eight, and went to the top of the AFL ladder. Absolute euphoria.
Round 19 2010 Geelong v Collingwood MCG
The second litmus test. Done by six goals in the round 9 clash, which was a real kick in the guts not to kick a goal in the last quarter. Proved on this night we were premiership favourites. Despite the inaccuracy, the crowd piled in right through into the first quarter, and saw us jump out to a four goal lead. Despite surrendering this by half time, and falling a couple of goals behind, Beams got a hattrick, Swanny broke the Ling tag, and Didak had a field day in a four goal win. I was elated, and utterly relieved.
Preliminary Final Collingwod v Geelong MCG
This was probably enough to keep me alive for six months. No food or water, just watch this match on rinse and repeat. Jumping out of the blocks with seven goals, at one point eighty points up, and every Cats fan in the house knew they were gone-ski. Travis kicked straight, Swanny, Rusty and Didak murdered the "Hand Bags", and Ablett's forty touches was his best and last game for Geelong until round whatever this year. "Hi Gold Coast, I am G. Ablett".
Round 9 2011 Collingwood v Adelaide Docklands
Obviously a few stand out games in this season, but we cantered to wins in all of them. This was different. An eighteen goal second half, Krakouer takes mark of the year which should have gone to the Carlton bloke, and Daisy kicked the torpedo from the arc. The tugging by Tazza of his jumper too told you how much he "loved" playing in Perth with the Shockers.
Preliminary Final 2011 Collingwood v Hawthorn MCG
That last quarter. Leon kicks one from the arc to put us within a kick, and we could smell blood. Before that, walking into the members from the Ponsford, these Hawks blokes were laughing at us. To pull it back, Swanny from the pocket, Cloke and Dawes kicking straight, and Ball's late snap after Buddy turned Tazza inside out, was certainly special. Brought a ticket for a mate who went in 1990, and hadn't been since. I was relieved we won it for him, too.
Round 9 2012 Adelaide v Collingwood Football Park
Our last game against the Croweaters at Footy Park. Last quarter we doubled our score with five majors. Few of these included Wellingham sharking one off the ground, Didak from beyond the arc, and the Rusty's snap just before the buzzer. Crows were cooked. Buckley 1, Sanderson 0.
Round 20 2012 Sydney v Collingwood Stadium Australia
Beating the Swans, who were up and about with eight wins in a row, on their home deck, having banned Swanny for his p*** up the night before a training session, was a phenomenal effort. Beamsy was Swan-esque with his three goal and thirty pozzie performance, and his late snap was the sealer. Suck eggs Goodesy!
Round 8 2013 Collingwood v Geelong MCG
Not even I gave us a chance in this one. The Cats were sitting on top of the ladder undefeated, and we came in and swooped like a Magpie in mating season. We were obliterated in the third quarter, but the Krakouer goal to seal it, banana from the pocket, was absolutely magic. Sammy Dwyer did some nice things too. Remember him?
Round 20 2013 Sydney v Collingwood Stadium Australia
Watched this from the comfort of my arm chair. Rare night off. Swans smashed us by eight goals in the MCG fixture in round 9, first win for them since 1998 against us at the home of football. They also kicked the first four goals in this fixture, but we arrested back ascendancy with a six goal third term, and three goals from "Billy" Elliot. Travis couldn't kick straight on the night of course, but that is besides the point (see what I did there?)
Round 6 2014 Collingwood v Essendon MCG
Stands out because despite the six goal head start we gave Essendon, we drew it back in the second quarter to be level at half time, courtesy of Rusty and his friends. Swanny kicking four made him a deserved Anzac Day Medallist.
Round 9 2015 Collingwood v North Melbourne MCG
What is it about Collingwood classics and round 9 of the season? I have told this story on here, but I had a prophetic dream the week of the game, where I was shown pretty much the exact score and margin we would win by. Top that off with having also seen in the same dream we would be down by six goals at half time!! Told the ex-wife, who can attest to my honesty of character!! Was studying for an exam but seeing this come to fruition, couldn't help myself but see if we would do the deed. Was not disappointed, and coming back from forty points down against the Shinboners was SWEET. Nine goal third quarter to be in front, and five goals from "Billy" Elliot.
Round 9 2016 Collingwood v Geelong MCG
Round 9 again!!! Cats were purring undefeated AGAIN, and a seven goal to nil first quarter broke their backs. I missed this completely as the ex-wife liked to sleep in, and she didn't like me watching the footy anyway. Americans. Sheesh. Held on thank Christ. Pendlebury kicking three, and Mason Cox emulating Gabelich circa '64 Grand Final with a running bounce and goal. Hasn't he come a long way since then?
Round 16 GWS v Collingwood Spotless Stadium
Having butchered our season, and with the Giants in third with ten wins, they should have won in a canter. Turns out after a three goal head start, a nine goal second stanza and fifteen goals to four in the middle two quarters was going to be too much. Travis kicked four, including the only goal for the Pies in the last. It was another game I missed out on, courtesy of my marriage. I snuck in to listen to the last quarter though on radio.
I think 2017 to now will be self explanatory. Hopefully I have given some food for thought!