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Go Pies! The Punch tribute to 109 years of almost winning

David Penberthy

by David Penberthy

22 Sep 06:00am

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Filed under: Afl, Afl Grand Final, Aussie Rules, Collingwood, Sport

132 comments

Make no mistake - the mighty Collingwood Magpies are due.

Let it out, boys. Photo: Michael Dodge

They are ready to build on the lessons of a near-flawless 2010 season and a gallant defeat in this Saturday’s Grand Final by going one better in 2011. If there is one thing this team has mastered over more than a century, it is the ability to bounce back from a grand final defeat. With another grand final defeat.

Today, as a special tribute to the Pies, The Punch offers its readers this FREE downloadable slightly glossy poster commemorating Collingwood’s 24 extraordinary losing grand final appearances.

It’s a feat without parallel in world sport. Collingwood has the honour of coming second in just under one-quarter of all the grand finals ever played in the entire history of the VFL-AFL.

As our free downloadable slightly glossy poster demonstrates, Collingwood opened their roll of honour in 1901 with a gritty, don’t-come-from-behind loss to Essendon at the Lake Oval. In that match the Pies scored 2.4 - the following year they would go one better, literally, scoring 2.5 in their debut Grand Final loss at the MCG, this time to Fitzroy.

The G would prove a happy hunting ground for the second-placed specialists with more non-triumphant grand final appearances in 1911, 1918, 1920, 1925 and 1926.

In 1929 the Great Depression started after a group of Collingwood fans declared they were not prepared to work for anybody, ever, under any circumstances, establishing a proud tradition that continues to this day. The club put its second-placing strategy on hold but regrouped in 1937 kicking a wayward 12.18 (90) to Geelong’s 18.14 (122). It was this defeat which heralded the first of Collingwood’s stunning “three-peats” with defeats in the 1938 and 1939 GFs rounding out the hat-trick.

The feat was repeated in 1979, 1980 and 1981, forcing the luxuriantly coiffed Collingwood hardman Rene Kink to consider a return to men’s hairdressing on the grounds that it was marginally less embarrassing than losing the farken grand final every year.

But with embarrassment also comes pride. Collingwood was instrumental in enabling the rise of the Brisbane Lions juggernaut in the early 21st century by turning up for a ritualistic pantsing two years in a row.

And there were personal records too. How many coaches can say they coached a team to nine grand final defeats? Jock McHale can, that’s who, a man who plied his craft in a gentler era when the game had been unsullied by modern management concepts such as “annual performance reviews.”
In reviewing this roll of honour it is important to remember that there are teams which dream of making a grand final - and rarely if ever do. Footscray hasn’t been in a grand final since 1961, Fremantle has never got close.

It’s been written that you’ve got to lose one to win one but in the case of the Pies the first bit of that sentence will do nicely on its own thank you very much. If anyone can do it this Saturday Collingwood can, and we wish them well.

A3 DOWNLOAD:  Get your free slightly glossy commemorative Collingwood poster here.

A4 DOWNLOAD: Get your free slightly glossy commemorative Collingwood poster here.

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132 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • T.Chong says:

      07:49am | 22/09/10

      The doubters may sneer and smirk, but as a favorite Punchers political hero said , we’re about to claim a “famous victory “.
      Go The Mighty ‘Pies.
      (and Wests Tigers, another team of champs).

      Reply

    • TimB says:

      08:52am | 22/09/10

      I agree Chongy, go Wests Tigers. Mostly so they can knock St George off. And if necessary the Roosters.

      I’d be content if the Titans take the title though.

    • Nicole says:

      09:40am | 22/09/10

      TC, I hope they win for you. I know I was nasty when I gloated over the Hawks win a few weeks ago, but I shall repent and wish them well. Good luck.

    • badger says:

      02:01pm | 22/09/10

      T.Chong,
                  I knew there was something wrong with you !!! and I could not put my finger on it.  But now you have exposed your underbelly and it’s being a follower of the Pies that is the trouble with your thinking.

      Come on the Saints

    • Macca says:

      07:59am | 22/09/10

      Ah, this is truly special.

      Similar feats;
      The Chicago Cubs have gone 102 years without winning the World Series (read American Championships)

      Stoke City FC is the second oldest club in English football, and since 1863 they have failed win either the FA cup or the top-flight of English football. This doesn’t sound too bad until you realise they had 40 years to get into gear before Manchester United even turned up

      ARL federation club,The North Sydney Bears, (who now, unfortunately, do not now exist) have won 2 premierships, back in ‘21 and ‘22. However, they have failed in 16 finals campaigns since then.

      I’m sure there are many others the Punchers can contribute to help celebrate Collingwood’s monumental efforrts

      Reply

    • DMR says:

      12:17pm | 22/09/10

      The SANFL throws up a couple of notables:
      South Adelaide - Only one premiership in the last 72 years (in a 8/9-team competition!)
      Glenelg - Lost 13 of the 17 Grand Finals they’ve contested, but have moved their choking up a notch in the last 2 years by not even making the GF from 2nd on the ladder.

    • Roja says:

      01:33pm | 22/09/10

      You don’t have to go far…. how about their GF opponents St Kilda, total grand final appearances - six.  Total premierships in 117 years of football - one, in 1966, by one point.

      So that is a 1 in 6 record against a 14 in 40 record. 

      Go the pies.

    • Macca says:

      02:43pm | 22/09/10

      Ok, so how about outside the AFL Sphere.. can anyone name any other sporting teams who rival Collingwood, aka the Anna Kournikova of Aussie Rules?

      I kind of like the fact that the Elite Eastern Suburbs of Sydney school, Cranbrook, who generally are pretty weak at sport, won a bunch of trophies during the first and second world wars

      The Netherlands efforts in the Football World Cup should get a mention, but its only on every 4 years. We could go on and on about the English struggling at sports they invented, but lets keep it to domestic teams, otherwise we could be here forever. Any domestic teams that have really struggled to win trophies?

    • S.L says:

      03:20pm | 22/09/10

      For those of you not familiar with “the game they play in heaven” (their words not mine) Rugby Union, the ultimate champion chokers are the mighty All Blacks! They can win 25 tests straight against everybody but watch them turn to water in the World Cup (which they host next). It’s sooooo funny watching a whole nation cry! Oh and don’t forget The Great White Shark….........

    • TimB says:

      03:29pm | 22/09/10

      Perhaps the Cronulla Sharks. They haven’t managed a premiership in their 44 seasons in top grade Rugby League.

      I’m not sure just how informative the statistic is though. How do we compare such things? Do we make adjustments for teams that have been in the competition for shorter/longer periods of time? Merged teams? Defunct teams? (like the aforementioned Bears). Or do we simply compare the record of each first 44 years? Or over the same 1967-2010 period we’re judging the Sharks?

      Generally I like to limit my premiership stats to the start of the “Modern era”, something I’ve arbitrarilly defined as about 1980 onwards. Such deliberate manipulation of data yields a couple of favourable facts:

      -My club Canterbury shoots to the top as the most dominant club in the league, winning 6 of the 30 titles, equal with the Brisbane Broncos. (however Canterbury contested another 3 Grand finals only to fall short)

      -St George’s last premiership in 1979 sits safely outside my data range, rendering the arrogant chokers winless by my reckoning (and deservedly so too)


      I guess what I’m trying to say is:

      1.You can come up with statistics to prove anything. 40% of all people know that.

      2. St George are chokers :D

      *we now return you to your regularly scheduled AFL comments*

    • Chuck says:

      10:01am | 23/09/10

      Macca, as a loyal Cubs fan I’m still angry at “Batman” ruining our closest chance in years.

    • Paul says:

      08:15am | 22/09/10

      I have download my Collingwood Losses poster and have it up already on my toilet door, Just have to wait until Sarurday so we can add another year to the bottom of the poster.

      Reply

    • Steph says:

      08:19am | 22/09/10

      NOW THIS IS JOURNALISM!!!!!!!!!!

      Reply

    • Al says:

      08:19am | 22/09/10

      Cruel but funny, just leave some room at the bottom of the poster for next years edition because I think we may see another famous loss in 2010.

      Reply

    • Hoping For Humour says:

      08:23am | 22/09/10

      Please God let there be a 1 point victory to St Kilda after the Pies have lead for most of the match.

      Please, please, please!

      Reply

    • Scarneck says:

      09:53am | 22/09/10

      ...a controversial goal umpiring decision (on the final siren) costing the pies the game would also be nice grin

    • bruce says:

      12:28pm | 22/09/10

      That would be my ultimate dream as well…..and then after the game see the look on Eddie McGuires face.

    • Phil says:

      01:54pm | 22/09/10

      Eddie would challenge the result in the High Court

    • go pies says:

      08:32am | 22/09/10

      Quietly confident the pies can get up. No need for crossed fingers, this year we are the better team unlike so many of those other occasions when we were overreaching.

      I promise to make everyone’s life a living hell if we do.

      Reply

    • HappyCynic says:

      10:06am | 22/09/10

      Ah but Collingwood isn’t known as the Colli-wobbles because they can’t play footy.  It’s because they’re destined to get to the Grand Final and lose smile

      Either way as a diehard Geelong supporter since age 6 I want to see the pies be up by 60 points or more at the main break then go on to lose by 1 behind smile

    • Lance says:

      11:13am | 22/09/10

      As a Geelong supporter you should know better than to throw stones. Geelong doesn’t exactly have a great Grand Finals record. How did 89, 94, 95 and 08 work out for you? Given the dominance you’ve had over the past five years, Geelong will be remembered as the greatest underachievers in AFL history.

    • Dean says:

      11:35am | 22/09/10

      Lance, you forgot ‘92 smile

    • Ben Haslem says:

      11:40am | 22/09/10

      HappyCynic, it may shock you to learn that Geelong and the Swans hold the record for the most number of consecutive Grand Final losses (not in consecutive years). It’s five. Collingwood lost four, played a draw, lost four. And who broke Cats’ hearts in consecutive Prelims in 80 and 81? Hot pies. Go back to Sleepy Hollow for another 44 years.

    • Hamish says:

      12:17pm | 22/09/10

      Ben as a Cats fan I feel I need to interject…you lost the replay of the draw so that doesn’t count and should be counted as a loss. You lost the Grand Final in 1977 (played across two games). That’s eight losses in a row.

      I accept Geelong have lost a lot of Grand Finals - five in my lifetime and two wins, but Collingwood has Geelong covered in the bridesmaid department.

    • Lisa says:

      03:41pm | 22/09/10

      I’m with you! people talk about Collingwood as if its the same old side every year! not like Geelong, they had to break down, and now they have a sinking ship, for everyone to jump off..haha..The Pies are young, and if anyone isn’t up to standard, Mick just wont play them, thats how many exceptional players we have. WE ARE THE BEST! GO PIESSSSSSS.

    • nank says:

      08:53am | 22/09/10

      this ignores the following, sainters are less than stellar in getting to the grand final and winning. saturday will be another game like the 1990 grand final when the pies flogged essendon in the second semi and repeated the dose in the gf. the only difference that will do it to two teams instead of 1- geelong ( who looked old and tired like essendon did in 1990) and then on saturday the hapless saints who will get blown away.

      Reply

    • Dan says:

      09:01am | 22/09/10

      St Kilda have a worse Grand Final record. 6 grand finals for 1 premiership - the bad news for them is it is about to get worse…

      Reply

    • Pork says:

      09:17am | 22/09/10

      Penbo…
      Everyone knows that the Pies have lost a lot of Grand Finals.  But as ‘Go Pies’ says above, mostly it was when we were ‘over reaching.’ in pretty much everyone during my life time that we’ve lost we were the under dogs.  The exceptions being 1970, 1977 (where at best we were even with the card having got the spoon in ‘76) and 1990.
      We are deadset favourites on Saturday for a good reason: We are the best side and have been so all year.  Barring misfortune Nick Maxwell will lift the cup. 
      But lets look at the Saints.  In their entire history they’ve played in 25 finals series for 6 grand final appearances.  They’ve won only 1.  Their history is the history of non achievement and failure.  The Magpies history is one of over achievement - and failure.
      A heavy burden and fear rests upon the Saints - that they’ll lose again.
      We’ve heard so much talk that history shows that lots of teams who lose one year come back and win the next.  But no one mentions the Gary Ablett Seniors 4 Geelong losses, the St George consecutive losses, the Buffallo Bulls 4 peat of losing, etc etc…  It is common as anything to achieve repeated failure.  And St Kilda is headed directly into that path.
      The Pies are red hot and are deserved failures.  And all you haters have to grab on is Collingwoods unfortunate history and the massive weight of expectation on a pretty good centre half forward.  Who knows?  It might happen but my bet is that St Nick will boot most of the chances he gets, but he won’t get many.  Luke Ball needs to show Ross Lyon why he is so much better than an Andrew Lovett in the bush and worthy of more than 48 minutes in a Grand Final.

      Reply

    • Brent says:

      11:52am | 22/09/10

      “The Pies are red hot and are deserved failures”

      Unfortunate slip there Pork LOL.

      I support the Pies and as always I go into the day expecting to be frustrated and anything better is a bonus.

      I agree that Collingwood has often been a team of over achievers just reaching the Grand Final in front of much more talented sides.

    • BP says:

      12:43pm | 22/09/10

      PORK - if you want to metnion the great St George RED V losing 5 consecutive GF’s maybe you should also take note of the 11 premierships in a row starting in 1956 to 66 - a world record in major professional sport to this day. We also have the 2nd most premierships in RL - far better stats than Magpie losers. GO DRAGONS.

    • Sinkers says:

      12:48pm | 22/09/10

      Four paragraphs from a Pies supporter? Surely the work of a ghost writer subsidised by the Australian tax payer no doubt.
      Here’s hoping for three famous defeats in the space of a week - Dane Swan was the entree, the Saints getting up will be the main course and Eddie will drop an expletive on air and get fired for dessert.

    • Pork says:

      01:29pm | 22/09/10

      Yes…
      Unfortunate slip.
      Deserved favourites is what i meant.
      And Sinkers, we aren’t all toothless members of the anti social club.
      Some of us are tertiary educated burdens of the state!

    • JDiamonn says:

      09:25am | 22/09/10

      I love this. Fantastic and great poster. If they weren’t so fffn arrogant it would be okay, but they really are a side to dislike. Didak who shoots guns in Campbellfield with murderes, Shaw the drunkard, Swan the wannabee, complainer, Eddie the manipulating, corporate scoundrel who was sacked from a posting as CEO after nine months for incompetence and has been holding Ch9 to ransom for $5m a year ever since.

      Reply

    • Pork says:

      09:58am | 22/09/10

      And who do you support JDiamonn?  I’m taking it they are as pure as the driven snow and have never participated/been involved in anything that was unpleasant…
      So your unnamed side are just a super bunch of blokes and all their predescessors were altruistic martyrs…
      Bollocks.  You are just a hater. Nothing more.  Choke on your bile.
      Go Pies!

    • Jezza says:

      09:27am | 22/09/10

      Although I’m a one-eyed Blues supporter, I do have a grudging respect for the long suffering pies fans. To be in 38 Grand Finals in just over 100 years is an amazing feat. Imagine if Collingwood had won only half the 24 GFs that they lost - they would now be way out in front with 26 flags compared to my beloved team’s 16… I can’t quite bring myself to support the pies this Saturday, but if they do win, then I’ll know that the football gods have spoken.

      Reply

    • Pork says:

      10:03am | 22/09/10

      Nice one Jezza.
      That means a lot from our arch rivals.
      I did manage to go for Carlton in 1999…
      It was hard but Koutas superb last quarter in the Prelim inspired me.

    • Gregg says:

      09:43am | 22/09/10

      The two things that Collingwood may have in their favour is if the Saints play a couple who are not 100% whilst they have a Baker available who would just love a Ball on the way to wringing the neck of a Swan! to cook the Goose pie.
      And then who ever got cramp up around the buttocks!

      Saints by two goals as long as they do not let the Pies get the start they did against the Cats.

      Reply

    • Max Vaunted says:

      09:43am | 22/09/10

      Where were you when Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon? When Gough Whitlam was dismissed? When you of heard the death of Princess Di? My personal best seminal moment was Eddie’s deliciously glum demeanour at the final siren of the 2003 grand final. Oh thank you Eddie, thank you, may there be many more moments just like that one.

      Reply

    • Unfashionable Hawk says:

      09:45am | 22/09/10

      I note with displeasure that the pies missed out on the 2001 centenary loss, they quickly made up for it by going back to back in 2002/03. I’ve never understood why you either hate or love the Magpies, there’s no in between?  For the sake of Darrell Baldock and other long time suffering St.Kilda supporters, I hope Magpie blood is evenly spread over the MCG come 5PM this Saturday wink

      Reply

    • Adam says:

      09:54am | 22/09/10

      The amount of idiotic ant Collingwood bias is staggering. For anyone with half a brain cell and a passing interest in the game would know that from round 1 when Collingwood smashed the bulldogs they were a genuine contender. Since then their game plan has been strengthened and is top class and their star players are in form. I respect the saints for their effort to make the GF but it would take a major upset for them to get over the line on Saturday. All the wanker comments about finals choking is meaningless. Only two Collingwood players have played in past grand Finals as young players and two from other clubs. If the press holds pies are a 6 goal better side and should stroll it in.

      Reply

    • Scarneck says:

      10:41am | 22/09/10

      Adam@09:54 “Only two Collingwood players have played in past grand Finals”...that in itself will be the problem, they will choke on the big stage!

    • Tails says:

      11:16am | 22/09/10

      The team consistently plays in front of crowds 65,000+. Last week they got out to an 81 point lead against the reigning premiers in front of 95,000 before coasting to near 7 goal win. How is that a choke?

    • Scarneck says:

      11:49am | 22/09/10

      ...that’s the point of the article Tails, it’s a grand final…it’s a mental problem, this week is the GF not last week.

    • Tails says:

      12:53pm | 22/09/10

      Well if you’re going to play that game, we’ve only got four players in our side that have played in a losing Grand Final. St Kilda have 21.
      The club still has a winning Grand Final percentage of 35% - St Kilda’s is rounded up to 17%.
      And the last Grand Final Steele Sidebottom played in, he kicked 10 goals. You want to keep your stupid argument going some more?

    • Roja says:

      01:47pm | 22/09/10

      The GF was last week against the real competition, Geelong.  It happened in front of 95,000 actual fans and was the second ‘prelim’ grand final in 4 years - the last being 2007 when the cats snuck home by 5 points over the pies before they went on to smash Port by 117.

      This week is simply a case of finishing the job in front of about 15,000 fans and 80,000 semi-interested onlookers.

    • Lisa says:

      03:49pm | 22/09/10

      Adam you are right! people that say the Pies are chokers! are all living in the past of how many years! these young guys today are playing for this year, any other year means nothing. We have a exceptional side this year, and that all comes down to playing as a team, as they do! and like Dane Swan didn’t deserve to win the Brownlow, what an injustice to him! and an insult! umpires should be ashamed of themselves.

    • Roja says:

      05:15pm | 22/09/10

      It’s ok Lisa, Swan was comforted by the fact that he won both the Player and Coach nominated awards.  Plus every award decided by the media.  I guess umpires see things a little differently, plus Judd had no competition for votes at Carlton.

      That said, Judd is a champion footballer and those two Brownlow medals are well deserved for his career, if not this season.  He almost makes Carlton look like a football team, that is no mean feat.

      Besides that while the Brownlow is a nice, if flawed concept, a Norm Smith and most importantly a Premiership Medallion is what Swan is really after.

    • Scarneck says:

      07:06pm | 22/09/10

      Sorry Tails, I got distracted trying out a new ‘Tassie Devil’, sorry about that…you were saying wink

    • Gregg says:

      08:27pm | 22/09/10

      Did Beames get a few Brownlow votes?, for if so any chance the Umps got more taken with a tattooed arm flashing by than the actual jumper number!, the two being in close proximity and they got numbers mixed up.

    • Not Gen Y cohort says:

      10:15am | 22/09/10

      It’s only AFL.
      There were just 40,000 or so viewers tuned in last weekend in Sydney - Australia’s single biggest TV market - watching the Magpies in an AFL showpiece contest…. confirming that nobody really cares about AFL beyond Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
      It is a sporting orphan on the world stage and almost so in Oz.
      Why is that AFL as a sport has never taken off outside Victoria in all the time it has been going?
      The Swans have never really grown beyond Sydney’s small Melbourne expat community. So too the team GWS people are headed for an incredible (and expensive) epic fail.
      Sad but true, sports fans..

      Reply

    • Gregg says:

      10:34am | 22/09/10

      Oh Cohort, where have you been cohorting!
      Well before State of Origin and the AFL, there was the VFL, SAFL, WAFL and TFL and regular interstate fixtures between the three former.
      Sure Sydney may have it’s NRL fanatics as does Brisbane/Queensland have a few but the AFL also includes Brisbane and soon to be another team in Queensland as well as Sydney, so to say it has never taken off in other states just shows some ignorance.
      As well as AFL sides in SA and WA, the state Aussie football leagues are doing fine and you will certainly find that Aussie Rules is far stronger throughout Australia than the NRL is outside of NSW or Queensland.
      As for the Swans in Sydney, you do not grow support for a new team, even a relocated one immediately or even in a couple of decades but do check what numbers the Swans draw compared to NRL club matches and also find out how much Aussie rules is played at club level outside of AFL in NSW and Queensland and you may be in for a surprise too.
      But that also doesn’t mean that AFL supporters cannot enjoy Rugby, particularly State of Origin, Union internationals and even some league finals though rushing up and down a field the way it is can be rather monotonous.

    • Scarneck says:

      10:48am | 22/09/10

      ...I would argue that the AFL is favoured by the majority of states and the majority of people, if a referendum was held to abolish one of the football codes, I have no doubt who would lose. More people would watch A-League than NRL.

    • Paul says:

      10:55am | 22/09/10

      Simple answer @Not Gen Y cohort - don’t read the article and don’t watch the big game on Saturday as it seems to be getting you hot under the collar. Sport is there to be enjoyed so if you don’t enjoy AFL don’t watch it but don’t let its success upset you .

      I live in Sydney and can not wait until Saturday so please do not talk for the entire city. When a League or soccer team in this town averages 30675 fans to its home games as the Swans did this wet winter come back and post otherwise you are just embarrassing yourself.

    • Jim says:

      11:07am | 22/09/10

      Gregg, I’m a typical die-hard rugby league fan who simply cannot stand the Channel 9 commentary team. Fox isn’t much better but at least they only hire gooses, not drunks and drug users. So, when the Swans started getting live coverage in NSW each week 20 or so years ago, I would watch. I enjoy the game, it’s fast paced and exciting mostly…but even after 20 years I’ll be buggered if I can understand the rules!

    • Liffy says:

      11:12am | 22/09/10

      AFL is not a sport, it’s the name of a league you simpleton. Australian rules is the biggest football code in the country by a big margin. Way back in second would be that little northern English game that seems to have taken the entire world by storm smile. Oh, & i am not from any of the states you have mentioned….

    • Graham S says:

      11:12am | 22/09/10

      It’s only AFL compared to what? A-League soccer? The pitiful NRL who’s total attendances for all matches combined on any one day could fit into 1/4 of the MCG and the bars & dining rooms wouldn’t even bother to open. And as for GWS, let’s see if the NRL, by comparison, tried a second team outside of it’s ridiculously small market. Now that would be failure on a monumental scale. The AFL is also so wealthy, it could buy every NRL club in the land, shut them down, close the competition and still support GWS & The Gold Coast

    • Lance says:

      11:30am | 22/09/10

      Love the transparent jealousy. The last Swans live game rated 120,000, which is pretty healthy considering it was in competition with the Bledisloe Cup and NRL finals.

      We all know Collingwood >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the entire NRL. Give it up.

    • Tim says:

      12:31pm | 22/09/10

      AFL fans must be stupid too.
      Can’t even spot a deliberate troll.
      Must be their precious inferiority complex.

    • Killer Pie says:

      03:40pm | 22/09/10

      NRL - a code played in two states and another country. Tried to establish Teams in Adelaide & Perth - there’s two EPIC fails !!!  Not to mention Melbourne - 1 premiership on a penalty try in 1999, first time since the 1977 replay.  NRL = No Real Legacy

    • Ken says:

      04:30pm | 28/09/10

      Maybe so,,,, BUT,  the AFL has a larger average supporter attendance than the English Premier Soccer league,, true fact sunshine. How’s that for an Orphan sport on the world stage ?

    • Demon Dave says:

      10:17am | 22/09/10

      6 GF losses to the Demons and this year a draw and one win by a point. We have the wood on the woods.

      Reply

    • Tony of Poorakistan says:

      10:20am | 22/09/10

      A team that plays 18 or 19 games at home and rarely travels interstate *should* make the Grand Final most years.

      Reply

    • Dean says:

      11:03am | 22/09/10

      We win almost all our games on the road, playing more games at the MCG makes it fairer for everyone. Go Pies

    • brent says:

      11:57am | 22/09/10

      It’s not as simple as that.  Yes they get plenty of games at the MCG but also the only side to have to play Geelong,Hawks,Dogs,Saints twice as far as I know.

    • Lance says:

      12:06pm | 22/09/10

      Boo hoo. Collingwood had the toughest draw of any team this year. If they win it will probably be the most fair dinkum victory since 1990.

    • Lemonacid says:

      12:58pm | 22/09/10

      Brent & Lance.  Essendon also played each of those teams twice.  Throw in Carlton & Collingwood for 2 each as well and I think it’s safe to say the Bombers had the toughest draw.  Not using this as an excuse (after all we’d gladly play the Saints 6 times a year) but don’t go claiming Collingwood was hardest done by.

    • Jenni says:

      10:36am | 22/09/10

      One of the best reads all season :D Thanks Penbo!

      Yes, I hate Collingwood, and yes I *love* to see them lose, and YES I get a giggle from every die-hard fan getting all bent out of shape about this article, and oh lordy yes I hope they lose on Saturday, and that Micky has another cry in the middle of the G. I don’t actually care if they lose by 1 point or 100 so long as they do lose.

      carn the saints smile ... ps, I’m a Swans supporter

      Reply

    • Lisa says:

      04:02pm | 22/09/10

      Jenni, typical swans supporter! jump onboard the banwagon sweetheart! because thats all you can do this year :(  Collingwood wont lose so you wont get your giggle! follow one team! not everyone but Collingwood!!!!!!! Hate you people! GO PIES….......

    • acker says:

      10:48am | 22/09/10

      1960… 2 (Goals)- 2 (Behinds)-14 (Points)  for the whole match, I bet that was a day they would rather forget..anyway at least they get their and haven’t retired a player with the dubious honor of being a 5 Preliminary Final loser (Brad Johnson W-Bulldogs)

      Reply

    • Macon Paine says:

      11:12am | 22/09/10

      Great article this is hilarious! I was aware of the colliwobbles tag but I had no idea they’ve choked so many times in the grand final. It is utterly remarkable! You poor colliwobble fans! Makes me wonder how many times they’ve choked on route to the grand final, anyone know? Probably every year ala the NRL’s Dragons.
      On that topic any chance we can get an NRL Dragons “slightly glossy” poster to commemorate their undignified history of choking?

      Reply

    • Charlie says:

      11:45am | 22/09/10

      MP The Dragons tag as chokers is a relatively new thing and certainly doesn’t carry with it the longevity and historical backing that the Colliwobble tag does…..
      Remember those 11 in a row?

    • Lee says:

      11:20am | 22/09/10

      We’ve made it to 5 grand finals and won 3 of them in 25 years…
      Not bad for a team of drugged up hooligans who are sympathetic to the Australian underworld… smile

      And only 1 wooden spoon…d’oh!
      Come on Eagles, 2011 will be better…maybe finish 14th? One can only hope!

      Reply

    • Nicole says:

      02:31pm | 22/09/10

      Wouldn’t count on it! I think it can get worse and next year you will finish 17th.
      I mean come on, the team re-signed Quentin Lynch for gods sake!

    • gus says:

      11:25am | 22/09/10

      I hope they are consistent.They then might get rid of Edie

      Reply

    • Lew says:

      11:28am | 22/09/10

      Collingwood will WIN by a100 points or so, it may be the biggest winning margin in grand final history.

      Reply

    • Port von Chokeville says:

      02:04pm | 22/09/10

      No, I don’t think so. We (Port Adelaide) will always have that honour. I suspect the Saints will get up, Collingwood are obviously pretty hardened when it comes to losing grand finals and the sting of the loss that the Saints experienced last year will drive them to victory. Winning a grand final is as much psychological as it is physical. Saints by 5 goals.

    • Alby Mangels says:

      11:28am | 22/09/10

      I can’t believe someone would go ahead and produce a poster of these
      “achievements”. Why don’t you produce a poster of St Kilda’s achievements in over 100 years involvement of VFL/AFL football. Only one premiership !
      Now that is an achievement worth producing a poster for !! What a joke !!

      Reply

    • Killer Pie says:

      03:36pm | 22/09/10

      LMAO - Why would they produce a poster of this ? How silly it would look, a postage stamp size poster on an A4 sheet, let alone an A3 sheet.

      I’d rather lose Grand Finals than miss out altogether like Richmond/Melbourne/Freo/St Blunda/Footscray

    • Jan says:

      11:30am | 22/09/10

      Go Maggies! 
      At least Collingwood are up there in the Finals more than any other team.
      Is that what makes Collingwood so unpopular; the jealousy? 
      ... All I care is that we woop Essendon every time ... 
      St. Kilda deserves every right to be there too - Will be happy if they win too.
      But Maggies - This is your year - Go for it.
      Go Maggies!

      Reply

    • Hazza says:

      11:32am | 22/09/10

      You missed the 1915 GF loss to Carlton.

      Reply

    • Joseph says:

      11:43am | 22/09/10

      Poor research David. They lost in 1915 as well, to Carlton 11.12 to 6.9.

      Reply

    • Shane says:

      08:22am | 23/09/10

      Yeah, the AFL website has Collingwood playing in 42 grand finals and losing 28.  I didn’t think it was that difficult to add up that many numbers, but then again, journalists don’t really need to be able to add do they?

    • David says:

      11:54am | 22/09/10

      Please update this poster after the Colli-wobbles choke again on Saturday.

      Reply

    • GO SWANS says:

      11:58am | 22/09/10

      May that Evil Empire that is Collingwood never win one. After all, Good will always triumph over Evil. AMEN!!!

      Reply

    • Trolldoll says:

      04:05pm | 22/09/10

      “Evil will always triumph, because Good is dumb”

      Dark Helmet

    • Bob says:

      12:08pm | 22/09/10

      I was unaware until now of the Pies wonderful record in coming second.  It puts a new light on Nathan Buckley’s decision in the mid or late 90’s to leave the Brisbane Lions to go to the Pies for the reason of wanting to play finals football.  Luckily he did not say he wanted to play “winning” finals football because he certainly met his stated aim of playing finals footy including two Grand Finals, but not playing winning finals footy.  Alas, for poor “Bucks”, those two GF’s were against the hapless (according to him) Brisbane Lions who he helped to achieve three flags on the trot by captaining the Pies to their two most recent runner up finishes (the second by quite some margin).  To complete his tale of woe all we need now is for Bucks to coach the Pies to another GF against the Michael Voss coached Lions and have Voss beat him in that one too.

      Reply

    • amy says:

      12:18pm | 22/09/10

      eddie mcguire has ruined collingwood’s name. if he didn’t support them i’d be going for them this weekend, but the fact is… who would wanna hear his ugly voice or see his face EVERYWHERE if they win!!! yuck, no thanks! sorry but go the saints!!

    • Sam says:

      03:00pm | 22/09/10

      It brings joy to my heart every time I think about Nathan Buckley missing all those premierships at Brisbane after the sour face he maintained the whole time he played for them!  With a superiority complex like his though, he was only ever going to fit in at Collingwood.  Even when he managed to win a Brownlow he had to share it with two others, hardly making him the fairest or best in the competition.  Absolutely loved watching Eddie’s face when Chris Judd won the Brownlow the other night, hahaha!  Will only be matched by watching the faces of the whole damn lot of them when they lose to the Saints on Saturday smile

    • Julietta says:

      12:11pm | 22/09/10

      Penbo! You cruel genius. I will be there, ringside. Go Sainters!

      Reply

    • stephen says:

      12:23pm | 22/09/10

      Saints, by a mile, but only if Nick rings up brother Jack, and gets advice how to play on a boundary.
      (Fences scare Nick like taxes scare me.)

      Reply

    • pete m says:

      12:23pm | 22/09/10

      I hope Saints lose as they play the most boring choking game of AFL since day 1.

      Also Tim Blair would be unbearable if they lost again!

      Reply

    • Billy B says:

      12:30pm | 22/09/10

      Graham S - YOU WISH!

      Reply

    • Graham S says:

      04:53pm | 22/09/10

      No need to wish Billy Bob, What with a $700 million dollar TV deal that will renew to a Billion next time round, Millions of dollars through the gate week in week out plus every conceivable after market revenue stream and major corporations lined up to sponsor Clubs, close to 1/2 a million fully paid up members nationwide compared to what. A run down, unprofessional, poorly run compromised NRL half owned by a newspaper & Pay TV consortium, one club 1/2 owned by an alleged actor and the rest just managed why the AFL could do what they wanted to whilst laughing all the way to the bank. And the NRL market? Western suburban wastelands of Sydney plus Manly, sterile Canberra, run down Newcastle & Wollongong, and Three teams ONLY in Qld and a token presence in Melbourne. You surely jest.

    • Al says:

      12:46pm | 22/09/10

      The Pies may come second but, Mr Penberthy, this is gold.

      Reply

    • DJCJ says:

      12:49pm | 22/09/10

      And if it wasnt for Peter Sumich missing a shot after the siren from 10m in the 1990 Qualifying final (resulting in a replay and Essendon then going three weeks without a game prior to the 2nd semi), you could very well have added 1990 to that nearly-winning list also.

      Reply

    • nankypoo says:

      01:03pm | 22/09/10

      I used to say to my brother-in-law; “Were you alive when Collingwood won their last grand final? Do yo expect to be alive when they win their next?”

      Reply

    • Blue gal says:

      01:12pm | 22/09/10

      There is no shame in losing a Grand Final.  It is a victory in it self to make there.  I do not support the Pies but I hope they give us a good show.

      Reply

    • Port supporter says:

      01:17pm | 22/09/10

      LOL @ poster, LOL harder at all the pies supporters having a teary.

      Go the Sainters

      Reply

    • PaddyNowhere says:

      01:19pm | 22/09/10

      We must educate the non victorians on why Collingwood are hated!

      See when collingwod wins a game their supporters don’t understand the concept of being gracious at all. Most often you will find that the feral collingwood supporter, which accounts too about 95% of their fanbase, enjoys more the act of taunting and making life hell for non collingwood supporters after a game. Instead of enjoying the win, they, the ferals, will begin to taunt a non collingwood fan about their clubs history, regardless how pathetic theirs is. This was evident this year when i watched with my own eyes feral fans line up opposite each other and abuse supporters of the other team as they left the MCG.  A melbourne demons player dad was assaulted by collingwood fans partaking in this exact behaviour after telling them to be quiet and be dignified.

      This element doubled with the fact that they rank alongside teams like the Bulldogs as perenial underachievers ( 1 flag in 50 years for the greatest club in the world) does not endear them to anyone except the lowest of the low.

      And with 15 and half million people all combining their energy and dislike of this club and willing the saints to win i think the pies are cursed and why they have never won anything since elvis first appeared on the airways. Think about it..

      Reply

    • James says:

      01:23pm | 22/09/10

      There seems to be quite a number of Collingwood supporters with access to computers. Has anyone notified the authorities? Penbo, best you keep a record of the IP addresses.

      Reply

    • Joe B says:

      01:35pm | 22/09/10

      Couldn’t have happened to a nicer team.  Would love to see Brumby, Conroy and Eddie Everywhere mid-field crying with Malthouse as the Saints hold the Cup up high.  And watch out the Bombers will be back again soon hopefully with James Hird at the helm.

      Reply

    • fj says:

      01:36pm | 22/09/10

      GO PIES!!!

      Reply

    • bombs_away says:

      01:45pm | 22/09/10

      Hopefully there will be reason enough on Monday morning to crank out a much needed re-press of that immortal book ‘Collingwood, What a Joke’.  Proceeds to go toward the liberal servings of humble pie the Woods supporters are soon to be choking on.  Still, as Dane Swan would attest, second is better than third.

      Reply

    • Henry says:

      01:45pm | 22/09/10

      How about Port Adelaide being 140 years old (22 years older than Collingwood) and averaging a Premiership almost every third year?  Being Champions of Australia and regularly beating the Vic and WA Premiers in years gone by…

      That’s the trouble with Collingwood they are not the real Magpies!  They also took their colours from the old SA State Jumper!

      Collingwood have won one premiership in 52 years!  Port Adelaide won their first AFL Flag in their 8th season in the AFL! 

      In Port’s first season in the AFL it finished above this “powerhouse” of Australian Rules and only missed finals by %! 

      Collingwood - what a joke!

      Reply

    • Carl Palmer says:

      02:04pm | 22/09/10

      As we were leaving ANZ after the Swans were defeated by Collingwood this year, one very proud Pies supporter let it be known to us that the Pies had just thrashed the Swans . He was oh so very proud of that achievement. He was walking tall, head up, signing the club song and very very happy with the nights work. That was until I asked him when was the last time the Pies had won a GF or for that matter how many had they lost.

      It was like I’d just shot the guy.

      His head slumped down, his flag dropped to half mast, singing came to a grinding halt. He was devastated.  The evening was ruined. For a split second I felt sorry for him until I reminded myself that he was a Pies supporter. You’d think that after so many losses they’d be use to it by now.  Oh well, I hope I don’t see him anytime soon, I think he may have a very big smile on his face and a few choice words for me should our paths cross.

      Go Sainters!!!!!!!!

      Reply

    • Blaire Athol says:

      02:04pm | 22/09/10

      Being a newcomer to this wonderful country, I feel I should input and say that Australian rules footbal is a beautiful game. Much better than kicking empty soft drink cans in the village I came from. Go West Coast! (for next year…or maybe the year after that….)

      Reply

    • sam says:

      02:09pm | 22/09/10

      its not a sport any way

      Reply

    • Not Gen Y cohort says:

      02:54pm | 22/09/10

      I think it’s more a lolly scramble for soft little boys whose mummy’s were very protective of them.
      Real men play soccer, preferably in the mighty A League… go you mighty Central Coasters!!!!!!

    • Sammy says:

      03:25pm | 22/09/10

      You must be kidding, I’ve seen fewer dives in a four day swim meet than during a game of soccer!  Most soccer players would run and hide if required to play any of other codes of football in this country, they’re just not tough enough.

    • sam says:

      04:17pm | 22/09/10

      they cant play 80 minuets any more the alf wants to cut it down to 15 a 1/4 ha ha

    • Badger says:

      01:51pm | 23/09/10

      Its “Arial Ping Pong”, that’s all it is these days,
        None of the players can kick a Drop Kick, Stab Kick, Punt Kick, all they do is Hand Ball it like a Hot Potato to get rid of it.
      The name of the game Is FOOT BALL, they have forgotten the operative word “FOOT”
      And to finish with, where is the Dropping The Ball Rule gone ?

    • Tails says:

      02:21pm | 22/09/10

      Generating hatred gets us nowhere. Whether your target is black, white or black and white.

      http://wp.me/p13lol-L

      Reply

    • Phill says:

      04:19pm | 22/09/10

      What you idiots don’t understand is that Collingwood are over achievers not under achievers.  If you check the historical records you will find that Collingwood on paper had average teams that out performed their estimated potential.  A good example is 2002 & 2003.  No other team has done this.  Whist Collingwood may fall short normally at the hands of a team with higher quality players at least they have out shone all those other teams that fall far short.  At least with Collingwood you won’t die wondering.  They have given it their all over the years.  Has you club?

      Reply

    • Beagles Fan says:

      04:19pm | 22/09/10

      “Collingwood opened their roll of honour in 1901 with a gritty, don’t-come-from-behind loss to Essendon at the Lake Oval. In that match the Pies scored 2.4 - the following year they would go one better, literally, scoring 2.5 in their debut Grand Final loss at the MCG, this time to Fitzroy.”

      Actually it was 1905 where Collingwood kicked 2.5 to lose to Fitzroy.  Collingwood won back to back 1902, 1903.

      I still hope they lose on Saturday.

      Reply

    • Conrod says:

      04:42pm | 22/09/10

      I’d like to download my free glossy poster of St Kilda’s wooden spoons thanks. Do you think you could get all 26 of them to fit in the same poster?

      Reply

    • Tails says:

      08:57pm | 22/09/10

      Tou-frikken-che, Conrod. Well said.

    • man from torrens river says:

      04:47pm | 22/09/10

      naaaa pies gonna down like a bucket of for n twenty black n white birds- and the saints will coming marching in and take this cup back to St Kilda town where it deservedly belongs! Go Fry Eddie

      Reply

    • bullwinkle says:

      05:00pm | 22/09/10

      I’m looking forward to seeing Big Ed shed a tear or seven on Saturday when the Pies get done by 3 points on the last kick of the day (a solitary point is just too much of a cliche). Problem is, he’ll probably go all sooky-sooky-la-la win or lose.

      Reply

    • Parker's Pies says:

      05:01pm | 22/09/10

      Didn’t the Pies win it in ‘80? When Laurie Holden was coach and Geoff Hayward played out of his skin? And the face poor Eddie pulled on Monday night at the Brownlow was nothing compared to how Jock RIley was feeling when the final siren blew! That’s how I remember it, anyway…

      Reply

    • Killer says:

      11:41pm | 22/09/10

      Brilliant! Bravo!

    • DL says:

      05:28pm | 22/09/10

      i will be cheering on the saints.. 1 premiership in their entire history!!

      how can you not cheer for them! they are the clear underdog as well.

      Reply

    • Alfred Deakin says:

      07:53am | 23/09/10

      As a St.Kilda supporter I am hopeful that we will win. St.Kilda have won one (1966) out of six (1913, 1965, 1966, 1971, 1997, 2009) Grand Finals, so really the whole premise of this article is rubbish. I would love it if St.Kilda had been as “unsuccessful” as Collingwood in your opinion, as would most supporters.

      This would have to be one of the most pointless articel to appear on this website, and that’s saying something!

      Reply

    • Dennis Tambellini says:

      10:47am | 23/09/10

      LOVE the poster BUT you forgot the 1915 grand final loss to CARLTON               ..that makes 25 lossing grand finals

      Reply

    • Robert Smissen, rural SA, God's own country says:

      10:51am | 23/09/10

      Who cares, a game played by a few Bogans in the Southern states of Australia. What will the rest of the world be doing? ? ? ? Not watching AFL.

      Reply

    • Silje says:

      01:41pm | 23/09/10

      Sport, in particular Aussie Rules is what binds rural communities together in SA.  To be such a hater and live where you do Robert would render you a hermit.

      Sad to see someone with such cultural cringe against such a successful home-grown sport.  By the way it is played now all over the world and in near future players will be sourced from Africa, Europe and the US.  Also it is on ESPN and Eurosports 2 so it is watched gladly by millions over the globe as one of the greatest football code events on the planet.

    • Go Saints!!! says:

      08:43pm | 23/09/10

      I’ll tell you who cares, Robert. The vast majority of Australians who will cause streets all over the country to be deserted this Saturday arvo because we’ll all be glued to the screen watching what could be one of the all-time great Grand Finals. Remember that more than half a million aussies are AFL members and over 7 million people attend AFL games every year. WE care…

      Reply

    • Heater says:

      03:55pm | 27/09/10

      Not sure if anyone did the maths on this. It is actually 113 years and 25 losses (1915 was missed - 33point loss to Carlton).

      Reply

    • Ken says:

      04:19pm | 28/09/10

      What was the first thing Nelson Mandela asked when he got out of gaol after 30 years ? Have Collingwood won a Premiership yet ?

      Reply

    • Ken says:

      04:38pm | 28/09/10

      Well how do you think us poor old Eagle supporters feel ? Hell we have only played in 5 grand finals and only been able to win 3 of them in less than 30 years. Such is life.

      Reply

    • True fact says:

      04:51pm | 28/09/10

      True fact,, the reason Collingwood are so disliked goes way back to the early days of the competition when they only had about 4/5 sides in the competition. To play for or be a member of Collingwood you had to be a Catholic, no exception’s. All of the other sides were protestant, anglican, etc and despised the Catholics, so basicaly it was religion that started the old i hate Collingwood syndrome.

      Reply

    • Kirk says:

      11:10pm | 03/10/10

      It may have taken 2 weeks but the Mighty Magpies have the silver ware. Now if you will excuse me, I have some gloating to do !!!!

      Go Pies !!!!!

    • Kevin says:

      10:07pm | 03/10/11

      Is this going to be updated for the latest loss?

      Reply
 
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