Paul Robinson is one of the men behind the cult social media channels 'The Carlton Draft' and 'The Ressies Footballer'. 

His Black and White passion is unquestionable, and the views represented in this article are solely his own and not representative of the Collingwood Football Club.

Everything in my life is Collingwood.

My TV is black and white.

My pet rabbit is black and white and his name is Louie (after Lou Richards).

I live around the corner from a Hope Street (or as I call it, Moana Street).

And I have a tattoo on my back which says ‘BUCKS IS GOD’. For those not as one-eyed as me, it’s of course a dedication to Simon Buckley who played 26 games for the Magpies between 2010 and 2012.

The Collingwood life isn’t as glamorous as one might think. My dedication has cost me numerous jobs, girlfriends and friendships but I’d say the experience of being a Pies supporter is all worth it.

Fiancé wants to turn my Collingwood shrine back into a bedroom? Nope.

Boss wants me to be at work the same day of Adam Treloar’s birthday? I’m sorry but that’s just not happening.

Family reunion when the 2010 Replay is airing on Fox Footy? Count me out Mum and Dad.

It’s great because by now people have clued on to the fact everything else in my life will be #2 or below, and social norms that would be expected of most people are not expected of me.

Although it might seem like my life is all sunshine and black and white rainbows, it can be tough as well. Leading up to watching matches (especially the big ones) I pace the room and sweat like an opposition tagger when Scott Pendlebury is walking towards them. And after an uneasy summer, it's finally time to start it all over again.



Any year that we don’t go through the season undefeated and win the premiership, I feel let down by the expectations I’ve set of the 44 blokes I’ve never met.

This year I genuinely think we can accomplish that. This will be the year the Collingwood Machine is reincarnated through our current crop of players. It’s only fitting in our 125th year and during the 90th anniversary of our historic four-premiership streak beginning in 1927.

It all begins when we wipe the floor with the Western Bulldogs in the first game of the 2017 season on Friday night.***

Nothing against the reigning premiers, they are a fine team… maybe even a good one. I believe any member of their Grand Final side would be worthy of a spot with Jack Hellier and the VFL Magpies.

Their Grand Final win was historic and their fans rejoiced across the nation. Tom Liberatore and his mates have partied and drank their way into Melbourne nightlife folklore. It’s reminiscent of another team we are all familiar with… the Collingwood 1990 side.



I see a lot of Collingwood 1990 in the Dogs. Believe it or not, it’s unfortunate for them. Our premiership defense in 1991 was unimpressive and I think the Bulldogs are about to experience a similar type of pain in 2017.

Can they beat us without the luck they had during our two encounters last year? Hell no.

We had them on the ropes in both games, but the one that still breaks my heart was Round 10 at the M.C.G. We had that many injuries before three-quarter time that Bucks (Nathan, not Simon) and Scotty Burns had to take the field in the last quarter to bring us to 16 players! We fought bravely but still went down by four goals.

We are better prepared this time. We’ve even sacrificed Travis Cloke to destroy the enemy from within.

The plan is in place for this to be an all-time great Collingwood win, our club thrives on these types of matches. Everyone has written us off before the first bounce – just the way we like it.

My tip: Pies by 19 points – the perfect kick start to our eventual undefeated season.
My prediction: Darcy Moore and Alex Fasolo to kick seven between them.

***Yes I know Filth 1 play Filth 2 on the Thursday night before our game, but I refuse to call that embarrassing, although comical, display of errors anything close to a game of football.