In the beginning...
2000
Chris Tarrant and Sav Rocca fly over former Magpie Jason McCartney in round six, 2000, at the MCG. It was Collingwood's first loss under new coach Mick Malthouse. The team would not win again until round 15.
In the return bout in round 21, North Melbourne became the 'Orange Kangaroos' as a part of a sponsorship promotion. Nathan Buckley gets involved in a push and shove with fellow legend Wayne Carey early in the match on a Sunday afternoon at Colonial Stadium - the same afternoon that the Olympic torch passed through Melbourne.
The match was Collingwood's seventh for the season, and only its second since round five. Rupert Betheras, Mick Malthouse and Tyson Lane didn't need to be asked twice if they wanted to sing Good Old Collingwood Forever in the rooms afterwards.
2001
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It looks like aliens are about to suck Colonial Stadium into a spaceship and return to Mars. But all they were doing was closing the room only moments before the start of the round seven clash on Mother's Day, 2001. Members of the Collingwood Cheer Squad, wearing jumpers sporting the playing numbers of James Wasley and Nathan Buckley, appear quite bemused by the whole thing.
It might have been Mother's Day, but Mrs Rocca didn't know which way to look. At one end, Anthony narrowly missed a kick that might have got the Magpies over the line. At the other end, Sav 'piggybacked them in front', according to Channel Seven commentator Anthony Hudson. The champion full forward was playing his first match against his old club since crossing to Arden Street at the end of the 2000 season.
2002
A young Drew Petrie competes in the ruck with Steve McKee in round 14, 2002, at Colonial. It was the night that McKee received the only three Brownlow votes of his career, after he won 18 disposals and seven hitouts in the Magpies 33-point win. McKee was the number one ruckman all season and played a key role in ensuring that Collingwood ran deep into the 2002 finals series.
It looks like Heath Scotland has just asked Leon Davis how he manages to kick all of those magical goals.
2003
Anthony Rocca won the first Jason McCartney Medal as the most courageous player on the ground, while Ben Johnson was rebounding from half back as early as round 14, 2003, as the Pies ran out 76-point victors under the Telstra Dome roof.
Richard Cole barrels Leigh Brown, paving the way for Scott Burns to gather the loose ball and kick the easiest of goals. Who would have thought, way back in July 2003, that Brown would end up a hero in Collingwood's 2010 premiership, while Cole - the 11th selection in the 2001 National Draft - would play another 40 games for the Magpies before heading to Essendon and fading from the AFL scene at the end of 2007? That's football.
2004
Round 10, 2004, and young Nick Maxwell is playing only his second game of senior football. He was learning the ropes from players like Ben Johnson who received the Jason McCartney Medal as his stellar season continued.
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Tarkyn Lockyer was only too happy to celebrate with the supporters after playing his first match since injuring his knee against Geelong in round three, 2003. He had since struggled with foot injuries, but once he returned, he did not miss another match until missing selection for ANZAC Day in 2010.
Leigh Brown continued to get involved, this time collaring Paul Licuria.
2005
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The highs and lows of life at the top. Chris Tarrant sends Lance Picioane sprawling as he marks in round four, 2005. At the other end of the ground, Anthony Rocca's season ends just as it was beginning as he signals that he has torn his Achilles tendon. Some may argue that Collingwood's season went down the gurgler with him. From that night on, the Magpies lost their next five games and managed only another four wins for the season in a challenging year for the club. Rocca managed to hit back hard the following year with a career-high 55 goals as Collingwood made the final eight.
But there was plenty happening out on the field at the MCG that night. Blake Caracella and Chris Tarrant had last minute chances to snatch victory. Their kicks narrowly missed, meaning the Kangaroos held on to a three-point lead when the siren blew.
In the return bout in round 19, there was early drama as Alan Didak left the field after fainting in the first quarter.
Collingwood held sway with the top-four aspirants all day but late goals to Shannon Grant and Nathan Thompson ensured that the Roos came from behind to nab a crucial victory.
On the wrong side of a six-point margin, Chris Egan and Nathan Buckley wonder where it all went wrong.
2006
On Easter Monday, 2006, Chris Tarrant and the Magpies sounded a warning to the rest of the competition - they were back. Tarrant kicked six goals in Collingwood's 77-point victory at Telstra Dome.
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Third gamer Dale Thomas can't believe his luck after playing in the second victory of his short career.
That man Leigh Brown is again in the action. This time, he comes face to face with his future forward line coach in round 22, 2006.
Anthony Rocca comforts older brother Sav as the latter bows out of league football with three goals in a 68-point loss.
2007
It's only round one, but James Clement has a point to make with umpire Stuart Wenn after Heath Shaw conceded a 50m penalty for holding Shannon Grant's jumper with only a minute to play...
...but incredibly, inexplicably, Grant - normally a dead-eye dick in front of goal - hit the post with his kick from only 10m out. The miss meant that Collingwood was able to cling to a three-point advantage and run down the clock in the dying seconds to start the season in memorable fashion.
Harry O'Brien, Shane O'Bree (in his 150th game for Collingwood) and Paul Medhurst (on his Collingwood debut) leave the MCG after the great escape. The Magpies trailed by 25-points at the last change but got over the line by virtue of a seven-goal final quarter.
2008
A full moon left the 51,990 at the MCG with a sense of foreboding...
...and things looked good early on as Dale Thomas and the Magpies led by 21-points 11 minutes into the fourth quarter.
But somehow, North clawed its way back into the contest and took the lead at the 23 minute mark. Alan Didak had the chance to snatch victory for Collingwood with a shot on the run with only a minute left on the clock. Try as he might, he was unable to bend it back far enough.
The Kangaroos raced the ball down the other end where Matthew Campbell kicked the match winner on the siren. North Melbourne by seven points. Collingwood fans were left stunned in their seats.
The two teams met again in round 16 in Friday night football under the Etihad Stadium lights. Jack Anthony's new haircut paid immediate dividends when he kicked four goals to give his side a sniff.
Collingwood's topsy-turvey year continued as Brent Harvey and his merry band of Kangas turned a 13-point half time deficit into a three goal lead at the final siren. Collingwood skipper Scott Burns was none too impressed.
2009
After a year of struggle against North, Leon Davis and the Magpies figured it was time to turn the tables in round six. Reeling after their shock loss on ANZAC Day the week prior, Collingwood made a statement in recording a 52-point victory against a new-look Kangaroos in their 'Argentina' clash jumper.
2010
Harry O'Brien looks as proud as punch after his teenage teammate Steele Sidebottom kicked five goals in Collingwood's 66-point win in round six.
2011
Preserving the famous black and white stripes in a new alternative clash guernsey, Collingwood made it two from two as Travis Cloke kicked five goals and Dane Swan gathered 40 possessions.
Fourteen weeks later, the margin grew to a record 117-points as Collingwood put on perhaps its most complete display of the season. Heath Shaw managed to stay dry during the three quarter time huddle and kick his second goal for the season.
