It’s 1917.

World War I is in its fourth year.

Billy Hughes is Australia’s Prime Minister.

Westcourt has won the Melbourne Cup.

Artist Sidney Nolan is born.

Boxer Les Darcy has passed away.

And Collingwood? It’s winning its fourth premiership.

It’s 100 years since the Magpies met Fitzroy in the season decider in front of 28,512 fans at the MCG.

The Pies led all day, pulling away in the second half to win by 35 points.

Dick Lee kicked four goals and future club President Harry Curtis three.

The team that day included some of Collingwood’s most famous names, such as McHale, Pannam, Hughes and Lee himself.

The Magpies enjoyed a fine season, winning 12 of 18 games, but were forced to overcome a minor hiccup in the form of a loss to the Roys in the Preliminary Final.

Lee topped the club’s goal kicking with 54 for the year. The legendary Jock McHale was in just his fourth year as coach, while Percy Wilson led the side to success in his first year as captain.

No player was awarded the best-and-fairest. In fact, the Copeland Trophy was still a decade from being struck.

1917 Grand Final
Collingwood v Fitzroy
22 September, MCG

Collingwood 9.20 (74) def. Fitzroy 5.9 (39)
Goals – Collingwood: Lee 4, Curtis 3, Dobrigh, Hughes
Fitzroy: Freake, Norris, Parratt, Rattray, Toohey.

Best – Collingwood: Wilson, Pannam, Anderson, Drummond, Saunders, Mutch.
Fitzroy: Bamford, Millen, Parratt, McDonald, Green, Brown.

Crowd: 28,512

1917 Premiership Team
B: J. McHale, H. Saunders, A. Mutch
HB: G. Anderson, C. Brown, J. Green
C: T. Drummond, P. Wilson (c), C. Pannam
HF: L. Dobrigh, H. Curtis, C. Lee
F: C. McCarthy, W. Lee, E. Lumsden
FOLL: L. Hughes, A. Reynolds, C. Laxton
Coach: Jock McHale