The pre-season competition has been in a state of flux ever since its introduction in 1956, when it was known as the night series. It was played as a post-season competition, and originally comprised the eight teams that missed the VFL finals series.
The competition ended in 1971, but returned in 1977 as a midweek knock-out series played under lights at VFL Park during the pre-season and the home and away season. Further differentiating it from the VFL premiership season, the night series included all SANFL and WAFL teams as well as sides from NSW, ACT, Queensland and Tasmania.
In 1988, the night series evolved into the pre-season competition. The complexion of the tournament has changed over time – for example, the 2000-2003 competitions were conducted via a round-robin format of four teams in each pool. The concept was short lived, although it was partially revived in 2011 when pools of three teams played two 20-minute halves against each other on the one day.
Last year, the pre-season competition again underwent a major overhaul, with the abolition of the NAB Cup format which saw the two best performed teams meet in the Grand Final a fortnight prior to the home and away season.
Instead, each team plays three practice matches under the NAB Challenge banner ahead of the home and away season.
Collingwood’s record in the competition is not overly successful. It won its first night series flag in 1979 against Hawthorn at VFL Park, the club’s first senior silverware since the 1958 premiership.
It featured in three Grand Final losses in the ensuing 30 years. The most controversial was undoubtedly the ‘loss’ to North Melbourne in 1980.
The VFL Park siren sounded with Collingwood ahead, only for the field umpire not to recognise it. Play went on and North’s Kerry Good marked within goal kicking range. The umpire then acknowledged the siren a second time, and with fans streaming onto the ground, Good kicked truly to hand the Kangaroos the night premiership with a three point win.
The Pies reached the 2003 decider after thumping Carlton, Hawthorn and Geelong, but were no match for Adelaide who coasted to a 31-point victory.
Six years later the Magpies again played off for the pre-season flag but were belted by eventual day premier Geelong (76-points).
In the past decade, Collingwood have been a part of several nail biting pre-season contests.
The Magpies prevailed in the first week of the 2005 Wizard Cup when they overcame Richmond by seven points, courtesy of a last-minute nine-point goal from Andrew Williams, deep on the half forward flank.
Twelve months later, the Pies were again involved in a controversial finish. They defeated St Kilda in extra time in round one at Docklands. Both sides were locked on 66 points apiece – 2.7.6 (66) to 1.8.9 (66) – at full time. Two five-minute halves were played to determine the winner. Collingwood was victorious by one point, winning 2.8.8 (74) to 1.9.10 (73).
In 2010, they played an unusually highly charged first round match against St Kilda. The added intensity was born from St Kilda hero Luke Ball’s controversial crossing to Collingwood only months earlier. Ball managed a goal and was named in the side’s best, but a late goal to an unmarked Adam Schneider gifted the Saints a one-point win.
This time last year
Game One
Collingwood 0.17.14 (116) def Hawthorn 2.8.6 (72) at Aurora Stadium, Launceston.
Game Two
Collingwood 1.7.13 (64) def. by Carlton 1.9.8 (71) at Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo.
Game Three
Collingwood 0.8.6 (54) def. Western Bulldogs 0.18.7 (115) at Etihad Stadium.
Collingwood in the night series/pre-season competition
The jumper
Collingwood has worn several different designs during the night series and pre-season competitions. The images below are courtesy of footyjumpers.com.
In 1982, the club wore white jumpers with a black yoke and hooped socks against Swan Districts, who also wear black and white stripes. It is the only occasion a Collingwood jumper has not included black and white stripes. Swan Districts defeated Collingwood by 10 points at VFL Park. Image courtesy of footyjumpers.com.au.
In 1996 and 1997, the Magpies wore what looked more like a barcode than a Collingwood jumper. It included the black and white stripes and a cartoon Magpie on the front, as well as the outline of a Magpie’s wing on the side panel. Image courtesy of footyjumpers.com.au.
The Ansett Cups of 1999 and 2000 saw Collingwood adopt their 1998-2000 away guernsey as their pre-season strip. Image courtesy of footyjumpers.com.au.
In the Ansett and Wizard Cups of 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, the Magpies wore their clash guernsey of the era as their pre-season top. Image courtesy of footyjumpers.com.au.
Most Pre-Season games (players listed between 2000-2016)
25 – Ben Johnson
24 – Nathan Buckley
22 – Simon Prestigiacomo
23 – Dane Swan, Travis Cloke
21 – Tarkyn Lockyer
20 – Shane O’Bree, Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom
19 – Alan Didak, Nick Maxwell
18 – Scott Burns, Anthony Rocca, Heath Shaw, Alan Toovey
17 – Gavin Crosisca, Heritier Lumumba, Dale Thomas, Travis Varcoe
16 – Josh Fraser, Mark Richardson, Ben Reid, Chris Tarrant
15 – Jesse White
14 – Gavin Brown, Shane Wakelin
Most Pre-Season goals (players listed between 2000-2016)
34 – Travis Cloke
26 – Chris Tarrant
21 – Nathan Buckley
17 – Alan Didak
15 – Tarkyn Lockyer, Saverio Rocca, Dane Swan
13 – Anthony Rocca, Jesse White
12 – Gavin Brown, Chris Dawes
11 – Dale Thomas
Most Pre-Season games (current players)
23 – Travis Cloke, Dane Swan
20 – Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom
18 – Alan Toovey
17 – Travis Varcoe (Geel/Coll)
16 – Ben Reid
15 – Jesse White (Syd/Coll), Ben Sinclair
13 – Jamie Elliott
12 – Lachlan Keeffe, Brent Macaffer, Nathan Brown, Alex Fasolo, Levi Greenwood
Most Pre-Season goals (current players)
34 – Travis Cloke
15 – Jesse White (Syd/Coll), Dane Swan
11 – Travis Varcoe (Geel/Coll)
*The record for the most goals kicked by a Collingwood player in a pre-season/night series competition is held by Peter McKenna (10 goals v Fitzroy in round 1, 1968).
Most Nine-Point Super Goals (current players)
2 – Travis Cloke, Dane Swan, Jesse White
1 – Ben Sinclair, Travis Varcoe, Adam Oxley
*The record for the most nine-point super goals kicked by a Collingwood player is held by Ryan Lonie (5). Alan Didak kicked three in his 19 pre-season matches.
Collingwood Pre-Season/Night Series Premierships
1979 Escort Cup Premiership
Collingwood 12.8 (80) def. Hawthorn 7.10 (52) by 28 points at VFL Park.
Captain: Ray Shaw
Coach: Tom Hafey
2011 NAB Cup Premiership
Collingwood 1.15.9 (108) def. Essendon 0.13.8 (86) by 28 points at Etihad Stadium.
Nine-point goals – Buckley.
Goals – Krakouer 3, Dawes 3, Cloke 2, Swan, Ball, Pendlebury, D.Thomas, McCarthy, Wellingham, Beams.
Best – Shaw, Krakouer, Davis, Buckley, Pendlebury, D.Thomas.
2011 NAB Cup Premiership Team
B: Harry O'Brien, Chris Tarrant, Alan Toovey
HB: Brent Macaffer, Ben Reid, Heath Shaw
C: John McCarthy, Dane Swan, Sharrod Wellingham
HF: Andrew Krakouer, Chris Dawes, Luke Ball
F: Alan Didak, Travis Cloke, Leigh Brown
FOLL: Darren Jolly, Scott Pendlebury, Dale Thomas
I/C: Leon Davis, Lachlan Keeffe, Cameron Wood, Jarryd Blair, Simon Buckley, Steele Sidebottom, Dayne Beams, Ben Johnson
Em: Ben Sinclair, Tyson Goldsack, Tom Young
Captain: Scott Pendlebury
Coach: Mick Malthouse
Michael Tuck Medal (Best on Ground): Heath Shaw
Pre-season/night series record (1956-1971; 1977-2014)
Premierships: 1979, 2011.
Runners Up: 1980, 2003, 2009.
Played: 87
Won: 42
Lost: 45
Drawn: 0*
Past 10 years
Played: 25
Won: 14
Lost: 11
Drawn: 0*
*Collingwood defeated St Kilda in extra time in Round 1 of the NAB Cup in 2006 at Docklands. Both sides were locked on 66 points apiece – 2.7.6 (66) to 1.8.9 (66) – at full time. Two five-minute halves were played to determine the winner. Collingwood was victorious by one point, winning 2.8.8 (74) to 1.9.10 (73).
Competition Sponsors
Golden Fleece (1965-1969), Radiant (1970), Heinz (1971), Amco/Herald (1977-1978), Escort (1979-1982), Sterling (1983-1984), CUB (1985-1986), National Panasonic (1987-1989), Foster’s (1990-1994), Ansett Australia (1995-2001), Wizard Home Loans (2002-2005), NAB (2006-2016).
