It’s Thursday October 4, 1990.
Bob Hawke is Prime Minister after being re-elected in March for a fourth term. Nelson Mandela has just been freed from prison in South Africa after 27 years behind bars. The Simpsons and Seinfield are in their debut seasons. Dane Swan is six years old and still a few away from getting his first tattoo.
More importantly, a drought is about to be broken. 32 years of heartbreak is set to come to an end. The ‘Colliewobbles’ will be no longer.
2015 marks the 25-year anniversary of Collingwood’s 1990 Premiership win over Essendon.
The likes of Tony Shaw, Darren Millane and Gavin Brown have been replaced on the field by modern day superstars like Swan, Scott Pendlebury, and Travis Cloke. However their legend will live on forever.
Since their last premiership in 1958, the Magpies had fallen short in nine unsuccessful Grand Final attempts.
Leigh Matthews was in his fifth year as Collingwood coach and had led the Magpies to second position on the ladder at the end of the home and away season.
Essendon finished first, however when the two sides met in the Semi Final, it was Collingwood who booked the first spot in the decider with a comprehensive 63-point victory.
What followed was one of the biggest weeks in Collingwood history. Wingman Graham Wright came within a single vote of claiming the Brownlow Medal on Monday night, before over 13,000 people packed out Victoria Park to watch Collingwood’s final training session before the big game.
Fast-forward 25 years and its selection night before round 12 of the 2015 AFL season. However with the current AFL team facing a bye, Collingwood Media’s ‘Team Sheet’has this week wound back the clock to two nights before the 1990 decider.
Join Collingwood media manager Sarah Allan and 1990 Team Manager Eddie Hillgrove as they preview what would soon become Collingwood’s 14th premiership.
Senior reporter Eddie McGuire reports from training, while Collingwood Media secures an exclusive interview with coach Leigh Matthews.
The team sheets are in... But not as you would expect.
Two days to go until the Grand Final...
The teams are in! But not as you would expect... Join Sarah Allan and Team Manager Eddie McGuire as they preview the 1990 Grand Final between Collingwood and Essendon.
