We’re rapidly approaching 2016, and all that matters is the present.
But as we wait for the festive season to pass, Collingwood Media takes a moment to look back to how the club and the game were placed 100 years ago, back in 1916.
VFL Season 1916
Premiers: Fitzroy
Runners Up: Carlton
Champion of the Colony: Vic Thorp (Richmond)
Collingwood in 1916
Collingwood coach: Jock McHale
Collingwood captain: Dan Minogue
Leading goal kicker: Dick Lee (48 goals)
Notable
- Dick Lee led the club’s goal kicking for the eighth time in his illustrious career. He would go on to top the leaderboard a further three times.
- Charlie Laxton, Jock McHale and Charlie Brown were the three Magpies to feature in all thirteen games that season. It was McHale’s fourth season as playing coach.
- Collingwood’s season would come to an end in the Semi-Final. Leading at half time, the Magpies fell six points short against Fitzroy in front of 9,690 fans at the MCG.
- The Roys would go on to win the premiership, scoring a comprehensive win over Carlton on the first Saturday of September. It was a season like no other, for just four clubs partook. As the First World War continued, Essendon, Geelong, South Melbourne, St Kilda and Melbourne refused to play on ‘patriotic grounds’. As a result, only Collingwood, Fitzroy, Carlton and Richmond took part. All four teams automatically qualified for the finals, and, despite finishing on the bottom of the four-team ladder, Fitzroy went on to claim the flag. Clearly a team that saved its best for what it mattered most!
The way we were, 100 years ago
As we wait for the festive season to pass, Collingwood Media takes a moment to look back to how the club and the game were placed 100 years ago, back in 1916.
