Friday the 13th is usually a day to be wary of. Or so the urban myths tell us.

But how has Collingwood fared when fixtured to play on the date? If you're superstitious, look away now.

A blitz of the Bombers
The Pies scored one of their biggest wins over Essendon when the teams met on Friday 13 August 2010. Collingwood was 59 points up at half time, then continued the onslaught in the second half and won by 98 points. Travis Cloke kicked five goals, while Brent Macaffer and Leigh Brown both kicked three. Dane Swan racked up 31 touches and kicked two goals and later received two votes in the Brownlow Medal for his effort (Scott Pendlebury received the three votes). Jarryd Blair’s 28 disposals and two goals earned him his first Brownlow vote in what was just his sixth AFL game.

Spooky scores
Collingwood has kicked the same score – 9.8 (62) – in its past two games on Friday the 13th. Both of those games, a 10-goal loss to Carlton in 2012 and a three-point loss to Geelong in 2011, ended in disappointment for the Magpie Army.

It was in that match against Geelong that Collingwood famously threatened to pinch the win, only for a Scott Pendlebury goal to be disallowed by the umpires. Advantage had not been paid following a free kick to Cameron Wood, and the big man's shot for goal was unable to make the distance.

The Magpies, of course, lost only three games in 2011, all of which were against the Cats.

The injury curse
Luke Ball suffered a season-ending knee injury in the loss to Carlton in 2012, while Simon Prestigiacomo copped a bad corked thigh in the huge win over Essendon in 2010. Prestigiacomo’s injury was so severe that he ended up needing surgery and spending a number of days in hospital after developing blood clots in his leg. He subsequently missed the Grand Final draw with St Kilda and the ensuing replay. In fact, he never played for Collingwood again, as he retired following the 2010 season. The clash with Essendon in 2010 also proved to be the last appearances at AFL level for Tarkyn Lockyer and Paul Medhurst.



An injury in the dying minutes brought a premature end to Simon Prestigiacomo's career on Friday the 13th, back in August 2010.

Collingwood’s past three games on Friday the 13th

Friday, April 13, 2012: Round Three: Collingwood 9.8 (62) def by Carlton 18.14 (122)

Friday, May 13, 2011: Round Eight: Collingwood 9.8 (62) def by Geelong 8.17 (65)

Friday, August 13, 2010: Round 20: Collingwood 24.18 (162) def Essendon 10.4 (64)