As 2014 comes to a close, collingwoodfc.com.au looks back on the year that was. Part Two charts the club's progress from May to August.

May

1 May – Collingwood and Dale Thomas face off for the first time, and it’s the Black and White who take the points. A 34-point win over the old foe on a Friday night at the MCG.

3 May – The old foes, Collingwood and Carlton, do battle once more in a Legends Match at Visy Park. For the record, the Magpies were the victors and 2010 premiership hero Leigh Brown named best afield.

9-11 May – The players and coaches are afforded a weekend off, thanks to the AFL fixture.

15 May – A bright start is quickly snuffed out by a rampant Adelaide outfit that goes on to record a 21-point win in Collingwood’s first match at the new-look Adelaide Oval.

24 May – Collingwood goes goal-for-goal with West Coast and somehow finds a way to hang onto an eight-point win.

30 May – American big man Mason Cox nominates Collingwood as his club of choice ahead of the 2015 season. Cox was to join the Pies as a Category B rookie. Later in the day, five goals to Travis Cloke and five each to Alex Fasolo and Jamie Elliott helped the Magpies to an 86-point win over St Kilda.

June

7 June – Ben Reid makes a welcome return from a calf injury to kick two goals in wet conditions as the VFL Magpies record a gutsy win over the Casey Scorpions at Casey Fields.

9 June – Melbourne holds Collingwood to just nine goals but can only manage three of its own. As a result, the Queen’s Birthday honours with the Magpies’ way.

10 June – Captains Scott Pendlebury and Ryan Griffin meet at Etihad Stadium to help promote the Robert Rose Cup, which honours former player Robert Rose’s contribution to sport and raises funds and awareness for people living with disability.

15 June – The Western Bulldogs cause a boilover, knocking off a Dayne Beams-less Collingwood by eight points despite six goals from Travis Cloke.

21 June – Though their intentions were admirable, the Magpies were never able to truly keep pace with the flag-bound Hawks who ran out 29-point victors. Cloke was again in the goals, bagging five against Brian Lake.

29 June – A bizarre sight greeted players from both sides as they ran out onto the MCG, with just 40,939 in attendance for a Collingwood-Carlton blockbuster. The fact the match was on a Sunday night may have something to do with it. It didn’t stop the Magpies from winning by 15 points.

July

5 July – A second half fadeout in the humidity of Metricon Stadium saw Gold Coast record its second win over Collingwood in as many years. Brent Macaffer’s tackle on Gary Ablett Junior unwittingly ended the Suns champion’s season.

13 July – Things got ugly at the MCG as Essendon made up for its ANZAC Day defeat with a 64-point win over the Black and White. Champion defender Nick Maxwell plays his last game in the Collingwood jumper after injuring his ankle.

16 July – 2010 premiership captain Nick Maxwell calls it a day after 208 senior games. The revered backman announces he is hanging up the boots in front of a packed audience comprising all 44 of his teammates, coaches, football and administration staff, the Maxwell family and a media throng.

27 July – Despite hitting the lead during the final quarter, Collingwood never looks quite itself against Adelaide and pays the price, going down by 16 points. Earlier in the day, top draft choice Matthew Scharenberg pulls on the club jumper for the first time in the VFL against Frankston.

August

3 August – Collingwood honours Nick Maxwell in the best way possible, scrapping its way to a six-point win over Port Adelaide to keep its finals hopes alive. Maxwell was given a lap of honour around the MCG pre-game.

10 August – The harsh realities of the annual trip to Perth were rammed home when West Coast turned on a 60-point thrashing at Patersons Stadium. Freed of the substitute’s vest, Ben Kennedy kicks two goals from 21 disposals while Jarrod Witts gains vital experience against Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui.

16 August – A dirty night at the MCG as the Lions romp to a 67-point win. To make matters worse, Travis Cloke, Ben Reid and Dayne Beams all sustain season-ending injuries and Scott Pendlebury is ruled out minutes before the first bounce after sustaining an injury in the warm up. Little did anyone know it would be the last sighting of Beams in a Collingwood jumper.

22 August – A rare night match for the VFL team sees it drive up the Calder Highway to tackle Bendigo in the club’s final ever outing in the state league. A packed Queen Elizabeth Oval watches Collingwood go to town in the second half courtesy of five Quinten Lynch goals and another strong performance from Kyle Martin in the midfield. Unfortunately, Matthew Scharenberg ruptures his ACL and requires reconstructive surgery.

23 August – Less than 24 hours after Scharenberg’s knee injury, Brent Macaffer falls victim to the curse, landing awkwardly in heavy conditions against Greater Western Sydney. Dane Swan and Clinton Young also strain their hamstrings, but the young brigade led by Josh Thomas and Tim Broomhead drag the Magpies over the line and keep their fading finals hopes alive.

27 August – A huge crowd of past and present Collingwood players gathers at the Crown Palladium to celebrate their contribution to the mighty Collingwood Football Club. From one-gamers to premiership legends, Magpies from all walks of life linked together once more in the name of their famous club.

28 August – Champion midfielder Luke Ball announces his retirement after 223 outings, 81 of which were with Collingwood.

29 August – Collingwood loses to Hawthorn by 65 points in the final round of the home and away season. Wearing the Collingwood Forever jumper, debutant Corey Gault becomes the 1118th player to represent the club in Luke Ball’s final game.

30 August – The club’s VFL team hosts Sandringham in an Elimination Final at Victoria Park. Though valiant, the undermanned Magpies struggle to keep up with the Zebras in the second half and eventually fall 26 points short.