From meetings with old faces to huge MCG blockbusters, and a smattering of key games outside Victoria, there’s something for everyone when the Magpies come to town next year.
Round 1
Brisbane v Collingwood
Saturday 4 April, Gabba, 6.20pm
Past 5: L-W-W-W-L
Another long summer will come to an end against Dayne Beams’ Brisbane Lions. Don’t miss this one. It’ll be fast and furious on the Gabba deck.
Round 2
Collingwood v Adelaide
Saturday 11 April, Etihad Stadium, 4.35pm
Past 5: W-W-W-L-L
After six straight wins over the Pride of South Australia, Collingwood’s streak was pierced with two losses to the Crows in 2014. Time to redeem.
Round 3
Collingwood v St Kilda
Friday 17 April, MCG, 7.50pm
Past 5: W-W-W-W-W
The Saints are still waiting for their first win over us since the 2010 Grand Final Replay. That’s hardly a record anyone would want to see tarnished.
Round 4
Essendon v Collingwood
Saturday 25 April, MCG, 2.45pm
Past 5: W-L-W-W-L
25 April 2015 marks the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli. Lest We Forget.
Round 5
Carlton v Collingwood
Friday 1 May, MCG, 7.50pm
Past 5: L-W-W-W-W
A Mick Malthouse-led team has not triumphed against the Pies since he was leading the charge with the Eagles in 1999 – a record we’d prefer to keep in tact.
Round 6
Collingwood v Geelong
Friday 8 May, MCG, 7.50pm
Past 5: L-W-W-W-L
That 2011 Grand Final still burns, but thankfully it’ll be Travis Varcoe who’ll be doing the damage for us, rather than kicking goals against us – such as when he kicked the first goal 14 seconds into the ’11 decider.
Round 7
Richmond v Collingwood
Sunday 17 May, MCG, 3.20pm
Past 5: W-W-W-W-W
Tigerland was roaring late in 2014, but they still haven’t beaten us since round 19, 2007. Could you imagine Mick Molloy stirring Eddie on The Hot Breakfast a day after a loss to the Tigers? There’s more than just four points on the line in this one!
Round 8
Gold Coast v Collingwood
Saturday 23 May, Metricon Stadium, 4.35pm
Past 4: W-W-L-L
The last two trips to the land of the Suns haven’t been pleasant. There’ll be plenty of media interest in this one if Rodney Eade is sitting in the opposition coaches box.
Round 9
Collingwood v North Melbourne
Sunday 31 May, MCG, 3.20pm
Past 5: W-L-W-L-W
We’ve embarked on an inconsistent run against the Roos since trouncing them in 2011. But with Levi Greenwood in our midfield, that’s sure to change.
Round 10
Melbourne v Collingwood
Monday 8 June, MCG, 3.20pm
Past 5: D-W-W-W-W
Monday afternoon football against the Dees is something we’re used to, and Pies fans who remember the tension of the 2010 draw will still be keeping a sharp eye on the red and the blue.
Round 11
Collingwood v Greater Western Sydney
Sunday 14 June, MCG, 1.10pm
Past 3: W-W-W
For a few awful moments in round 22, it looked like the Giants were going to record their first win over the mighty Magpies. But thanks to Josh Thomas and his band of youngsters, a season-ending defeat was averted. It goes to show that GWS is making in roads, so this looms as an tricky mid-season assignment.
Round 12
BYE
Sounds like a good chance to get the mowing done.
Round 13
Fremantle v Collingwood
Thursday 25 June, Patersons Stadium, 6.10pm
Past 5: W-W-W-L-L
The first of two Thursday night matches outside Victoria in the space of three weeks. What has Ross Lyon got in store for us this year?
Round 14
Collingwood v Hawthorn
Friday 3 July, MCG, 7.50pm
Past 5: L-L-L-L-L
By the time this match rolls around, it’ll have been 1,379 days since Luke Ball kicked the match winner to mark our last win against Hawthorn in the 2011 Preliminary Final. We’re due.
Round 15
Port Adelaide v Collingwood
Thursday 9 July, Adelaide Oval, 7.20pm
Past 5: W-W-L-L-W
Twice the Power gave us a nice touch up in 2013, but we were able to level things with a narrow six-point win this year. You’d suspect that they’re only going to improve again in 2015, meaning plenty should be riding on this trip to the City of Churches.
Round 16
Collingwood v West Coast
Saturday 18 July, Etihad Stadium, 4.35pm
Past 5: L-W-W-W-L
Last time we faced the Eagles at the Docklands, Alan Didak kicked three goals in a minute. Which Magpie could do a Dids in 2015?
Round 17
Western Bulldogs v Collingwood
Sunday 26 July, Etihad Stadium, 1.10pm
Past 5: W-W-W-W-L
The loss to the Dogs midway through 2014 signalled the start of our form slump and left a bad taste in the mouth. We’ll have to wait until 26 July before we get a chance to wash it away.
Round 18
Collingwood v Melbourne
Saturday 1 August, MCG, 2.10pm
Past 5: D-W-W-W-W
A 2.10pm game against our 1950s rivals at the MCG? Are we imagining things? No, this is the real deal – a rare treat for the traditionalists. Players of yesteryear will be pleased to see this one locked into the fixture.
Round 19
Collingwood v Carlton
Saturday 8 August, MCG, 1.45pm
Past 5: L-W-W-W-W
Another Saturday afternoon against an old rival. And not just any old rival – THE old rival. Except a huge crowd.
Round 20
Sydney v Collingwood
Friday 14 August, SCG, 7.50pm
Past 5: W-L-L-W-W
When we last played at the SCG, Darcy Moore was just four years old. Wonder how that makes his coaches Buckley, Burns, Rocca and Lockyer feel when they remember they played in that match in round four, 2000?
Round 21
Collingwood v Richmond
Saturday 22 August, MCG, 1.45pm
Past 5: W-W-W-W-W
Another Saturday afternoon at the MCG against an opposition from the other side of the railway line. This one will have plenty riding on it if the Tigers finish 2015 as they did 2014.
Round 22
Geelong v Collingwood
Friday 28 August, MCG, 7.50pm
Past 5: L-W-W-W-L
Another night game against the Cats! This will be our 13th from our past 14 meetings. The one outlier? The 2011 Grand Final.
Round 23
Collingwood v Essendon
MCG (time and date TBC)
Past 5: W-L-W-W-L
Hopefully by this point in time, we’ll be sitting atop the ladder with 21 wins and a percentage of 200% plus. Wishful thinking? We’re not dreamers, we’re believers. Go Pies!
