The two old foes will face off for the 248th time in front of another huge crowd at the MCG on Friday night.
Collingwoodfc.com.au breaks down the facts and figures that help make up the story of two of the game’s most famous clubs.
8,972,461 – People to have watched Collingwood and Carlton matches since 1920.
121,696 – The largest crowd to attend a VFL/AFL match, let alone a Collingwood-Carlton match, at the 1970 Grand Final at the MCG.
88,181 – People crammed into the MCG to witness Simon Prestigiacomo unfurl the 2010 premiership pennant before the Magpies accounted for the Blues by 28 points in round three, 2011. Jarryd Blair kicked five and Dane Swan had 34 disposals.
48,287 – The smallest crowd between the two clubs since 2000 (in round 20, 2005).
16,678 – Fans made their way to the MCG for a pre-season match between the two clubs on New Year’s Eve, 1999. It was Mick Malthouse’s first game of any sort as Collingwood coach.
5,728 – Days since Collingwood officially bottomed out against Carlton in round 21, 1998. Folklore has it that the dismal 55-point loss on a Sunday afternoon at the MCG was a key turning point in Eddie McGuire’s decision to become Collingwood President.
3,867 – Days since Heath Scotland last played for Collingwood (in the ill-fated 2003 Grand Final against Brisbane in 2003). He has played 214 games for Carlton in the years since.
2000 – The last year the two clubs met in the home and away season at a venue other than the MCG (Princes Park).
1992 – The last time the two clubs met at Waverley Park (Collingwood won by 16 points).
1986 – The last year the two clubs faced off at Victoria Park.
1970 – Perhaps the game’s most famous Grand Final. We won’t say any more…
1910 – The only year in which the Magpies defeated the Blues in a Grand Final (by 14 points in front of 42,577 at the MCG).
1892 – The year the two clubs met for the first time in any capacity. Carlton won by a goal at Victoria Park on 7 May.
542 – Disposals Dane Swan has won during his 19 games against Carlton since 2004. It is his highest cumulative tally against any club.
247 – Times the two clubs have met since the beginning of the VFL in 1897.
125 – Occasions Carlton has had the better of Collingwood. Carlton is the only club with a positive win-loss record against the Magpies.
180 – Carlton’s highest score against the Magpies since 1897 (28.12 180), kicked in round 18, 2000.
118 – Times Collingwood has prevailed over the Navy Blues.
114 – Goals kicked by Gordon Coventry in 31 games against Carlton.
111 – Carlton’s record winning margin against Collingwood, recorded at Princes Park in round 18, 2000.
108 – Collingwood’s greatest ever winning margin in a game against Carlton. The record was achieved on a Friday night at the MCG in round 18, 2002. Nathan Buckley was named best afield in his 200th AFL game while Josh Fraser kicked six goals.
101 – The cumulative winning margin in Collingwood’s two victories over Carlton in 1990.
89 – The cumulative winning margin in Collingwood’s two victories over Carlton in 1990.
78 – Times Peter McKenna put the Sherrin through the big sticks in his 20 games against Carlton.
44 – The point deficit Carlton had to overcome to beat Collingwood in the 1970 Grand Final.
38 – Carlton’s winning margin in the 1988 Qualifying Final.
31 – Disposals won by Shane O’Bree in his first match for Collingwood against Carlton in round three, 2000 (three of which were goals).
22 – Finals played between the two teams. Carlton has won 14, Collingwood has won eight.
22 – Men to have represented both Collingwood and Carlton during their playing careers since 1897.
21 – Times the two clubs have met to decide the Peter Mac Cup. Since 1993, the match has been an annual event that helps raise funds for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. Collingwood has triumphed nine times and Carlton 12.
18 – Months on the sidelines. That was the penalty handed down to Jack Shorten (Collingwood) and Percy Sheehan (Carlton) following the infamous brawl in the 1910 Grand Final.
15 – Times Mick Malthouse was victorious over Carlton while coach of Collingwood (2000-2011).
12 – Goals kicked by Brendan Fevola against the Magpies in the Millenium Match on New Year’s Eve, 1999.
9 – Carlton’s winning streak against the Pies (registered between 1905 and 1909).
9 – Goals kicked by Collingwood in the second quarter to turn a 14-point deficit into a 16-point lead over Carlton in round 21, 2006.
8 – Goals kicked by Carlton’s Simon Beaumont against Collingwood in the first half of round 17, 1999.
8 – Seasons spent by Bill Strickland at Carlton in the VFA before becoming Collingwood’s inaugural VFL captain in 1897.
7 – Bounces taken by Mighty Mick McGuane as he ran into goal against Carlton at the MCG in round two, 1994.
7 – Collingwood’s longest winning streak against the Blue Baggers (achieved between 1897 and 1899).
7 – Goals kicked by the Magpies in a nasty loss to the Blues in wet conditions in round three, 2002. By season’s end, Collingwood would be nine-points shy of a premiership and Carlton moored at the foot of the ladder.
6 – Goals kicked by Craig Starcevich in only his second senior game against the Blues in a seven point loss at Waverley Park in round two, 1987.
6 – Collingwood’s winning margin in the first meeting between the two clubs in the first season of the VFL in round seven, 1897.
6 – Times the two sides have met on Grand Final day.
3 – Goals (and eight possessions) kicked by Gavin Brown in the opening quarter before injuring his hamstring against Carlton in round three, 2000.
3 – Goals kicked by little-known Blue forward Justin Davies in just six minutes to help Carlton upset the Magpies in round seven, 2004.
3 – Goals kicked by Peter McKenna in his one game for Carlton against Collingwood (round six, 1977).
3 – Games played by Magpie marvel Mick McGuane during his one year at Carlton in 1997.
2 – Games played for Carlton in 1913 by a man named Harry Curtis, who would later go on to become Collingwood’s President after 122 games in the Black and White.
1 – Broken jaw suffered by Nathan Buckley in a clash with Justin Murphy on Easter Monday, 1999.
1 – Game played by Brent Hall, the man the Magpies drafted out of South Fremantle with the selection they received from Carlton in exchange for Heath Scotland at the end of 2003 (No. 35 overall).
1 – United States Army general to visit the Collingwood change rooms before a game against Carlton. ‘Stormin’ Norman Schwarzkopf addressed the Magpies before their meeting with the Blues in round 19, 1997.
All statistics in this article are sourced from the wonderful AFL Tables website.
