Collingwoodfc.com.au takes a look at the recent history between the two clubs on the day that spawned the biggest home and away crowd in VFL/AFL history back in 1958, when the Magpies and Demons drew 99,346 fans to the Melbourne Cricket Ground to see one of the greatest games of all time.
Round 11 2001
Collingwood 19.20 (134)
Melbourne 8.9 (57)
Goals: Rocca 4, N.Davis 3, Holland 3, Molloy 2, Tarrant 2, Johnson, Lane, Fraser, McKee, Lockyer
Disposals: O’Bree 27, Lockyer 25, Fraser 22, McKee 22, Rocca 21
Brownlow Medal: 3. A.Rocca (Coll), 2. S.O’Bree (Coll), 1. N.Davis (Coll)
Crowd: 62,761
The match was made memorable by Chris Tarrant who rose over the top of a large pack of players at the Punt Road end and marked a Tarkyn Lockyer kick in spectacular fashion. Incredibly, it wasn’t enough to win Mark of the Year, as Tarrant was trumped less than three weeks later by Essendon’s Gary Moorcroft. Pies fans will also remember Anthony Rocca marking and then shoving the Sherrin in Melbourne opponent Troy Simmonds’ face.
“Lockyer’s kick inside the 50 oooohhh! Tarrant over the top! What a mark! Could well be the Mark of the Year that one. Chris Tarrant. Huge leap. He came down the front of the pack as if it were a waterfall” – Channel Seven commentator Dennis Cometti.
“A royal decree has it that this is definitely the Mark of the Year” – Channel Seven commentator Gerard Healy.
Round 11 2002
Collingwood 19.12 (126)
Melbourne 10.15 (75)
Goals: Tarrant 7, Fraser 4, Rocca 2, Licuria, McKee, Holland, Didak, L.Davis, Cole
Disposals: Lockyer 26, McGough 24, O’Bree 24, Clement 22, Licuria 22
Brownlow Medal: 3. C.Tarrant (Coll), 2. J.Fraser (Coll), 1. M.McGough (Coll)
Crowd: 65,860
Chris Tarrant was at it again, this time bagging a career high seven goals. Josh Fraser, Mark McGough, Steve McKee and Paul Licuria all had a big say in the outcome as Melbourne lost Alistair Nicholson for the rest of the year with a knee injury.
“Broadbridge does enough – no – TARRANT AROUND THE BODY! TARRANT AROUND THE BODY! It doesn’t come better than that!” – Channel Ten commentator Peter Daicos.
Round 11 2003
Collingwood 20.13 (133)
Melbourne 10.17 (77)
Goals: Burns 4, Didak 3, Tarrant 3, Fraser 2, Lonie 2, Davis 2, Williams 2, Holland, Cole
Disposals: Licuria 29, Shaw 27, Burns 24, Holland 23, O’Bree 22, Scotland 22, Woewodin 22
Brownlow Medal: 3. P.Licuria (Coll), 2. S.Burns (Coll), 1. C.Tarrant (Coll)
Crowd: 60,010
The Magpies continued their Jekyll and Hyde form in the early stages of 2003, rebounding from the previous week’s loss to Port Adelaide with a thumping of the hapless Demons. Scott Burns kicked a career high four goals and Ryan Lonie kicked one of the goals of the year with three bounces from the half back flank.
“Ryan Lonie! Space in front of him – GOALS IN FRONT OF HIM!” – Channel Ten commentator Anthony Hudson.
Round 12 2004
Collingwood 11.7 (73)
Melbourne 12.10 (82)
Goals: Holland 2, Lokan 2, Buckley, Didak, Davis, Lonie, Fraser, McGough, C.Cloke
Disposals: Licuria 23, J.Cloke 21, Fraser 18, Burns 18, Holland 17, McGough 17
Brownlow Medal: 3. J.Fraser (Coll), 2. A.Yze (Melb), 1. J.Cloke (Coll)
Crowd: 56,988
Despite leading at three quarter time, Collingwood was overrun by an inspired Melbourne in the final quarter on a wet and rainy day at the MCG.
Round 12 2005
Collingwood 10.12 (72)
Melbourne 17.15 (117)
Goals: Didak 3, Caracella 2, Tarrant 2, O’Bree, Lonie, Rowe
Disposals: Burns 33, Licuria 28, Lockyer 28, Holland 22, O’Bree 20
Brownlow Medal: 3. T.Johnstone (Melb), 2. A.Yze (Melb), 1. B.Miller (Melb)
Crowd: 65,347
In the midst of a purple patch, the 12th placed Collingwood took the fight right up to Melbourne who was one of the form sides early in the season. Although they led at half time, the Magpies were no match for Neale Daniher’s men who were made particularly potent by the contributions of Yze, Neitz, Robertson and Miller up forward.
Round 11 2006
Collingwood 14.9 (94)
Melbourne 22.9 (141)
Goals: Davis 3, Tarrant 2, Didak 2, Thomas 2, Fraser, Lockyer, Burns, Rocca, Pendlebury
Disposals: Burns 29, Licuria 28, Didak 23, Lockyer 22,Morrison 22
Brownlow Medal: 3. C.Bruce (Melb), 2. T.Johnstone (Melb), 1. B.Green (Melb)
Crowd: 78,733
A thrashing from start to finish. The Demons were up for the fight from the word go, while Collingwood appeared a little flat after a gruelling encounter against the Brisbane Lions the week prior. The pace of Aaron Davey and Byron Pickett, in particular, caught the Magpies on the hop, while Ben Holland kept Anthony Rocca to only three possessions.
Round 11 2007
Collingwood 11.15 (81)
Melbourne 13.16 (94)
Goals: Johnson 3, Cloke 3, Davis 2, Fraser, Medhurst, Lockyer
Disposals: Johnson 25, Holland 25, Lockyer 24, H.Shaw 24, Swan 23
Brownlow Medal: 3. R.Robertson (Melb), 2. B.McLean (Melb), 1. B.Johnson (Coll)
Crowd: 70,660
One of Collingwood’s strangest games in recent years. Melbourne bounced out of the blocks with six goals to two to leave the Magpies playing catch up for the rest of the afternoon. Ben Johnson was Collingwood’s best, kicking three goals for the first time since his debut in 2000. Russell Robertson had the Pies on toast with his seven goals. Collingwood’s cause wasn’t helped when Harry O’Brien left the field early with a dislocated shoulder meaning debutant Danny Stanley and ninth gamer Alan Toovey were left to handle the red-hot Robbo.
Round 11 2008
Collingwood 17.14 (116)
Melbourne 13.17 (95)
Goals: Didak 2, Lockyer 2, Davis 2, H.Shaw 2, Johnson,Fraser, Wellingham, Medhurst, O’Brien, Swan, Brown, Cox, Thomas
Disposals: Burns 36, Didak 22, Clarke 21, Lockyer 20, R.Shaw 20
Brownlow Medal: 3. T.Lockyer (Coll), 2. S.Burns (Coll), 1. A.Yze (Melb)
Crowd: 59,548
Collingwood never got out of second gear but managed to hold off a dogged Demons outfit destined for the wooden spoon. Tarkyn Lockyer and Dale Thomas managed the two goals of the day in an otherwise routine game.
Round 11 2009
Collingwood 19.12 (126)
Melbourne 8.12 (60)
Goals: Dick 5, Lockyer 3, Anthony 3, Didak 2, Swan, Davis, Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Cloke, Clarke
Disposals: Pendlebury 39, Didak 33, Swan 32, Shaw 30, Fraser 27
Brownlow Medal: 3. S.Pendlebury (Coll), 2. C.Sylvia (Melb), 1. B.Dick (Coll)
Crowd: 61,287
A seven goal to nil opening quarter from Collingwood set the tone for the remainder of the day as Melbourne had no answers to a Magpies side that was building in confidence. Brad Dick received an AFL Rising Star nomination for his five goals.
Round 12 2010
Collingwood 9.22 (76)
Melbourne 11.10 (76)
Goals: Dick 4, Davis, Cloke, Sidebottom, Jolly, Lockyer
Disposals: Swan 38, Pendlebury 27, Beams 24, Sidebottom 23, Thomas 23
Brownlow Medal: 3. A.Davey (Melb), 2. D.Swan (Coll), 1. M.Jamar (Melb)
Crowd: 67,454
Comfortably the best Queen’s Birthday match of the past decade. Collingwood managed the first three goals of the match but then watched on it horror as Melbourne kicked eleven goals to its six for the remainder of the day. The Magpies were left kicking themselves due to their inaccuracy and were only saved by a late goal to Tarkyn Lockyer as the light began to fade. It was Collingwood’s first draw since round 12, 1995, against Footscray.
Round 12 2011
Collingwood 19.15 (129)
Melbourne 6.5 (41)
Goals: Cloke 6, Krakouer 2, Pendlebury 2, Ball 2, Dawes, Wellingham, Didak, Fasolo, L.Brown, Blair, McCarthy
Disposals: Wellingham 37, Davis 27, Didak 24, Pendlebury 23, Sidebottom 23
Brownlow Medal: 3. S.Wellingham (Coll), 2. T.Cloke (Coll), 1. C.Tarrant (Coll)
Crowd: 75,998
The reigning premiers met the struggling Demons who were no match for the potency of Travis Cloke in attack (six goals) or the verve of Sharrod Wellingham who filled the gap left by the injured Dane Swan (absent for the first time since round 12, 2006) with 37 possessions. Chris Tarrant, in his first Queen’s Birthday match since 2006, received a Brownlow vote for his blanketing of Brad Green. Alex Fasolo marked his league debut with 15 disposals, a goal and the mark of the day.
Round 11 2012
Collingwood 19.15 (129)
Melbourne 13.9 (87)
Goals: Sinclair 3, Swan 2, Blair 2, Wellingham 2, Fasolo 2, Cloke 2, Goldsack 2, Jolly 2, Beams, Sidebottom
Disposals: Swan 42, Beams 37, Sidebottom 36, Blair 27, Wellingham 27
Brownlow Medal: 3. D.Swan (Coll), 2. D.Beams (Coll), 1. S.Sidebottom (Coll)
Crowd: 64,250 at the MCG
On Melbourne's biggest day of the year, the Magpies spoiled the party with a six goal to nil opening quarter that effectively snuffed out any realistic hope of a Melbourne victory. The Dees threatened to mount a comeback at different stages of the third and fourth quarters but Collingwood had more than enough experience to steady and pull away to win by 42-points. Dane Swan typically did as he pleased, gathering 42 possessions and kicking two goals. Support came from Dayne Beams (37 possessions) and Steele Sidebottom (36 possessions) while Ben Sinclair bobbed up with three goals to earn an AFL Rising Star nomination. The only downside was the groin injury sustained by Alan Didak in the first minute of the match.
Round 11 2013
Collingwood 17.20 (122)
Melbourne 5.9 (39)
Goals: Cloke 3, Kennedy 3, Martin 3, J.Thomas 2, Lynch, Didak, Lumumba, Swan, Macaffer, Pendlebury
Disposals: Swan 39, Pendlebury 34, Ball 31, J.Thomas 27, Didak 25
Brownlow Medal: 3. D.Swan (Coll), 2. S.Pendlebury (Coll), 1. J.Thomas (Coll)
Crowd: 50,835 at the MCG
With the two teams combining for just two goals from 13 scoring shots in the opening term, more than 50,000 fans appeared destined to leave the MCG disappointed. But the struggling Demons, in their final game under Mark Neeld, began to wilt in the second quarter as Collingwood piled on six unanswered goals to open up a 40-point half time lead and effectively end the contest. The final margin was 83 points, but it could have been far greater had it not been for inaccuracy in front of goal. Dane Swan’s exemplary Queen’s Birthday record continued, collecting 39 disposals and eight clearances on the way to receiving three more Brownlow votes. Josh Thomas put in one of the best games of his fledgling career (27 disposals) while Kyle Martin (three goals) displayed his penchant for splitting the big sticks.
The forgotten Queen's Birthday clash...
The AFL actually reintroduced the Melbourne v Collingwood Queen's Birthday fixture in 1999 before allocating the match to Richmond and the Western Bulldogs in round 14, 2000 (Melbourne and Collingwood actually met at the MCG two days prior).
In round 11, 1999, Collingwood put up a brave fight against the previous year's preliminary finalists to lead at half time and only go down by less than two straight kicks. Although destined for the wooden spoon, Tony Shaw's men played in several thrillers throughout '99. The match was the first of four that Collingwood would lose by less than two goals over the course of the next six weeks (winning the remaining two games against St Kilda and Hawthorn). The game is also notable for being Garry Lyon's final match in the red and blue.
Round 11 1999
Collingwood 11.12 (78)
Melbourne 13.11 (89)
Goals: S.Rocca 4, Lane 4, Brown, Betheras, Fuller
Disposals: Lane 27, Crosisca 25, Williams 25, Monkhorst 19, Buckley 18
Brownlow Medal: 3. S.Woewodin (Melb), 2. T.Lane (Coll), 1. P.Walsh (Melb)
Crowd: 40,031
