As 2014 comes to a close, collingwoodfc.com.au looks back on the year that was, starting with January-April.

January

29 January – Scott Pendlebury is named Collingwood captain for 2014, heading a leadership group comprising Nick Maxwell, Luke Ball, Steele Sidebottom, Nathan Brown, Lachlan Keeffe, Clinton Young and Travis Cloke.

February

1 February – Collingwood hosts its annual Family Day at Olympic Park. All players are presented on stage following an intra-club match in which recruits Jesse White, Tony Armstrong and Jonathon Marsh impress. An ankle injury to youngster Adam Oxley is the only dampener on the day.

13 February – The club holds its Annual General Meeting in the MCC Members Dining Room at the MCG. Ben Johnson, Ian Graham and Trever Steer are awarded life membership, while trainer Colin Arnell receives a Special Services Awards.

14 February – Collingwood opens the 2014 NAB Challenge with a match against Geelong at Simonds Stadium. The Pies overcome a slow start to run within two points of the home team, with recruit Jesse White winning over the fans with five goals on his Collingwood debut.

17-18 February – The club’s annual Community Camp is held in Kinglake, in North-Eastern Victoria.

22 February – The road trip to Wangaratta does the Pies no favours as they go down to Richmond by 48 points in the second game of the NAB Challenge.

23 February – The VFL Magpies start their campaign with a practice match victory over Port Melbourne at Olympic Park. Ned McKeown (son of Ron), Jack Blair (brother of Jarryd) and Ryan Pendlebury (brother of Scott and Kris) make their Collingwood debuts.

March

2 March – A slow start but a fast finish sees the Magpies steam home to beat Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium in the final practice match of the pre-season. Travis Cloke kicks six in the second half but Ben Reid damages his calf.

3 March – Team photo day at the Westpac Centre, with all players, coaches and staff gathering on the sprung floor for their annual happy snaps.

3 March – The caravan moves on from the Westpac Centre, down the Yarra River to the Crown Palladium for the Season Launch and Hall of Fame Dinner. Damian Monkhorst and Alby Pannam are indicted into the club’s Hall of Fame and the players receive their jumpers for the 2014 season.

14 March – A dismal start to the new season. Scott Pendlebury makes a bright start to his captaincy by kicking the first goal of the year, but the Pies manage just four more and are trounced by a white-hot Fremantle to the tune of 70 points. Tom Langdon performs admirably on debut across half back.

19 March – The first episode of The Club, season three, goes to air on Fox Footy.

29 March – With a fortnight to lick their round one wounds, Collingwood gets the season back on course with a gutsy win over Sydney at ANZ Stadium. Scott Pendlebury outstanding with 33 disposals, 10 tackles and 11 inside 50s. The match is Nick Maxwell’s 200^th senior game.

April

1 April – Premier partner CGU changes its logo, with white font on a green background. Collingwood’s coaches wear green training shirts during the team’s main session to mark the occasion.

2 April – Ben Reid, Nathan Brown and Steele Sidebottom commit to new contracts.

4 April – Collingwood’s VFL team gets a taste of the MCG, beating the AIS-AFL Academy by 73 points in a curtain-raiser to the Hawthorn-Fremantle clash later that evening. Josh Thomas is named stand-in captain while Tony Armstrong wins 30 disposals.

5 April – A spirited team effort isn’t enough to prevent Geelong from recording an 11-point win at the MCG. Jamie Elliott is named Collingwood’s best after kicking five goals.

11 April – The season gets back on track courtesy of a 38-point win over Richmond in Travis Cloke’s 200^th game.

17 April – Football legend Lou Richards is honoured with a statue of his likeness outside the entrance to the Westpac Centre. Collingwood and footballing champions past and present join Richards and his family to celebrate on a sunny autumn afternoon.

19 April – North Melbourne is no match for the Magpies who cruise to a 35-point win on Easter Saturday. Alex Fasolo makes good on his move to half back with 32 disposals.

25 April – A sensational ANZAC Day clash with Essendon ends in victory, thanks largely to Dane Swan who kicked four goals from 26 disposals. He was the fitting winner of the ANZAC Day Medal for the second time in three years.