The 2012 season marked one of the most colourful in Collingwood's 120 year history.

No year at Collingwood is ever dull, but 2012 had an added something from the word go.

New coach Nathan Buckley assumed the mantle from Mick Malthouse with striking maturity, and guided the Magpies to within 26 points of a Grand Final.

Along the way, he dealt with the loss of four players to season-ending knee injuries, three others to shoulder reconstructions, a disastrous third round loss to Carlton that had the season teetering on the brink, seven debutants, a 10-game winning streak mid-season and the death of much-loved former player John McCarthy.

A weird and whacky season that began in late November, 2011, when Buckley took charge for the first time as senior coach...

The beginning (all photos courtesy of AFL Media)



Buckley and captain Nick Maxwell take the younger players through their first training session at Gosch's Paddock.



Dale Thomas still had his hair.



There were new faces everywhere.



Not to mention an old face in a very important role.



Posing for a photo shoot in early February, the leaders were ready to take on anything 2012 could throw at them.



But for some, 2012 was over before it had begun. Minutes into the first NAB Cup match of the year, Brent Macaffer's knee was crunched as he fought for a hard ball against the Western Bulldogs in Western Sydney.



Jarrod Witts took on the Giant Israel Folau as the Magpies met Greater Western Sydney for the first time.



The NAB Cup or the newbie Cup? Collingwood gave several new faces a chance, such as Marley Williams and Jamie Elliott, as the pre-season continued.



Jarryd Blair scoots away from St Kilda's Clinton Jones in the final NAB Cup match at Visy Park. Aside from a minor scare when Nick Maxwell hobbled off with a foot injury, it was all systems go for the round one clash with Hawthorn at the MCG.

The season begins



In the absence of injured skipper Nick Maxwell, vice-captain Scott Pendlebury had the honour of leading Collingwood out onto the MCG for the opening match of the year against Hawthorn on March 30.



Bucks took the reigns for the first time in front of a crowd of 78,466 fans.



The side experienced all the highs and lows that football has to offer - Travis Cloke's form inside 50 led to a lead early in the final quarter that was later erased; Luke Rounds rues a missed opportunity after snapping around the corner in the third term.



Three debutants were blooded - Paul Seedsman, Jackson Paine and Peter Yagmoor. It was the most by Collingwood in a single match since Alan Toovey, Brad Dick and Shannon Cox began against Richmond in round three, 2007.



A 22-point loss. But things weren't looking all that bleak.



In round two, the Pies took on the Tigers, and it was the half time scuffle that caught the eye.



Jarryd Blair and Scott Pendlebury got the ride during Collingwood's fourth win in succession against the yellow and black.



Former coach Mick Malthouse was farewelled by the Collingwood Army with a lap of honour at half time.



Success! Seedsman and Paine tasted victory (and Powerade) for the first time in the 21-point win.



The moment Collingwood fans' hearts sunk. Luke Ball twisted his knee on the outer side of the MCG in the round three loss to Carlton. His season was done and dusted and, with a 60-point loss, so was Collingwood's in the eyes of the doubters.



No one enjoys a 60-point loss to Carlton in only the third round of the season. No one enjoys losing to Carlton full stop!



The following round saw the Magpies pick up the pieces against Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium. They prevailed by 24 points with Jarryd Blair, as always, putting his body on the line for his mates.



It was a relief to have Ben Johnson back in the side. After spending the first few weeks of the season recovering from a hamstring injury, Johnson returned to the fray with 13 possessions before he was rested in the final quarter.



ANZAC Day. Jobe Watson and Nick Maxwell show their respect before the game begins.



Not a noise is uttered as 86,932 pause to remember.



At the end of a tight, tense and gruelling encounter, Jarryd Blair nudged the Magpies in front with a soccer off the turf with less than two minutes remaining.



Dane Swan was the talk of the town after he gathered 42 possessions, kicked three goals and laid six tackles en route to receiving his first ANZAC Medal.



An early landmark. So often it's the ANZAC Day game that sets up both club's seasons. Essendon entered the match undefeated but the gutsy Magpies saw to that as Nathan Buckley secured his first piece of silverware as senior coach. Collingwood sat in 10th with three wins and two losses. It would be another 10 weeks until they next tasted defeat.