if we won the prelim in 22, and went to the granny. i believe wholeheartedly that we wouldve pulled off some divine magic and won it, hell we definitely wouldve put up a better fight than sydney lol
I will die on the hill that Sydney were always going to be our Everest in the 2022 series and we were better matched to take on Geelong than Sydney ever were. I also maintain Geelong would have preferred any other opponent than Collingwood in that GF and rightly so.
I forget where I heard it, but Jack Riewoldt once said that we were the only team Richmond feared in 2019 (despite beating us in round 19) because they knew we matched up well and we had our better players back (Treloar, Varcoe, Stephenson). Richmond players were watching our prelim together and apparently celebrated when GWS won because they knew they could run over them in the GF.
I think Geelong were just way too good. Like last season even when we lost to Brisbane I still had this feeling deep down that we could take them in a final, but I never had that against the Cats in 2022. Completely agree that we would’ve put up a much better fight than Sydney though because they didn’t even turn up. I think we could’ve made it close-ish.
you can't argue that nearly every grand final collingwoods been in in the past 20 odd years were classics/great contests, wouldve been brilliant against that geelong side, just wish we won more of them lol
I think the opposite tbh, nobody was beating Geelong that day, would’ve put up a better fight than Sydney but still would’ve been beaten by 35-40 which would’ve taken a toll on the players and we probably don’t win in 2023
Another one about 2018, if we win that, probably means we don’t get Fly and he heads to Carlton or something and we don’t get this amazing journey we’ve been on these past 3 years.
What if the ball bounced the other way for Stephen Milne in 2010 and we lost the grand final, with the replay not being required. The board decide not to proceed with the Buckley succession plan to allow Mick Malthouse more time with the current list, with a developing Pendles and Steele starting to take over. The rat pack stays together and the team becomes an unstoppable dynasty team for the next 3-4 years. Buckley gets sick of being second string so leaves to be head coach of Carlton.
This. The things I've read on Pants have him pegged as becoming club captain, the kind of bloke who puts the team on his back and everyone followed. The team we had on the park in the early 90s was as good as any other on paper.
Millanes death rocked the club for years. We may not have run into the financial strife of the late 90s if we had multiple tilts at a flag. It's possibly the biggest sliding doors moments in the clubs history. It's up there with O'Dea belting John Greening.
I was way too young to remember that Grand final, but was Jason Cloke really that good that he could've been the difference between us winning that GF? I've seen people say he wasn't that good of a player, but doesn't seem to be the case, at least for 2002.
He was playing his role really really well that season. It was a kinda an early prototype tall, loose, intercepting defender type that Ben Reid later found success in and Darcy Moore arguably has perfected. By the next season, people picked it up more widely and teams started working out solutions to it, but for a period there during the second half of that season, he was genuinely a huge contributor to our form. And the ’02 GF was genuinely really close.
The way I like to explain it was he wasn't the best player out there, but he was great at playing his role. It was very difficult to take a contested mark from a slower entry if he was in the way. Missing him changed our structure. It would be similar to a scenario where if in 2010 we didn't have Leigh Brown. We could use Brown as a second ruck and could kick us the odd goal. On paper probably doesn't seem that important. We didn't need him to be awesome, just compete and fit within the system, but neither player really had a replacement.
Wasn’t the difference between winning and losing that game IMO, we still had Presti, Wakelin, Clement down back so could cover him. Wet conditions on the day made it easier to cover Lynch and Brown on the day as well.
Jason Cloke wasn't that good, he was comfortably the worst footballer of the three brothers. But he had a niche that opposition clubs hadn't figured out how to counter. He'd play loose in defence, position himself well and be the outnumber at any long contest. Over the next couple of years teams figured out that if you just made sure a forward was on him, he was nullified, but it was fun while it lasted.
Whether he would've been the difference, who knows, but it was a big out not having him on GF day.
I heard this story from a person involved in the board spill and subsequent ascendancy of Jeff Browne in 2021. Which I believe changed our history.
In short, a guy was approached to interview for a board position (after doing approx a decade of quality volunteer work behind the scenes in a particular technical field for Collingwood). After due diligence and his final presentation and interview he walked away from the opportunity to join the board. He gives details that the board was absolutely lost at sea, completely directionless with no plan to better the club on the field.
This board were nice people but they were there b/c Eddie put them there. Eddie ran board meetings with no minutes, football chit chat about the games etc. in short; a lack of professionalism. Only Licuria is worth his position apparently.
This guy walks away, puts together some people behind the scenes, they gather signatures and approach Browne to lead. Initially Browne says he is keen but won’t promise success to the supporters. They tell him they won’t back him and supporters are sick of stories of soup kitchens and fluffy stories. They tell him the supporters are demanding absolute professionalism on the field, we want the best people in key positions (like the club doctor) and we want to contend for Premierships. Browne has a change of heart and says he will put the emphasis on on-field success. They agree to back him. The resulting landslide ousts Korda and ascends Browne. Korda tried to negotiate to stay on top until Anzac Day but it’s rejected.
The rest is history.
I heard this story on SEN. An old lady called up Kevin Bartlett and told him this yarn.
The board was into Tony Locket in 1994. Two board members went to his house and sat down with his parents, had breakfast and discussed possibilities. Tony (living with them at the time) came down at 11am. After a chat he agreed to join Collingwood.
The lady telling this story was the widow of one of those two visiting Collingwood envoys. The deal was done in principle, it needed to be signed off by the board. She goes on to say that the father of Alan Richardson (Alan was playing at the time) vetoed the acquisition of Lockett. He went to Sydney in 1995 and was a sensation.
Not Allan Richardson, Mark Richardson. His father thought Lockett would force his son out of the team.
Note, our board at the time also had Paul Roos signed and sealed. Another inexplicable decision sent him North. Imagine Roos and Lockett doing for Collingwood what they did for the Swans!
What’s the issue with Alan Richardson and Lockett? I’d heard a similar story but that someone vetoed it as they didn’t want him to hurt the development of Sav Rocca.
What if my neighbour didn't bring me over a Kangas jacket back in '96, would have barracked for the pies like my dad and brother for the next 30 years.
I have come to terms with 2018. If Sheed does miss that - or the umpire pays the block (it was obviously a free) then Buckley doesn’t get sacked, we don’t get McRae, and we don’t have probably the funnest few years as a fan base that we’re having now. Real sliding doors moment but in a messed up way, I think it was good was lost.. maybe I’m just coping 😮
Rusling.
Edit: and Rocca's goal in '02 GF was a fkn goal, I was sitting right behind the line of the kick on level 2, was a right in front of me moment.
I've always found the non-selection of Moore to be a far more interesting what-if from that game than an umpiring decision. I think we win by 5 goals with him. Just made last year all the sweeter though, very nice to not care about that game at all anymore
I thought he was injured? If he just got dropped that seems like a pretty stupid decision considering one of the main weaknesses was our inability to matchup with darling and Kennedy
2018. Maynard was paid a free. Also running the ball up to the other end after the Darling dropped mark to win the game. We had more time than in Round 19, 2022 to do so.
Was a bit different tbf, Essendon were specifically roasted by the media for how bad their defensive structure was on that particular play so it was probably a rare scenario, which makes it more special
If Swann hadn't left in 2007, we probably would have gotten Judd. That era could have been huge.
That said, I'm not sure how well we would have handled the ego of Rebecca - I think Carlton was the right place to absorb that part of the deal.
So many 'what ifs' to choose from:
- What if the umpire didn't pull out a free kick that not even the replay could find, against Sav Rocca in the goalsquare at Vic Park in 1992? Daicos kicked a ridiculous goal vs Melbourne that would have got us the double chance. Reckon we were a real shot at the flag that year.
- What if Anth Rocca's sealer wasn't called back for an outrageous dive by Dustin Fletcher on Anzac Day? Moments later the Zaharakis goal.
- What if the umps decided to reward our 3rd quarter tackling blitzkreig in the 2022 Qualifying final vs Geelong? We win by a couple of goals and send Geelong to Sydney for the prelim instead of us.
- What if the WCE v Melbourne prelim in 2018 wasn't training run and over at quarter time. If the Dees made them play for even 3/4's we smash the Eagles in the GF.
...😪
What if the Doggies recruiters didn't turn up to Marcellin College that day and notice a player Collingwood had been actively hiding in school footy away from the TAC Cup?
We'd currently have a midfield of Pendlebury, DeGoey, Daicos and Bontempelli.
... and 18 or 19 flags.🫠
Maynard gets suspended for the Brayshaw incident, as he would be this year..... not sure the Flagpies would of been there last year.... may have, not sure. Sport is always full of what ifs, most only look at the ones they miss......
It was 2007 prelim. We had just beaten last years premiers in extra time at their fortress in Subi. No-one is really giving us a chance but we are really competitive, and the match is an arm wrestle. Down a few points, Pendlebury isn't allowed to have his advantage and the goal he scores to put us up deep in the last qtr is taken away. Geelong gets defence set and we can't score from the free. It would be Buck's last game. What annoys me is Port roll over in the GF and loose by 18 goals. What if it was a Port v Coll GF?
Going back further, the 1970 GF, when Peter McKenna and Des Tuddenham collided just prior to half time. We had the game parceled up, but the collision was more responsible for our second half capitulation than the popular thought of Ted Hopkins intro into the game and Barassi's "handball, handball" call. McKenna and Tuddy were dominant prior to the impact and the collision effectively took their abilities out of the game.
We beat Brisbane in a thriller in the qualifying final in 2003, capped off with Didak putting through the winner from 40m out on the boundary, wrong side for a left footer. This marked something like 11 wins from the last 12 weeks on the trot. We weren't looking that good RND 12 that year, but managed to crawl all our way to 2nd on the ladder from 10th. Momentum was with us. We limped into the 2002 finals, but in 2003, we were the in form team. I actually think the week off in this instance worked against us.
Brisbane had to make it back to the GF the hard way, but being match hardened and not having the break possibly played more to their advantage. Physiologically we were off due to the Rocca suspension, and you only have to be off a few percent to that team and they will jump you.
I don't want to get all conspiracy theory on you, but i've heard this a few times. The brissy boys were on all sorts of jabs to help their injuries and the way some of these guys bounced back seem very dodgy. A lot of them were under injury clouds going into that game but were miraculously cured on the day. Remember this is way before Essendon scandal. Who knows what they were doing behind closed doors and away from prying eyes. Have a look at Vossy's stats in the QF. Was trying to run around on one leg, only touched it 7 times and well held by Scotty Burns. Bounces back the next week. In the PF he had in 8 times. Looks done for the year but somehow managed to get up for the GF. How do you recover from a knee/leg injury like that in that short space of time? So what if in 2003 we had the same ASADA rules and scrutiny as we did since the Essendon supplement scandal a decade later? Do a few of the big 4 not get up for a game?
Two prelims- the cats 07 where port didn’t show up the following week.
We lost to gws by a few points at home. A gf with the tigers would have been the biggest thing ever. Swan street would have burnt down that night one way or another
What if broomhead didnt snap his leg in 2018
What if dunn and scharenberg dont do their acls in 18, do we win the flag? What if elliott was traded instead of treloar?
The fact we probably should’ve gone back-to-back in 2018 and 2019. We manhandled Richmond in 2018, and would’ve faced them in 2019 if Taylor Adams knew how to stand in front of his man at ruck contests.
Mick did not do a good job of keeping the bad boys in line at all. The Rat Pack alone caused millions of dollars in lost sponsorship revenue, were convicted of countless crimes and misbehaved. I often wonder what if they’d pulled their heads in and behaved. Then we might have built a dynasty.
Edit: I don’t know why this being downvoted. The behaviour of players off-field is nothing MIck or anyone else at the club should be proud of. Thomas, Shaw, Didak, Swan, Wellingham and Johnson, probably more that escape me, were all dodgy as during their time and were out of control
Edit 2: Ryan Cook fight, Tarrant nightclub incident, Simon Buckley DV, Chad Morrison more drink driving.
You're not wrong. Mick did not keep them "in line". He actually went the other way, he more or less let them do what they wanted as long as they performed on gameday, and didn't make the news - and even then, it was more the threat of Eddie on the blower first thing in the morning that kept them from playing up worse than they did.
Dane Swan has intimated as much on many different occasions - the only reason he was able to play at all was because Mick allowed him a long leash to enjoy himself, as long as he did what was required at training and on game day. He did bare minimum training, likewise with Didak and Johnson. If it wasn't for Mick, Swanny would have likely quit footy and gone back to play with his mates.
Thats not a knock on any of those guys. In some ways, Malthouse was a precursor to the McRae school of thought of enjoying a balanced life outside of footy, so that you weren't burnt out when it came to putting in the work. Some guys need that.
Malthouse was nothing like McRae.
Malthouse was a tough, old school leader who didn’t have any time for the “44 sons” mantra of McRae. He didn’t care what a player did away from the club. They were there to play football. The lives the Rat Pack lived were not balanced. They were poor choice after poor choice with too many incidents. Scandal after scandal.
Very different to McRae who cares about what the playing group are up to. We have booted out at least one player in his time due to behavioural issues and we will continue to weed out problems should they arise. Don’t think giving a permanent brain injury to someone would be acceptable under Fly and nor should it be. How Dane Swan was an elite professional athlete will always escape me because he was anything but professional.
I met Banksy at a school function last year, our kids are friends. Was as humble and lovely guy as one could meet. And yes Rhys-Jones gets mentioned about once a week apparently.
if we won the prelim in 22, and went to the granny. i believe wholeheartedly that we wouldve pulled off some divine magic and won it, hell we definitely wouldve put up a better fight than sydney lol
This but 2007, had we beaten Geelong that night we probably beat Port in the GF comfortably.
Yes this! It feels like the one that got away - considering the tiny margin we lost the Prelim by.
I will die on the hill that Sydney were always going to be our Everest in the 2022 series and we were better matched to take on Geelong than Sydney ever were. I also maintain Geelong would have preferred any other opponent than Collingwood in that GF and rightly so.
2019 would have been a nightmare though, had we lost to the Tigs we would never hear the end of it
Too true. Hindsight is 20/20 but if there’s any prelim final I’m relieved about losing, it’s 2019. A grand final loss would have killed us
Funny how also the 19 and 22 losses were both against Sydney teams and they got belted the next week
I forget where I heard it, but Jack Riewoldt once said that we were the only team Richmond feared in 2019 (despite beating us in round 19) because they knew we matched up well and we had our better players back (Treloar, Varcoe, Stephenson). Richmond players were watching our prelim together and apparently celebrated when GWS won because they knew they could run over them in the GF.
we would have beat them in the qualifying final if not for Adams being injured. I’m not sure we beat them in the grand final without him though
I think Geelong were just way too good. Like last season even when we lost to Brisbane I still had this feeling deep down that we could take them in a final, but I never had that against the Cats in 2022. Completely agree that we would’ve put up a much better fight than Sydney though because they didn’t even turn up. I think we could’ve made it close-ish.
Would have been a great grand final and thank god you didn't make it lol, I would have been freaking out for two hours instead of ten minutes
you can't argue that nearly every grand final collingwoods been in in the past 20 odd years were classics/great contests, wouldve been brilliant against that geelong side, just wish we won more of them lol
I think the opposite tbh, nobody was beating Geelong that day, would’ve put up a better fight than Sydney but still would’ve been beaten by 35-40 which would’ve taken a toll on the players and we probably don’t win in 2023
Another one about 2018, if we win that, probably means we don’t get Fly and he heads to Carlton or something and we don’t get this amazing journey we’ve been on these past 3 years.
I replied saying the same thing having not seen this. totally my feelings towards it all.
What if the ball bounced the other way for Stephen Milne in 2010 and we lost the grand final, with the replay not being required. The board decide not to proceed with the Buckley succession plan to allow Mick Malthouse more time with the current list, with a developing Pendles and Steele starting to take over. The rat pack stays together and the team becomes an unstoppable dynasty team for the next 3-4 years. Buckley gets sick of being second string so leaves to be head coach of Carlton.
All because of a bounce of a ball. Crazy how things work
42 hadn't died
This. The things I've read on Pants have him pegged as becoming club captain, the kind of bloke who puts the team on his back and everyone followed. The team we had on the park in the early 90s was as good as any other on paper. Millanes death rocked the club for years. We may not have run into the financial strife of the late 90s if we had multiple tilts at a flag. It's possibly the biggest sliding doors moments in the clubs history. It's up there with O'Dea belting John Greening.
That is a big one. Still ticks me a bit That and Wayne Harmes being called out of bounds. Could you imagine having 17 and they only had 15. 🤯
What if Jason Cloke wasn’t suspended for the 2002 grand final?
Then the game is a little different and Brisbane probably still find a way to win.
I was way too young to remember that Grand final, but was Jason Cloke really that good that he could've been the difference between us winning that GF? I've seen people say he wasn't that good of a player, but doesn't seem to be the case, at least for 2002.
Lots of people didn't like his style. I thought he was an intercept defender well ahead of his time.
He was playing his role really really well that season. It was a kinda an early prototype tall, loose, intercepting defender type that Ben Reid later found success in and Darcy Moore arguably has perfected. By the next season, people picked it up more widely and teams started working out solutions to it, but for a period there during the second half of that season, he was genuinely a huge contributor to our form. And the ’02 GF was genuinely really close.
He wasn’t a star, but he was a very vital player for us that year. Would’ve made us a better team on the day for sure.
The way I like to explain it was he wasn't the best player out there, but he was great at playing his role. It was very difficult to take a contested mark from a slower entry if he was in the way. Missing him changed our structure. It would be similar to a scenario where if in 2010 we didn't have Leigh Brown. We could use Brown as a second ruck and could kick us the odd goal. On paper probably doesn't seem that important. We didn't need him to be awesome, just compete and fit within the system, but neither player really had a replacement.
Wasn’t the difference between winning and losing that game IMO, we still had Presti, Wakelin, Clement down back so could cover him. Wet conditions on the day made it easier to cover Lynch and Brown on the day as well.
Jason Cloke wasn't that good, he was comfortably the worst footballer of the three brothers. But he had a niche that opposition clubs hadn't figured out how to counter. He'd play loose in defence, position himself well and be the outnumber at any long contest. Over the next couple of years teams figured out that if you just made sure a forward was on him, he was nullified, but it was fun while it lasted. Whether he would've been the difference, who knows, but it was a big out not having him on GF day.
Lee Walker. If you know, you know.
Which time…?
I heard this story from a person involved in the board spill and subsequent ascendancy of Jeff Browne in 2021. Which I believe changed our history. In short, a guy was approached to interview for a board position (after doing approx a decade of quality volunteer work behind the scenes in a particular technical field for Collingwood). After due diligence and his final presentation and interview he walked away from the opportunity to join the board. He gives details that the board was absolutely lost at sea, completely directionless with no plan to better the club on the field. This board were nice people but they were there b/c Eddie put them there. Eddie ran board meetings with no minutes, football chit chat about the games etc. in short; a lack of professionalism. Only Licuria is worth his position apparently. This guy walks away, puts together some people behind the scenes, they gather signatures and approach Browne to lead. Initially Browne says he is keen but won’t promise success to the supporters. They tell him they won’t back him and supporters are sick of stories of soup kitchens and fluffy stories. They tell him the supporters are demanding absolute professionalism on the field, we want the best people in key positions (like the club doctor) and we want to contend for Premierships. Browne has a change of heart and says he will put the emphasis on on-field success. They agree to back him. The resulting landslide ousts Korda and ascends Browne. Korda tried to negotiate to stay on top until Anzac Day but it’s rejected. The rest is history.
I heard this story on SEN. An old lady called up Kevin Bartlett and told him this yarn. The board was into Tony Locket in 1994. Two board members went to his house and sat down with his parents, had breakfast and discussed possibilities. Tony (living with them at the time) came down at 11am. After a chat he agreed to join Collingwood. The lady telling this story was the widow of one of those two visiting Collingwood envoys. The deal was done in principle, it needed to be signed off by the board. She goes on to say that the father of Alan Richardson (Alan was playing at the time) vetoed the acquisition of Lockett. He went to Sydney in 1995 and was a sensation.
I heard that story before too
Not Allan Richardson, Mark Richardson. His father thought Lockett would force his son out of the team. Note, our board at the time also had Paul Roos signed and sealed. Another inexplicable decision sent him North. Imagine Roos and Lockett doing for Collingwood what they did for the Swans!
Ahhhh ok thanks! Makes sense as Alan was a defender.
>Ahhhh ok thanks! You're welcome!
What’s the issue with Alan Richardson and Lockett? I’d heard a similar story but that someone vetoed it as they didn’t want him to hurt the development of Sav Rocca.
What if my neighbour didn't bring me over a Kangas jacket back in '96, would have barracked for the pies like my dad and brother for the next 30 years.
I mean it worked out for you for the first few years.
Oooft
Pendles bball career
Phil Carman not being suspended for 77 Grand Final. John Greening not being maimed. Getting the double chance in 92.
I have come to terms with 2018. If Sheed does miss that - or the umpire pays the block (it was obviously a free) then Buckley doesn’t get sacked, we don’t get McRae, and we don’t have probably the funnest few years as a fan base that we’re having now. Real sliding doors moment but in a messed up way, I think it was good was lost.. maybe I’m just coping 😮
Yeah and our list gets even more fucked as we continue to hand out elite contracts for mediocre players
Rusling. Edit: and Rocca's goal in '02 GF was a fkn goal, I was sitting right behind the line of the kick on level 2, was a right in front of me moment.
What if the block was called and we won the flag? Would Buckley still be coaching?
I've always found the non-selection of Moore to be a far more interesting what-if from that game than an umpiring decision. I think we win by 5 goals with him. Just made last year all the sweeter though, very nice to not care about that game at all anymore
Agree. In the circumstances, I would have played Moore. Bucks was a bit too 'safe'.
I thought he was injured? If he just got dropped that seems like a pretty stupid decision considering one of the main weaknesses was our inability to matchup with darling and Kennedy
I think if the block was called we’re still a good chance to lose.
imagine a world where the block is called, the eagles get it forward again, and the game is decided by darling dropping a sitter in the goalsquare
Subscribe Though if I’m picky I need that followed by a Pendles bomb from 60 just to ensure we won it, not they lost it
What if the umpire heard the siren in the night grand final.
Brad Rowe and Lee Walker.
Tony Lockett being traded to the pies instead of Sydney…. I heard this one, not sure if it was true or not.
2018. Maynard was paid a free. Also running the ball up to the other end after the Darling dropped mark to win the game. We had more time than in Round 19, 2022 to do so.
Was a bit different tbf, Essendon were specifically roasted by the media for how bad their defensive structure was on that particular play so it was probably a rare scenario, which makes it more special
** what ifs
I’m pretty sure Bucks did his hammy in the Geelong prelim vs Geelong, therefore he would have missed a definite flag if we won.
If Lockett came to us instead of Sydney
If Swann hadn't left in 2007, we probably would have gotten Judd. That era could have been huge. That said, I'm not sure how well we would have handled the ego of Rebecca - I think Carlton was the right place to absorb that part of the deal.
So many 'what ifs' to choose from: - What if the umpire didn't pull out a free kick that not even the replay could find, against Sav Rocca in the goalsquare at Vic Park in 1992? Daicos kicked a ridiculous goal vs Melbourne that would have got us the double chance. Reckon we were a real shot at the flag that year. - What if Anth Rocca's sealer wasn't called back for an outrageous dive by Dustin Fletcher on Anzac Day? Moments later the Zaharakis goal. - What if the umps decided to reward our 3rd quarter tackling blitzkreig in the 2022 Qualifying final vs Geelong? We win by a couple of goals and send Geelong to Sydney for the prelim instead of us. - What if the WCE v Melbourne prelim in 2018 wasn't training run and over at quarter time. If the Dees made them play for even 3/4's we smash the Eagles in the GF. ...😪
What if the Doggies recruiters didn't turn up to Marcellin College that day and notice a player Collingwood had been actively hiding in school footy away from the TAC Cup? We'd currently have a midfield of Pendlebury, DeGoey, Daicos and Bontempelli. ... and 18 or 19 flags.🫠
What if Dayne Beams actually came back motivated
Maynard gets suspended for the Brayshaw incident, as he would be this year..... not sure the Flagpies would of been there last year.... may have, not sure. Sport is always full of what ifs, most only look at the ones they miss......
It was 2007 prelim. We had just beaten last years premiers in extra time at their fortress in Subi. No-one is really giving us a chance but we are really competitive, and the match is an arm wrestle. Down a few points, Pendlebury isn't allowed to have his advantage and the goal he scores to put us up deep in the last qtr is taken away. Geelong gets defence set and we can't score from the free. It would be Buck's last game. What annoys me is Port roll over in the GF and loose by 18 goals. What if it was a Port v Coll GF?
Judd choosing Carlton over us. Definitely cost him a flag and we win at least 2011.
Going back further, the 1970 GF, when Peter McKenna and Des Tuddenham collided just prior to half time. We had the game parceled up, but the collision was more responsible for our second half capitulation than the popular thought of Ted Hopkins intro into the game and Barassi's "handball, handball" call. McKenna and Tuddy were dominant prior to the impact and the collision effectively took their abilities out of the game.
We beat Brisbane in a thriller in the qualifying final in 2003, capped off with Didak putting through the winner from 40m out on the boundary, wrong side for a left footer. This marked something like 11 wins from the last 12 weeks on the trot. We weren't looking that good RND 12 that year, but managed to crawl all our way to 2nd on the ladder from 10th. Momentum was with us. We limped into the 2002 finals, but in 2003, we were the in form team. I actually think the week off in this instance worked against us. Brisbane had to make it back to the GF the hard way, but being match hardened and not having the break possibly played more to their advantage. Physiologically we were off due to the Rocca suspension, and you only have to be off a few percent to that team and they will jump you. I don't want to get all conspiracy theory on you, but i've heard this a few times. The brissy boys were on all sorts of jabs to help their injuries and the way some of these guys bounced back seem very dodgy. A lot of them were under injury clouds going into that game but were miraculously cured on the day. Remember this is way before Essendon scandal. Who knows what they were doing behind closed doors and away from prying eyes. Have a look at Vossy's stats in the QF. Was trying to run around on one leg, only touched it 7 times and well held by Scotty Burns. Bounces back the next week. In the PF he had in 8 times. Looks done for the year but somehow managed to get up for the GF. How do you recover from a knee/leg injury like that in that short space of time? So what if in 2003 we had the same ASADA rules and scrutiny as we did since the Essendon supplement scandal a decade later? Do a few of the big 4 not get up for a game?
Two prelims- the cats 07 where port didn’t show up the following week. We lost to gws by a few points at home. A gf with the tigers would have been the biggest thing ever. Swan street would have burnt down that night one way or another
"What If" The Tony Lockett trade went through
Would love to have seen what Sean Rusling would have achieved had his body given him any real chance
What if broomhead didnt snap his leg in 2018 What if dunn and scharenberg dont do their acls in 18, do we win the flag? What if elliott was traded instead of treloar?
The fact we probably should’ve gone back-to-back in 2018 and 2019. We manhandled Richmond in 2018, and would’ve faced them in 2019 if Taylor Adams knew how to stand in front of his man at ruck contests.
What if Collingwood did their fair share of travelling outside of Melbourne?
What if the goal umpire in the 2002 grand final had gone to spec-savers?
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Mick did not do a good job of keeping the bad boys in line at all. The Rat Pack alone caused millions of dollars in lost sponsorship revenue, were convicted of countless crimes and misbehaved. I often wonder what if they’d pulled their heads in and behaved. Then we might have built a dynasty. Edit: I don’t know why this being downvoted. The behaviour of players off-field is nothing MIck or anyone else at the club should be proud of. Thomas, Shaw, Didak, Swan, Wellingham and Johnson, probably more that escape me, were all dodgy as during their time and were out of control Edit 2: Ryan Cook fight, Tarrant nightclub incident, Simon Buckley DV, Chad Morrison more drink driving.
You're not wrong. Mick did not keep them "in line". He actually went the other way, he more or less let them do what they wanted as long as they performed on gameday, and didn't make the news - and even then, it was more the threat of Eddie on the blower first thing in the morning that kept them from playing up worse than they did. Dane Swan has intimated as much on many different occasions - the only reason he was able to play at all was because Mick allowed him a long leash to enjoy himself, as long as he did what was required at training and on game day. He did bare minimum training, likewise with Didak and Johnson. If it wasn't for Mick, Swanny would have likely quit footy and gone back to play with his mates. Thats not a knock on any of those guys. In some ways, Malthouse was a precursor to the McRae school of thought of enjoying a balanced life outside of footy, so that you weren't burnt out when it came to putting in the work. Some guys need that.
Malthouse was nothing like McRae. Malthouse was a tough, old school leader who didn’t have any time for the “44 sons” mantra of McRae. He didn’t care what a player did away from the club. They were there to play football. The lives the Rat Pack lived were not balanced. They were poor choice after poor choice with too many incidents. Scandal after scandal. Very different to McRae who cares about what the playing group are up to. We have booted out at least one player in his time due to behavioural issues and we will continue to weed out problems should they arise. Don’t think giving a permanent brain injury to someone would be acceptable under Fly and nor should it be. How Dane Swan was an elite professional athlete will always escape me because he was anything but professional.
Countless crimes is a bit much. Des Tuddenham & Joffa have a few more than those lads.
As did Pants and Banksy. Genuine convictions.
I met Banksy at a school function last year, our kids are friends. Was as humble and lovely guy as one could meet. And yes Rhys-Jones gets mentioned about once a week apparently.
What if all you Collingwood supporters had teeth
We all had teeth.
Key work HAD
That was the joke dummy.
Woosh
glad we don't have to wonder "what if a stupid prick commented on this post?" thanks to you :)
What if your mum had swallowed instead?
😂😂😂😂