It’s now more than 100 years since the Collingwood-Richmond rivalry first started. Before both teams return this week, Memories explore how geographical neighbours became sworn enemies - a history littered with bad blood, gangsters and brawls.
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Join MemoriesMemories Team Richmond and Collingwood might be geographical neighbours, but the working-class suburbs have a rivalry that’s anything but peaceful. Ahead of the return of the AFL, Memories explore a century-old warfare littered with bad blood, gangsters and brawls. Contribute to our Memories Timeline or create your own for free: https://www.memories.net/
Memories Team Richmond Football Club formed in 1885, with Collingwood coming in 1892. The VFA clubs first met at the Richmond Cricket Ground the same year, with the Tigers winning the clash. After the Magpies won the the 1896 premiership, they split with seven other VFA clubs to form the VFL. In 1908, Collingwood initiated the motion to allow Richmond to join the VFL.
Memories Team Richmond and Collingwood’s only draw was in round six of the 1917 season at Punt Road Oval.
Memories Team The peaceful relationship between the inner-Melbourne clubs came to an end at the hand of Dan Minogue - a Collingwood legend known for playing the 1911 grand final with a broken collar-bone. Minogue was Collingwood's captain from 1914-1916 before he went to war as a gunner. Collingwood made preparations to honour the club hero with a street parade when he returned, but shock came after he asked to be traded to Richmond. The Magpies cancelled the parade and refused to approve the transfer - he was forced to miss the entire 1919 season. Collingwood is believed to have also turned Minogue's clubhouse portrait inwards to face the wall. Minogue had the last laugh, helping Richmond win the 1920 premiership by beating Collingwood in the grand final.
Memories Team Infamous illegal gambling totes operator John Wren became a benefactor of the Magpies and the club played and lost three grand finals over the next six years. Read more about John Wren: https://bit.ly/2Yjjxjc
Memories Team Collingwood won four consecutive premierships from 1927, with the first three of those seeing the Magpies defeat Richmond. Supporters of both clubs brawled on the streets before the clashes - a tradition for many years to come. The Richmond-Collingwood feud erupted in 1936 when legendary Magpie goal-kicker Gordon Coventry uncharacteristically punched the Tiger's Joe Murdoch. Before the tribunal hearing, underworld figure John Wren unsuccessfully tried to persuade Murdoch not to speak. Coventry refused to tell the tribunal why he lashed out and was suspended for eight matches, missing the Magpies' premiership win. It was later revealed Coventry had erupted after Murdoch started physically targeting boils on his neck.
Memories Team Richmond great Jack "Captain Blood" Dyer said he refused to watch black and white television because it was Collingwood's colours. Dyer was openly hated by the Magpies and their coach Jock McHale, who he never played against. In 1944, McHale's son John - known as Jock jnr - lined up on Dyer, with the Richmond player happy to get a shot at the coach’s bloodline. The two battled it out and were both suspended for four matches. *************************************** Want more sport? Check out our Michael Jordon Memories Timeline: https://bit.ly/3fa5bbH
The feud reached another peak in 1980 when Richmond humiliated Collingwood, beating them in the grand final by a then-record 81 points. A poaching war would follow and push both clubs towards the brink of bankruptcy. Two Tiger premiership stars, Geoff Raines (a triple Jack Dyer Medallist) and David Cloke (1982 Club captain) were enticed to join ...
Memories Team The two teams have met in six grand finals. Richmond won the 1920 and 1980 premierships, while Collingwood won the 1919, 1927, 1928 and 1929 grand final matches between the two clubs.
Memories Team In the lead-up to the 1980 Grand Final against Collingwood, Richmond coach Tony Jewell endured an excruciating and uncertain wait to find out whether he would have defender Greg Strachan and tall forward David Cloke in the team. In one of the best-kept grand final secrets, both players needed painkilling injections for foot injuries before the game and again at half-time. Both played pivotal roles in Richmond's triumph over the Magpies to win the 1980 final.
Memories Team Richmond’s greatest winning margin against Collingwood was 138 points in Round 3, 1942 at Punt Road Oval. Collingwood’s biggest winning margin against Richmond was 101 points in Round 21, 1986 at Victoria Park.
Memories Team Mason Cox dominated Collingwood's 2018 preliminary final win over Richmond. The import had 15 disposals, 11 contested possessions, 11 marks, and almost 90 per cent game time. Eight of those marks were contested - the second most in finals history behind Chad Cornes' 2002 semi-final record. Cox was so damaging for his team Friday night in 2018, he changed perceptions of international converts. By the end of the night, the Magpies knocked off the Tigers for the first time in a final since 1937.
Good Old Collingwood forever, They know how to play the game. Side by side they stick together, To uphold the Magpies name. See, the barrackers are shouting, As all barrackers should. For the Premiership’s a cakewalk For the good old Collingwood.
Oh we're from Tigerland A fighting fury We're from Tigerland In any weather you will see us with a grin Risking head and shin If we're behind then never mind We'll fight and fight and win For we're from Tigerland We never weaken til the final siren's gone Like the Tiger of old We're strong and we're bold For we're from Tiger Yellow and Black We're ...
Memories Team Since 1980, Collingwood have played Richmond 64 times, with the Magpies having three more victories from these matches. Richmond had won three of the last five games.
Memories Team The 2020 AFL season will restart with an "empty MCG" blockbuster between Richmond and Collingwood on June 11. The AFL season was postponed earlier this year - after just one round - due to the coronavirus outbreak. "To say this is the most serious threat to our game in 100 years is an understatement. It is unprecedented in its impact," CEO Gillon McLachlan said. "It is unprecedented in the impact it is having on our game and the wider community, and as a community and as a code, we all need to take the unprecedented and required actions to get through this together." Read the full weekend's match previews here: https://ab.co/30rdwUj