The competition ended in 1971, but returned in 1977 as a midweek knock-out series played under lights at VFL Park during the pre-season and the home and away season. Further differentiating it from the VFL premiership season, the night series included all SANFL and WAFL teams as well as sides from NSW, ACT, Queensland and Tasmania.
In 1988, the night series evolved into the pre-season competition. The complexion of the tournament has changed over time - for example, the 2000-2003 competitions were conducted via a round-robin format of four teams in each pool. The concept was short lived, although it was partially revived in 2011 when pools of three teams played two 20-minute halves against each other on the one day.
Collingwood’s record in the competition is not overly successful. It won its first night series flag in 1979 against Hawthorn at VFL Park, the club’s first senior silverware since the 1958 premiership.
It featured in three Grand Final losses in the ensuing 30 years. The most controversial was undoubtedly the ‘loss’ to North Melbourne in 1980. The VFL Park siren sounded with Collingwood ahead, only for the field umpire not to recognise it. Play went on and North’s Kerry Good marked within goal kicking range. The umpire then acknowledged the siren a second time, and with fans streaming onto the ground, Good kicked truly to hand the Kangaroos the night premiership with a three point win.
Click here to watch Kerry Good's goal long after the siren at VFL Park on YouTube.
The Pies reached the 2003 decider after thumping Carlton, Hawthorn and Geelong, but were no match for Adelaide who coasted to a 31-point victory.
Six years later the Magpies again played off for the pre-season flag but were belted by eventual day premier Geelong (76-points).
In the past decade, Collingwood have been a part of several nail biting pre-season contests.
The Magpies prevailed in the first week of the 2005 Wizard Cup when they overcame Richmond by seven points, courtesy of a last-minute nine-point goal from Andrew Williams, deep on the half forward flank.
Twelve months later, the Pies were again involved in a controversial finish. They defeated St Kilda in extra time in round one at Docklands. Both sides were locked on 66 points apiece - 2.7.6 (66) to 1.8.9 (66) - at full time. Two five-minute halves were played to determine the winner. Collingwood was victorious by one point, winning 2.8.8 (74) to 1.9.10 (73).
Click here to watch the final four minutes of the last quarter on YouTube.
In 2010, they played an unusually highly charged first round match against St Kilda. The added intensity was born from St Kilda hero Luke Ball’s controversial crossing to Collingwood only months earlier. Ball managed a goal and was named in the side’s best, but a late goal to an unmarked Adam Schneider gifted the Saints a one-point win.
Collingwood in the Night Series/Pre-Season competition
Pre-season/night series record (1956-1971; 1977-2011)
Premierships: 1979, 2011.
Runners Up: 1980, 2003, 2009.
Played: 78
Won: 36
Lost: 42
Drawn: 0
Past 10 years (2001-2011)
Played: 23
Won: 12
Lost: 11
Drawn: 0
The jumper
Collingwood has worn several different designs during the night series and pre-season competitions.
In 1982, the club wore white jumpers with a black yoke (not pictured) and hooped socks against Swan Districts, who also wear black and white stripes. It is the only occasion a Collingwood jumper has not included black and white stripes. Swan Districts defeated Collingwood by 10 points at VFL Park.
In 1996 and 1997, the Magpies wore what looked more like a barcode than a Collingwood jumper. It included the black and white stripes and a cartoon Magpie on the front, as well as the outline of a Magpie’s wing on the side panel.
The Ansett Cups of 1999 and 2000 saw Collingwood adopt its 1998-2000 away guernsey as their pre-season strip, as modeled by Shane O'Bree and Simon Prestigiacomo.
In the Ansett and Wizard Cups of 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, the Magpies wore their clash guernsey of the era as their pre-season top. Check out Rhyce Shaw's hair, circa 2002!
Most Pre-Season games (players listed between 2000-2012)
24 - Nathan Buckley
23 - Ben Johnson
22 - Simon Prestigiacomo
21 - Tarkyn Lockyer
20 - Shane O'Bree
19 - Alan Didak
18 - Scott Burns, Anthony Rocca
17 - Gavin Crosisca
16 - Josh Fraser, Mark Richardson, Chris Tarrant
14 - Gavin Brown, Shane Wakelin
13 - Ryan Lonie, Dane Swan, Dale Thomas
12 - Heath Shaw, Shane Watson
12 - James Clement, Paul Licuria, Shane Watson
10 - Rupert Betheras, Jason Cloke, Brodie Holland
Most Pre-Season goals (players listed between 2000-2012)
26 - Chris Tarrant
21 - Nathan Buckley
17 - Alan Didak
15 - Travis Cloke, Tarkyn Lockyer, Saverio Rocca
13 - Anthony Rocca
12 - Gavin Brown
10 - Dane Swan
9 - Chris Dawes, Josh Fraser
8 - Dale Thomas
Most Pre-Season games (current players)
23 - Ben Johnson
19 - Alan Didak, Chris Tarrant (Coll; Frem)
15 - Luke Ball, (StK; Coll) Andrew Krakouer (Rich; Coll)
13 - Dane Swan, Dale Thomas
12 - Darren Jolly (Melb; Syd; Coll), Heath Shaw
Most Pre-Season goals (current players)
26 - Chris Tarrant (Coll; Frem)
17 - Alan Didak
15 - Travis Cloke, Andrew Krakouer (Rich; Coll)
10 - Dane Swan
9 - Chris Dawes
8 - Dale Thomas
*The record for the most goals kicked by a Collingwood player in a pre-season/night series competition is held by Peter McKenna (10 goals v Fitzroy in round 1, 1968).
Most Nine-Point Super Goals (current players)
3 - Alan Didak
2 - Dayne Beams, Simon Buckley
1 - Luke Ball, Marty Clarke, Travis Cloke, Darren Jolly, Sharrod Wellingham
*The record for the most nine-point super goals kicked by a Collingwood player is held by Ryan Lonie (5).
Collingwood Pre-Season/Night Series Premierships
1979 Escort Cup Premiership
Collingwood 12.8 (80)
Hawthorn 7.10 (52)
At VFL Park.
Captain: Ray Shaw
Coach: Tom Hafey
Click here to watch full back Peter McCormack discuss Collingwood's 1979 Escort Cup premiership on CTV.
2011 NAB Cup Pre-Season Premiership
Collingwood 1.15.9 (108)
Essendon 0.13.8 (86)
At Etihad Stadium.
Nine-point goals - Buckley.
Goals - Krakouer 3, Dawes 3, Cloke 2, Swan, Ball, Pendlebury, D.Thomas, McCarthy, Wellingham, Beams.
Best - Shaw, Krakouer, Davis, Buckley, Pendlebury, D.Thomas.
2011 NAB Cup Premiership Team
B: Harry O'Brien, Chris Tarrant, Alan Toovey
HB: Brent Macaffer, Ben Reid, Heath Shaw
C: John McCarthy, Dane Swan, Sharrod Wellingham
HF: Andrew Krakouer, Chris Dawes, Luke Ball
F: Alan Didak, Travis Cloke, Leigh Brown
FOLL: Darren Jolly, Scott Pendlebury, Dale Thomas
I/C: Leon Davis, Lachlan Keeffe, Cameron Wood, Jarryd Blair, Simon Buckley, Steele Sidebottom, Dayne Beams, Ben Johnson
Em: Ben Sinclair, Tyson Goldsack, Tom Young
Captain: Scott Pendlebury
Coach: Mick Malthouse
Michael Tuck Medal (Best on Ground): Heath Shaw
Luke Ball - the pre-season champion
The midfield workhorse has a superb record in the pre-season competition. He has played in three pre-season premierships in 10 seasons, with two at St Kilda (2004, 2008) and one at Collingwood (2011). Having crossed from the Saints at the end of 2009, he has played in five of the last six Grand Finals (including both the pre-season and premiership season).
Nathan Buckley in the pre-season competition
New coach Nathan Buckley played in 17 pre-season matches, kicking five goals and one nine-point super goal. He captained the side to the 2003 pre-season Grand Final against Adelaide. Buckley played his first official match for Collingwood in the 1994 Fosters Cup in the one-point win over North Melbourne at Waverley Park. Buckley kicked one goal and was named in the side’s best. Buckley already has a clean coaching record in the NAB Cup having led the Pies to wins over Richmond and Carlton in round one last season.
Assistant coaches bring the Midas touch
The Magpies have added a wealth of former pre-season champions to its coaching panel for 2012. John Barnes (played: 1990, 2000), Rodney Eade (played: 1977, 1985, 1986, 1988; coached: 2010), Mitch Hahn (played: 2010), Ben Hart (played: 2003), Robert Harvey (played: 1996, 2004, 2008) were all victorious in several pre-season premiership campaigns as a player or coach.
Did you know?
Geelong star James Podsiadly played three matches for Collingwood in the 2002 Wizard Cup. Added to the club's rookie list, Podsiadly wore the No. 39 against Sydney, Hawthorn and the Kangaroos.
Collingwood's 2000 Ansett Cup campaign was spread over two years. They faced Carlton on New Years Eve 1999 at the MCG in what was dubbed the 'Millennium Match'. The Blues thrashed the Pies by 88 points in Mick Malthouse's first game as coach of Collingwood. Shane O'Bree made his debut for the Magpies, as did Rhyce Shaw. Collingwood's next two Ansett Cup matches came against Port Adelaide and Fremantle early in the new millennium.
The Magpies said farewell to Waverley Park in February 2000 on a Saturday night against Fremantle. They restricted the Dockers (a team that included James Clement and Brodie Holland) to only three goals. Collingwood blooded Josh Fraser for the first time, while Brent Tuckey (six goals) and Gavin Brown (two) led the way for the black and white.
Competition Sponsors
Golden Fleece (1965-1969), Radiant (1970), Heinz (1971), Amco/Herald (1977-1978), Escort (1979-1982), Sterling (1983-1984), CUB (1985-1986), National Panasonic (1987-1989), Foster’s (1990-1994), Ansett Australia (1995-2001), Wizard Home Loans (2002-2005), NAB (2006-2012).
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Jon Hassall wears the 1996-1997 Ansett Cup 'barcode' jumper against Carlton at Waverley Park in 1996.
