The Colliwobbles

The Colliwobbles was the name given to a period of embarrassment for Collingwood. Between it's premierships in 1958 and 1990 the Magpies played in nine grand finals, losing eight and playing a draw in one. Of the eight losses, four of them were by less than two goals and three were by less than a goal. Some say it returned in 2018 but this is not the case - at least for now.
==The beginning==
Melbourne weren't happy after the 1958 grand final. Collingwood had defeated them with very tough tactics that even threw off their champion Ron Barassi. 1959 was a poor year for the Magpies, only making the finals by the skin of their teeth. They returned in 1960 during one of the wettest football seasons in history, but Melbourne won the flag in a grand final where Collingwood scored only 2.2 (14), the second lowest score in grand final history. Consequent to that Collingwood didn't make the finals for three years straight.
The rot truly began in 1964. After being thrashed in the second semi final the Magpies bounced back defeating Geelong in the preliminary final. On grand final day they would meet Melbourne again and would trail at three quarter time by 11 points. The fightback in the last quarter was arduous, but when Ray Gabelich kicked a goal after a long multi bounce run to give the Magpies the lead it looked like they had the flag in their keeping. But Melbourne back pocket Neil Crompton kicked a reply that was their first goal for the quarter and his only goal for the season. A four point loss - the first of the three Magpie grand final losses by less than a kick.
1965 would the first year of several during this period where Collingwood failed to win a final. Finishing second, the Magpies lost to both St Kilda and Essendon to go out in straight sets.
Collingwood looked to make up for this in 1966, and won the second semi final over St Kilda. The 1966 grand final was tough and close all day and scores were level until Barry Breen kicked the behind that handed the Magpies their second grand final loss in three years by less than a kick.
In 1967 Collingwood lost the first semi final and in 1968 would not make the finals. The rebound in 1969 was big with the Magpies finishing on top of the ladder. But for the second time (the first in 1965) they went out in straight sets - this time with losses to Carlton and Richmond.
==The naming==
Stinging from the exit in 1969, Collingwood had another strong season in 1970 and again finished on top of the ladder. Another clash with Carlton followed and this time the Magpies won their first final since 1966 with a good win in what is regarded as one of the great finals of the day. Carlton bounced back to challenge them for the flag.
But it was looking like a rout. Collingwood were playing better seemingly fresh from the week off, and could have been even further in front than they were with more behinds than goals. As it was the Magpies led at half time by 44 points, with the only minor concern being the fillip the Blues got from Alex Jesaulenko's towering mark late in the second quarter. But instructions to handball at all costs from Carlton coach Ron Barassi, and sending Teddy Hopkins on to the ground in the place of Bert Thornley, changed the game totally - both on the day and into the future. Collingwood as a result let in eight goals in the third quarter. Three goals of their own allowed them to keep the lead at the last change, but it was only 17 points now. And only one goal in the final term against Carlton's five led to an eleven point loss for the Magpies - their fourth grand final loss since their last premiership and a loss by less than two kicks.
It would be consequent to this game that former Collingwood captain and media personality Lou Richards coined the term "Colliwobbles". It was focused on the grand finals, but one could argue the straight sets exits in 1965 and 1969 had to contribute as well. And it would worsen in the new decade. It was almost as though Lou's infamous Kiss of Death when it came to tipping match results was rubbing off on the Magpies come September.
==The worst period==
In 1971 the Magpies scrambled into the finals by half a game ahead of the Blues. They had lost to Carlton in the last round in what was a nothing game with fourth spot secure, but Richmond handed them another finals loss in the first semi final. Collingwood returned in 1972 and finished third but four games behind the top two. 1972 was the year the VFL introduced the final five - leading to another straight sets exit for the Magpies. Richmond won comfortably in the qualifying final and then St Kilda ended Collingwood's season in the first semi final by 18 points.
It would be 1973 that would prove to be the pinnacle of the Colliwobbles. The Magpies had a wonderful home and away season, only losing three games out of the 22. Their only losses were to Carlton at Princes Park in round 7, North Melbourne in round 16 at VFL Park and a telling loss to Richmond in Round 20 at Victoria Park. Collingwood faced Carlton in the second semi final, feeling good after they had defeated the Blues at Victoria Park in Round 18 to make up for the earlier loss. But at VFL Park - the same venue where North Melbourne had knocked them off - Carlton won by 20 points. And Richmond carried through their confidence after their Victoria Park win to effect another straight sets exit for the Magpies. This would be probably the most embarrassing of the exits.
In 1974 Collingwood again looked to make amends being on top of the ladder for a lot of the season. But the Colliwobbles seemed to hit early, starting with a round 16 loss to Carlton at what was becoming Collingwood's bogey ground - VFL Park. That would lead to a run home of just two wins and four losses, the last three on the trot including another VFL Park loss - to South Melbourne. The previous week at Arden Street, North Melbourne soundly thrashed them and the week before that Richmond repeated the 1973 Victoria Park win. The South loss cost the Magpies the double chance and they had to return to VFL Park to face Footscray in the elimination final. Collingwood were relieved when for the first time since 1970 the Magpies won a final - their very first at VFL Park - and easily as well. But the next week Hawthorn would end their season in resounding fashion.
In 1975 Collingwood struggled somewhat but they still did enough to make the finals. However Richmond added to the mounting list of finals losses with yet another one. And in 1976 Collingwood suffered the ignomy of it's first wooden spoon as internal turmoil wracked the club.
==Restoring finals form==
A determined effort to rebound followed that wake up call, including bringing in a coach from outside the club's past players group for the first time - Tom Hafey. This season had almost all the hallmarks of 1973 with one more loss. South Melbourne defeated the Magpies at Victoria Park as did Hawthorn. Geelong scored an upset at that ground - VFL Park (although Collingwood's conversion on this day was particularly forgettable), while North Melbourne won early in the season at Arden Street. Unlike 1973 though there would be no straight sets exit this time. The Magpies won the second semi final over Hawthorn to get a monkey off their back and the grand final would be against North Melbourne. After a slow start Collingwood would go out to a 27 point lead at three quarter time. North hadn't kicked a goal in the second or third quarter and it looked like the drought would finally end.
But Barassi - now coaching the Kangaroos - ran the switches and North fought back in the final term taking the lead. Collingwood now had failed to kick a goal in the quarter - until Ross Dunne marked and goaled to level the scores. And that would be the way it would stay. It wasn't a loss, but it wasn't a win either. A replay was required and the Magpies could not get the win again. This time however it wasn't close as North were victorious by 27 points - a margin that would ring in the ears of Collingwood.
In 1978 the Magpies finished third and were thrashed in the qualifying final and you could almost hear the whispers of "here we go again!". But unlike previous occasions, Collingwood rebounded and defeated Carlton in the first semi final. North Melbourne were too good in the preliminary final, but it seemed that the finals monkey was gone. The next three years would prove this to be true.
In 1979 Collingwood again finished third and lost the qualifying final, this time to North Melbourne. But like 1978 they rebounded and won the first semi final over Fitzroy. They ran into North Melbourne again in the preliminary final but this time reversed the previous finals result to make the grand final. Carlton got out to a 21 point lead at the last change but the Magpies - who had made something of a habit of this during the home and away season - fought back in the final term. But they ran out of time and suffered the heartbreaking five point loss - the third time Collingwood had lost a grand final by less than a kick. Magpies fans though would blame the boundary umpire for not calling the ball out of bounds when Carlton kept the ball in play to score a goal.
In 1980 the Magpies would exorcise their finals demons once and for all with a terrific finals campaign. They finished fifth and started to cut a swathe through the teams above them. North Melbourne were the first victims in the elimination final, followed by a thumping win over Carlton in the first semi final. Collingwood then met Geelong in the preliminary final. The Cats had finished on top of the ladder. But the Magpies got the narrow win to be the first team to make it to the grand final from the elimination final. However the effort took it's toll and Richmond made hacks of them on grand final day.
In 1981 Collingwood were going well and had top spot going in to round 22 with four losses like 1977 - the losses were to Essendon at VFL Park, Hawthorn also at VFL Park, South Melbourne in Sydney the year before the Swans moved up there permanently and Essendon again the very next week in the first Sunday game at the MCG. The Magpies faced Fitzroy in the last round, but in the wet weather the Lions caused the upset. Carlton defeated Richmond to steal top spot, and once again it was a qualifying final for Collingwood - and consequently another loss this time to Geelong. Luckily for the Magpies Fitzroy put Essendon out, but Collingwood needed a lot of luck and got the one point victory. Like 1979 they took out their qualifying final conquerors in the preliminary final creating another last Saturday in September date with Carlton. But another disaster unfolded. Leading at three quarter time by 9 points, the Magpies failed to goal in the final term and the Blues won by 20 points.
==The recovery years and the end==
A period of general struggle would follow for Collingwood. They would only make the finals between 1982 and 1989 three times and only once between 1982 and 1987. That would be 1984 when the Magpies would defeat Fitzroy and then Carlton before running into a thrashing courtesy of Essendon in the preliminary final.
In 1988 Collingwood seemed to be back finishing second, but the bad old days echoed with their first straight sets exit since 1973, knocked off by Carlton in the qualifying final and then Melbourne in the first semi final. One wondered if the finals yips were back. 1989 seemed to prove the point finishing fifth and being put out again by Melbourne.
But finally in 1990 - it all ended. The Magpies had finished second again and faced off with West Coast in the qualifying final. This game would finish in a draw and a replay was required. This time - for the first time in the club's history - Collingwood would win the qualifying final. They followed up with a resounding ten goal win over Essendon in the second semi final to progress directly to the grand final, taking that path for the first time since 1977. Essendon would bounce back to take on the Magpies in the grand final. After a close first quarter a quarter time fracas fired up Collingwood and they went out to a 34 point lead at half time. And there would be no fade out this time. It was 40 points at the last change and the Bombers were spent. The drought was over.
The next day at Victoria Park, Lou Richards led a ceremony to bury the Colliwobbles.
==Since the exorcism==
After that victory Collingwood wouldn't make another grand final until 2002. They only played in two finals series in the meantime - in 1992 and in 1994. On both occasions they would only play one final in each year and lose both - to St Kilda and West Coast. In 2002 and 2003 the Magpies would lose the grand final to Brisbane both times - the first time by less than two kicks and the second time easily. The next finals appearance would be in 2006 with another single loss to the Western Bulldogs, but this was followed by a string of finals appearances - culminating in the 2010 premiership which like 1977 also required a replay. Collingwood would be the only team in VFL/AFL history to figure in more than one grand final draw.
Collingwood has lost two grand finals since - 2011 and 2018. The 2011 loss to Geelong was comfortable, but the 2018 loss was by less than a kick - bringing out the old stagers calling it a return of the disease. It was even referenced as a "choke" just one week later by visiting WWE wrestler Elias, bringing cheers from everyone in the crowd who wasn't a Collingwood supporter. But this was proven wrong in 2023 when the Magpies won the flag over Brisbane by less than a kick - the first time they had won by such a margin since 1903. This result extinguished the disease once and for all.
==The statistics==
===Grand Finals===
Year	Game 	Opponent 	Result	Record
1960	Grand Final 	Melbourne 	L 	0-1-0
1964	Grand Final 	Melbourne 	L 	0-2-0
1966	Grand Final 	St Kilda 	L 	0-3-0
1970	Grand Final 	Carlton 	L 	0-4-0
1977	Grand Final 	North Melbourne	D 	0-4-1
1977	Grand Final Replay	North Melbourne	L 	0-5-1
1979	Grand Final 	Carlton 	L 	0-6-1
1980	Grand Final 	Richmond 	L 	0-7-1
1981	Grand Final 	Carlton 	L 	0-8-1
===Other Finals===
Year	Game 	Opponent 	Result	Record
1959	First Semi Final 	Essendon 	L 	0-1-0
1960	First Semi Final 	Essendon 	W 	1-1-0
1960	Preliminary Final 	Fitzroy 	W 	2-1-0
1964	Second Semi Final 	Melbourne 	L 	2-2-0
1964	Preliminary Final 	Geelong 	W 	3-2-0
1965	Second Semi Final 	St Kilda 	L 	3-3-0
1965	Preliminary Final 	Essendon 	L 	3-4-0
1966	Second Semi Final 	St Kilda 	W 	4-4-0
1967	First Semi Final 	Geelong 	L 	4-5-0
1969	Second Semi Final 	Carlton 	L 	4-6-0
1969	Preliminary Final 	Richmond 	L 	4-7-0
1970	Second Semi Final 	Carlton 	W 	5-7-0
1971	First Semi Final 	Richmond 	L 	5-8-0
1972	Qualifying Final 	Richmond 	L 	5-9-0
1972	First Semi Final 	St Kilda 	L 	5-10-0
1973	Second Semi Final 	Carlton 	L 	5-11-0
1973	Preliminary Final 	Richmond 	L 	5-12-0
1974	Elimination Final 	Footscray 	W 	6-12-0
1974	First Semi Final 	Hawthorn 	L 	6-13-0
1975	Elimination Final 	Richmond 	L 	6-14-0
1977	Second Semi Final 	Hawthorn 	W 	7-14-0
1978	Qualifying Final 	Hawthorn 	L 	7-15-0
1978	First Semi Final 	Carlton 	W 	8-15-0
1978	Preliminary Final 	North Melbourne	L 	8-16-0
1979	Qualifying Final 	North Melbourne	L 	8-17-0
1979	First Semi Final 	Fitzroy 	W 	9-17-0
1979	Preliminary Final 	North Melbourne	W 	10-17-0
1980	Elimination Final 	North Melbourne	W 	11-17-0
1980	First Semi Final 	Carlton 	W 	12-17-0
1980	Preliminary Final 	Geelong 	W 	13-17-0
1981	Qualifying Final 	Geelong 	L 	13-18-0
1981	First Semi Final 	Fitzroy 	W 	14-18-0
1981	Preliminary Final 	Geelong 	W 	15-18-0
1984	Elimination Final 	Fitzroy 	W 	16-18-0
1984	First Semi Final 	Carlton 	W 	17-18-0
1984	Preliminary Final 	Essendon 	L 	17-19-0
1988	Qualifying Final 	Carlton 	L 	17-20-0
1988	First Semi Final 	Melbourne 	L 	17-21-0
1989	Elimination Final 	Melbourne 	L 	17-22-0
1990	Qualifying Final 	West Coast 	D 	17-22-1
1990	Qualifying Final Replay	West Coast 	W 	18-22-1
1990	Second Semi Final 	Essendon 	W 	19-22-1
Category:Footy History