Friday, January 23, 2015
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Canines For Collingwood
 |
| The founder, president, secretary, and life member of Canines for Collingwood, Sir Reginald Hound KBE, pictured on his ninth birthday. |
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Saturday, January 03, 2015
Collingwood 2014 Most Popular Footy Club
THE ROAR
Collingwood is the most popular football club in Australia for 2014 based on data for the calendar year.
The survey of attendances and Fox ratings assesses all the professional Australian football clubs playing in the top tier, across the AFL, NRL, Super Rugby and A-League.
The top-four spots are held by what many consider to be the biggest AFL clubs:
The Brisbane Broncos fly the flag on behalf of the NRL, coming in at fifth, barely two points below Carlton. The Blues’ status has been slipping for a while now, and it would not surprise me to see the Broncos overtake the Blues in the next couple of years.
Another four AFL clubs follow: Adelaide Crows, Geelong, Port Adelaide and Richmond. Port experienced a meteoric rise this year, being the first full season of the revamped Adelaide Oval, averaging attendances of nearly 44,500.
South Sydney brings up the top 10, falling just a whisker short of Richmond. The Rabbitohs had attendances of almost 20,000, and the highest average ratings of any NRL club (its average of 245k was only 2k short of Collingwood’s).
Having consolidated is place, not only in the NRL, but as a premier football club in Australia, one can see Souths’ position only getting stronger.
Outside of the top 10, the Storm’s finish in 12th spot is of interest, below the Swans and above Manly.
All 34 AFL and NRL clubs take up the top 34 positions, with four AFL clubs taking up 31st to 34th: St Kilda, the Suns, the Lions and GWS, all four finishing below the Raiders.
The Suns have managed to finish above the Lions in only their fourth season, with the Lions experiencing the lowest average ratings of any AFL club (even lower than GWS).
Also of interest in the lower reaches of the top 34 is the New Zealand Warriors finishing above the Western Bulldogs, and within striking distance of the Demons, having experienced very healthy ratings of 175k.
After the top 34, there is a bit of a gap to the other clubs, all of them from Super Rugby and the A-League.
Of these, the Reds and Waratahs are the most popular, with the Waratahs having a 10 point gap on the most popular A-League team: Sydney FC (closely followed by the Victory).
Of interest is the very low rating of the Rebels, with Heart/City (treated as the one club for 2014), the Glory, the Jets, the Mariners and the Phoenix bringing up the rear with average ratings of 62k or less (the Rebels managed to reach 70k).
The full list for 2014:
Collingwood is the most popular football club in Australia for 2014 based on data for the calendar year.
The survey of attendances and Fox ratings assesses all the professional Australian football clubs playing in the top tier, across the AFL, NRL, Super Rugby and A-League.
The top-four spots are held by what many consider to be the biggest AFL clubs:
- Collingwood
- Essendon
- Hawthorn
- Carlton
The Brisbane Broncos fly the flag on behalf of the NRL, coming in at fifth, barely two points below Carlton. The Blues’ status has been slipping for a while now, and it would not surprise me to see the Broncos overtake the Blues in the next couple of years.
Another four AFL clubs follow: Adelaide Crows, Geelong, Port Adelaide and Richmond. Port experienced a meteoric rise this year, being the first full season of the revamped Adelaide Oval, averaging attendances of nearly 44,500.
South Sydney brings up the top 10, falling just a whisker short of Richmond. The Rabbitohs had attendances of almost 20,000, and the highest average ratings of any NRL club (its average of 245k was only 2k short of Collingwood’s).
Having consolidated is place, not only in the NRL, but as a premier football club in Australia, one can see Souths’ position only getting stronger.
Outside of the top 10, the Storm’s finish in 12th spot is of interest, below the Swans and above Manly.
All 34 AFL and NRL clubs take up the top 34 positions, with four AFL clubs taking up 31st to 34th: St Kilda, the Suns, the Lions and GWS, all four finishing below the Raiders.
The Suns have managed to finish above the Lions in only their fourth season, with the Lions experiencing the lowest average ratings of any AFL club (even lower than GWS).
Also of interest in the lower reaches of the top 34 is the New Zealand Warriors finishing above the Western Bulldogs, and within striking distance of the Demons, having experienced very healthy ratings of 175k.
After the top 34, there is a bit of a gap to the other clubs, all of them from Super Rugby and the A-League.
Of these, the Reds and Waratahs are the most popular, with the Waratahs having a 10 point gap on the most popular A-League team: Sydney FC (closely followed by the Victory).
Of interest is the very low rating of the Rebels, with Heart/City (treated as the one club for 2014), the Glory, the Jets, the Mariners and the Phoenix bringing up the rear with average ratings of 62k or less (the Rebels managed to reach 70k).
The full list for 2014:
| 1. Collingwood 171.7 2. Essendon 157.6 3. Hawthorn 153.1 4. Carlton 151.3 5. Brisbane Broncos 149.2 6. Adelaide Crows 145.6 7. Geelong 143.9 8. Port Adelaide 143.6 9. Richmond 142.7 10. Souths 142.5 11. Sydney Swans 140.1 12. Melbourne Storm 135.6 13. Manly 131.8 14. Nth Queensland 131.0 15. Wests 129.3 16. Parramatta 127.9 17. Fremantle 127.8 18. Canterbury 127.5 19. St George 126.0 20. West Coast 124.4 21. Sydney Roosters 119.0 22. North Melbourne 116.5 23. Gold Coast Titans 115.2 24. Penrith 115.0 25. Newcastle Knights 113.0 |
26. Cronulla 112.4 27. Melbourne Demons 107.0 28. New Zealand 105.1 29. Western Bulldogs 104.0 30. Canberra Raiders 102.0 31. St Kilda 98.7 32. Gold Coast Suns 98.5 33. Brisbane Lions 96.3 34. GWS Giants 88.9 35. Queensland Reds 71.8 36. NSW Waratahs 70.0 37. Sydney FC 60.3 38. Melbourne Victory 58.6 39. ACT Brumbies 53.5 40. Western Force 49.6 41. West Sydney Wanderers 48.8 42. Adelaide United 47.5 43. Brisbane Roar 47.5 44. Melbourne Rebels 46.4 45. Melbourne Heart/City 41.8 46. Perth Glory 38.1 47. Newcastle Jets 38.1 48. Central Coast Mariners 35.4 49. Wellington Phoenix 31.2 |
Collingwood 1915
Collingwood News
So it’s 2015, and all that matters is the present.
But as we wait for the festive season to pass, collingwoodfc.com.au takes a moment to look back to how the club was placed 100 years ago, back in 1915.
VFL Season 1915
Premiers: Carlton
Runners Up: Collingwood
Champion of the Colony: Dick Lee (Collingwood)
Collingwood coach: Jock McHale
Collingwood captain: Dan Minogue
Leading goal kicker: Dick Lee (66 goals)
The more things change, the more things stay the same.
In 1915, Collingwood played eight games at Victoria Park, three at the MCG and an extra at the Punt Road Oval.
Now, 100 years on, the club will play nine VFL games at Victoria Park, one at Punt Road and potentially a handful at the MCG, should senior curtain raisers become a reality.
Granted it’s the VFL, but it’s interesting to note the similarities between the club’s situation and playing circumstances 100 years apart.
Collingwood was the VFL’s most outstanding team for the majority of the 1915 season, winning 14 of its 16 home and away games to finish atop the ladder on the eve of September.
The Magpies’ biggest win of the season was recorded against St Kilda in round 12, when they belted the hapless Saints by 98 points at Victoria Park.
Dick Lee, who would go on to win the league’s Champion of the Colony award, bagged eight goals while Harry Kerley kicked four.
Unfortunately, the year ended in tears. The Magpies were unable to notch a win when it mattered most, falling to Fitzroy in the Semi-Final and again to Carlton in the Grand Final.
Perhaps Collingwood should have seen it coming – the team’s only two defeats of the home and away season were at the hands of the Navy Blues.
It compares similarly with the Magpies of 2011, who won 22 of a possible 25 games. All three defeats were against Geelong, who, of course, triumphed against the Pies on Grand Final day.
Five Magpies managed to feature in all 18 games in 1915 (George Anderson, Jack Green, Jock McHale, Dan Minogue and Pen Reynolds) while the club used just 25 players across the season.
So it’s 2015, and all that matters is the present.
But as we wait for the festive season to pass, collingwoodfc.com.au takes a moment to look back to how the club was placed 100 years ago, back in 1915.
VFL Season 1915
 |
| Dick Lee, one of Collingwood's champions of the early 1900s, led the club's goal kicking in 1915 with 66 goals. |
Runners Up: Collingwood
Champion of the Colony: Dick Lee (Collingwood)
Collingwood coach: Jock McHale
Collingwood captain: Dan Minogue
Leading goal kicker: Dick Lee (66 goals)
The more things change, the more things stay the same.
In 1915, Collingwood played eight games at Victoria Park, three at the MCG and an extra at the Punt Road Oval.
Now, 100 years on, the club will play nine VFL games at Victoria Park, one at Punt Road and potentially a handful at the MCG, should senior curtain raisers become a reality.
Granted it’s the VFL, but it’s interesting to note the similarities between the club’s situation and playing circumstances 100 years apart.
Collingwood was the VFL’s most outstanding team for the majority of the 1915 season, winning 14 of its 16 home and away games to finish atop the ladder on the eve of September.
The Magpies’ biggest win of the season was recorded against St Kilda in round 12, when they belted the hapless Saints by 98 points at Victoria Park.
Dick Lee, who would go on to win the league’s Champion of the Colony award, bagged eight goals while Harry Kerley kicked four.
Unfortunately, the year ended in tears. The Magpies were unable to notch a win when it mattered most, falling to Fitzroy in the Semi-Final and again to Carlton in the Grand Final.
Perhaps Collingwood should have seen it coming – the team’s only two defeats of the home and away season were at the hands of the Navy Blues.
It compares similarly with the Magpies of 2011, who won 22 of a possible 25 games. All three defeats were against Geelong, who, of course, triumphed against the Pies on Grand Final day.
Five Magpies managed to feature in all 18 games in 1915 (George Anderson, Jack Green, Jock McHale, Dan Minogue and Pen Reynolds) while the club used just 25 players across the season.
Thursday, January 01, 2015
15 Positives in '15
Collingwood News
Are you ready for season 2015? It’s only 93 days away. Collingwoodfc.com.au looks at 15 reasons to get excited about the year to come.
1. An injury free run
Collingwood’s wretched run of injuries in the past three years has been well documented. Be them structural or soft tissue, there aren’t many ailments the Magpies haven’t suffered. Fortunately, just three players (Ben Reid, Brent Macaffer and Matthew Scharenberg) are currently overcoming injury concerns. Let’s hope that the injury updates in 2015 are few and far between.
2. Recruits ready to rumble
Sure, some familiar faces departed at the end of 2014, but in their place come a group of hungry footballers who are ready to add something different to the mix this year. Travis Varcoe regularly caused Collingwood headaches during his time as a Cat, so his leg speed and goal nous will quickly endear him to the Magpie Army. Levi Greenwood’s uncompromising attack on the ball saw him voted North Melbourne’s player of 2014 by the club’s supporters, while Jack Crisp’s long left foot and willingness to break the lines make him an intriguing prospect.
3. Our unwrapped present
Recruiting boss Derek Hine calls top draft picks Matthew Scharenberg and Nathan Freeman “our unwrapped Christmas presents”. Although Scharenberg is still working his way back from a knee reconstruction, Freeman is flying on the training track, to the point where he was giving Steele Sidebottom a run for his money in the two-kilometre time trial. We can’t wait to see the tenth overall selection in the 2013 draft strut his stuff in 2015.
4. Don’t forget the Gabba
The first game of the year always has a fair bit riding on it, but this one will have some extra spice as the Magpies come up against Dayne Beams’ Lions at the Gabba. You won’t want to miss this one!
5. Richmond, we meet again
It’s been a long time since we last played Richmond twice in the one season. You have to go back to 2007 to find the last time the two clubs met in a return bout in the other year. Except some big crowds to pack out the home of football when these teams face off in 2015.
6. The debuts of the draftees
Just one of our four draftees of 2013 played senior football in 2014. This was as much due to injuries as it was to anything else, but what does it mean for our latest crop of draftees in 2015? Can we expect to see any of them play at the elite level this year? All four have already presented a strong case as to why we might see them at some stage. Depending on how Scharenberg’s recovery from knee surgery progresses, we may have the opportunity to witness the debuts of up to four top 10 draft choices (Scharenberg, Freeman, Jordan De Goey and Darcy Moore) in 2015.
7. Return to the SCG
After years of success at the Olympic Stadium, Collingwood will return to the SCG for the first time since 2000 when it meets Sydney in round 20. The newly renovated ground will be humming when Scott Pendlebury leads his teammates down the race. Our record against the Swans has been a strength in recent times. Let’s hope that continues in 2015.
8. Following the knee victims
Two Magpies fell victim to ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments in the space of 24 hours in August 2014. First, Matthew Scharenberg limped from Bendigo’s Queen Elizabeth Oval during the final VFL match of the home and away season. Then, the following evening, Brent Macaffer landed awkwardly in a marking contest against Greater Western Sydney. The end result was that both players required surgery on their knees. Fortunately, the pair has already attack the torturous rehabilitation course with vigour. "Caff set a very audacious goal of returning in round one, and no one’s going to get in his way, so he’s still every chance to hit that target,” Football Operations Manager Marcus Wagner told collingwoodfc.com.au in November. “Matt came back from the off-season in fantastic condition. We couldn’t have expected more from a guy coming into his second year at the club. The way he presented himself was fabulous. We’re not going to rush him." We’re tipping that we’ll hear plenty more about this pair before 2015 is out.
9. Thursday night road trips
Anyone fancy a Thursday night in Perth? Or perhaps a trip to Adelaide a fortnight later? It’s on the cards this winter as we travel to the Adelaide Oval and Patersons Stadium in search of securing the four points against Fremantle and Port Adelaide.
10. The virtual recruit
VFL watchers will have a fair idea of what Patrick Karnezis is capable of, but the wider football community has not heard his name since he last wore a Brisbane jumper in 2013. Karnezis kicked 31 goals in 13 VFL games last year, but was forced to deal with a string of groin and soft tissue injuries. Now back at full fitness, Karnezis’ untapped potential means he may sneak up on a pundits in 2015.
11. A trip to Tasmania
It’s been a long time since a Collingwood team played in Tasmania – 14 years, in fact. Our Tasmanian fans can look forward to watching the Magpies in action when they take on Hawthorn in the NAB Challenge opener at Aurora Stadium on Thursday 26 February.
12. ANZAC Day
25 April 2015 marks the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli. The traditional match between Collingwood and Essendon will be one of five AFL matches to be played on the day.
13. The new Ball
For five years, Luke Ball gave Collingwood an unmatched toughness around the contest. His retirement leaves an opening – who will make Ball’s role his own? Will it be Taylor Adams, now settled and set to establish himself as a regular after twelve months at the club? Can Josh Thomas seize the chance to become a member of our starting four in the centre square? Or could someone such as Jordan De Goey come from nowhere to replace Ball’s hunger for the Sherrin?
14. Here comes Billy
Jamie Elliott’s Mark of the Year attempts have become a weekly feature of watching the Black and White over the past two years. Although he took the league’s Mark of the Year in 2013, you still get the feeling that his best grab is yet to come.
15. Back to his best
Dane Swan ‘only’ averaged 24.94 disposals per game in 2014. It was his lowest return since 2008, when he averaged 24.58 disposals – enough to win him that year’s Copeland Trophy. He recently described his ’14 as ‘putrid’. As a player who has always set himself the highest of standards, you can be sure he’ll bounce back hard in 2015.
Are you ready for season 2015? It’s only 93 days away. Collingwoodfc.com.au looks at 15 reasons to get excited about the year to come.
1. An injury free run
Collingwood’s wretched run of injuries in the past three years has been well documented. Be them structural or soft tissue, there aren’t many ailments the Magpies haven’t suffered. Fortunately, just three players (Ben Reid, Brent Macaffer and Matthew Scharenberg) are currently overcoming injury concerns. Let’s hope that the injury updates in 2015 are few and far between.
2. Recruits ready to rumble
Sure, some familiar faces departed at the end of 2014, but in their place come a group of hungry footballers who are ready to add something different to the mix this year. Travis Varcoe regularly caused Collingwood headaches during his time as a Cat, so his leg speed and goal nous will quickly endear him to the Magpie Army. Levi Greenwood’s uncompromising attack on the ball saw him voted North Melbourne’s player of 2014 by the club’s supporters, while Jack Crisp’s long left foot and willingness to break the lines make him an intriguing prospect.
3. Our unwrapped present
Recruiting boss Derek Hine calls top draft picks Matthew Scharenberg and Nathan Freeman “our unwrapped Christmas presents”. Although Scharenberg is still working his way back from a knee reconstruction, Freeman is flying on the training track, to the point where he was giving Steele Sidebottom a run for his money in the two-kilometre time trial. We can’t wait to see the tenth overall selection in the 2013 draft strut his stuff in 2015.
4. Don’t forget the Gabba
The first game of the year always has a fair bit riding on it, but this one will have some extra spice as the Magpies come up against Dayne Beams’ Lions at the Gabba. You won’t want to miss this one!
5. Richmond, we meet again
It’s been a long time since we last played Richmond twice in the one season. You have to go back to 2007 to find the last time the two clubs met in a return bout in the other year. Except some big crowds to pack out the home of football when these teams face off in 2015.
6. The debuts of the draftees
Just one of our four draftees of 2013 played senior football in 2014. This was as much due to injuries as it was to anything else, but what does it mean for our latest crop of draftees in 2015? Can we expect to see any of them play at the elite level this year? All four have already presented a strong case as to why we might see them at some stage. Depending on how Scharenberg’s recovery from knee surgery progresses, we may have the opportunity to witness the debuts of up to four top 10 draft choices (Scharenberg, Freeman, Jordan De Goey and Darcy Moore) in 2015.
7. Return to the SCG
After years of success at the Olympic Stadium, Collingwood will return to the SCG for the first time since 2000 when it meets Sydney in round 20. The newly renovated ground will be humming when Scott Pendlebury leads his teammates down the race. Our record against the Swans has been a strength in recent times. Let’s hope that continues in 2015.
8. Following the knee victims
Two Magpies fell victim to ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments in the space of 24 hours in August 2014. First, Matthew Scharenberg limped from Bendigo’s Queen Elizabeth Oval during the final VFL match of the home and away season. Then, the following evening, Brent Macaffer landed awkwardly in a marking contest against Greater Western Sydney. The end result was that both players required surgery on their knees. Fortunately, the pair has already attack the torturous rehabilitation course with vigour. "Caff set a very audacious goal of returning in round one, and no one’s going to get in his way, so he’s still every chance to hit that target,” Football Operations Manager Marcus Wagner told collingwoodfc.com.au in November. “Matt came back from the off-season in fantastic condition. We couldn’t have expected more from a guy coming into his second year at the club. The way he presented himself was fabulous. We’re not going to rush him." We’re tipping that we’ll hear plenty more about this pair before 2015 is out.
9. Thursday night road trips
Anyone fancy a Thursday night in Perth? Or perhaps a trip to Adelaide a fortnight later? It’s on the cards this winter as we travel to the Adelaide Oval and Patersons Stadium in search of securing the four points against Fremantle and Port Adelaide.
10. The virtual recruit
VFL watchers will have a fair idea of what Patrick Karnezis is capable of, but the wider football community has not heard his name since he last wore a Brisbane jumper in 2013. Karnezis kicked 31 goals in 13 VFL games last year, but was forced to deal with a string of groin and soft tissue injuries. Now back at full fitness, Karnezis’ untapped potential means he may sneak up on a pundits in 2015.
11. A trip to Tasmania
It’s been a long time since a Collingwood team played in Tasmania – 14 years, in fact. Our Tasmanian fans can look forward to watching the Magpies in action when they take on Hawthorn in the NAB Challenge opener at Aurora Stadium on Thursday 26 February.
12. ANZAC Day
25 April 2015 marks the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli. The traditional match between Collingwood and Essendon will be one of five AFL matches to be played on the day.
13. The new Ball
For five years, Luke Ball gave Collingwood an unmatched toughness around the contest. His retirement leaves an opening – who will make Ball’s role his own? Will it be Taylor Adams, now settled and set to establish himself as a regular after twelve months at the club? Can Josh Thomas seize the chance to become a member of our starting four in the centre square? Or could someone such as Jordan De Goey come from nowhere to replace Ball’s hunger for the Sherrin?
14. Here comes Billy
Jamie Elliott’s Mark of the Year attempts have become a weekly feature of watching the Black and White over the past two years. Although he took the league’s Mark of the Year in 2013, you still get the feeling that his best grab is yet to come.
15. Back to his best
Dane Swan ‘only’ averaged 24.94 disposals per game in 2014. It was his lowest return since 2008, when he averaged 24.58 disposals – enough to win him that year’s Copeland Trophy. He recently described his ’14 as ‘putrid’. As a player who has always set himself the highest of standards, you can be sure he’ll bounce back hard in 2015.
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)