So, you're trying to get a handle on all this footy jargon, especially when talk turns to the games before the real stuff begins? You're not alone. The AFL pre-season competition has a long and winding history, filled with unique formats, curious trophies, and plenty of experimentation. Whether you're a new member of the Magpie Army or just looking to brush up, this glossary will guide you through the key terms and history of the summer competition.
Pre-Season Series
This is the broad, modern term for the organised matches played before the AFL Premiership season begins. Its primary purposes are to give players match fitness, allow coaches to trial tactics and new recruits, and build excitement among supporters. The format and name of this series have changed many times throughout history.
Night Series
A historic pre-season competition that was often played under lights during the 1950s through to the 1980s. It was a standalone knockout tournament that sometimes included teams from other leagues. For Collingwood and other clubs, it provided early silverware opportunities and was a popular mid-week spectacle for fans.
Pre-Season Cup
The official name for the national pre-season competition between 1988 and 2013. It featured a group and knockout stage format, culminating in a final. Collingwood famously won this cup in 2011 under coach Mick Malthouse, a victory that built momentum for their run to the grand final that same year.
NAB Cup
A sponsorship title for the Pre-Season Cup from 2004 to 2013, named after the National Australia Bank. During this era, the competition often experimented with rule changes, like the ‘super goal’ (worth nine points) for kicks from outside 50 metres. The black and white stripes were regular contenders in this tournament.
Community Series
The name adopted for the pre-season matches from 2014 to 2019. This shift in terminology reflected a move away from a formal cup structure towards a more flexible schedule of practice matches, often played in regional areas to connect with supporters outside of major cities.
AAMI Series
The current naming rights sponsor for the AFL pre-season matches, starting in 2020. Under this banner, clubs typically play two official practice matches. The focus is squarely on preparation, with clubs fielding mixed teams of established stars and hopeful youngsters vying for a spot on the list.
Practice Match
The simplest term for any unofficial pre-season game. These are essentially high-intensity training sessions against another club, where the result is secondary to trying player combinations, structures, and giving everyone a run. You'll often see Nick Daicos or Scott Pendlebury play limited minutes in these fixtures.
Lightning Premiership
A fast-paced, shortened format tournament sometimes used in pre-season history. Matches were played over two shortened halves, often on a single day or weekend. It tested player endurance and adaptability, a format where a versatile skipper like Pendles would often thrive.
Super Goal (Nine-Point Goal)
A special scoring rule trialled in pre-season competitions for kicks that went through the big sticks without touching the ground from outside the 50-metre arc. It was designed to reward long-range kicking. A player like Darcy Moore, launching one from defence, could have been a threat.
Regional Game
A pre-season match scheduled outside of the traditional AFL heartlands, such as in country towns or interstate non-AFL venues. These games are a core part of the AFL's community engagement, allowing the Magpie Army from all over to see their team up close.
List Management
The strategic planning of a club's playing roster. Pre-season games are a critical window for list managers and coaches like Craig McRae to assess rookie-listed players, new draftees, and veterans returning from injury before finalising their team for Round 1.
Trial Game
Another common term for a practice match, emphasising its experimental nature. Clubs trial new game plans, player positions, and rule interpretations in these low-stakes environments. It’s a chance to see if a move from the midfield to half-back might work for a young star.
Heat Policy
A set of rules implemented during very hot weather in pre-season matches. These can include extra quarter-time breaks, more interchange rotations, and mandatory drink carriers. Player welfare is paramount, especially during the often-scorching summer schedule.
Intra-Club Match
A practice game where a club splits its own list into two teams to play against each other. It’s the first serious hit-out of the year, usually held at the club's training ground like the Collingwood Football Centre, and is a huge draw for eager supporters.
Selection Watch
The intense media and fan scrutiny on which players perform well in pre-season games to earn a spot in the Round 1 team. A standout performance can turn a fringe player into a season starter, putting them in the frame for honours like the Copeland Trophy later in the year.
Rule Trials
Experimental rules are often tested in the pre-season before being considered for the main AFL Premiership season. Past trials have included starting positions at centre bounces, different interchange caps, and stricter interpretations of holding the ball.
Match Fitness
The specific conditioning required to perform at AFL intensity for a full match. Pre-season games are essential for building this, as training alone cannot replicate the physical demands of a real contest. It’s why even champions need these games to find their rhythm.
Premiership Season
The official home-and-away AFL season, culminating in the grand final. The entire pre-season is designed as a build-up to this. Every drill, every trial, and every practice match is about preparing to win that ultimate flag.
The 'G
The Melbourne Cricket Ground, Collingwood's spiritual home and the venue for many historic pre-season finals, including their 2011 Pre-Season Cup win. A big pre-season crowd at the 'G can generate a fantastic atmosphere, a small taste of the roar on Anzac Day.
VFL Affiliate
Refers to a club's reserves team in the Victorian Football League. Collingwood's VFL side plays a crucial role in pre-season, allowing players not selected for the main AFL practice matches to get vital match conditioning. You can follow their progress in our dedicated VFL reserves team guide.
Black and White Stripes
The iconic Collingwood guernsey. Seeing it on the field in pre-season, even in a modified training jumper sometimes, is a sure sign that footy is back. It carries the weight of history, worn by legends from past Collingwood greats to today's heroes.
Game Plan Implementation
The process of teaching and executing the coach's strategic plan in a match situation. Under Coach McRae, pre-season is where the team's defensive systems, ball movement patterns, and press structures are drilled and tested against real opposition.
Youth Development
A key focus of the pre-season period. It’s a golden opportunity for draftees and young players to impress the coaching panel, learn the club's system, and integrate with senior players, setting the foundation for their careers.
Injury Comeback
A monitored return to play for a footballer recovering from a long-term injury. Pre-season games allow them to regain confidence in their body at competitive intensity without the pressure of premiership points being on the line.
Season Launch
The symbolic beginning of a new campaign. A strong, cohesive pre-season performance, full of run and dare, can officially launch a team's season, building belief within the playing group and the black and white army that something special could be brewing.
While the trophies and formats of the AFL pre-season have changed from the Night Series to the AAMI Series, its core purpose hasn’t: to prepare, to experiment, and to ignite passion. For the Collingwood Football Club, it’s the first chapter of a new story, a chance to build cohesion and test mettle before the real quest for the flag begins. Understanding these terms helps you appreciate the subtle strategies and stories unfolding long before the first bounce on Anzac Day. To dive deeper into the club's structure, explore our hub on understanding Collingwood in the AFL.
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