How to Build a Premiership Culture: A Collingwood-Inspired Guide to Success
So, you want to build something legendary? Something that endures, that creates moments people talk about for generations, and that brings a community together in a sea of black and white? You’re not aiming for a fleeting win; you’re aiming to forge a culture of success.
Inspired by the relentless pursuit of excellence at the Collingwood Football Club, this isn’t just about football. It’s a practical guide on building a winning culture in any team—be it in sport, business, or your local community group. We’ll break down the Collingwood blueprint into actionable steps, using lessons from the club's storied history, the modern-day ethos under Coach McRae, and the passion of the Magpie Army. By the end, you’ll have a clear checklist to instill that same premiership mindset in your own team.
Let's get into it.
What You’ll Need Before You Start
You can’t build a house without tools and materials. Similarly, building a lasting culture requires a few foundational elements. Think of these as your non-negotiables.
A Clear Vision: What does success actually look like for your team? Is it a specific goal, like winning a flag, or is it a style of operation? Collingwood doesn’t just play; they play a certain, identifiable way.
Buy-In from Leadership: This starts at the very top. Whether you’re the leader or you need to get your leaders on board, commitment must be absolute. Look at Darcy Moore and Scott Pendlebury leading from the front.
Willing Participants: You need a core group ready to embrace change, work hard, and hold each other accountable. You need your version of the black and white army within the team itself.
Patience and Resilience: Culture isn’t built in a pre-season. It’s forged over years, through wins, losses, and everything in between. Remember, the path to the 2023 AFL Premiership was a journey.
A Connection to History: Understand where you’ve come from. The triumphs at Victoria Park, the heartbreak, the legacy of icons—this history is a powerful tool. Dive into the club’s rich past in our dedicated section on Collingwood Magpies history.
The Step-by-Step Process to Forge Your Winning Culture
1. Define Your "Collingwood Edge" (Your Unique Identity)
Every great team has a trademark. For the Magpies, it’s been a fierce, never-say-die mentality—a "side-by-side" ethos that turns pressure into a weapon. Your first job is to define what makes your team unique.
Action: Hold a session with your key people. Ask: "When we are at our absolute best, what are we doing? How do we behave? What do others say about us?" Distill this into a simple, powerful phrase or set of values. Is it relentless connection? Is it fearless innovation? Name it.
2. Install Your "Fly’s Philosophy" (Leadership & Communication)
When Craig McRae took over, he didn’t just change game plans; he changed the feeling around the club. His "Fly’s Philosophy" is built on positivity, clarity, and empowerment. Your leadership style sets the entire tone.
Action: Communicate your vision (from Step 1) with infectious enthusiasm. Focus on feedback that builds people up, not breaks them down. Make sure every single person understands their role and how it contributes to the bigger picture, just as every player from Nick Daicos to the newest rookie knows their job.
3. Ritualise Your "Anzac Day Clash" (Create Legacy Moments)
Some events define a club. The Anzac Day clash at the 'G is more than a game; it’s a ritual of respect, pressure, and performance. These set-piece events become cultural cornerstones.
Action: Identify or create the big, recurring challenges for your team. It could be a major quarterly project, an annual community event, or a key rivalry. Pour extra meaning into them. Talk about their history, their importance, and prepare for them with special focus. Make winning these moments a non-negotiable part of your story.
4. Empower Your "Pendles & Daicos" (Develop from Within)
A sustainable culture grows its own talent. Scott Pendlebury’s grace under pressure and Nick Daicos’s innate brilliance are products of a system that identifies, nurtures, and trusts its people.
Action: Who are the emerging leaders in your group? Give them responsibility and mentorship. Pair experienced hands with new talent. Create an environment where taking calculated risks is encouraged, and learning from mistakes is part of the growth process. This builds deep loyalty and a self-sustaining system.
5. Celebrate Your "Copeland Trophy" (Value the Right Things)
What you celebrate, you become. The Copeland Trophy isn’t just for the highest stat-getter; it’s for the best and fairest—the player who embodies the team ethos. Your recognition systems must reward the behaviours that align with your culture.
Action: Review how you give praise and rewards. Are you only celebrating the flashy, end-result wins? Start publicly acknowledging the acts of selflessness, the extra effort, the defensive hustle, the supportive comment. Make it clear that living the team values is the highest achievement.
6. Unite Your "Magpie Army" (Foster Inclusivity & Belonging)
The power of the black and white army is incredible. That sense of belonging—of being part of something bigger than yourself—is a massive motivator. Inside your team, you need to create the same feeling.
Action: Actively work on team cohesion. This isn’t just about social events (though they help). It’s about creating a safe space where everyone has a voice, where differences are respected, and where the only "us vs. them" is your team versus the challenge ahead. Everyone, from the star to the support staff, wears the Magpies jumper with equal pride.
Pro Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid
Tip: Storytelling is Your Superpower. Constantly link current actions to past legends and future dreams. Talk about the heritage of Vic Park, the pain of past grand finals, and the joy of premierships. Stories make values memorable.
Tip: Consistency Over Intensity. A burst of cultural activity is useless if it fades. It’s the daily, consistent reinforcement of your standards—in meetings, in feedback, in decisions—that embeds culture.
Common Mistake: Prioritising Talent Over Character. A brilliant individual who undermines the team ethos can rot your culture from the inside. Skills can be taught; attitude and alignment are often harder to change. Recruit and promote for cultural fit as much as for ability.
Common Mistake: Leadership Saying One Thing, Doing Another. If you preach "side by side" but then foster internal competition and blame, you’ve lost. Your actions as a leader are under a microscope. You must be the living example of your culture, every single day.
Your Premiership Culture Checklist Summary
Ready to build? Here’s your game plan, distilled from the Collingwood playbook:
- Define Your Edge: Hold a session to crystallise your team’s unique, non-negotiable identity.
- Lead the "Fly" Way: Adopt and demonstrate a leadership style of clear, positive, and empowering communication.
- Create Legacy Rituals: Identify and elevate key recurring events that will become your team’s defining tests.
- Grow Your Own Stars: Implement a system to mentor, trust, and develop talent from within your ranks.
- Reward Your "Best & Fairest": Align all recognition and rewards with the core behaviours of your culture, not just outcomes.
- Build Your Army: Foster an inclusive environment of unwavering belonging, where every member feels valued and connected to the mission.
Building a culture like the Collingwood Football Club’s is the ultimate long game. It’s about laying bricks every single day—through your words, your actions, and what you choose to celebrate. It’s hard work, but as any Collingwood supporter will tell you, standing side-by-side with your team when you reach the summit makes every single step worth it. Now, go out and build your legacy.
Want to see how these principles were built over a century of passion and perseverance? Explore the foundation of it all in our deep dive into Collingwood Magpies history*.
Reader Comments (0)