Troubleshooting Collingwood's Premiership Droughts: 1958-1990 & 2010-2023

Alright, Magpie Army, let’s have a yarn. We all know the feeling. That nagging, frustrating sense of ‘what if’ that hangs around after a season ends without the ultimate prize. For a club with a history as rich and demanding as ours, premiership droughts aren’t just statistical footnotes—they’re periods of collective soul-searching. Two particularly long ones stand out: the 32-year grind from 1958 to 1990, and the more recent 13-year stretch from 2010 to 2023.

Think of this as a different kind of match review. We’re not looking at a single game, but at entire eras where the system—the club itself—seemed to be stuck in a cycle of near-misses and heartbreak. So, grab a cuppa, pull up a chair, and let’s run a diagnostic on what went wrong and, crucially, how the problems were finally fixed.

Problem: The "Colliwobbles" – A Chronic Case of Grand Final Stage Fright

Symptoms: Uncharacteristic skill errors in big games, visible tension in players, a pattern of losing grand finals from seemingly winning positions (1970, 1979, 1981, 2002, 2003, 2011, 2018). A growing psychological weight that each new grand final team had to carry, not just for themselves, but for every player and supporter who endured the previous losses.
Causes: The origin is often traced back to the 1960 loss to Melbourne, but it was a self-perpetuating cycle. Media narrative became fan anxiety, which became player pressure. The very expectation of failure in the biggest moment became a tangible opponent. It wasn’t about talent—we had plenty—but about the mental game on that one day in September at the ‘G.
Solution:

1. Acknowledge the Problem: For decades, it was the elephant in the room. The solution began by openly recognising the psychological hurdle, not as a curse, but as a challenge to be met.


2. Rewrite the Narrative with Action: This couldn’t be done with words alone. It required a new generation of leaders and a game style built for pressure. The 1990 team, hardened by finals heartbreak in prior years, famously attacked the game and the occasion with a fierce, physical mindset that left no room for doubt.


3. Secure the Breakthrough: The 1990 flag, won against the odds and ending the 32-year drought, was the ultimate system reboot. It proved it could be done. The 2010 replay win, while ending another drought, oddly reinforced the ‘hard road’ narrative until…


4. Install a New Operating System: Enter Craig McRae and his mantra of “connection” and “enjoying the moment.” ‘Fly’ didn’t fight the past; he made it irrelevant by focusing purely on the present task. The 2023 premiership, won in the most nail-biting fashion possible, was the final, definitive software update that deleted the ‘Colliwobbles’ virus for good.

Problem: Erratic List Management & Talent Retention

Symptoms: Inability to build a sustained, balanced squad. Periods of either hoarding similar types of players or having glaring gaps in the list. Letting future stars slip to other clubs, while holding onto players past their prime due to sentiment. The ‘too old, too slow’ era of the early 2000s was a hangover from this.
Causes: A lack of a coherent, long-term strategic vision. Reactive recruiting based on immediate needs rather than a five-year plan. In the earlier drought, the VFL’s zoning and father-son rules were a challenge, but later, it was about poor judgment in trades and the draft.
Solution:

1. Implement a Clear Philosophy: Modern football requires a blueprint. The club finally committed to one: speed, skill, and two-way running. Every list decision under GM of Football Graham Wright and Coach McRae is filtered through this lens.


2. Value Draft Capital & Development: Instead of chasing quick fixes, invest in the draft. Securing Nick Daicos as a father-son was franchise-altering, but so was the development of players like Isaac Quaynor and Beau McCreery. It’s about nurturing your own.


3. Make Tough, Unsentimental Calls: Moving on favourite sons at the right time (like Adam Treloar, albeit messily) to rebalance the list, and prioritising the re-signing of genuine A-grade cornerstones like Darcy Moore and Nick Daicos.


4. Target Specific Needs: The trade for Bobby Hill wasn’t just about talent; it was about acquiring a specific skill set (elite forward pressure and X-factor) that the system desperately needed. He became a grand final norm smith medallist—that’s troubleshooting 101.

Problem: Inconsistent Game Plan & Coaching Instability

Symptoms: Frequent changes in coaching staff and tactical direction. Players looking confused or hesitant on-field. A game style that would work for patches, then be found out. The period between 2014-2021 saw several philosophical shifts.
Causes: The pressure to end a drought often leads to panic and short-term thinking. When a plan didn’t yield immediate success, the tendency was to scrap it and start again, rather than refine it. This prevented the building of long-term muscle memory in the player group.
Solution:

1. Find the Right Architect: Appoint a coach whose philosophy matches the modern game and the list profile. Craig McRae’s focus on pressure, territory, and team defence was perfectly suited to a mobile, skilled list.


2. Empower the Leaders: The game plan must be owned by the players. Leaders like Scott Pendlebury and Darcy Moore are extensions of the coaching panel on the field, ensuring system compliance even under intense pressure.


3. Simplicity & Belief: ‘Fly’s’ system isn’t overly complicated. It’s based on effort, support, and trust. Players are drilled on their roles until they become instinctual, which holds up in the frantic last minutes of a grand final.


4. Stability Breeds Success: Resisting the urge to tear up the blueprint after a loss. The belief in the system from the president, to the coach, to the last player on the list, is now absolute.

Problem: The Weight of History & External Noise

Symptoms: Players appearing overwhelmed by the club’s stature. Media scrutiny feeling oppressive. The narrative of the drought becoming the dominant story every September, distracting from the football.
Causes: Collingwood isn’t just a football club; it’s an institution. The history, the Magpie Army, the relentless media focus—it’s a double-edged sword. It provides immense strength but can also feel like a heavy Collingwood guernsey to wear in tough times.
Solution:

1. Embrace the Noise, Then Ignore It: Coach McRae’s approach is masterful. He acknowledges the passion of the supporters and the media interest, then instructs his players to build a “wall” against it. Focus on the inner sanctum.


2. Use History as Inspiration, Not Anchor: Instead of being daunted by the legends, today’s players are encouraged to write their own chapter. The legacy of past greats, like the man who still holds the Gordon Coventry goal-kicking record, is a source of pride, not pressure.


3. Create a Positive, Present-Focused Environment: The club’s culture is now built on connection and joy. Training is competitive but fun. The pressure is reframed as a privilege. This was starkly visible in the calmness during the 2023 grand final climax.

Problem: Falling Short in Key Moments & Finals

Symptoms: Losing close finals, especially preliminary finals (2007, 2019, 2022). Inability to score when the game is on the line. Key players being shut down or going missing in big games.
Causes: A combination of the above problems: psychological scars, a game plan that didn’t hold up under extreme pressure, and perhaps a lack of the one or two players who can create something in chaos.
Solution:

1. Drill for Chaos: Training sessions are designed to mimic finals pressure—congested, frantic, with everything on the line. Winning a Copeland Trophy is great, but winning a preliminary final drill is the real prize.


2. Develop Clutch Performers: This is where recruiting and development meet mentality. Nick Daicos was born with it. Bobby Hill was traded for it. Jordan De Goey was nurtured to embrace it. You need players who want the ball when the game is in the balance.


3. Build a System, Not a Reliance: Instead of hoping one star saves the day, build a system where any player can be the hero. In 2023, it was the role players—John Noble’s run, Oleg Markov’s defence—who created the moments for the stars.


4. Win the Big Home-and-Away Games: Building a “finals-ready” mindset means treating games like the Anzac Day clash as finals dress rehearsals. Winning those builds a reservoir of belief for when the real thing arrives.

Prevention Tips for the Future

So, how does the club ensure the next drought isn’t another 13, let alone 32, years?
Never Compromise Culture: The “connection” mantra is the club’s most valuable asset. Protect it at all costs.
Always Renew the List: Stay disciplined with draft picks and be ruthless (but respectful) in list management. Sentiment cannot override strategy.
Empower Football Department: Trust in the people you hire. Give them a clear vision and the time to execute it.
Honour History, Play for the Future: Keep celebrating the legends and the key moments in club history, but always with an eye on creating the next one. The past is a foundation, not a ceiling.

When to Seek Professional Help

The club itself is the professional help. But for us, the supporters, the time to worry is if we see the old symptoms creeping back:
A return to reactive, short-term list decisions.
A loss of identity in our game style.
The players looking like they’re carrying the weight of the black and white stripes instead of being energised by them.
A culture that becomes insular or fractious.

The 2023 flag proved the system is working. The challenge now is maintenance, evolution, and ensuring the Magpie Army has plenty more to sing about. The droughts are in the history books—let’s keep them there. For a deeper dive into the heroes and heartbreaks that shaped these eras, explore our hub on Collingwood key moments and legends.