IT’S 30 years this September that they last met in a final – the VFL Qualifying Final of 1988 - and yet the famous Carlton-Collingwood rivalry endures.
It’s an enmity that’s never warranted the spin afforded the so-called "rivalries" involving the AFL’s fly-by-nighters, for it’s been built over more than 125 years, to 1892, when the Carringbush was admitted into the then VFA through the benevolence of Carlton and its then secretary Jack Melville.
It’s a matter of fact that barely a fortnight before the opening of the ’92 season, it was discovered that Collingwood (or the 'Purloiners' as their opponents like to call them) had been pencilled in for only 17 matches for the year when a minimum of 18 was required, and some clubs were in favour of dismissing the newcomers before Melville emerged with an answer.
Under Melville’s plan, Carlton offered to cancel a scheduled contest with South Ballarat, and instead partake in an extra match with the black and whites. The red-faced gents of the Association endorsed the request, and Jack was loudly applauded by the Collingwood faithful as he walked the boundary prior to that first historic game at Victoria Park – Saturday, May 7, 1892.
Less than a year later, Collingwood caused a stir in somehow cajoling the great Carlton centreman Bill Strickland to cross the divide. At 29, Strickland was at the peak of his powers and in 1896 he captained Collingwood to its only Association Grand Final triumph.
Former Carlton centreman Bill Strickland (right). (Photo: AFL Media)
In 1897, eight of the association’s power clubs, Carlton and Collingwood amongst them, seceded from the Association to participate in the newly-formed VFL.
In the years since, Carlton and Collingwood have met 254 times of which the former has emerged victories 127 times to 123 with four draws. For the record, no Collingwood supporter living has seen his or her team knock Carlton over in a Grand Final, for that happened but once in 1910, and the subsequent Grand Finals between the two have all resulted in Carlton Premierships - 1915, 1938, 1970, 1979 and 1981.
As for the qualifier of 1988 – Carlton also took the chocolates 22.13 (145) to 16.11 (107), having opened with a seven-goal-to-one opening quarter - and thereby becoming the first League team to accumulate 100 wins over the black and whites.
In what was Tom Alvin’s 100th senior match for Carlton, Peter Sartori booted five goals and Wayne Johnston was adjudged best afield, with the late Collingwood wingman Darren Millane reported.
And so in the countdown to Friday night’s match between the old foes at the home of football, it’s pertinent to ponder a team of those to have represented both Carlton and Collingwood, from the pre-VFL days of Strickland to those of the modern era, including Dale Thomas.
Backs: Harold Rumney, Harry Sullivan, James Crowe
Half-backs: Jordan Russell, Trent Hotton, Heath Scotland
Centres: Ray Byrne, Bill Strickland, Tom Clancy
Half-forwards: Jack Lowe, Craig Davis, Norman Le Brun
Forwards: Chris Bryan, Peter McKenna, Barry Mitchell
Followers: Harry Curtis, Mick McGuane, Dale Thomas
Interchange: Cameron Cloke, Jack Lowe, Les Hughson, Les Abbott
Emergencies: Ken Aitken, Ron O’Dwyer, Kevin Bergin, Jeff Brokenshire
Coach: Michael Malthouse
Goalkicking & Ruck Coach: Saverio Rocca
Heath Scotland played 215 games for Carlton after crossing over from Collingwood. (Photo: AFL Media)
