Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Jonathan Horn

Embracing the chaos, Collingwood prove they’re more than black and white contenders

Collingwood’s Darcy Moore acknowledges the fans after the Magpies beat reigning premiers the Melbourne Demons in Rd 21 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Collingwood’s Darcy Moore acknowledges the fans after the Magpies beat reigning premiers the Melbourne Demons in Rd 21 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Photograph: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

This is becoming a joke now. Someone is having a lend. The fix is in, surely. Collingwood wasn’t supposed to be this good. They were supposed to be eating humble pie. They were supposed to be resetting. They started the season as a curiosity. They’re now a legitimate premiership contender. In so many ways, they don’t make sense. Their stats don’t make sense. Their percentage doesn’t make sense. All you can do is suspend your disbelief, and simply enjoy them.

It was all so different last year. At times, watching them play was like undergoing root canal work. Their president of more than two decades finally stepped down. His replacement lasted six months. The coach, a champion of the game, was let go. They’d completely botched the trade period. The head of football, list manager, several assistants, and a number of board members were all gone. Their most important player was arrested in his dressing gown. The club was in disarray, and facing its biggest fear – irrelevance.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.