Geelong vs Collingwood

Each week Michael Rogers gives us an exclusive look at the stats and facts that matter for the Cats.

Interested in the history of the Greatest Club of All? Head to 'Footy Histories' to purchase amazing books on the 1951/52 and 1963 Geelong Premiership sides.

Interested in the history of the Greatest Club of All? Head to 'Footy Histories' to purchase amazing books on the 1951/52 and 1963 Geelong Premiership sides.



The first time that Geelong and Collingwood's met in round 3 was their first League match against each other was in 1897 - Geelong 5.7-37 vs Collingwood 6.5-41. It was Geelong's third loss in the new competition, but an improved fitness regime saw the 'Pivotonians' win the next 11 matches including the return match in round 10 against Collingwood - 7.10-52 vs 1.4-10.  The 10-point total remains the Magpies' lowest against Geelong and their third lowest overall.

The score factor of 5.2 in the round 10 1897 match is Geelong's greatest vs Collingwood.

Next highest:
3.37 - round 6 1912, Geelong 13.13-91 vs Collingwood 2.15-27
3.05 - round 8 1899, Geelong 9.7-61 vs Collingwood 2.8-20
2.81 - round 23 2011, Geelong 22.17-149 vs Collingwood 8.5-53.
(The round 23 2011 match is the biggest win ever by the 2nd team on the ladder against the team in 1st place.)
Collingwood's highest score factor vs Geelong is 4.87 - round 17 1902, Collingwood 16.16-112 vs Geelong 2.11-23.
Geelong and Collingwood each won 68 and lost 32 of their first 100 matches 1897-1902.  The pairs' match/win% from the last 100 matches is only 2% apart. (See table below..)

Geelong and Collingwood have played 50 matches against each other from round 22 1982 to round 8 2013. Each has won 25 of the matches.  




Geelong have lost their last three matches against Collingwood. The Cats'  record number of matches without losing three in a row to the Magpies is 43 from round 17 1984 to the 2011 Grand Final. The best before that was 22 matches from the 1927 Semi-final to the 1937 Grand Final.

The last time Geelong lost four consecutive matches to Collingwood was 1969-71. (The Magpies' run ended in round 18, 1971 when 11th placed Geelong defeated 2nd placed Collingwood 21.11-137 vs 19.14-128 after scoring 6.3-39 to 1.4-10 in the last quarter.)
Geelong's biggest upset at the hands of Collingwood may be round 11 2005, when 15th placed Collingwood on three wins defeated 2nd placed Geelong by 25 points. (The Magpies only won one more match in the remainder of the season.)




Only Carlton have beaten Collingwood more times after trailing at 3/4 time - 22 times.

No team has won as many matches against Collingwood by less than six points than Geelong. Next most: Sydney/Sth Melbourne 14 wins.
Geelong and Collingwood share with Carlton and Richmond the record for the most finals meetings - 23.

Geelong have won 12 and lost 11 finals vs Collingwood. Collingwood is one of five out of 16 finals opponents that Geelong have won more against then they they lost. (Collingwood have won more finals than they have lost against five of their 15 finals opponents.)

Of teams than have played more than five Grand Finals vs Collingwood, Geelong have the third highest win% - 66.66. (Melbourne 85.7% and Carlton 83.3%.)



Geelong won their first five matches vs Collingwood at Corio Oval but then lost the next seven.

The last 10 matches vs Collingwood  at Corio Oval (1931-40) saw eight wins by Geelong and one draw.

The only draw between the two in round 5, 1934 - Geelong 16.13-109 vs Collingwood 16.13-109 was the League's first draw where both teams scored a century. (One of 27 to now.)

Geelong only won four of their first 16 matches vs Collingwood at Kardinia Park (1941-1962) but won 15 of the last 25 there against the Magpies (1963-1999).

Geelong only won consecutive matches at Collingwood's original home ground at Victoria Park on four occasions: Three consecutive 1924-6 and two consecutive 1953-4, 1961-2, and 1967-8.

From 2000, Geelong have played Collingwood 18 times at the MCG for 10 wins and 8 losses.
Geelong have finished ahead of Collingwood on the final season ladder in 44 of the 114 seasons that they have competed in together.