Since the dawn of time there has been good and evil, love and hate, black and white, and the deep loathing of the Collingwood Football Club.
But if you’ve been living under a rock your entire life, you may be asking yourself “what’s so bad about Collingwood?”
To you, sir/madam, I implore you to crawl right back under that rock. If you’ve been living in 2012, you’ll know all about the hate – and the real truth is that you love it.
But why is it that the Magpies draw the ire of the entire football world?
Is it the coach, who has stepped into shoes the size of Aaron Sandilands – those of a man who left behind a winning culture and an era of success?
No.
Is it the headline-magnet chairman who wears his heart on his sleeve to the point that he cries more during a Pies game then my girlfriend does when she’s watching The Notebook?
Not quite.
Is it the list of idiotic things their players have been caught doing over the past few years – a rap sheet that spans wider than the expanses of Patterson’s Stadium?
This certainly doesn’t help them, but alas this isn’t the reason we all dislike the boys in the black-and-white stripes.
The truth is there is just always one of ‘those teams’; as much as we need a team to barrack for it’s equally important to have a team to despise.
Unfortunately for Collingwood, it’s them.
Even before the days of the Colliwobbles (i.e. choking) we’ve always hated the black and white.
Growing up following the NRL my dad taught me that there are two clubs you support – your team, and whoever’s playing Manly.
Similar to the boys from Bondi, Collingwood are the Silvertails of the AFL and the team people love to hate.
You either love them or would never be seen cheering for them, so long as Dustin Fletcher is alive and kicking (i.e. until the end of time).
In fairness to Pies supporters, and at the risk of committing heresy as a Blues supporter, the honest truth is that Collingwood are a good football side.
Five grand-final appearances and a premiership in the past 10 years is more than a lot of teams can say for themselves.
They play a reasonably exciting brand of football and have a host of superstars in Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan, Dale Thomas and Travis Cloke. That’s not to mention young guns such as Steele Sidebottom and Dayne Beams, who have been shining lights in a side that has won the past two minor premierships.
But despite all of this, in the world of football-fandom, none of it matters.
We still hate Collingwood. And that will never change.
tony jifkins
Guest
Q. what, 4 AFL teams are named after felines. A. Richmond Tigers, Brisbane Lions, Geelong Cats and the Carlton Cheaters.
Jarrod Justins
Guest
Hey guys I am a Collingwood supporter and think the abuse Collingwood supporters like myself recieve is weak. I'ts brilliant we rile other supporters from other clubs up, It makes us magpie folk happy, that you abuse us and despise us. Your attitude towards us is weak though, because at magpie land we are like Bruce Lee and his martial arts- martial arts movies, we fight to the death. The more you abuse us the happier us Collingwood fans are, but for gods sake don't insult us with you waek abuse. Abuse us properly not the pittiful way you have done for the last 200 years really, abuse us and make the devil proud of you . We at colling wood love your abuse bring it on .!!!! As a magpie fan i have no problem with the other clubs except Carlton. We hate Carlton don't know why but we do. I just think maybe clever smart intelligent kind good living decent people hate Carlton. Also alot of Collingwood supporters including myself have a soft spot for the Western Bulldongs-Footscray. There our second club
Dennis M
Guest
I well remember the times in which Carlton was able to pick the best of the other teams to formulate a better side.CARLTON ARE THE SILVERTAILS OF THE AFL. Collingwood have always represented the struggling workforce and been forced to face the hostilities of the other sides in the competition. They are a determined team that abides by the principles of standing together in the face of the opposing forces.
Republican
Guest
Collingwoods history is hardly 'silvertail'. They were very much a working class demographic while one of the reasons they were traditionally hated was due to their Irish Catholic heritage.
stabpass
Guest
If you think that is bad, go to Fitzroy then.
micka
Guest
Not many working class in Collingwood now if you exclude the housing commissions.
Wayno
Guest
Hate! Thats the best thing about being a Pies supporter, we stick together, and enjoy other supporters envy. I've been all over the world and have met Collingwood supporters in every country I've been. They've been in and played more finals than any other team. Yep, the win loss ratio in GF's could be better, but what would you rather, be there and lose, or not be there? I get disappointed when we lose, but its a much more enjoyable GF day when my team is playing in it, win or lose. Plus, they havent cheated to get themselves there, unlike one team in particular who's trophy cabinet has a few Cups they didnt earn legitimately.
Norm
Guest
28,000 at the Gabba tonight - 7,000 more than the Lions' average. Love or hate 'em, Collingwood bring in the crowds.
Thom
Guest
Hatred of collingwood actually started in the 1920s however it wasn't solely because of the success. Collingwood was a poor Catholic slum and all the other clubs supporters (think elitist Protestant Melbourne and neighbouring wealthy Carlton) looked down on them. That's what made the 1920s and 1930s era Pies feared and detested. A successful football team gave all the battlers from the slum something to be proud of and fostered a stronger community. I don't think this article is that well researched. Indeed if Collingwood was just one of those teams wouldn't the lack of success in the second half of the 20th century have changed peoples opinions. The fact is, and it is evidenced quite clearly in a few of the comments on this page, that it is something primal that people can't seem to overcome nor know where it comes from. I guess people need something to bolster their feelings of superiority. As soon as I see or hear someone say that they don't mind the Collingwood team but they just 'hate' the supporters, my opinion of them drops immensely, because what I hear is middle-class contempt for the working class. It's quite sad but I guess it's just fragile human nature on show.
stabpass
Guest
Got to agree, i dont think the author really understands the history.
stabpass
Guest
http://www.kieranbutler.com/Coll%20Ruin.htm Collingwood ruined my life, LOL, i happened to catch the final performance of this show at the Yarra Hotel, which according to to Keiran is a Peter Daicos drop punt from Vic Park, but i reckon a Daicos torpie is more the go, anyways a great show by Keiran, who is also a member of the Knights of Abbotsford, which is not very fond of Eddie, Carlton and their silvertails ways.
Abbotsford boy
Guest
This article was unfortunately completely flawed by the 'Collingwood are the Silvertails of the AFL' line- especially when the author then claims to be a Blues supporter! Sorry McRath but given this was your ultimate conclusion for not liking Collingwood, that showed an extreme lack of knowledge of both clubs; even worse than your Manly/Bondi mix-up.
Richard
Roar Guru
I used to hate North, but then Wayne Carey left. Suddenly I found that I quite like North. Can't explain it.
Richard
Roar Guru
I know what you mean. I was passing Lulie Street Abbotsford a couple of weeks ago and my car suddenly turned of it's own accord and made for Vic Park. I got out and walked into the ground, and then I walked around the oval. I swear I could hear the echo of the crowd roaring from all those years ago; it was Ronnie Wearmouth racing the ball down the wing and into the hands of a flying Peter McKenna. Goal! Got all choked up.
Richard
Roar Guru
Bless you too.
Richard
Roar Guru
The title of this article is a nonsense. I don't hate Collingwood for one. I hate Carlton though. In fact, university tests have proven that hatred of Carlton is in the human DNA. (What does that say about Carlton supporters you may well ask). Collingwood on the other hand is the most supported sporting club in Australia, with an estimated 1.5 million supporters, and almost 70,000 members already signed for this year, none of whom hate Collingwood. Those of us who don't hate Collingwood actually love them. Now there's something that'd be hard to say about Carlton. And for the record, contrary to folklore, we 'Pies fans don't hate Essendon either. We respect them a lot, even fear them a little. But that's a completely different feeling to the one we have for Carlton.
Richard
Roar Guru
Bless you.
The Bush
Roar Guru
I always assumed Collingwood was hated for the same reason most popular teams around the world are hated - they're already the most popular (and usually successful) individual team and therefore everyone else just decides that they are the enemy (think Yankees, Man U and the Bulldogs).
hawker
Guest
yes axis of evil - carlton , collingwood and essendon
Redb
Roar Guru
I don't hate Collingwood. I disrespect Carlton though, not worthy of hate. Daylight second.