Hall Of Fame

Despite being widely regarded as a quintessential Collingwood product, Neil Mann actually played Thirds football for St Kilda, but later revealed that he had never aNMannColl

had any desire or intention of playing for them at senior level. Thus, when Collingwood expressed an interest, he was delighted, and promptly made the move. In those days, the Thirds competition was not directly affiliated with the VFL, and so the Saints, whilst understandably aggrieved, could do nothing.

Mann commenced his senior VFL career in 1945, and played most of his early football as a key position forward, topping the club's goal kicking list in 1947 with 48 goals. It was after being shifted to centre half back in 1948, however, that he really came into his own. Renowned as having the biggest hands in football he was, not surprisingly, a superb mark, in successive seasons in 1950 and '51 Mann's career received another boost when he stepped into their shoes as though born to them. A Copeland Trophy winner and Brownlow Medal runner-up in 1954 he was a regular VFL representative player during the 1950s, donning the famous navy jumper with a big white V on a total of 10 occasions. When the Magpies beat Geelong in the 1953 grand final, he was close to best afield as the team's first ruckman. When Lou Richards resigned as Magpie captain late in the 1955 season Neil Mann took over. He retained the role in 1956, and when he retired at the end of that season had played a total of 179 VFL games, and kicked 155 goals. He later spent a fourteen season stint as coach of Collingwood's reserves before occupying the senior 'hot seat' between 1972 and 1974 when he oversaw 4th, 3rd and 4th place finishes.

Probably best remembered today as Collingwood's much loved (and much loathed) 'enforcer' of the late 1950s and early 1960s, during the early part of his career Murray Weideman was actually more renowned for his aerial ability. He made his VFL debut in 1953, and was on the bench for that year's grand final, in which the Magpies downed Geelong. Weideman's more brutal side only really emerged later in the 1950s as he filled out physically and began to assume more of an on-field leadership role. When regular Collingwood skipper Frank Tuck was injured and unavailable for the 1958 grand final against Melbourne, Murray Weideman stepped into his shoes and took to the responsibility as though born to it. His deliberate and continuous intimidation of his star Melbourne opponent Ron Barassi was a major factor in the Magpies eking out a shock 3 goal win.

Weidemann was much more than just the footballing equivalent of a hit man, however. He won the Copeland Trophy for Collingwood's best and fairest player in 1957, 1961 and 1962, and was regularly among the Magpies' best players in important games. In 1964, after 180 VFL games and 262 goals, he accepted a job captain-coaching Albury in the Ovens and Murray Football League. After four seasons there, during which he steered his side to the 1966 premiership, he accepted a similar job with West Adelaide, which had been in the doldrums since the early 1960s. Weidemann promptly got the Blood 'n Tars into the finals, but they bowed out at the first hurdle against North Adelaide. They did slightly better in 1969, reaching the preliminary final before losing to Glenelg, but then Weideman opted to retire as a player. Without his inspirational on-field presence, Westies seemed to lose their way, finishing 6th in 1970, and 8th in 1971, after which 'The Weed' packed his bags. He made a brief return to coaching in 1975 with his old club Collingwood, but after a solid debut season which spawned an 11-9 record and 5th place on the ladder, the wheels fell off in spectacular fashion in 1976 as the club plummeted to its first ever wooden spoon.

It is as a player, however, that Murray Weideman will be best remembered, and his selection at centre half forward in Collingwood's official 'Team of the TwentiethCentury' should help ensure that his feats continue to be celebrated for many years to come.

Despite displaying an unfortunate early preference for soccer over football, Peter McKenna ultimately developed into one of the greatest full forwards in the Australian code's history. Indeed, his youthful flirtation with the round ball game may actually have aided him in certain ways; at any rate, given the apparent existence of some kind of link between, on the one hand, a liking for soccer as a youngster, and, on the other, prodigious feats of goal kicking in senior football - champion goalsneaks Ken Farmer, Frank Golding and Tony Modra, for instance, all shared McKenna's early passion - a comparative analysis of the sorts of skills required in the apparently dichotomous two activities might be instructive.

Whatever the underlying reasons or causes, although Peter McKenna was by no means an overnight sensation, he had, by the start of his second season in senior football, begun to capture the imagination of Collingwood fans with the obvious range of his natural football ability. In round 1 1966 he booted 12 goals in a match-winning effort against Hawthorn and by the following year such feats were becoming almost commonplace.

Many full forwards are quick on the lead, but the truly great ones seem to know instinctively how to get the maximum advantage from their leads by timing them to perfection. In this particular skill, Peter McKenna has had few peers, and once he had gained possession of the ball he almost invariably finished things off with consummate precision, typically using a kick on which the jury, at the time, was still out - the drop punt.

McKenna topped the Magpies' goal kicking list for the first of eight consecutive times in 1967, booting 58 goals. Over the ensuing seasons he gradually improved, getting within 2 goals of the elusive 'ton' in 1969, before amassing an incredible tally of 143 the following year. What was even more incredible was that it was not sufficient to top the VFL's goal kicking list; Hawthorn's Peter Hudson, with 3 goals more, did that, as indeed he did in 1971, with a record-equalling 150 goals compared to McKenna's 'modest' tally of 134.

Moderately disappointing though this doubtless was, what was almost certainly of more concern to McKenna was his failure to contribute towards a Collingwood premiership. The Magpies reached the grand final twice during his career, losing to St Kilda by a point in 1966, and then squandering a half time lead of 44 points against Carlton four years later. In the latter game, McKenna's misfortune in sustaining a head injury after accidentally colliding with team mate and captain Des Tuddenham during the second term undoubtedly contributed greatly to Collingwood's second half demise. Nevertheless, he finished the game with 6 goals, more than anybody else on the ground. (A full match report can be viewed here.)

Peter McKenna finally managed to head the VFL's list of goal kicking with 130 goals in 1972, a season which also saw him achieve All Australian selection after booting 19 goals in 3 games at the Perth carnival. The following year McKenna's total of just 86 goals was sufficient for him to claim pole position on the VFL's list for a second time.

In 1975, McKenna's form began to deteriorate, and after being dropped to the reserves he sustained a serious kidney injury that brought his season, and his Collingwood career, to a sad conclusion. The following year saw him lining up with NWFU side Devonport which, like Collingwood, played in black and white, and was known as the Magpies. McKenna enjoyed a solid, confidence-boosting season in Tasmania, booting 79 goals in 17 games, and in 1977 he returned to the mainland for another stab at the 'big time'. Sadly, at least as far as McKenna was concerned, Collingwood was loathe to pay big money for its former star, and with some reluctance he opted to front up with arch-rival Carlton instead. In what was by no means an ignominious comeback, McKenna managed 36 goals in 11 games, but it seemed clear to all parties concerned that he was some way past his best. As a result, he opted to call it a day, at least as far as VFL football was concerned, although he did round off his career by giving good service to VFA clubs Port Melbourne (as playing coach in 1979), Geelong West and Northcote.

At his peak, Peter McKenna could lay claim to being the most popular footballer in the VFL - and, indeed, given the burgeoning impact of the mass media, almost certainly the most popular footballer ever in Australia up to that point. Not only was he a highly successful full forward playing for the nation's most popular sporting club, he possessed a Beatle-esque 'look' which, by the standards of the time, was an adman's dream. He even made a pop record, and appeared regularly on television, but no doubt if you were to ask him today, he would happily agree to trade all such glamour and notoriety in for the quintessential 'Holy Grail' of every footballer - participation in a premiership.

Great though he undoubtedly was, and as much as he accomplished, one sometimes got the impression that Len Thompson could have achieved almost anything he wanted out of the game had his self belief equalled his ability, or had he enjoyed at least his fair share of the rub of the green. Combining physical enormity (200cm, 95.5kg) with tremendous athleticism, Thompson sometimes ruled the ruck contests as though he owned them, whilst simultaneously providing Collingwood with a formidable around the ground presence. The Magpies recruited Thompson from North Reservoir after he had initially been rejected by Essendon, a club which, ironically, would end up struggling in the ruck for much of Thompson's career. Len Thompson played a total of 272 VFL games and booted 217 goals for the 'Woods between 1965 and 1978, winning the club's best and fairest award a record 5 times, as well as securing the 1972 Brownlow Medal. He later played briefly for both South Melbourne (20 games and 39 goals in 1979) and Fitzroy (13 games, 19 goals, 1980), but his name will forever be synonymous with Collingwood. Undoubtedly the biggest disappointment of Len Thompson's auspicious, sixteen season, 305 game VFL career was his failure to play in a single premiership team, despite appearing in four grand finals. He was a regular 'Big V' interstate representative, and achieved All Australian selection after the 1972 Perth carnival.

In 1989, Thompson served as coach of Preston in the VFA, but the side's 9-9 record was not good enough for it to make the finals.

When Collingwood selected its official 'Team of the Twentieth Century' Len Thompson was a 'shoe-in' choice to lead the first ruck.

In September 2007 he sadly passed away, aged sixty, after suffering a heart attack.

Peter Daicos' phenomenal ability to kick goals from seemingly impossible angles or when under the most extreme pressure was arguably unequalled i apeterdaicos

n the history of the game. Certainly this ability became Daicos' trademark, so much so that when players nowadays demonstrate a comparable knack they are almost invariably said to be 'doing a Daicos'.

A highly skilled footballer, Daicos, who was known as 'The Macedonian Marvel' because of his parents' country of birth, was much more than just a goalsneak. He played much of his career on the ball or in the centre where his anticipation, balance and superlative ball handling ability made him a real force. Former Essendon rover John Birt paid Daicos a rare compliment by comparing his ball handling skill to that of Darrel Baldock and Alex Jesaulenko and it is doubtful if the sport has seen more than half a dozen or so comparably skilled individuals in its entire history. Peter Daicos' bracketing with such illustrious names is entirely warranted, however.

Recruited from Preston RSL, Daicos made his VFL debut as a centreman in round 4 1979 against St Kilda, racking up 28 possessions as the Magpies surged to a record 31.21 (207) to 3.11 (29) victory. Thereafter, apart from injury setbacks, which included a full knee reconstruction on one occasion, he never looked back. When he retired in 1993 he had played a total of precisely 250 league games and kicked 549 goals, besides winning Copeland Trophies in 1982 and 1988, and topping his club's goal kicking list on four occasions. He was also a regular Victorian state of origin representative. The highlight of Daicos' career came in 1990 when he was a member of Collingwood's first premiership team for thirty-two years. He was included in a forward pocket in the Magpies' official 'Team of the Twentieth Century'.

Few footballers have exemplified the Collingwood spirit better than Tony Shaw. Despite being far from the most naturally talented or athletic of players he approached the game with such consummate courage, energy and determination that any weaknesses tended to be obscured. Shaw joined the Magpies from Reservoir-Lakeside and made his VFL debut in 1977. His approach to the game made him well-loved by Collingwood fans, and although he struggled for a regular game initially, by the early 1980s he was a fixture in the league side and one of its most effective performers. He won a best and fairest award in 1984, and three years later was appointed club captain, a role he might have been born to occupy. Shaw's finest moment in football came when he led the 'Pies to a grand final trouncing of Essendon in 1990, winning the Norm Smith Medal after a dynamic, gutsy, all action performance that at times verged on the heroic. To cap things off, he won his second Copeland Trophy that same year.

Shaw's performances in later years were undermined to some extent by injury, but his mere presence on the field was often an inspiration to his team mates. He retired in 1994 after a club record 313 V/AFL games and 159 goals. He was later named on the interchange bench in the club's official 'Team of the Century'.

Appointed Collingwood coach in 1996, Shaw endured four fruitless years at the helm before giving way to Mick Malthouse.

Tony Shaw's father Reg Shaw was an accomplished VFA centreman during the 1940s and early 1950s, while brothers Ray and Neville were also useful players

One of Collingwood's favourite sons of recent years, Gavin Brown played 254 V/AFL games and kicked 195 goals for the club from 1987 to 2000. The consummate team player, much of his best work was so surreptitious as to go virtually unnoticed, but it was obvious to those in the know that he was Collingwood through and through. A key member of the Magpies' 1990 premiership side, Brown won three Copeland trophies, made the AFL All Australian team in 1991 and 1994, and was an inspirational captain of the Woods from 1994 to 1998. Tenacious, wholehearted, and ultra-determined, his form could feasibly be viewed as an index to how Collingwood as a team was performing. He was also a distinguished Victorian state of origin representative, most notably when he captained his side to an heroic 8 point win over an extremely highly rated South Australian combination in Adelaide in 1997.

When I think of Nathan Buckley, I see a number of images, which tell different stories about a man driven to reach heights only the rest can barely dare dream of.

I see the look of strength as he leads the boys down the race, the subtle twitch of the nose as his senses prepare for battle on the mighty Melbourne Cricket Ground.

There is the young Buck, floppy blond hair, donning the old fashioned Collingwood strip, his black collar protruding from the jumper, just as it did for the Coventry’s, Collier’s and Rose’s. His jumper neatly tucked in. Flung from one end of the ground to another by coach Tony Shaw, desperately attempting to kick-start a spluttering Black and White engine. In the blink of an eye, he’s spoiling Wayne Carey at centre half back, yet seconds later he’s storming through the centre square, preparing to land a bullet-like drop punt onto the chest of the leading Saverio Rocca. That was Collingwood, growing up in the 1990s.

He was very much a beacon of hope, of a future, of the Promised Land, where dreams are reality and the Magpies kings forever. The enduring image of Buckley leading the team onto the field prior to the 2002 Grand Final against Brisbane adorns my wall. In it, Buckley appears to be leading his charges out from the oblivion that was the late 1990s and into the new era. The moment is captured just as Nathan reaches daylight after walking down the tunnel underneath the old Olympic Stand. It was the moment we had finally arrived.

When the history of the game is written, Nathan Buckley must surely be one of the greatest we’ve seen. Sure, I never saw the likes of Whitten and Mathews at the elite level, and, although Hird, Voss and Carey were sensational, Buckley has that underlying grunt that leaves him a cut above.

Buckley’s football career began up in Darwin, under the tuition of father, Ray, who moved around the country as a football coach. Nathan soon found himself smaller then many of the other players his age, and opted to quit football. He then took up tennis for a few years, something that he became so good at that when he tore his hamstring in a freak accident on a jetty, he feared his career might be over.

He then took up footy again, moving down to the Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL under 19 competition, where he constantly played off the bench, and not getting the game he craved.

Then, in a move which kick started his career, Buckley was promoted off the pine when a star player was injured. Buckley went on to play his best football since he was a junior, and cementing his place in the side for future matches.

The next season, 1992, was the year where Buckley arose as a star in the making.

He won the Margery Medal, as well as playing in the victorious Port Adelaide premiership side against Glenelg, where he was adjudged the Jack Otey Medal, as the best player on the ground on a wet and windy day at Football Park.

Buckley was then sought after by all AFL clubs, with Collingwood, Geelong and North Melbourne leading the chase for his signature.

But Brisbane threw a wildcard into the pack, with an AFL rule stating that the Bears were to have at least 12 Northern Territory born players, and Buckley, having played his early football in the territory, was selected to join the Bears for season 1993.

He exceeded all expectations, in finishing equal fourth in the Brownlow Medal, and winning the inaugural Norwich Rising Star award as the best player less than 21 years of age.

He was again highly sort after by all Victorian clubs, when he signalled his intensions to play football in the games homeland.

Collingwood again made a strong play for his services, and were rewarded when he accepted their offer.

1994, his first year in the Black and White, was an exceptional season for Bucks, who tied for the Copeland Trophy, along with skipper Gavin Brown, as well as piloting his team to victory with a match sealing goal against Geelong in round 22, to sew up a finals spot.

1995 was not Buckley’s best season, although he was still good enough to finish 4th in the Best and Fairest, the constant tagging beginning to take its toll.

Season 1996 saw a return to his best, with Bucks winning his second Best and Fairest, as well as gaining selection in the All-Australian side for the first time, the first of six successive seasons in the team.

In the latter stages of the season, it was revealed that Port Adelaide, the team for which Buckley had played for as a junior, was granted an AFL license for 1997. The new team was keen to acquire star AFL player’s services, with Buckley high on the hit list.

Magpie fans around the nation breathed a collective sigh of relief when the champion opted to resign with the club prior to their round 20 clash with Essendon.

Buckley followed up his good year with another 1997, finishing runner up in the Copeland to skipper Brown, playing his 100th game in the process.

It was a day to remember for Buckley, collecting 43 possessions in a 100 point drubbing of the Dockers at Victoria Park – could life be any better for Magpie fans?

To my mind, 1998 was Buckley’s career best season, despite the fact that his Brownlow Medal was some five years away. It saw Buckley finish second in the Brownlow Medal to Robert Harvey with a prolific 24 votes, a magnificent effort in a side that ran a distant 14th after 22 rounds.

Buckley once again carried Collingwood through the year, fighting on bravely despite the poor form of those around him. He again won his club’s best and fairest, his third since his move to Victoria Park.

Season 1999 was an unsuccessful one for Collingwood (Buckley’s first as captain) when it finished last for only the second time in its illustrious history.

In the round two clash with Carlton, Buckley broke his jaw after an incident with Justin Murphy, which forced him to miss the next 5 weeks. Buckley still recovered to play at his best, despite missing out on the Brownlow, coming home with a rush to end up in 3rd position, alongside Carlton’s Matthew Allan.

A new, positive vibe swept through the club in 2000, with the arrival of new coach Mick Malthouse awakening a sleeping giant.

It was an indifferent season for Buckley, who, along with Collingwood, started off with a bang, as the Pies won their first five games, Buckley figuring in the best players in each one of them.

After the opening onslaught, though, Buckley tapered off, with a nagging knee injury hampering his progress.

Season 2001 was a solid season for both Buckley and Collingwood, who continued his rise as a leader in a team which was beginning its ascent.

In round 2 against Fremantle at Colonial Stadium, Buckley gathered a remarkable 46 possessions and 2 goals, seeing his side to victory. In the dying minutes, it was said that watching Buckley looking for his final four touches required for the magical 50 mark was like watching Steve Waugh trying to scrape out another ton before Glenn McGrath went out at the other end!

The follow year was strange one for Buckley, who was left out of the All-Australian side for the first time since 1996.

He was in the headlines for wiping blood on Geelong tagger Cameron Ling in round 15, with a giant media scrum on hand to witness Buckley plead guilty at the AFL tribunal, receiving a week for his minor brain explosion, the issue opening a can of worms for the league.

One highlight was his 200th appearance, against Carlton at the MCG on a balmy Friday night in August in round 18. Bucks’ three Brownlow votes coupled with Josh Fraser’s five majors piloted the team’s 108 point drubbing of the old enemy, allowing Joffa to give his giant wooden spoon a decent airing in the Cheer Squad.

Bucks struggled with a hamstring injury late in the year, injuring it in the early stages of the side’s round 20 loss to Essendon on a Saturday night at the MCG. Buckley was even forced to miss out on his side’s first final appearance since 1994, when he watched his side knock off the Power in a thriller from the AAMI Stadium stands.

But, like the champion that he is, Bucks still rose to the occasion when it counted – in the 2002 Grand Final, where he won the Norm Smith Medal as best afield on the biggest day of the football year.

Sadly for Buckley, Collingwood went down to Brisbane by only 9 points, in one of the most courageous performances of the recent times.

After coming so close to the Holy Grail in 2002, Buckley was determined to hit back in 2003, uttering the famous words after accepting his Norm Smith Medal after the match:

“Someone sent me a card this morning. It read “the two hardest things in life are getting started and not quitting” – we’ve never quit, and we won’t”.

Buckley tucked his Norm Smith into his sock as he trudged off the dais as a gleeful Michael Voss and Alistair Lynch accepted the premiership cup.

Bucks was, as ever, true to his word, as he played out his best season to date, dominating throughout the whole season.

The skipper was simply superb, best on ground after best on ground, gathering possessions at will and intimidating all opponents while bringing teammates into the game in the process, his 38 touches in the losing Anzac Day battle at the hands of Essendon in round five a legacy of his brilliance, as well as his crunching tackle on Docker tagger Matthew Carr, the thump as the two hit the turf on the Olympic Stand flank shaking the ‘G to its foundations.

On the Monday night prior to the Grand Final, Buckley finally took what was his: a Brownlow Medal.

After many a near miss over the years, Bucks pocketed the coveted award, tying with Crow Mark Ricciuto and Sydney’s Adam Goodes on 22 votes, one vote clear of Hawk Shane Crawford and Eagle runner Ben Cousins.

The stage was set for the champion to receive what he deserves – a flag – but on the final Saturday in September, Buckley and his Magpies lost their way, going down to Brisbane once more by 50 points.

Although Buckley gave his all (what more do we expect?) he could not overcome the pressure of tagger Robert Copeland who successfully dampened Buckley’s influence. The insipid performance for the Magpies triggered media criticism, the Pies down and out after falling at the final hurdle once more. The loss stung at the time, and still pains us all today. But thanks to people such as Buckley, the future was still bright – though dark clouds loomed.

Of course, in recent times, there have been the images of a crippled footballer, his body unable to cooperate with a brain still willing.

The first sign of hamstring trouble arose in round two of 2004, when Buckley was taken from the field late in the last quarter as the Pies overran the Western Bulldogs. A week later, we went down to Brisbane at the Gabba on Easter Thursday. Then trouble struck. It was reported that Bucks had ‘done the hammy’, not for the first time, and nor the last. He sat out the next three weeks, before returning in a must-win game for his bottom of the ladder Pies against Carlton at the MCG.

In the opening term, it was as if nothing had changed, Buckley intercepting a pass and spearing the ball onto the chest of a leading Matthew Lokan. Life was back to normal. But only for a short period of time. In the second term, pugnacious Blues stopper Darren Hulme swung onto his right boot on the half forward flank at the Punt Road end. Buckley, appearing to be caught off-balance by Hulme’s sudden change in direction, skipped, as if receiving an electric shock. He put his arms up to smother the kick, though it might as well have been a call of surrender. It spelt another month on the sidelines, and perhaps the end of Collingwood’s season, going down to Carlton despite leading by as much as four goals early in the last quarter.

Upon return, against Melbourne in round 12, the driving rain appeared to suit the Magpies style of game, Buckley slamming into Demon defender Nathan Brown on the halftime siren, knocking him unconscious, drawing blood. His boisterous teammates headed into the rooms with a comfortable lead, a fourth win in as many weeks likely. Sadly, it wasn’t to be, the Demons running out nine point victors.

Although 2005 was viewed by many as a year in which to relaunch, it proved anything but. Buckley tore his hamstring in an intra-club match at Sydney’s Telstra Stadium in February, following a club community camp. He was ‘right’ for round one, but it was apparent that something was up when the champion Buckley was unable to outrun Bulldog ruckman Luke Darcy in round one. The image of Bucks driving his fist into the turf after the ball had gone out of bounds was a sign of frustration. That damned hamstring was not right, the faint pop a telltale sign.

‘Groundbreaking’ surgery followed, and, sure enough, the redoubtable Buckley led his Magpies out onto Telstra Stadium in round 13 on a Saturday night against eventual premiers Sydney. Typically, Buckley lifted his side from rank cellar-dwellers into a decent combination as soon as he ran onto the turf. An amazing 28-disposal evening sounded a warning to all – Bucks was back – his desperate smother on Swan Ben Mathews another image to last a lifetime. We lost by under a goal, but the return was deemed a success, though the remainder of Buckley’s season was consigned to the forward line. He destroyed first gamer Jay Nash in round 16 with five goals in the disastrous loss to Essendon, and played his 250th match a month later against Fremantle.

For Magpie supporters, it was as if the clock had been rewound back to the late 1990’s, when Buckley would routinely carry his Magpies through each week. This time, however, his injury ravaged side was unable to give a yelp, ending the year in 15th position on the ladder.

Buckley was able to play his 250th match in round 18 against Fremantle at the MCG late in the year, and was impressive on Docker tagger Steven Dodd, his side scrapping but ultimately failing in a close fought contest.

The Pies headed into 2006 with a newfound optimism, with Bucks’ first injury free pre-season in recent memory. His body ready to once again withstand the rigors of AFL football, Buckley began his season in the midfield against Adelaide, and was head and shoulders above the rest of his side. It was as if a video from 1994, 1998 or 2003 was on display instead of a real time match, such was his brilliance.

Although not as quick as he once was, but equipped with a mind more cunning than any other and a step ahead of the rest, Buckley enjoyed a solid ’06 campaign, slamming the door on some underlying demons in booting six majors to haul his men over the line against Brisbane in round 10. And who can forget his stunning hanger on the shoulders of Port’s Troy Chaplin in round 20 against Port Adelaide. With the game, the finals, there to be won, the cream rose to the top, the captain stretching his hamstring to the absolute limit to hang onto a screamer, his goal drawing his side within a kick, before Alan Didak followed it up with the match winner.

Sadly, Nathan’s final season was not an easy one. 2007 was marred by hamstring after hamstring, the conjecture over his playing future never far away. Time and time again, it would appear that Bucks was finally ready to resume his career, before cruel timing and another nicked hammy would put talks of a return on ice.

That long awaited day finally arrived, when Buckley returned to the playing field in the blue and gold of Williamstown against Port Melbourne at TEAC Oval in round 21 of the VFL. With hearts in our mouths, Buckley threw himself, fully length, at Port Melbourne’s opening kick of the match, smothering the ball, seconds later driving the Seagulls deep into attack. With four goals from outside the fifty, yep, Bucks was back!

His return to senior action a week later was a sight to behold, as 60,000 screaming Collingwood fans roared their approval as Nathan broke through the banner for the first time in 12 months.

The next four matches were to be the most dramatic of his career. A loss to Adelaide at the Dome was followed by another win over the Swans in the Elimination Final. Then the fun began. Buckley played a leading role in the side’s first win over the West Coast in Perth since 1992 in extra time, the sight of the number five pumping fists reflecting the joy felt by all.

The final act was played out at the MCG, in front of 98,002 screaming fans against the all conquering Geelong…or so they thought!

Collingwood were superb in applying pressure on Geelong, and when the siren blew to end the match, another 30 seconds might have been all we’d needed. After slugging it out for 14 seasons, with blood, sweat and tears, his career was over. The Magpies went down by five points.

But the players, the club, can hold its head aloft with pride.

Nathan Buckley is a champion footballer, and equally as good a person. He carried this club through many dark days, when much lesser man would have wilted when the heat was applied. Instead, he prospered, and allowed the club to do so.

In many ways, his crowning moment was his brilliance in the 2002 Grand Final against the Lions. Despite the loss, Bucks led his men against all odds, tackling the Lions with ferocity, hurrying the ball into attack at every opportunity. As a supporter, I honestly thought Bucks’ goal from the boundary line in the third term was a signal that we were to become the unlikely premiers. Sadly, it wasn’t to be, the closest Buckley and friends came to achieving the ultimate, a Norm Smith Medal a reward for his efforts, though, as the fashion in which he tucked his medal into his sock when leaving the podium showed, near enough isn’t good enough.

But he has much to be proud of. He has stuck by the club, winning all awards on offer by a premiership medallion. But who’s to say that he won’t receive one as a coach? Only time will tell.

Questions remain: who should don the number five in season 2008? Who will lead the side in his absence? Will the Buckley’s Brigade still be offered as a membership package?

With the retirement of James Clement, and the days of Scott Burns, Shane Wakelin, Anthony Rocca, Paul Licuria and Simon Prestigiacomo limited, we are witnessing the end of an era, and as such, it is vital that the players of tomorrow become the new faces of the club. It is the challenge I issue to the likes of Alan Didak, Heath Shaw, Ben John Anthony, Ryan Lonie, Nick Maxwell, Josh Fraser, Dale Thomas, Dane Swan, Martin Clarke and Scott Pendlebury. The future is now. The aforementioned players, and Buckley, have built a tremendous platform on which the club can launch in the coming decade. Those who remain next year may well taste a flag, though their time is limit. Your time is now. The moment has come for the next generation, and those remaining from the 1999 and 2000 Drafts to take ownership of this club, and drive it the extra step. As Bucks has said previously, opportunities must be taken. We were arguably five points from a premiership this year. In 2008, and beyond, capitalise on the gains made this season, and finish off the mighty work put in by Bucks and his fellow veterans.

Nathan, it has been an absolute privilege and an honour to watch you lead this football club. You have raised the bar to the highest possible level. You have every right to feel immense pride and satisfaction, and may life be kind to you in retirement. Thanks for all the joy, excitement, tears, frustration, laughs and happiness you have delivered between 1994 and 2007 to the Collingwood faithful. My grandfather today tells me of the feats of legends from bygone eras in Des Fothergill and Bob Rose. In 60 years time, I hope to tell my grandchildren what it was like to watch the famous number five. It hurt today to listen to you announce your retirement, a part of my childhood has closed. But as they say, don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened. Thank you for the memories.

Throughout his 252 game VFL career with Collingwood and Essendon, flame-haired Des Tuddenham's name was virtually a synonym for 'desperation and courage'. In essence, 'Tuddy' knew only one way to play the game, and that was with the utmost physicality and determination. Footballers are almost routinely referred to as 'tough', but in Des Tuddenham's case this would be an understatement; on numerous occasions he took to the field carrying injuries which would have seen lesser men spend the day at home in bed, but regardless of physical inconvenience, Tuddenham invariably produced performances that were at least serviceable. More often than not, of course, they were infinitely better than that.

Recruited from Ballarat YCW, Tuddenham made his Collingwood debut in 1962. Used mainly as a half forward flanker, his tear-through style and complete obliviousness to his own personal safety soon attracted rave reviews. His very presence on the field was often an inspiration to his team mates, and in 1966 the club hierarchy ratified this situation by making him team captain.

In 1970, Tuddenham was stood down by Collingwood after a pay dispute, and although he later resumed he was no longer captain. The Magpie hordes adored him anyway - "to many he was the embodiment of what Collingwood players must have been like in the club's greatest days"

Tuddenham crossed to Essendon as captain-coach in 1972 and, although unable to steer the Bombers to a flag, he did at least manage to restore a measure of self-respect to a club that had finished second to last in both 1970 and 1971.

Des Tuddenham's heart was always essentially black and white, however, and in 1976 he hobbled 'home' - hobbled quite literally, having just recovered from a broken leg sustained while playing for Essendon the previous year. He spent the final two seasons of his playing career with the Woods, and in 1978 became non-playing coach of South Melbourne. When the Swans failed to make the finals, however, he was replaced by Ian Stewart. In 1988 he returned to coaching at VFA 2nd division club Werribee when the got his side as far as the preliminary final.

Always a consummate team man - even the pay dispute in 1970 was more about morals than money - the biggest disappointment of Tuddenham's career was that, although he garnered numerous personal accolades and awards, he never got to play in a premiership side. He came agonisingly close - a 4 point loss to Melbourne in 1964, a 1 point defeat by St Kilda two years later, not to mention the unmitigated disaster of 1970 - but a runner-up is still a runner-up no matter what the margin of defeat.

The Collingwood Football Club was home to numerous champions during the 'lost era' of 1959 to 1989, and their failure to enjoy premiership success is highly unfortunate; in the case of Des Tuddenham, however, it is tantamount to injustice.

Emphatically belying the fact that he looked rather more like an underfed schoolboy than a league footballer, Collingwood rover and wingman Thorold Merrett amassed 179 VFL games, 7 interstate appearances for the VFL, and two Copeland Trophies between 1950 and 1960. What the mere statistics do not reveal, however, is the verve, aggression, courage, determination and, above all, consummate skill with which those achievements were laced.

Collingwood snared Wayne Richardson from South Fremantle in 1965 before he had made his senior debut and, not surprisingly, the West Australian side was extremely reluctant to clear him. Richardson was forced to stand out of football for the entire 1965 season before his clearance was ratified, but as far as the Magpies were concerned, the wait was worth it, as he would develop into one of the finest players in the club's history. A tough customer, and extremely skilful, he spent most of his 277 game, 323 goal VFL career between 1966 and 1978 as either a rover or ruck-rover, where his adeptness at reading the play enabled him to pick up countless possessions. A Copeland Trophy winner in 1971 and 1974, Richardson skippered the Magpies from midway through the 1971 season until 1975. He represented the VFL on numerous occasions, and was universally acknowledged as one of the 'greats' of his era, a status emphasised by his inclusion in Collingwood's official 'Team of the Twentieth Century'.

One of the genuinely great figures in Collingwood's illustrious history, Bill Proudfoot played in the club's very first VFA match in May 1892 against Carlton, and remained a key member of the side for fifteen seasons. He had begun his senior career with Britannia, the club from which Collingwood would derive most of its players and officials when it was formed prior to the start of the 1892 football season.

Kevin is the youngest of the Rose brothers and followed in their footsteps, playing for the Collingwood Football Club between 1958 and 1967. He completed a total of 159 games for the Magpies including contributing to their Grand Final win in 1958.