Collingwood blitzed the VFL reserves competition when it was first formed, winning a Premiership in the competition’s inaugural season, 1919, and four in the first seven years. All four of these flags were annexed in the name of Collingwood Districts, the club that acted as Collingwood’s reserves team until 1938.
Success was a little harder to come by in the ensuing years, but further flags followed in 1940 (in a team featuring Lou Richards), 1965 and 1976.
It’s also worth noting that Williamstown won a flag in the VFL in 2003, during the period it was allied with Collingwood’s reserves team.
1919
Grand Final (October 11)
University A 1.2 2.4 3.6 4.8.32
Collingwood 2.3 3.6 4.6 6.11.47
Goals: Dillon 3, Utting 1, Holt 1, H. Chesswas 1
Best: Thomson, Youren, Joseph, H. Chesswas, Webb, Dillon
Premiership team*
Backs: Charlie Mutch (C) Wally Chesswas Arthur Dillon
HB: Sam Mackechnie George Youren Bob Foran
C: Hugh Thomas Vernon Carkeek Leo Wescott
HF: Joe Keary (VC) Les Husband Harry Chesswas
For: Valentine Daicy Ern Utting "Brownie" Holt
Foll: Arthur Joseph Archie Thomson Reynolds Webb
Coach: Charlie Mutch (TBC)
* Please note that we have not been able to find a published final team for this game, so it has been pieced together from different newspaper reports. As such, doubt surrounds a small number of the above-named players and whether they actually played in the game. The Collingwood Districts side that won the first VFL reserves Premiership
1920
Grand Final (September 25)
Collingwood 2.3 3.8 4.10 7.14.56
University 1.1 5.1 7.1 7.2.44
Goals: Harding 2, Dillon 2, Ross 2, Monohan 1
Best: Ross, Wescott, Thomson, Buck, Mutch, T. Chesswas, H. Chesswas. Oram
Premiership team
We so far have been unable to find a full team for this game. Players confirmed to have played include: Bill Buck, Leo Wescott, Hector Ross, Artie Dillon, Les Oram, Charlie Mutch, Jack Monohan Jnr, Tom Chesswas, Harry Chesswas, Archie Thomson & T. Harding. George Tory, Wally Wildsmith, Wally Chesswas, Arthur Joseph & Herbie Taylor are all considered highly likely, having played in the previous final. The final two spots are most likely to have been filled by Joe Keary, George Beasley or Roy Allen.
Backs: Charlie Mutch (C) Joe Harrison Archie Thomson
HB: Roy Allen Charlie Lee Ern Utting
C: A. Smith Max Hardie Fred Mutch
HF: Tom Wraith George Clayden Cliff Monohan
For: Jack Green Herbie Taylor "Brownie" Holt
Foll: Les Oram Jack Monohan Jnr Bert Rudd
Coach: Hugh Thomas The Collingwood Districts 1922 side.
1925
Grand Final (October 10)
Fitzroy 0.1 5.1 7.2 11.4.70
Collingwood 3.6 4.10 10.11 13.16.94
Goals: Beveridge 4, Stevens 3, A. Collier 3, Todd 1, H. Collier 1, Boyle 1
Best: Clayden, Henry, Stevens, Boyle, Todd, Allen, A. Collier, Beveridge
Premiership team
Backs: Mick Laffy Vin Batchelor Charlie Mutch (C)
HB: Roy Allen George Clayden Alf Dunstone
C: Alf Sparks Jack Jobson Norm MacLeod
HF: Jack Monohan Jnr Bill Henry Tommy Bird
For: Jack Beveridge Albert Collier Harry Collier
Foll: Reg Boyle Norm "Peter" Todd Hector Stevens
Coach: Hugh Thomas The 1925 Collingwood Districts team. Albert Collier is second from the right in the second row, Harry Collier is second from right in the front row and George Clayden is fifth from the right in the back row.
1940
Grand Final (September 28)
Collingwood 2.3 2.7 5.12 6.16.52
Carlton 1.1 2.8 3.9 3.12.30
Goals: Mears 2, Hustler 2, Pimm 1, Tyrrell 1
Best: Mears, Hill, Newman, Noonan, Smith, Hustler, Knott
Premiership team
Backs: Ron Smith Norm Crewther Phil Busbridge
HB: Charlie Newman Bill Noonan Bill Johnstone
C: Les A. Hill Kevin Barrett Dan Knott
HF: Clarrie Shields Colin Rose Ron Carruthers Snr
For: Len Hustler Jack Pimm Lou Richards
Foll: John McHale (C) Leo Tyrrell Harry Mears
19th: Edward Horace Hancock
Coach: Horrie Edmonds The 1940 Reserves Premiership-winning squad
Coach: Neil Mann The 1965 Reserves Premiership squad. Back row: S Blanch (bootstudder), J Dicker (Committee), G Carrison (Committee), J Thatcher, B Gray, A Chapman, D Dalton, W Skewes (Committee), T Smith (Door steward), K Tate (trainer). Third row: L Bromley (Committee), K Huppatz, D Wright, L Clark, N Vincent, E Burgess, A Pond (Committee), T Pew (Committee). Second row: R Smith (Trainer), L Lees (Head trainer), J Smith (secretary), M Ballantyne, R Sanders, L Adamson, G Jenkin, L Evans, M Pitt, I Bremner, Fr Bruce (Committee), B Lewis (Trainer), G Hudd (Committee). Front row: R Patterson (Property steward), J Burton, P Wadham, L Thompson, J Smith (Chairman), E Hutchesson (Captain), N Mann (Coach), J Mahon, V Ellis, D Searl, J Morrison (Messenger).
1976
Grand Final (September 25)
Collingwood 6.4 9.11 15.14 23.17.155
North Melbourne 5.3 12.7 17.10 19.15.129
Goals: Williams 6, Kink 4, Gonsalves 4, McCormack 3, Perry 2, Foley 2, Oborne 1, Clifford 1
Best: Kink, Williams, Foley, Dellamarta, Greening, Wise, Bond
The 1976 Reserves Premiership squad (missing premiership players Jimmy Board, Shane Bond, Kerry Foley, Bruce Gonsalves, John Greening, Allan Holmes). Back row: Mick Warren, Peter McCormack, John Dellamarta, Murrie Batt, Stephen Clifford, Rene Kink, Rod Oborne. Third row: Russell Jessop, Ross Johnson, Graeme Moyle, Andrew Ireland, Terry Wight, Lachie McDonald, John King, Chris Perry. 2nd row: John Williams (Capt). Front Row: Lou Dilorio, Guy Pickering, John Wise, Kelvin Shaw.
