Collingwood Forever

Although he was the lowest profile of several recruits of the time, he proved to be the best acquisition.

Morwood’s tremendous natural skills were complemented by an easy, smooth approach to football.

His running style out of the back line enabled him to launch countless attacks for the Magpies, and under Leigh Matthews’ coaching he developed a tougher edge to his game and became one of the best defenders in the League.

He played 16 or more games in eight seasons, collecting 12 Brownlow votes in 1986 when he averaged 20.25 disposals at half back, and another 13 in 1988.

In 1987, Morwood injured the posterior cruciate ligament in his knee on the Tuesday night before the start of the season during a training session at Waverley Park.

It meant he didn’t start playing until round 14, returning on the same day as Peter Daicos who was also recovering from a knee ailment.

“We had a lot of young kids come through at that time and we had a lot of injuries to pretty good senior players which made it pretty hard,” Morwood told collingwoodfc.com.au in 2011.

“We finished down near the bottom, but in 1988 we obviously had a full squad, a few new recruits, and the rest is history I suppose.”

Morwood was a prolific ball winner during the 1990 finals series, averaging 18.0 disposals across the four games including 16 in the decider against Essendon.

“It doesn’t matter who you’re speaking to, whether it’s work or social related, they always say ‘You were in the 1990 premiership team’, so it always brings the comments, whether they’re Collingwood supporters or non-Collingwood supporters,” he told collingwoodfc.com.au.

He played in the 1990 flag side and represented Victoria in 1988, 1989 and 1990 before retiring at the end of 1993, playing his final match against Adelaide at Football Park.