A piece of history has been returned to the club, with the 1965 reserves' premiership flag making its way back to our Archives.
The flag has not been in Collingwood's possession for decades, but was recently discovered in a deceased estate and returned to the club by the executor.
The 1965 reserves flag was the first for our seconds since 1940, and the Grand Final team that day included a number of names who would go on to enjoy outstanding senior careers.
Chief among them was Len Thompson, who had made his senior debut just the week before. He was named among the best on Grand Final day and would go on to win five Copeland Trophies and be regarded as one of the finest ruckmen of all time.
Tough defender Lee Adamson was also part of the team that day, and would go on to play alongside Thommo in the senior Grand Final side in 1970.
Errol Hutchesson and Brian Gray had both enjoyed fine senior careers but by that stage were winding down in 'the twos', while another to feature was Ian Bremner, who kicked four goals that day and would later go on to enjoy an outstanding career with Hawthorn.
Others who played significant senior football included Vaughan Ellis (who was named best on ground that day), Max Pitt, Doug Searl (who kicked four goals), Len Clark, Bert Chapman and John Mahon. Popular ruckman Graeme 'Jerker' Jenkin was part of the team during the year but not on Grand Final day.
The reserves finished the 1965 season on top of the ladder, losing only two games for the year. They thumped Footscray by eight goals in the second semi-final then held sway over Geelong by 25 points in the Grand Final, thanks in part to some woeful kicking from the Cats (who finished with 10.20).
This was a big year for the Magpies, as the under-19s also topped the ladder that year, losing only two games. Like their older counterparts they went on to win the Premiership, albeit more narrowly, defeating Carlton by just four points. The seniors were knocked out by Essendon in the preliminary final.
If you have any interesting items you'd like to donate to the club, or that you find in deceased estates, please contact our Archives team at [email protected]
1965 Reserves Grand Final
Collingwood 16.9 (105) d Geelong 10.20 (80)
Goals: Bremner 4, Searl 4, Ballantyne 4, Hutchesson, Chapman, Dalton, Evans.
Best: Ellis, Mahon, Thompson, Pitt, Searl, Gray.
Selected side:
B: Kevin Huppatz Reg Sanders Vaughan Ellis
HB: Len Clark John Mahon Lee Adamson
C: Bert Chapman Max Pitt Barry Anderson
HF: Brian Gray Doug Searl Max Ballantyne
F: Denis Dalton Ian Bremner John Murton
Foll: Len Thompson Len Evans Errol Hutchesson
19/20: Noel Vincent, John Thatcher
