The pre-season competition has been in a state of flux ever since its introduction in 1956, when it was known as the night series. It was played as a post-season competition, and originally comprised the eight teams that missed the VFL finals series.
The competition ended in 1971, but returned in 1977 as a midweek knock-out series played under lights at VFL Park during the pre-season and the home and away season. Further differentiating it from the VFL premiership season, the night series included all SANFL and WAFL teams as well as sides from NSW, ACT, Queensland and Tasmania.
In 1988, the night series evolved into the pre-season competition. The complexion of the tournament has changed over time – for example, the 2000-2003 competitions were conducted via a round-robin format of four teams in each pool. The concept was short lived, although it was partially revived in 2011 when pools of three teams played two 20-minute halves against each other on the one day.
In 2014, the pre-season competition again underwent a major overhaul, with the abolition of the NAB Cup format which saw the two best performed teams meet in the Grand Final a fortnight prior to the home and away season. Instead, each team played two matches under the NAB Challenge banner before playing one final practice match ahead of the home and away season.
Collingwood’s record in the competition is not overly successful. It won its first night series flag in 1979 against Hawthorn at VFL Park, the club’s first senior silverware since the 1958 premiership. It all but won another the next year, and was actually in front when the final siren sounded - but the umpire didn't hear it! Play continued long enough for North’s Kerry Good to mark and goal after the siren, with fans streaming onto the ground.
In 2011 Collingwood was the first team since Essendon, in 1993/ 94, to win a pre-season premiership after winning the previous years' Grand Final. The Magpies 22-point victory over Essendon was played in front of 45,304 at Docklands Stadium. Collingwood 1.15.9 (108) def. Essendon 0.13.8 (86). Andrew Krakouer and Chris Dawes kicked three goals each while Heath Shaw won the Michael Tuck Medal.
