The choice of Collingwood’s nickname/ emblem was an easy one; the club’s decision to wear black-and-white jumpers meant that, from day one, the team was referred to in the press as ‘the magpies’.
The link was further strengthened when it was revealed that Magpies used to frequent the area where Victoria Park stood.
The club’s emblem and logo have changed significantly throughout the years, usually to better reflect marketing trends, but the image of the Magpie looking back over its shoulder towards the left was omnipresent for 80-plus-years.
The New Magpies changed the logo so that the Magpie became forward-looking, towards the right. It is that version that remains part of today’s logo.
Reference The Official Collingwood Illustrated Encyclopedia by Michael Roberts and Glenn McFarlane