Collingwood's under-19 teams always had the primary focus of producing footballers for the club's senior team. But the thirds managed to win a quartet of flags along the way as well.

The first came in a one - point thriller over Geelong in 1960, and the last the now legendary 1986 success that also produced a handful of players - Mick McGuane, Gavin Brown, Gavin Crosisca and Damian Monkhorst - who helped form the core of the 1990 senior Premiership team.

But even when the under - 19s alumni aren't quite as famous as that '86 quartet, it's always fascinating to see who went on to bigger things, like Laurie Hill, John Knox and John Murton from the 1960 team, Dennis Le Gassick and Gary Wallis from 1965, and Terry Wight in 1974. And to wonder what might have happened to the other young guns.

And by the way, if you look hard at the 1974 team photo, you might see our former football manager, Geoff Walsh, in there. Yes, he could play a bit!

 

1960
Grand Final(September 10, 1960)
Geelong 4.1 5.4 9.8 11.9.75
Collingwood 5.0 8.8 9.8 11.10.76
Goals: Grant 3, Murton 2, Bone 1, Heaton 1, Knox 1, McLaren 1, Rooney 1, Sullivan 1
Premiership team
Backs: Brian Coulthard Bob Elsum Peter Annett
HB: Alan Purdon Kelvin Duncan(VC) Laurie Hill
C: John Oliver Barry Rist Kevin Bilson
HF: Ian Grant John Knox(C) Terry Rooney
For: Bob Heaton John Murton Doug McLaren
Foll: Fred Smith Brian Sullivan Mick Bone
19/20: Bob Muir Bob Martin
Emg: Malcolm James John Brady
Coach: Jack Ross



 

 

1965
Grand Final(September 25, 1965)
Collingwood 3.4 6.10 8.15 8.20.68
Carlton 2.2 4.2 5.5 9.10.64
Goals: Egan 2, Andrews 1, Clancy 1, Gooding 1, Green 1, Serritelli 1, Wallis 1
Best: Wallis, Foy, Le Gassick, Andersen, Turner, Egan, Andrews, Serritelli
Premiership team
Backs: Rodney Foy Geoff Noble Jack Green
HB: Dennis Le Gassick Wayne Weston Ken Henry
C: Doug Burgess Ray Turner Greg Andrews
HF: Nadizo Serritelli Robert Rouvray Roger Freeman
For: Bernie Brady Brook Andersen John Clancy
Foll: Wayne Egan Peter Brown Gary Wallis(C)
Res: Ray Smith Terry Gooding
Coach: Ron Richards

 

 

The 1965 Under-19s Premiership squad
The 1965 Under-19s Premiership squad. Back row: H Ball(trainer), P Dyball, R Underwood, D Le Gassick, R Smith, D Burgess, K Eccles. Third row: T Perry(committee), F Eccles, R Turner, R Freeman, T Sinclair, G Andrews, J Clancy, H Ross(committee). Second row: F McFarlane(committee), R Riley(head trainer), R Foy, T Gooding, B Andersen, A Withers, N Serretalli, R Rouvray, K Henry, W Weston, R Dunn(property steward), D Watson(committee). Front: P Brown, B Brady, J Green, A Waller(secretary), G Wallis(Captain), R Richards(Coach), W Egan, B Grinter, G Noble.

 

 

1974
Grand Final(September 28, 1974)
Collingwood 2.4 6.7 11.13 17.14.116
Essendon 2.1 4.2 6.5 9.14.68
Goals: Sweeney 5, Freeman 4, Walsh 4, Stott 2, McEwan 1, Hockins 1
Best: Freeman, Jessop, Stott, Walsh, Hockins, Cahill, Dean, Sweeney
Premiership team
Backs: Garry Jessop Terry Wight Geoff Dean
HB: Peter Uren Terry Cahill John Lamb
C: Russell Jessop Robert McEwan Lou Hockins
HF: Graeme Bux Geoff Walsh Ivan New
For: Phillip Stott Ray Sweeney Wayne Freeman
Foll: Robert Bird Graeme Stevens Ray Shepherd
Res: Julian Wightwick Daryl Butler
Coach: Des Healey

 

 

The 1974 Under-19 squad
The 1974 Under-19 squad. Back row: G Teesdale, K Head, B Niclasen, G Jessop, W Freeman, P Constantine, I Johnson, J Wassell. Fourth row: G Walsh, G Stevens, P Stavropoulos, S Pratt, R Johnson, P Uren. Third row: R McEwen, R Bird, G Dean, J Edmunds, P Morcom, M Anderson, K Stubbs, S Milinkovic. Second row: R Jessop, D Butler, L Hopkins, T Cahill, R Sweeney, T Wight, R McMahon, J Lamb, R Shepherd. Front: D Maroney, F McFarland, D Watson, A Waller, I New(Captain), P Stott(Vice-captain), Des Healey(Coach), R Dunn, H Ross, E Trenear. John Teesdale(mascot).

 

 

1986
Grand Final(September 27, 1986)
North Melbourne 4.1 5.3 8.7 9.13.67
Collingwood 1.3 5.6 11.7 12.11.83
Goals: Hrysoulakis 2, Mrakov 2, Brown 1, Faull 1, McGuane 1, Gloury 1, Boulton 1, Moore 1, Brindley 1, Lamont 1
Best: Partridge, Gloury, Monkhorst, Hrysoulakis, Brown, Moore, Mrakov
Premiership team
Backs: Paddy Moore Jason Croall(C) Paul Smith
HB: Neil Brindley Gavin Crosisca David Partridge
C: Craig Brandt Gavin Brown Athas Hrysoulakis
HF: Darren Boulten Terry Keays Mick McGuane
For: Brett Gloury John Mrakov John Lamont
Foll: Damian Monkhorst David Stagg Greg Faull
Int: Damien Keating Paul Hicks Bruce Bennett
Coach: Keith Burns.

 

 

The 1986 Under-19 Premiership squad
The 1986 Under-19 Premiership squad. Back row: G Faull, M McGuane, G Brown, P Smith, D Rice, J Mrakov, A Hrysoulakis, D Keating, G Crosisca. Standing: B Hill, P Johnson, N Brindley, T Keays, J Croall(Captain), M Orval, N Stevens(skills coach), D Monkhorst, D Partridge, J Lamont, D Stagg, H Ogilvie, D Gott(skills coach), S Gorman, R Ford, L McGrath. Seated: B Bloomfield, T Bloomfield, B Maddigan, C Webb, K Burns(coach), G Renshaw(runner), A Brewer, I Flack, R Johnson, R Matters, P Lane, T Strafford. Front: B Papanestora, D Wynn, D Boulton, G Bolter(trainer), C Brandt, B Bennett, P Hicks, P Moore.