Round 13, 2015. Thursday, June 25th, 6:10pm, at the old Subiaco Oval. A seven-point loss at the hands of eventual minor premiers, Fremantle.
That was the last time Collingwood fielded a side that featured none of Jeremy Howe, Darcy Moore or Brayden Maynard.
More than 11 years later, in the same state, they'll do it again, but instead of a minor premier, the black and white are confronted by an opponent lowly on the ladder, but still worthy of their finest efforts.
West Coast are a different proposition at home as opposed to on the road, and boast precocious talents who clearly care about the direction of their once-proud club. Just see Willem Duursma's reaction to losing a very winnable game, last time out, for evidence of that statement.
Look at the emotion for the Eagles 💔
Willem Duursma was in tears after West Coast's painful loss to Richmond, with fellow No.1 pick Harley Reid consoling him.
✍️ REPORT: https://t.co/eEoIuHXNva
🔢 STATS: https://t.co/zFu46NSm4b#AFLTigersEagles pic.twitter.com/e2Et2tKBbi— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) August 2, 2026
If you ask a Collingwood supporter, it would be entirely on-brand for Jake Waterman to find his kicking boots this week, for Harley Reid to become a model citizen, in an on-field discipline sense, and for the haphazard magic their own forward line has managed to conjure in recent weeks, to wholly desert them.
Fans only need to go back to 2022 for a famous West Coast boilover against the Pies. A lineup closer to that of a WAFL side strolled into Melbourne, and defeated the Pies under the roof at Marvel. The Pies fell a solitary point short of a grand final appearance, and the Eagles were four per cent away from the wooden spoon.
For all of their struggles on the road this season, one of West Coast's signature performances this season was a close-run loss against the Magpies, at the MCG, in Scott Pendlebury's milestone match. They so very nearly played party poopers.
There's an 1190-game disparity between the experience of the Collingwood players going out of the side and those coming into it for the trip west. It's not just that it's kids coming in, it's that there is significant chemistry coming out.
Ins Sam Swadling, Roan Steele, Noah Howes, Will Hayes and Lachie Sullivan will no doubt give their all, but the entire Collingwood side will need to produce some of that black and white voodoo that tends to come out the few times a year the side are asked to travel.
You'd be a silly man to bet against a Craig McRae side at this time of year, but this game will be nowhere near as cut and dry as ladder positions may indicate.
