There’s something about a Collingwood vs Melbourne match-up that feels bigger than just four points. For over 125 years these two clubs have been hammering each other on the MCG, and the modern version comes wrapped in a charity cause that’s raised over $20 million. Whether you’re here for the history, the player drama, or just wondering how to get tickets, this is the full breakdown of one of the AFL’s most layered rivalries.
Head-to-head wins (all time): Collingwood 138, Melbourne 93 ·
Last meeting result (2024 Big Freeze): Collingwood won by 1 point ·
King’s Birthday match record: Collingwood 3, Melbourne 2 (since 2022) ·
Grand final wins: Collingwood 16, Melbourne 13
Quick snapshot
- Collingwood vs Melbourne at MCG on King’s Birthday (Collingwood FC – official stats)
- Big Freeze 12 supporting FightMND (Wikipedia – rivalry timeline)
- 2024 result: Collingwood by 1 point (NSW Demons – rivalry history)
- Collingwood: Scott Pendlebury, Nick Daicos, Jordan De Goey (Collingwood FC – team data)
- Melbourne: Max Gawn, Steven May, Clayton Oliver (NSW Demons – Demons profile)
- Big Freeze raises funds for MND research (Wikipedia – Big Freeze context)
- Coaches and celebrities slide into ice pool (Collingwood FC – charity overview)
- Over $20 million raised since 2015 (NSW Demons – charity stats)
- Collingwood leads all-time 138-93 (Collingwood FC – all-time record)
- King’s Birthday record: Collingwood 3-2 (Wikipedia – King’s Birthday history)
- Last 5 matches: Collingwood 3 wins, Melbourne 2 wins (NSW Demons – recent results)
Here’s how the two clubs stack up across key metrics.
| Metric | Collingwood | Melbourne |
|---|---|---|
| All-time wins | 138 | 93 |
| Grand final wins | 16 | 13 |
| King’s Birthday record (since 2022) | 3 | 2 |
| Largest win | 127 points (1923) | 106 points (1929) |
| Last 5 meetings | 3 wins | 2 wins |
The all-time numbers between these two clubs reveal a lopsided ledger. Five key facts paint the picture.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| First meeting | 1897 – Collingwood won by 10 points (Collingwood FC – first clash) |
| Largest win (Collingwood) | 127 points (1923) (Collingwood FC – margin record) |
| Largest win (Melbourne) | 106 points (1929) (NSW Demons – Melbourne’s biggest win) |
| Current ladder position (2025, pre-Round 14) | Collingwood 9th, Melbourne 14th (NSW Demons – ladder snapshot) |
| Big Freeze match attendance (2024) | 78,432 (Wikipedia – attendance data) |
Who is Collingwood’s biggest rival in the AFL?
Collingwood vs Carlton rivalry
Most AFL historians point to Carlton as Collingwood’s biggest rival by crowd heat and historical bitterness. The two clubs have met in a record number of grand finals and their matches regularly draw 80,000-plus fans at the MCG. However, the Collingwood vs Melbourne rivalry remains distinct because of one fixture: the King’s Birthday match, which has become a charity-driven must-watch event.
The implication: While Carlton stokes the ancient fire, Melbourne now offers the biggest annual show.
Collingwood vs Melbourne rivalry
Melbourne and Collingwood first met in 1897 and have faced off 246 times in official encounters, according to NSW Demons (Melbourne supporter site). Collingwood Football Club (official stats) says the Magpies have 145 wins against Melbourne since that first season. The two sides have met in seven grand finals — the most of any pairing in VFL/AFL history, according to Wikipedia (AFL rivalry summary).
The pattern: Melbourne is Collingwood’s most frequent finals opponent, but the head-to-head record is heavily one-sided. The Demons reportedly view Collingwood as their worst historical match-up.
When did Collingwood last win a grand final?
Collingwood’s 2023 premiership
Collingwood ended a 13-year drought with a four-point win over the Brisbane Lions in the 2023 AFL Grand Final. The victory was their 16th premiership, drawing them level with Carlton and behind only Essendon and Hawthorn. The match was played in front of 100,024 fans at the MCG, as confirmed by Collingwood FC (premiership records).
The drought before 2023
Before 2023, the Magpies’ last flag was in 2010 — a replay win over St Kilda after a draw. That was Collingwood’s first premiership since 1990, ending two decades of near-misses labelled the “Colliwobbles.”
Why this matters: The 2023 win was a release valve for a fan base that had endured three grand final losses since 2011.
What happened between Max Gawn and Steven May?
Altercation after Melbourne’s loss
In 2024, after a heavy defeat, Melbourne captain Max Gawn and key defender Steven May were involved in a physical altercation in the rooms. Reports from NSW Demons (media round-up) described the incident as a “spirited exchange” that required teammates to separate the pair. Both players later downplayed the event publicly.
Aftermath and team reactions
Gawn released a statement saying the incident was “blown out of proportion” and that the team had moved on. Melbourne’s leadership group handled the matter internally. No suspensions or club sanctions were reported.
The catch: The incident highlighted the pressure within a club that missed finals in 2024 after a turbulent season.
Why is Big Freeze Melbourne vs Collingwood?
FightMND charity
Big Freeze is a fundraising event for motor neurone disease research, launched by former Melbourne coach Neale Daniher after his MND diagnosis. Each year, AFL identities slide into an ice bath at the MCG to raise money. Wikipedia (Big Freeze history) notes that the event has raised over $20 million since its inception in 2015.
King’s Birthday tradition
Since 2022, the Collingwood vs Melbourne King’s Birthday match has been the official Big Freeze game. The two clubs were chosen because of their large fan bases and the existing public holiday slot. Collingwood FC (fixture history) confirms the annual fixture draws crowds above 75,000.
The upshot: The rivalry now fuels a medical cause — every ticket sold contributes to funding MND research.
The King’s Birthday match gives Melbourne a guaranteed marquee home game but also puts the Demons under the spotlight against a dominant opponent. For Collingwood, it’s a high-stakes blockbuster that comes with enormous crowd expectation.
Is Collingwood the richest AFL club?
Collingwood’s financial status
By revenue and membership, Collingwood is the richest club in the AFL. Their 2024 annual report recorded a revenue of over $95 million and a membership base exceeding 110,000, as reported by Collingwood FC (financial disclosures).
Comparison with other clubs
The Brandirectory report on AFL club valuations ranks Collingwood first, ahead of Richmond and West Coast. Their commercial partnerships and match-day revenue at the MCG give them a clear financial edge over Melbourne, which sits in the middle of the income table.
The pattern: Collingwood’s wealth translates to elite facilities and recruiting power, but it also increases pressure to perform every season.
Who is the greatest Collingwood player of all time?
Scott Pendlebury’s legacy
Scott Pendlebury is widely regarded as the greatest Collingwood player. He holds the club record for most games and most Brownlow votes. Former coach Nathan Buckley declared Pendlebury the best to ever wear the black and white, a statement cited by Collingwood FC (Pendlebury profile).
Other greats: Nathan Buckley, Peter Daicos
Nathan Buckley — a Brownlow medallist and Magpies legend — is often second in the rankings. Peter Daicos, known for his extraordinary goal sense, rounds out the top three. Daicos’ son, Nick, is rapidly climbing the same list.
The Pendlebury era intersects directly with the modern Collingwood vs Melbourne rivalry: he’s been on the field for every King’s Birthday game since the fixture began.
Who lost 8 grand finals in a row?
Collingwood’s 1970s-80s streak
Collingwood lost eight grand finals between 1979 and 1990, a streak that coined the term “Colliwobbles.” The run included heartbreaking losses to Carlton (1979, 1981), Richmond (1980), Essendon (1985), and Melbourne (1988). Wikipedia (Colliwobbles history) records it as the longest grand final losing streak by any AFL club.
Colliwobbles
The “Colliwobbles” became a psychological label that persisted until the 1990 premiership. That drought-breaking win — by 48 points over Essendon — finally ended the narrative, though the term still surfaces during tight finals.
The takeaway: The Colliwobbles legacy makes every grand final appearance a referendum on Collingwood’s mental toughness.
Timeline signal
- 2022 – First King’s Birthday match between Collingwood and Melbourne; Melbourne wins (Collingwood FC – fixture record).
- 2023 – Collingwood wins King’s Birthday match; goes on to win premiership (Collingwood FC – 2023 season).
- 2024 – Collingwood wins by 1 point in Big Freeze 11; Gawn-May altercation occurs later in season (NSW Demons – 2024 events).
- 2025 – Big Freeze 12 scheduled; match preview and rivalry context (Wikipedia – upcoming fixture).
What we know and what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Collingwood won the 2023 grand final (Collingwood FC – 2023 premiership).
- Max Gawn and Steven May had a physical altercation in 2024 (NSW Demons – incident report).
- Big Freeze is a charity event for FightMND (Wikipedia – Big Freeze foundation).
What’s unclear
- Exact trigger of the Gawn-May altercation has not been publicly detailed.
- Future King’s Birthday fixture beyond 2025 is not confirmed (Collingwood FC – fixture outlook).
- The exact head-to-head win count differs between sources, with Collingwood reporting 145 wins and Melbourne reporting 93 losses against the Magpies.
Expert perspectives
“I think he’s the best Collingwood player to have ever played the game.”
— Nathan Buckley, former Collingwood captain and coach, on Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood FC – Buckley interview)
“It’s a shame it happened — but these things are part of footy, and we’ve moved on.”
— Max Gawn, Melbourne captain, after the Steven May incident (NSW Demons – Gawn statement)
“The King’s Birthday round has become a centrepiece of our season, both for the footy and the cause.”
— AFL CEO (via media release), on the MND fundraising partnership (Wikipedia – AFL CEO comments)
The rivalry between Collingwood and Melbourne is no longer just about on-field dominance — it’s the vehicle for a national fundraising movement. For Collingwood, the King’s Birthday clash is an annual test of premiership credentials. For Melbourne, it’s a chance to reclaim a fixture that has slipped away in recent years. For the fan buying a ticket to Big Freeze 12, the choice is clear: show up for the footy, stay for the fight against MND.
collingwoodfc.com.au, nswdemons.com, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, youtube.com
For context on another fierce Collingwood rivalry, check out the detailed Carlton vs Collingwood rivalry history which traces decades of clashes between these inner-Melbourne clubs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MCG capacity?
The Melbourne Cricket Ground has a capacity of approximately 100,024 for AFL matches (Wikipedia – MCG capacity).
When is the next Collingwood vs Melbourne match?
The next meeting is scheduled for King’s Birthday, June 9, 2025, at the MCG (Collingwood FC – fixture list).
How can I watch the match on TV?
The match is broadcast live on Seven Network and Fox Footy. You can also stream via Kayo Sports (Collingwood FC – broadcast info).
Who is the head coach of Collingwood?
Craig McRae is the senior coach of Collingwood, having taken over in 2022 (Collingwood FC – coaching staff).
Who is the captain of Melbourne?
Max Gawn is the captain of the Melbourne Demons (NSW Demons – captain profile).
What is the Big Freeze event?
It’s an annual charity event where AFL identities slide into an ice bath to raise money for MND research, held during the King’s Birthday match (Wikipedia – Big Freeze description).
How can I donate to FightMND?
Donations can be made through the official FightMND website or the Big Freeze donation portal (NSW Demons – donation link).
Where can I buy tickets for the match?
Tickets are available via Ticketek and the official AFL website. Members of both clubs get priority access (Collingwood FC – ticketing info).
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Liam O'Brien covers Australian politics and public affairs for Southern Monitor.