Fifteen Years On: Remembering Collingwood’s 2010 Replay Demolition of St Kilda
October 2, 2010. The date is etched forever in black and white history. On that afternoon, Collingwood Football Club – after decades of heartbreak, near misses, and painful memories – finally broke through to secure its long-awaited 15th Premiership. And it wasn’t just any victory; it was a 56-point demolition of St Kilda in the replayed Grand Final, a result that not only crowned Collingwood as champions but also exorcised the ghosts of generations past. Fifteen years later, the echoes of that day still send chills down the spines of the Magpie Army.
The Build-Up: A Grand Final Unlike Any Other
The 2010 Grand Final saga is unique in AFL history. The first match between Collingwood and St Kilda ended in a dramatic draw – 68 points apiece – leaving the football world stunned. A packed MCG of 100,016 fans watched in disbelief as Brendon Goddard soared for a Mark of the Year contender, Nick Riewoldt charged forward time and again, and Leon Davis heartbreakingly struggled in a game that swung wildly in momentum. When the siren sounded, there was no result, just a hollow emptiness and the knowledge that these two sides would have to do it all over again the following week.
For Collingwood supporters, the nerves were unbearable. The club had not tasted Premiership success since 1990, and in the years since, heartbreak after heartbreak had followed: Grand Final losses in 2002 and 2003, a string of rebuilds, and that heavy mantle of being a powerhouse club without recent silverware. St Kilda, meanwhile, was desperate to end its own drought stretching back to 1966. Everything was on the line.
The Replay: Collingwood Unleashed
On October 2, 2010, Collingwood showed up with fire in their eyes. From the first bounce, it was clear this would not be a repeat of the week before. The Magpies were sharper, faster, and hungrier. Their pressure was relentless, their tackling ferocious, and their ball movement breathtaking. Where the Saints had matched them the previous week, they now looked overwhelmed.
Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury, the heart of Collingwood’s midfield, dictated the game with composure and class. Pendlebury in particular produced a masterclass performance, gathering 29 disposals and controlling the tempo, earning himself the Norm Smith Medal. Swan, ever the ball magnet, drove Collingwood forward repeatedly, breaking St Kilda’s resistance.
Up forward, Travis Cloke was immense, kicking two goals and creating chaos in the air, while Alan Didak provided flair and precision. Steele Sidebottom, just 19 years old, rose to the occasion with two goals and mature composure beyond his years. Darren Jolly dominated the ruck, giving first use to his midfielders and cutting off any St Kilda momentum.
But perhaps the most symbolic performance came from captain Nick Maxwell. Inspirational and courageous, Maxwell’s leadership embodied the team-first mentality that coach Mick Malthouse had drilled into the group. Maxwell had become the spiritual glue of Collingwood, and his lifting of the Premiership Cup remains one of the most iconic images in club history.
By halftime, Collingwood had stamped its authority, leading by 27 points. By the final siren, the margin had ballooned to 56 points. The Saints, valiant all season, had no answers. Collingwood 16.12 (108) defeated St Kilda 7.10 (52), sealing a glorious 15th Premiership.
Breaking the Curse
For older Collingwood fans, the victory meant more than just a flag. The club had carried the burden of the so-called “Colliwobbles” – a cruel tag born of near misses and shattered dreams in the decades prior. To finally triumph, and to do so in such dominant fashion, felt like the lifting of a generational curse.
The replay format itself would never be seen again; the AFL soon introduced extra time to decide drawn Grand Finals. That makes Collingwood’s 2010 victory even more special – a triumph from an era now consigned to history, the last replay ever played.
Fifteen Years Later: The Legacy Lives On
Today, fifteen years on, Collingwood’s 2010 Premiership still resonates deeply. For many supporters, it was the sweetest moment of their lives – a day when the Magpies not only won but utterly crushed their opponents on the grandest stage. The celebrations that followed spilled into the streets of Melbourne, with the Magpie Army revelling in a joy they had waited two decades to feel.
The legacy of that team remains strong. Pendlebury, who would go on to become one of the greatest players in Collingwood history, took his first Norm Smith that day. Swan cemented himself as a superstar, later winning the Brownlow Medal. Sidebottom’s performance signalled the dawn of a stellar career. And Mick Malthouse, after years of criticism and near-misses, finally reached the pinnacle with Collingwood, forever etching his name into the club’s story.
The Memories Still Give Us Chills
Every October, black and white hearts turn back to 2010. The replay isn’t just a football match; it’s a story of resilience, redemption, and ruthlessness. It is the day Collingwood stood tallest, answered decades of doubt, and wrote a new chapter in its proud history.
Fifteen years later, the roar of the crowd, the sight of Maxwell lifting the cup, and the pure dominance of that 56-point triumph still send shivers down the spine. For the Magpie Army, it will forever be more than just a Premiership – it was vindication. ⚫️⚪️🏆
