| 1929 THE HAT TRICK OF WINS |
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| 1929 Grand Final COLLINGWOOD 11.13.79 RICHMOND 7.8.50 Goals: Edmonds 5, G. Coventry 2, H. Collier, Libbis, F. Murphy, L. Murphy Best Players: Libbis, Westcott, S. Coventry, Ahern, Clayden, Dibbs At MCG Crowd: 63,336 Collingwood Team: B: H. Westcott, C. Dibbs, G. Clayden HB: A. Lauder, A. Collier, H. Rumney C: H. Chesswass, J. Beveridge, P. Bowyer HF: F. Murphy, L. Murphy, R. Makeham F: H. Edmonds, G. Coventry, H. Collier FOLL.: S. Coventry (Capt.), C. Ahern, W. Libbis COACH: Jock McHale |
| Collingwood knew that only arch rivals Carlton had ever won three consecutive flags and they set out to emulate that achievement in style in 1929. They were the first team - and still the only team - to go through an entire home and away season undefeated winning their 18 games handsomely. They were the first team ever to kick 2,000 points in a season. They produced the season�s Brownlow Medallist and leading goalkicker - and did he break some records! Gordon Coventry not only broke through the magical 100 goal barrier but he smashed through it finishing with 124 goals for the season and he also set a new league record of 16 goals in a single match during 1929. With such an imposing record the Magpies were raging favourites to win the flag but in the second semi final they were stopped in their tracks by Richmond who thrashed them by 62 points. Richmond used a rugged new style of play involving players sticking side by side with their opponents, tugging their jumpers, sticking to them like shadows and applying marginal and vigorous tactics when the umpire wasn�t looking. Yes it took the first ever incidence of tagging to stop the Mighty Magpie Machine. In the process Syd Coventry and George Clayden were felled in ugly incidents which resulted in Richmond�s McCormick being suspended and missing the grand final. By Grand Final day, super coach Jock McHale had worked out a plan to overcome the Tigers intimidatory approach. But all that threatened to be scuttled when a series of anonymous death threat letters were sent to 11 players in the lead up to the game. Unbeknown to anyone, including the players themselves, The Club had been implementing a policy of screening (ie opening) all fan letters sent to players and wisely decided to withhold them until after the game! On game day McHale�s tactics were revolutionary for their times. Knowing full forward Gordon Coventry would be double teamed or even triple teamed all match he instructed "Nuts" to lead way up the ground and take his shadows with him. This allowed a �paddock� to develop in the forward line where little known forward pocket �Tubby" Edmonds prospered kicking 5 match winning goals. The match was over after a blistering 6.3 to 2.0 first quarter with the aid of a strong breeze and with rover Libbis dominating around the ground the Magpies won their third flag in a row, all against the hapless Tigers! |