Friday night’s win over Fremantle coupled with Geelong's loss to Sydney on Saturday afternoon saw Collingwood secure top position with one round remaining in the home-and-away season.
The Magpies sit on 80 points with a percentage of 181.75, eight points clear of the second-placed Cats with the two sides facing off next Friday night.
It’s the 19th time the Magpies have finished on top at the end of the season with the club going on to win nine premierships (1902, 1903, 1917, 1919, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 2010).
The McClelland Trophy was instituted in 1951 and is named after William McClelland, who played 75 games for Melbourne (1898-1904) and was the president of the VFL for 49 years from 1926.
Prior to 1991, the McClelland Trophy was awarded to the team with the best record across all three levels of VFL/AFL play including seniors, reserves and under-19s. In 1991, it was changed to its current status, awarded to the side finishing atop the AFL ladder at the end of the home-and-away season.
The Magpies will aim to keep its impressive winning streak intact next Friday night when they take on the Cats. A win against Geelong will see Collingwood win 15 in a row, which would be the third best record in the club's history.
Most consecutive wins
20 SFR, 1928 - Rnd18, 1929
17 R5, 1903 - Rnd2, 1904
14 Rnd9, 2011 - current
14 Rnd12, 1953 - Rnd5, 1954
12 Rnd2, 1905 - Rnd13, 1905
12 Rnd12, 1910 - Rnd2, 1911
The Friday night win was Collingwood’s 20th of the home-and-away season, the most wins reached in a single season in the club’s history.
Only once prior to this year has the club won 19 home-and-away matches in a single season (19 wins, 3 losses in 1973). 1970 was the first season the VFL played 22 home-and-away matches.
The club is urging supporters planning on attending the Friday night blockbuster to purchase their tickets beforehand.
Tickets can be purchased Ticketek phone bookings 132 849, any Ticketek agency or online via ticketek.com.au.
