2011 Collingwood Season - The Decision that Broke a Dynasty

Collingwood's 2011 AFL season was shaping up to be one of the most dominant campaigns in modern history. Coming off a 2010 premiership under Mick Malthouse, the Magpies were ruthless, regularly demolishing opponents by large margins. However, a pre-arranged coaching succession plan that would see Malthouse replaced by Nathan Buckley at season’s end proved to be a turning point, derailing what could have been a dynasty.

The Impact of the Coaching Succession Plan

The seeds of Collingwood’s downfall were sown back in 2009 when then-president Eddie McGuire brokered a deal that would see Malthouse step aside after 2011, allowing Buckley to take over as senior coach. At the time, the move seemed logical—Buckley was a club legend, seen as a future coaching mastermind, and Malthouse was approaching the twilight of his coaching career. However, what wasn’t accounted for was the emotional attachment players had to Malthouse, as well as the mental toll that a mid-season reminder of his departure would take.

Leading into the 2011 finals series, the Magpies were 20-2, with their only losses coming against Geelong. They had been blowing teams off the park, with an average winning margin of over 50 points. But in the final rounds of the home-and-away season, something shifted. The club publicly reinforced the coaching transition plan, reminding the players—and Malthouse himself—that this was his last year. This announcement, rather than galvanizing the group, fractured the locker room.

A Divided Playing Group

Many players were fiercely loyal to Malthouse, particularly veterans who had built their careers under his guidance. Others were more aligned with Buckley, especially younger players who saw him as the future. The lack of unity, combined with the pressure of trying to secure back-to-back premierships, created an unhealthy atmosphere.

The cracks began to show late in the season. Games that should have been comfortable wins became struggles. The ruthless edge Collingwood had displayed all year was fading, and the mental fatigue was evident.

By the time the Grand Final arrived, the Magpies were a shell of their early-season selves. Facing Geelong, the only team that had beaten them during the year, they were overwhelmed, losing by 38 points. Malthouse's departure loomed over the club like a dark cloud.

The Aftermath: A Dynasty Destroyed

Had Collingwood kept Malthouse, they were primed to win multiple premierships. The playing list was still elite, and their game plan was proven. Instead, Buckley’s arrival led to a major cultural shift. Key players like Dale Thomas, Heath Shaw, and even premiership captain Nick Maxwell later admitted that the change unsettled the group. Within a few years, the team was unrecognizable, with many senior players either pushed out or departing on their own terms.

Collingwood went from being the best team in the competition to a club that struggled to maintain consistency. What could have been a dynasty was instead a case of “what if?”—all because of a coaching decision that came at the worst possible time.