Introduction: A Classic Rivalry Revived
Matches between Collingwood and St Kilda stir deep emotion. Both Victorian clubs share a rich history of contests stretching back to the early 1900s. Their battles reflect football’s evolving landscape—spanning fierce finals clashes, heartbreaking losses, and memorable moments. You know about theglobespot, andaazdaily, openrendz and collingwood vs st kilda also Buzzfeed.
In 2025, this matchup carries fresh meaning:
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A top‑of‑the‑ladder Collingwood
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A rebuilding Saints side
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Young talent facing veteran consistency
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Great tactical subtleties
Let’s journey from history to future hopes, recent results to fan culture. Let’s explore what makes Collingwood vs St Kilda more than just a game.
1. A Storied History: Rivalry Through Decades
1.1 Early Encounters
The rivalry dates to early VFL days. Iconic clashes like the 1966 Grand Final—St Kilda’s sole premiership—still echo in memory bigfooty.com+15en.wikipedia.org+15abc.net.au+15youtube.comfoxsports.com.au.
1.2 21st Century Highs
Semi‑finals reignited the rivalry:
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St Kilda’s 2008 finals win en.wikipedia.org
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2010 Grand Final draw and replay en.wikipedia.org+1en.wikipedia.org+1
These intense eras cemented respect—and enmity—between clubs.
2. Team Profiles: Then and Now
2.1 Collingwood: Tradition Meets Innovation
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Richest club in VFL/AFL premierships
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Nick Daicos shines as a modern star
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2025 lineup: mix of seasoned leaders and rising talent espn.com.au+15news.com.au+15news.com.au+15news.com.au
2.2 St Kilda: Rebuilding With Purpose
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Youth‑focused rebuild under Ross Lyon news.com.au+1news.com.au+1
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Key debutants (e.g., Alix Tauru)
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Aim: blend experience with emerging talent
3. The 2025 Matchup: Context & Stakes
3.1 Location & Timing
Round 15 clash held at Marvel Stadium on June 21, 2025 news.com.auafl.com.au+12foxsports.com.au+12bigfooty.com+12.
3.2 What’s at Stake?
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Collingwood: maintain dominant spot
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St Kilda: test development, upset the ladder leader
4. Recent Match Recap: Pies’ Stylish Finish
4.1 Final Score
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Collingwood 16.12 (108) defeated St Kilda 11.8 (74) foxsports.com.au+15news.com.au+15afl.com.au+15
4.2 Game Flow Summary
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Early balance; tight contest
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Third quarter: Saints hung tough
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Final term: Collingwood surged, securing 34‑point win en.wikipedia.org+15foxsports.com.au+15foxsports.com.au+15news.com.au
4.3 Player Highlights
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Nick Daicos stood out despite tagging news.com.au+4foxsports.com.au+4news.com.au+4
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Tim Membrey scored against his former club afl.com.au+5news.com.au+5news.com.au+5
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Saints showcased grit but lacked depth late
5. Tactical Breakdown
5.1 Midfield Battles
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Daicos vs Windhager: key tagging battle foxsports.com.au+2abc.net.au+2news.com.au+2
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Saints midfield youth vs Collingwood’s experience
5.2 Forward Structures
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Collingwood’s class showed late push
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Saints struggled to convert momentum
5.3 Game-Changing Moments
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Late goals and home-away crowd support afl.com.au+1foxsports.com.au+1
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Momentum swings, physicality, and tactical shifts
6. Tactical Lessons: What Year 2025 Tells Us
6.1 Tagging Limitations
Even diligent tagging (Daicos) didn’t stop overall dominance foxsports.com.au+1youtube.com+1afl.com.au+12abc.net.au+12foxsports.com.au+12.
6.2 Youth vs Experience
Saints’ youth plays hard but often lacks experience in finals-like environments.
7. Turning Points in the Clubs’ Paths
7.1 Collingwood
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Strategic additions (Membrey, McStay, Mihocek) en.wikipedia.org+9en.wikipedia.org+9news.com.au+9news.com.au+6news.com.au+6news.com.au+6
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Maintaining leadership at season’s midpoint
7.2 St Kilda
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Youth integration
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Excitement around debutants and growth potential
8. Comparison Table: 2025 State of Both Clubs
Aspect | Collingwood | St Kilda |
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Ladder Position | Top | Lower-mid rebuild |
Experience | Veteran-heavy | Youth-led |
Key Strength | Midfield leadership (Daicos) | Athletic energy |
Weakness | Occasional second-tier fades | Inconsistency under pressure |
9. Fan & Media Reactions
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Fans upset at venue choice for Collingwood’s game abc.net.au+3news.com.au+3afl.com.au+3reddit.com+7news.com.au+7news.com.au+7
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Commentary praised late-game surge
10. Social Media & Reddit Chatter
Match threads featured:
“Daicos tag was interesting—but didn’t stop him.”
“Saints got within ten but fell away.”
Reflects respect but also realism among fans en.wikipedia.org+5reddit.com+5reddit.com+5abc.net.aufoxsports.com.au+1news.com.au+1.
11. Historical Lens: Cross-Era Comparisons
From the 1966 Grand Final to modern clashes,
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Rivalry ebbs & flows
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Traditions remain strong
Collingwood holds historical edge, but Saints have written iconic chapters.
12. Player Profiles: Stars To Watch
12.1 Collingwood
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Nick Daicos – midfield maestro under spotlight
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Jamie Elliott / Jack Crisp – forward threats
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Tim Membrey – former Saint key acquisition
12.2 St Kilda
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Bradley Hill – midfield aggression
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Max King – forward presence (when fit)
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Alix Tauru – rising follower of youth plan en.wikipedia.org+3en.wikipedia.org+3en.wikipedia.org+3afl.com.au+4foxsports.com.au+4news.com.au+4espn.com.au+1en.wikipedia.org+1afl.com.au+5foxsports.com.au+5news.com.au+5news.com.au+1foxsports.com.au+1
13. Tactical Forecast: How Future Clashes May Shape Up
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Expect faster midfield turnover
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Tactical tagging refinement
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Young midfielders vs experienced combos
14. Strategic Tips for Both Sides
For Collingwood:
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Maintain energy and physical intensity
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Develop containment plans for tagging Daicos
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Bring in fresh legs late in games
For St Kilda:
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Convert momentum into scoreboard action
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Use youth’s energy more in critical phases
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Improve set-piece and stoppage execution
15. What’s Next: The Road Ahead
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Collingwood: strong finals contender
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St Kilda: improving youth offering hope in seasons ahead
16. Broader AFL Context
Both teams show broader AFL trends:
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Youth development focus
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Tactical complexity
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Emphasis on mid-season scouting and rotation
17. Fan Culture: Beyond the 4 Quarters
Fans make the rivalry:
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Emotional investment over decades
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Stadium chants, rival tours, memorabilia
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Passion manifested in venues like MCG or Marvel
18. Trivia & Milestones
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Collingwood’s record 178-point win over Saints in 1979 abc.net.au+2beforeyoubet.com.au+2espn.com.au+2en.wikipedia.orgespn.com.au+10reddit.com+10news.com.au+10news.com.aubigfooty.com+5saints.com.au+5news.com.au+5en.wikipedia.org+1foxsports.com.au+1
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St Kilda’s only flag in 1966—against Collingwood en.wikipedia.org+3en.wikipedia.org+3news.com.au+3
19. Quotes from Coaches & Players
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McRae: “System over tag” news.com.au+1news.com.au+1
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Lyon: “Youth plan is working” news.com.au
20. Conclusion: More Than Just A Matchup
Collingwood vs St Kilda tells an evolving story:
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Tradition meets transformation
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Experience clashes with youth
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Tactical battles define outcomes
This game remains one of AFL’s most compelling fixtures—past, present, or