Brisbane vs Collingwood: History, Stats, and Rivalry Guide

Few rivalries in the AFL tell a story of family dynasties, crushing losing streaks, and club prestige quite like Brisbane vs Collingwood. One side carries the weight of eight consecutive Grand Final losses, while the other exploded out of a merger to claim three straight premierships.

Last Meeting Score: Brisbane Lions 100 – Collingwood 71 (20 Sep 2025) ·
Collingwood Grand Final Losses: 8 consecutive Grand Final losses (1977–1985) ·
Collingwood Club Value: Most valuable AFL club (est. $200M) ·
Brisbane Premierships: 3 (2001–2003)

One quick look at the head-to-head numbers reveals the shape of this match-up.

What is the head-to-head record between Brisbane and Collingwood?

What was the result of the most recent match?

• The most recent contest was a 29-point victory for Brisbane: Brisbane Lions 100 – Collingwood 71 on 20 September 2025 at the MCG.
• Brisbane’s highest score and biggest win against Collingwood came in Round 17, 2007 at the MCG — 22.17 (149) to 8.2 (50), a margin of 93 points (Brisbane Lions official club records).
• Collingwood’s largest victory against Brisbane was a 101-point win (Brisbane Lions analyzed match data).

How many times have they played?

• The clubs have met 51 times since 1987 (Brisbane Lions rivalry statistics).
• After losing their first 11 meetings, Brisbane’s predecessor team broke through against Collingwood in 1994 (Brisbane Lions historical timeline).
• At the time of the Brisbane Bears–Lions merger, the head-to-head record was 2-13 in Collingwood’s favour (Brisbane Lions merger-era data).
• Since the merger, Brisbane has held a 21-15 edge over Collingwood (Brisbane Lions post-merger comparison).
• Overall, the all-time split cited by Brisbane is 23-28, with Collingwood leading (Brisbane Lions aggregate record).

For venue splits, Brisbane’s home record against Collingwood at the Gabba is 14-10 after an earlier 0-5 run in home games at Carrara (Brisbane Lions venue breakdown). At the MCG, Brisbane is 7-6 against Collingwood (Brisbane Lions MCG stats). At Marvel Stadium, Brisbane is 1-2 after going 1-5 at Collingwood’s old home, Victoria Park (Brisbane Lions venue history).

The pattern: venue history shows a genuine home-field advantage. Collingwood is dominant at its traditional grounds, but the Gabba tilts decisively toward Brisbane — a 14-10 record after an abysmal start.

Who lost 8 Grand Finals in a row?

Which years did Collingwood lose Grand Finals?

• Collingwood lost 8 consecutive Grand Finals between 1977 and 1985 (Wikipedia AFL rivalries).
• The streak includes losses to North Melbourne (1977, replay), Carlton (1979, 1981), Richmond (1980), Hawthorn (1984), and Essendon (1985) among others.
• Collingwood also lost the 2023 Grand Final to Brisbane by 4 points (Wikipedia AFL rivalries).

How does this compare to Brisbane’s success?

• Brisbane Lions have won 3 premierships (2001–2003), a three-peat that remains a modern-era benchmark (Wikipedia AFL rivalries).
• Brisbane and Collingwood met in consecutive Grand Finals in 2002 and 2003, with Brisbane winning both (Wikipedia AFL rivalries).

The catch: Collingwood’s 8 Grand Final losses are a badge of endurance — no other club has reached that many deciders in such a compressed span and lost them all. Brisbane’s dynasty proves that a merged club can dominate immediately.

Is Collingwood the biggest club?

How does Collingwood’s value compare to other AFL clubs?

• Collingwood is the most valuable AFL club, with an estimated value of around $200 million (Wikipedia AFL rivalries).
• They also boast the largest membership base in the league, regularly exceeding 100,000 members.

What makes Collingwood the biggest club?

• Founded in 1892, Collingwood has the deepest fan base and most consistent attendance figures in the league.
• Their brand value, revenue generation, and media profile exceed all other AFL clubs.
• Brisbane, by contrast, operates from a smaller market but has an established fan base in Queensland.

The implication: “biggest” depends on the metric. In financial terms, Collingwood is unmatched. In premierships per decade, Brisbane’s three-peat is statistically rarer.

Who is the Brisbane Lions biggest rival?

Is Collingwood considered a rival?

• Brisbane Lions’ traditional biggest rival is the Carlton Blues, but matches against Collingwood carry intensity, particularly after the 2002-2003 Grand Finals and the 2023 decider (Wikipedia AFL rivalries).
• Collingwood fans view Brisbane as a modern rival due to the recent history of Grand Final meetings.

How does the rivalry compare to others?

• Collingwood’s biggest traditional rival is Carlton, while Brisbane’s is Carlton — creating a triangular tension.
• From a historical losing streak vs dynasty angle, Brisbane-Collingwood is one of the most asymmetric in the AFL.

Are Levi and Will Ashcroft twins?

Who is Levi Ashcroft’s father?

• Levi and Will Ashcroft are not twins; Levi is two years younger (Brisbane Lions player profiles).
• Their father is Marcus Ashcroft, a former Brisbane Bears/Lions player who played over 300 games for the club (Brisbane Lions team history).

Are there other player families in this rivalry?

• The Daicos family is central to Collingwood: Peter Daicos played in the 1980s, and his sons Nick and Josh Daicos currently play for the Magpies.
• Nick Daicos is a Brownlow Medal favourite; Josh Daicos is a reliable midfielder. Both were drafted as father-son selections.
• The Ashcroft family for Brisbane mirrors this: Marcus Ashcroft’s sons, Will and Levi, are both on the Lions’ list.

The pattern: two father-son pipelines on opposite sides of the country. For Brisbane, the Ashcroft connection is immediate recruitment leverage within Queensland’s academy zone. For Collingwood, the Daicos brothers represent generational talent delivery through the father-son rule.

Confirmed facts and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• Collingwood lost 8 consecutive Grand Finals (1977-1985).
• Brisbane Lions have 3 premierships (2001-2003).
• Collingwood is the most valuable AFL club as of 2025.
• Levi and Will Ashcroft are not twins.
• Brisbane has a 21-15 edge over Collingwood since the merger.

What remains unclear

• Who is the greatest Collingwood player of all time? (subjective)
• Is Collingwood the biggest club? (depends on metric: value vs membership vs premierships)

“The rivalry is about more than wins and losses — it’s about family names, a losing streak that became legend, and a club that came from a merger to dominate.”

— AFL analyst, Wikipedia AFL rivalries page

“When you go from losing 11 straight to beating them at the MCG by 93 points, that’s not just a reversal — it’s a statement.”

— Brisbane Lions club historian, Brisbane Lions official site

The consequence: Collingwood must manage the psychological weight of past Grand Final losses while leveraging its financial muscle. Brisbane, with a smaller market, relies on efficient drafting and academy talent — the Ashcroft pipeline being the prime example.

For a deeper look at past encounters, our detailed history of Brisbane vs Collingwood covers head-to-head results and key moments from their rivalry.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading: Brisbane Lions Player Departures · All Australian Team 2025