Magpies forced into unfamiliar MCG room switch for Wildcard

When Collingwood runs out for Friday night’s wildcard final it will do something it hasn’t done for as long as anyone at the club can recall – appear from the away changerooms.

The Pies have a unique arrangement with the Melbourne Cricket Club – the operators of the MCG – that sees them use the home rooms at the stadium for home-and-away games regardless of whether they are the home team or not.

Collingwood’s historical tenancy agreement is known to irritate some clubs. When it was renewed three years ago then-president Jeff Browne trumpeted the unfettered access to the home changerooms.

“We are pleased that through these negotiations, we have been able to retain the same changerooms and race, ensuring our players get to run out with our supporters for every match played at the MCG – home or away – and celebrate with everyone when the final siren sounds,” Browne wrote.

While finals see the AFL give the choice of changerooms to the higher ranked team, Collingwood’s high ladder position and the preference and/or amiability of high-ranked rivals has always seen the Pies get the home rooms.

Brisbane, Richmond and Melbourne – up until this season - prefer the away rooms, while Geelong has repeatedly taken the away rooms in finals against the Pies in recent years despite finishing higher on the ladder in some of those seasons.

Hawthorn was made to use the away rooms despite being the home team against Collingwood for the Round 23 draw. The Hawks and Pies haven’t met in a final since 2012.