In 1976, as a young kid growing up in the outer suburbs of Melbourne, I picked Collingwood as my football team. It wasn’t an obvious choice, as the rest of my family followed St Kilda, but it felt right.

In 1976, the Magpies finished last, and there was something romantic about barracking for the underdog, even as a seven-year-old. The next year, the Pies miraculously made the grand final and drew the first game. Ross “Twiggy” Dunne (if you know, you know...!). They lost the replay, and then lost the grand finals in 1979, 1980 and 1981.