From Rupert Betheras to Brad Dick: Collingwood’s forgotten favourites

An ANZAC Day hero, a injury riddled forward and one of the club’s memorable cult figures feature in this list of Collingwood’s forgotten favourites. See if you can recall all 10 of these Pies from the past.

Collingwood’s forgotten favourites. Can you remember them all?

Collingwood’s champions have been mentioned at length during this time of football nostalgia, but where is the recognition for the other players who pulled on the Magpies guernsey?

We have compiled ten Pies from the past who true fans of the black and white will remember.

Among them are cult heroes, several memorable names and players who will take you on a trip down memory lane.

COLLINGWOOD’S FORGOTTEN FAVOURITES

Sean Rusling

Pick 23, 2004 National Draft

Games: 17 (2005-2010)

A player that resonates with Collingwood fans, Sean Rusling was a highly touted prospect who had no luck with injury. When his body let him, Rusling showed encouraging signs as a young key forward, kicking 10 goals in five games in 2007, including a three-goal display in their semi-final win over Sydney. But injury continued to strike time and time again for Rusling, eventually retiring at 23 after playing just 17 games.

Sean Rusling up against Corey Enright in the 2007 preliminary final.

Mark McGough

Pick 43, 2001 National Draft

Games: 49 (2002-2006)

Some like to think James Hird and Scott Pendlebury are ANZAC DAY specialists, but did they win an ANZAC medal in just their second game? Mark McGough couldn’t legally order a pint at the local pub when he tallied 24 disposals in front of close to 85,000 fans, finishing with the 2002 ANZAC medal draped around his neck. Gaining the reputation as a wet-weather specialist after that performance, ultimately the rain didn’t fall enough for McGough after his impressive debut season. McGough played another 20 games for the Pies after 2002, and was delisted at the end of 2004. He then joined St Kilda for two years, which came as a surprise given the elements aren’t a factor at then named Telstra Dome.

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Mark McGough walks off with the Anzac Medal after his rousing performance.

Rupert Betheras

Pick 76, 1998 National Draft

Games: 85

Ticks a lot of boxes in the forgotten favourites checklist as a cult figure with a name hailing from the 1920s. Rupert Betheras was a no frills operator, fittingly wearing the No. 49 guernsey through most of his career. A roar of ‘Rupe’ followed him whenever the street graffiti artist had the ball in his hands, and his delisting at the age of 27 at the end of 2003 still saddens the Collingwood faithful.

Rupert Betheras was loved by Pies fans.

John Anthony

Pick No. 37, 2005 National Draft

Games: 51 (2006-2012)

John ‘Jack’ Anthony burst onto the scene as a medium sized forward, kicking 25 goals from his first 12 games – booting multiple goals in nine of them. Remarkably, he led the Pies goalkicking with 50 majors in 2009 (I know, it surprised me too), placing just outside the top-10 goalkickers in the competition. Renowned for his deadly accuracy in front of goal, his most memorable moment came in that year’s semi-final against Adelaide. Trailing by a point in the dying seconds, Anthony cooly slotted a difficult set shot from the paint to put the Pies into a preliminary final. His form dropped significantly in 2010, losing his spot in the senior side and playing just seven games for the year. Anthony then opted to leave the club at season’s end, joining the Dockers through the pre-season draft.

Anthony’s reaction after that set shot.

Marty Clarke

Pick 40, 2006 rookie draft

Games: 73 (2007-09, 2012-14)

One of the most well-known Irish recruits during the late 2000s, Marty Clarke was dubbed as the “Irish equivalent of Nathan Buckley” by then assistant coach Guy McKenna. While he didn’t quite win a Brownlow – failing to poll a vote – his effort could never be questioned. Clarke senior career is fascinating nonetheless. The Irishman retired from the game at the end of 2009, played Gaelic football for two seasons and then backflipped, playing another three seasons at Collingwood from 2012-14.

Martin Clarke was known for his dash off halfback.

Kyle Martin

Pick No. 13, 2013 rookie draft

Games: 6 (2013-14)

KFC SuperCoach diehards will remember this name fondly. Martin’s stint at AFL level was short but oh so sweet, collecting 19 disposals, laying six tackles, kicking two majors and scoring 97 SuperCoach points in an exhilarating debut. He backed it up with two scores of 80 as his price soared, booting six goals in his first three games. Martin played a further three matches at senior level before announcing his shock retirement at the end of 2014, deciding that the rigours of professional sport were not for him. He returned to the Eastern Football League and tore the competition to shreds.

Kyle Martin kicks for goal.

Chris Egan

Pick No. 10, 2010 National Draft

Games: 27 (2005-08)

Egan was prized by the Pies with the tenth pick in the 2004 draft, unofficially known as the forgotten favourites superdraft. Overlooked for the likes of Richard Tambling, Tom Williams and John Meesen, Egan impressed from the outset, missing just one game from the point he debuted in 2005. Peaked with six goals in two games leading into the 2006 finals series, but played just three games in the next two seasons.

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Chris Egan celebrates a goal.

Brad Dick

Pick 44, 2006 National draft

Games: 27 (2006-13)

While McGough starred on ANZAC DAY, Brad Dick was synonymous with the Queen’s Birthday clash. Dick kicked five goals on the big stage against Collingwood in 2009, earning a Brownlow vote for his efforts. Knee and shoulders injuries derailed the small forward’s progress, unable to show his true potential at the top level. He joined the Eagles from 2012-13 but failed to play a senior game.

Brad Dick played 27 games for the Pies.

Adam Iacobucci

Pick 55, 2004 National Draft

Games: 4 (2005-06)

Here purely for that stellar name. Iacobucci was the closing line on an opera-themed footy advertisement with a host of long surnames. Commentators uttered that surname in four AFL games across two seasons.

Adam Iacobucci is tackled by Jeff White.

Cameron Wood

Traded from Brisbane for Pick No. 14 (2007)

Games: 88 (2005-2016)

Cameron Wood is a three-club forgotten favourite, narrowly missing out on nominations in our Brisbane and Carlton editions. The journeyman ruckman crossed from the Lions at the end of 2007 in exchange for pick 14, playing 48 games for the Pies. Served as a back-up option for Josh Fraser and Darren Jolly until he was culled in 2012.

Cameron Wood rucking against former teammate Josh Fraser.