AFL 2022: Royal omen points to a Geelong and Collingwood grand final

The change in the monarchy has moved the world and it could be good news for Geelong fans ahead of a preliminary final on the road.

Geelong and Collingwood will meet again in the grand final if a royal omen plays out. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

It’s been 70 years since a change to the British monarchy, and while the world mourns the death of Queen Elizabeth II, there could be a silver lining for Geelong and Collingwood fans.

Ahead of a weekend of crunch AFL preliminary finals, stats guru Joshua Kay has unearthed a key fact that points to the Cats and Magpies playing off in the grand final.

The last two grand finals played under a new monarch involved Geelong and Collingwood, first in 1937 and then in 1952.

But both matches were won by the Cats.

First Grand Final under reign of each of past 2 British monarchs…

1937
Cats v Magpies

1952
Cats v Magpies#GambleResponsibly

— Joshua Kay (@js_kay) September 11, 2022

Geelong are overwhelming favourites to topple the Brisbane Lions in Friday’s preliminary final at the MCG, while the Magpies are underdogs to defeat the Swans at the SCG on Saturday.

But Collingwood coach Craig McRae believes he coached “poorly” when his team lost to the Swans at the SCG a month ago, and as part of his learnings, has had their Olympic Park training oval marked out the same size as the Sydney ground to better prepare themselves.

“I thought I coached really poorly,” McRae told Fox Footy on Monday night.

“I believe in setting the players up for certain things to hopefully make them successful in what we’re doing, and I felt that I failed in that.

Collingwood and Geelong played in one of the games of the year in the qualifying final and could meet again in the grand final. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“I told the players (on Monday) we’ll be better prepared for things like the shape of the ground so we can train on it and be prepared for that.

“Those little details are lessons learned along the way.”

The Cats and Pies last played each other in a grand final in 2011 when Geelong was victorious