SURPRISINGLY, given their close proximity to each other, Collingwood and Richmond have only really enjoyed two sustained periods where their rivalry reached great heights.

The first was in the 1920s and early 1930s, when suburban 'tribal' football was at its most fierce, and the teams faced off in five grand finals in 11 years. The second was in the 1970s-80s, when Richmond's power, Collingwood's aspirations and Tom Hafey's shift to Victoria Park sparked a feud that led to a ridiculous trade war that nearly crippled both clubs.

But no matter what their positions on the ladder, the huge supporter bases of both clubs always ensure big crowds, great atmosphere – and an ever-increasing list of memorable incidents. Just like these …

1920 – Dan Minogue defects
Dan Minogue was Collingwood's inspirational skipper before he went off to the First World War in 1916. His return in 1919 was eagerly anticipated by Magpie fans, but he shocked the football world by immediately requesting a transfer to Richmond, having been unhappy at the Pies' treatment of a friend in his absence. Collingwood fought his clearance and made him stand out of football for a year, but in 1920, his first year at Richmond, Minogue captain-coached them to a premiership – beating Collingwood in the Grand Final. It took until the 1950s for the Pies to forgive him.

1929 – Tigers prevent Pies' perfect season
The Pies went through the 1929 home-and-away season undefeated, and looked odds-on to be the only team to go through an entire year without losing. But the Tigers trounced them by more than 10 goals in a stunning semi-final upset.

1929 – Pies do a Tiger threepeat
Two weeks later, Collingwood avenged their semi-final defeat with a comfortable 29-point win in the Grand Final, giving them three successive premierships – each of them having come with a final victory against Richmond.

1936 – Nuts goes nuts
One of the fairest and most mild-mannered of footballers, Gordon Coventry was suspended only once in his football career. That came in 1936, his 16th season, when he was sensationally rubbed out for eight weeks for retaliating against Richmond's Joe Murdoch, who had struck Coventry on painful boils he had on the back of his neck. Coventry missed the 1936 premiership as a result, and wanted to retire from football, such was his anger over the incident. He returned in 1937 for one more season.

1973 – Pies suffer Hart attack
Collingwood looked to be on its way to a Grand Final against Carlton at half-time of the 1973 preliminary final. Having finished on top of the ladder, the Magpies led by six goals at the long break, but Richmond brought injured skipper Royce Hart off the bench and the Tigers piled on 11 goals to four in the second half to win by seven points.

1974 – Greening does Lazarus
One of footy's most emotional days, when young star John Greening returned to the field after almost two years out of the game, having been left unconscious for 24 hours after being knocked out by St Kilda's Jim O'Dea in an off-the-ball incident in 1972. Before a huge crowd at the MCG, the Pies romped home by 69 points, Billy Picken took mark of the year and Greening played a blinder. He was never the same footballer again after that, but it was a magical return.

1977 – Hafey returns
When legendary Richmond coach Tom Hafey left Punt Road for Victoria Park before the 1977 season, his first return bout against his old club was always going to be big. But few anticipated just how big this Anzac Day clash would turn out to be. Almost 92,000 crammed into the 'G, spurred not just by Hafey's return but also by Collingwood's highly publicised quest for its 1000th win. The Pies duly won by 26 points – but it was later discovered to be only their 999th win.

1980 – Massacre
The margin was a lazy 81 points, and the MCG has rarely witnessed such a comprehensive flogging. Stan Magro still must be having nightmares about seven-goal hero Kevin Bartlett.

1980s – The Trade Wars
In the early-to-mid 1980s, the two clubs became locked in a near-farcical poaching war that took one-upmanship to new heights. It saw names such as David Cloke, Geoff Raines, Phillip Walsh, Brian Taylor, Neil Peart, John Annear, Craig Stewart and Michael Lockman, among others, switch camps for often inflated salaries.

1987 – Miracle comeback
The teams finished bottom and third-from-bottom in 1987, but still managed to produce a classic in their round-four encounter at Waverley. The Pies trailed by a massive 39 points at three-quarter time, but inspired by a rampaging Brian Taylor – and 'big name' teammates like Matt Ryan and Paul Rizonico – stormed home to grab the unlikeliest of 10-point wins.