June 14, 2025 | Netflix, Australia
In a landmark moment for Australian sports media, Netflix has officially unveiled its latest original documentary, โCollingwood: Beyond the Black and Whiteโ, a powerful and unfiltered deep dive into the Collingwood Football Club, one of the most storied and divisive teams in the history of the AFL.
๐ A Club Like No Other
Founded in 1892, Collingwood isnโt just a football clubโitโs a cultural institution. With a rich tapestry of premiership triumphs, devastating grand final losses, legendary rivalries, and a fiercely loyal fanbase, the Magpies have stood as a pillar of both football excellence and controversy.
This documentary promises to pull back the curtain on over 130 years of history, triumph, tension, and transformation.
๐ฌ About the Documentary
Title: Collingwood: Beyond the Black and White
Director: Sarah Mitchell
Release Date: June 27, 2025 (Worldwide on Netflix)
Runtime: Approx. 90 minutes
Format: Feature-length documentary
Produced by: Netflix Australia in collaboration with the AFL and Collingwood FC
๐ What to Expect
โ Inside Access
Viewers will be granted unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the clubโlocker room talks, game-day prep, strategy meetings, and player rehab. With cameras embedded deep within the team during the 2024โ2025 seasons, every moment of glory and grief is captured raw and unfiltered.
๐ฃ๏ธ Exclusive Interviews
The doc features one-on-one sit-downs with legends and modern heroes, including:
โขNathan Buckley โ Former coach and club icon
โขTony Shaw โ Premiership captain
โขCraig McRae โ Current head coach
โขDarcy Moore โ Club captain and emotional leader
โขNick Daicos โ Rising superstar and face of the new generation
๐๏ธ History Meets the Present
From the โMachine Teamโ era to the heartbreaking losses of the 2002โ03 Grand Finals, and the emotional 2023 Premiership winโviewers will walk through the decades of Collingwoodโs evolution. The film confronts historical controversies, on-field drama, and the intense pressure of playing in black and white.
๐ฌ Tough Conversations
In a bold move, the documentary does not shy away from difficult topics:
โขThe โDo Betterโ racism report and its aftermath
โขThe clubโs internal cultural shift and reconciliation efforts
โขThe scrutiny of being Australiaโs most lovedโand hatedโfootball team
โขMental health and the emotional toll on athletes and coaches
๐ฅ Magpie Army on Full Display
From the packed MCG stands to the sea of black and white scarves around Melbourne, the doc showcases the passion of Collingwoodโs fan base, known as the Magpie Army. Their unwavering support, criticism, heartbreak, and elation are central to the story.
๐ Why It Matters
This documentary is more than just footyโitโs about:
โขIdentity and what it means to belong
โขRedemption and leadership
โขAccountability and change
โขLoyalty through generations
Netflixโs first deep dive into AFL storytelling signals a new chapter for the sport, bringing Aussie Rules to global audiences and spotlighting one of its most iconic clubs.
๐ Final Thoughts
Whether you love or loathe the Pies, โCollingwood: Beyond the Black and Whiteโ is shaping up to be one of 2025โs must-watch sports documentaries. It tells the human side of footballโthe pressure, the pride, the pain, and the power of legacy.
Streaming worldwide on Netflix June 27, 2025.
