Well, the genesis of the story seems to have originated from a post-game interview with Carlton Premiership Defender Matthew Hogg. Hogg had been interviewed after we defeated the Pies in Round 4 of 1997, and stated that the Blues knew all of Tony Shaw's set-plays such as the Hiroshima (the long bomb) and pretending to kick long and kicking short. Hoggy claimed the Blues also knew when Nathan Buckley kicked out and held the ball in his left hand he would kick to the left side and in his right, to the right. If he held the ball with both hands, the kick would go up the middle.
How did Hoggy know all of this?
The folklore of the time linked this outstanding knowledge to an insider. Someone who had perhaps left the Pies as a disgruntled ex-player or Coach?
As it turns out one Pie had left the Club at the end of '96.
The Pies put 2 and 2 together and surmised that Trent Hotton must have been the culprit. It then grew into the the urban myth that it has that Trent had photocopied the 'playbook' and shared the Collingwood secrets.
At the time, Hotton was nowhere near Carlton. According to Blueseum regulars, Hotton vehemently denies having anything to do with the leaking of the Collingwood playbook. And good mate Craig Kelly agrees. Hotton captained Mansfield in the GVFL and Kelly played under him. It was merely an excuse used by Tony Shaw who's team performed well in the early part of the season, but were horrible in the latter part of the season.
The folklore rumour recommenced as soon as Hotton was recruited by Carlton for the 2000 season, but again, no confirmation.
It could be that Shaw's playbook may have been leaked by anyone. It could just be another case of the astute Brittain/Parkin coaching combination had worked Collingwood's set-plays out.