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Francis Vine

Image DOB: 1 October 1904
Died: 6 October 1960

Debut: Grand Final 1926 against Collingwood at MCG
Last Game: Round 18, 1934 against Footscray at MCG

From: Old Melburnians

Number: 23 (1926-1934)

Honours:
Premiership Player - 1926
Captain - 1932 - 1933
150 Heroes selection
Life Member - 1945
Victorian state representative - 1931

Games: 105
Goals: 41
Career Statistics

WinsDrawsLossesWinning %
5115348.57

Nicknamed "Pop", Vine was one of the few players in history to debut in a Grand Final side. He had been scheduled to make his debut in the Round 18, 1926 match against Hawthorn, but didn't line up and instead was called up to the Grand Final a few weeks later on just a day's notice as a replacement for Bob Corbett.

He got an early goal in the Grand Final, the Redlegs won their first premiership since 1900 and 'Pop' rarely let his side down after that, becoming a reliable centre half-back who was an excellent high mark even in wet weather. While he played most as a key defender he also appeared in other positions on the ground, everywhere except the wing.

His next four years were injury interrupted - including three weeks missed during 1931 with the after effects of a burn to his leg - but when available Vine was a first choice player. That year he represented Victoria against South Australia, but missed another against Tasmania because of injury.

After playing 18 games in 1932 he was named captain the next year but missed the start of the year with influenza, and relinquished the job after being held to nine games for the year. Vine played fifteen games in 1934 season before retiring early the next year due to a knee injury. He played his career as an amateur, saying he liked to play for the sport's sake, and as a sideline from his business.

After his career ended Vine stayed involved with the club by hiring many of the younger players - including Norm Smith in at his business. It was in Pop Vine's factory that a young Jack Mueller lost two fingers in a machine accident - an injury which didn't stop him being one of the best forwards of the era.

In 1999 he was named in the Melbourne Grammar Team of the Century.

YearGamesGoalsBrownlow
1926 110
1927 13150
1928 15100
1929 1140
1930 930
1931 1420
1932 1817
1933 920
1934 1535

Notes
Some sources say Vine was captain in 1932 and show Warne-Smith as "non playing coach". He came out of retirement after the first month of the season but was not 'captain'. Also shown as from Melbourne Grammar.

Lists
Amateur players
Last game of the season debuts

Media
Football Record R18 1926
Argus - 14/05/1930
Herald - 03/07/1931
Herald - 12/07/1934
Sporting Globe - 15/09/1934

Links
Australian Football profile
Boyles Football Photos
Demonwiki image gallery
Wikipedia profile

Created by Supermercado. Last Modification: Saturday 10 June 2023 19:54:04 AEST by Supermercado. (Version 37)

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