DOB: 19 June 1916
Died: 3 January 1988
From: Beulah/Coburg
Games: 0 (33 total)
Goals: 0 (78 total)
Career statistics
Forward who kicked 116 VFA goals in 1936, and had 73 in 11 rounds of 1938 when the Demons tried to take advantage of a breakdown in VFL/VFA relations to sign him without a clearance. Collins had already appeared with the Demons in the 1937 and 1938 pre-seasons, but only got as far as training with Melbourne before returning to Coburg. The VFL permit committee decided that he still required a residential clearance from Carlton before he could play for Melbourne. In the 1937 pre-season he appeared with Coburg against Melbourne, suffering a fractured leg.
Before 1938, Collins left employment at Coburg to a job arranged for him by Melbourne, and changed his residential address to qualify for Melbourne instead of Carlton but not enough time had elapsed for him to be out of Carlton's grasp. Coburg intended to honour an agreement with Carlton - who had first brought him to the city from Beulah, and paid his wages for several weeks - that Collins would only be cleared to them. He was prepared to leave the Association without a clearance and be disqualified for several years but the VFL ruled that Carlton still had a claim on him, and as Collins had no intention of playing for the Blues at the time, he remained at Coburg. He eventually joined Carlton in 1942 after Coburg went into recess for the war, and played there through 1945.
In 1946 moved to Tasmania to coach Sandy Bay, before returning to Victoria as coach of Golden Point.
Served in the Army during World War II.
Lists
Other players
Players who served during war
Media
Age - 05/04/1937, 08/06/1938, 09/06/1938
Sun - 08/06/1938, 15/06/1938
Argus - 19/03/1937, 30/03/1938, , 14/06/1938