Lance Collins
Encyclopedia
Lance Kitchener Collins (born 19 June 1916) was a leading Australian rules football
er of the 1940s, playing for Carlton Football Club
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL).
Born in Beulah, Victoria
, Collins joined Victorian Football Association
(VFA) club Coburg in 1935 and played 98 games for them and kicking 432 goals (including 116 goals in 1936), a club goal kicking record.
Called "a fine athlete with a big leap and strong hands... a precise kick for goal, and a deadly snapshot on the run", Collins spurned offers from numerous VFL clubs and was appointed captain-coach of Coburg in 1940. He led Coburg to the 1941 VFA Grand Final where they lost to Port Melbourne
by 19 points.
Coburg went into recess in 1942 due to World War II
and Carlton recruited Collins. Wearing guernsey number four, Collins made his VFL debut in Round three 1942
against Essendon at Windy Hill, kicking one goal.
Collins played nine games in 1942, kicking 13 goals, and had played a further seven games, kicking 16 goals in 1943 when he enlisted in the Australian Army
on 22 June 1943. Collins was posted to 53 Australian Bulk Issues Petroleum and Oil Depot Platoon, gaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. Initially based in Buna, Papua New Guinea
the 53rd BIPOD Platoon was part of the 4th Base Sub Area, supporting the Bougainville campaign.
Returning to Australia in 1945, Collins sought to continue playing for Carlton in the 1945
rather than return to Coburg, which Coburg initially refused and it was not until well into the season, after intense negotiations, that Coburg granted a transfer, and Collins was immediately named in the centre in Carlton's league side.
Collins kicked six goals in their round 10 match against North Melbourne
, which was said to "galvanise the side" and led ultimately to the 1945 premiership. Collins continued to play well throughout the season in either the forward line or on the ball and, known as a big game player, Collins was particularly important for Carlton in the 1945 finals series. He kicked eight goals in the first Semi-Final against North Melbourne
(garnering the praise "His pace and anticipation in the final was electric") and four goals in the Preliminary Final against Collingwood
.
Collins lined up on a half forward flank for Carlton's victory in the 1945 VFL Grand Final
but unfortunately tore tendons in his ankle early in the first quarter and, although he remained on the ground with his ankle strapped, played little further part in the match before being replaced at half-time.
Club leading goalkicker in 1945 with 49 goals, Collins retired from VFL football to accept a coaching position with Ballarat and District League side Golden Point. At Golden Point there is evidence that Collins invented the checkside punt
during the late 1940s, two decades before it was first used in the VFL.
Collins was named vice-captain in Coburg's Team of the Century.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er of the 1940s, playing for Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL).
Born in Beulah, Victoria
Beulah, Victoria
Beulah is a town in the southern Mallee region of Victoria, Australia. The town is located in Shire of Yarriambiack Local Government Area, 395 kilometres north west of the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Beulah had a population of 219....
, Collins joined Victorian Football Association
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
(VFA) club Coburg in 1935 and played 98 games for them and kicking 432 goals (including 116 goals in 1936), a club goal kicking record.
Called "a fine athlete with a big leap and strong hands... a precise kick for goal, and a deadly snapshot on the run", Collins spurned offers from numerous VFL clubs and was appointed captain-coach of Coburg in 1940. He led Coburg to the 1941 VFA Grand Final where they lost to Port Melbourne
Port Melbourne Football Club
The Port Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Borough, is an Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Port Melbourne and is currently playing in the Victorian Football League ....
by 19 points.
Coburg went into recess in 1942 due to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and Carlton recruited Collins. Wearing guernsey number four, Collins made his VFL debut in Round three 1942
1942 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1942.-Influence of World War II:World War II had many negative effects on AFL in Australia:*Geelong were unable to compete in the competition because of wartime travel restrictions...
against Essendon at Windy Hill, kicking one goal.
Collins played nine games in 1942, kicking 13 goals, and had played a further seven games, kicking 16 goals in 1943 when he enlisted in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
on 22 June 1943. Collins was posted to 53 Australian Bulk Issues Petroleum and Oil Depot Platoon, gaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. Initially based in Buna, Papua New Guinea
Buna, Papua New Guinea
Buna is a village in Oro Province, Papua New Guinea. It was the site in part, of the Battle of Buna-Gona during World War II, when it constituted a variety of native huts and a handful of houses with a airstrip...
the 53rd BIPOD Platoon was part of the 4th Base Sub Area, supporting the Bougainville campaign.
Returning to Australia in 1945, Collins sought to continue playing for Carlton in the 1945
1945 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1945.-Premiership season:In 1945, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus one substitute player, known as the 19th man...
rather than return to Coburg, which Coburg initially refused and it was not until well into the season, after intense negotiations, that Coburg granted a transfer, and Collins was immediately named in the centre in Carlton's league side.
Collins kicked six goals in their round 10 match against North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
, which was said to "galvanise the side" and led ultimately to the 1945 premiership. Collins continued to play well throughout the season in either the forward line or on the ball and, known as a big game player, Collins was particularly important for Carlton in the 1945 finals series. He kicked eight goals in the first Semi-Final against North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
(garnering the praise "His pace and anticipation in the final was electric") and four goals in the Preliminary Final against Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
.
Collins lined up on a half forward flank for Carlton's victory in the 1945 VFL Grand Final
1945 VFL Grand Final
The 1945 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the South Melbourne Football Club and Carlton Football Club, held at Princes Park in Melbourne on 29 September 1945. It was the 49th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine the premiers...
but unfortunately tore tendons in his ankle early in the first quarter and, although he remained on the ground with his ankle strapped, played little further part in the match before being replaced at half-time.
Club leading goalkicker in 1945 with 49 goals, Collins retired from VFL football to accept a coaching position with Ballarat and District League side Golden Point. At Golden Point there is evidence that Collins invented the checkside punt
Checkside punt
Is like a banana kick but the opposite way, the checkside punt is a kicking style used in Australian Rules and rugby league football. When kicked, it bends away from the body and is usually used when a set shot for goal is lined up on a narrow angle....
during the late 1940s, two decades before it was first used in the VFL.
Collins was named vice-captain in Coburg's Team of the Century.