AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game
Full name
Norman Charles Collins
Known as
Norm Collins
Born
7 May 1904
Place of birth
Malvern, VIC (3144)
Died
29 August 1933 (aged 29)
Place of death
Glen Iris, VIC (3146)
Occupation
Company manager
Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 19y 362d
Last game: 29y 55d
Height and weight
Height: 173 cm
Weight: 68 kg
Senior clubs
Fitzroy; Carlton; Hawthorn
Jumper numbers
Fitzroy: 25
Carlton: 2, 5
Hawthorn: 2
Recruited from
Fitzroy (1926); Carlton (1931)
State of origin
VIC
Family links
Harry Collins (Brother)Goldie Collins (Brother)
Club | League | Career span | Games | Goals | Avg | Win % | AKI | AHB | AMK | BV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fitzroy | V/AFL | 1924-1925 | 4 | 1 | 0.25 | 50% | — | — | — | 0 |
Carlton | V/AFL | 1926-1927, 1929-1931 | 57 | 14 | 0.25 | 70% | — | — | — | 1 |
Hawthorn | V/AFL | 1931-1933 | 31 | 0 | 0.00 | 10% | — | — | — | 9 |
V/AFL | 1924-1927, 1929-1933 | 92 | 15 | 0.16 | 49% | — | — | — | 10 | |
Total | 1924-1927, 1929-1933 | 92 | 15 | 0.16 | 49% | — | — | — | 10 |
AFL: 2,871st player to appear, 2,635th most games played, 4,220th most goals kickedFitzroy: 308th player to appear, 826th most games played, 712th most goals kickedCarlton: 425th player to appear, 305th most games played, 366th most goals kickedHawthorn: 141st player to appear, 356th most games played, 762nd most goals kicked
Solid and serviceable rather than brilliant, Norm Collins fought hard to make the grade as a league footballer, and although he was seldom first choice at any of his three clubs he remained involved in the game at its highest level for a full decade, which bears incontrovertible testimony both to his talent and persistence. Collins commenced his VFL career in 1924 with Fitzroy, the same club at which his brother Goldie was already an established player, but found it extremely hard to break into what was at the time one of the strongest combinations in the competition.
After managing just four senior games and one goal in two seasons he transferred to Carlton where he developed into a handy bit part player, equally at home in the backlines or on the ball. Midway through the 1931 season, after 57 games and 14 goals for the Blues, he crossed to Hawthorn where he proved himself a dependable defender in a final 31 league games spread over two and a half years.
In a tragic postscript to his football career, less than two months after his final appearance for Hawthorn, Collins committed suicide.
Author - John Devaney