Australian Football

A forthright and terrier-like rover, who kicked the ball beautifully, Colin Deane played his early football with New Town during that club’s first few seasons in the TANFL. Recognised as one of the league’s finest players, he was a regular member of TANFL intrastate representative teams, and played for Tasmania at the 1924 Hobart carnival. The following year he moved to VFL club Melbourne, where he gave excellent service in 82 games over the course of the next six seasons. He was a member of the Fuchsias’ 1926 premiership-winning team, and played interstate football for the VFL. In contrast to his time in the TANFL, Deane played most of his football in Victoria as a follower.

After leaving Melbourne, Deane spent some time in New Zealand before returning as coach of the club’s seconds team, which he promptly steered to the flag, in 1932. The following year he returned to senior football as captain-coach of St Kilda. After playing just three games, however, he retired as a player in order to concentrate on coaching, but a return of just six wins from 18 games for ninth place on the ladder was not good enough for him to retain his position for 1934.

Author - John Devaney