Dan Minogue

Player Stats

Biography

Reviled at Collingwood, and revered at Richmond, Dan Minogue enjoyed, and at times enjoyed, one of the most colourfully eventful VFL careers of the twentieth century.

Originally from Bendigo, Minogue joined Collingwood in 1911. During that year's grand final against Essendon he performed heroically after sustaining a broken collar bone in the opening minute, but he was unable to prevent the Magpies losing by a goal. When Collingwood next contested a grand final four years later, Minogue had consolidated his reputation as an inspirationally courageous player, and was in his second season as club skipper. Unfortunately for Minogue, the Woods lost on this occasion also, going under to Carlton by 33 points. Minogue skippered Collingwood again in 1916, after which he departed to Europe with the AIF.

After returning from war service in 1919 Minogue stunned Collingwood club officials by requesting a clearance to Richmond for reasons which were never publicly disclosed, but are widely believed to have revolved around Minogue's dissatisfaction over Collingwood's treatment of his close friend Jim Sadler, who after a long and illustrious career had been struggling to get a senior game. Minogue eventually got his way, but he had to stand out of football for twelve months before doing so.

While in London during the war, Minogue had participated in an exhibition match arranged by popular Richmond ruckman Hugh James, and the friendship which had arisen between the two men was undoubtedly instrumental in steering Minogue towards Punt Road. Once his clearance was ratified, Richmond promptly poured oil on the fire by appointing Minogue as its captain-coach for the season ahead; the intense loathing which exists between supporters of the Collingwood and Richmond Football Clubs almost certainly has its origins in this sequence of events.

Always an inspirational character, Minogue also demonstrated a shrewdness and a tactical aptitude which made him an outstanding success as a coach. In his first two seasons in charge, he took the Tigers to consecutive flags, their first in the VFL. He led from the front too, fitting in wherever he was most needed, and almost invariably performing well.

After six seasons as captain-coach of the Tigers, Minogue clambered onto a coaching merry-go- round which took in Hawthorn (1926-7), New Town (1928), Carlton (1929-34), St Kilda (1935-7) and Fitzroy (1940-42). He came closest to repeating his Richmond accomplishments with the Blues, whom he steered to the finals in five out of his six seasons at the helm, as well as to a highly creditable overall success rate of 72.6%, but the ultimate success of a premiership eluded him.

In a VFL career which lasted more than three decades, Dan Minogue was involved in 448 games of football: 85 as a player with Collingwood; 94 as playing coach and 11 as non- playing coach (while injured) with Richmond; 1 as playing coach and 37 as non-playing coach of Hawthorn; and the remaining 220 as coach in a non-playing capacity with Carlton, St Kilda and Fitzroy. His feat in coaching five different VFL clubs remains a record.

Author - John Devaney