Australian Football

Alan Poore joined Collingwood from Mentone and made his VFL debut in 1961. However, he proved unable to maintain a regular place in the Magpies' powerful league line-up, and by the end of the 1964 season had only played a total of 11 senior games. Prior to the start of the 1965 season a quartet of Association clubs expressed interest in procuring his services, and after receiving strong indications from Collingwood that he did not feature in their future plans, Poore elected to throw in his lot with Waverley. All four VFA clubs had offered similar financial deals, but the deciding factor for Poore was that the Panthers were keen to play him in the centre, his favoured position.

Poore's form in 1965 was dazzling as he helped transform a side that had narrowly avoided relegation the previous season into surprise, but worthy premiers. On a personal front, Poore won both his club's best and fairest award, and the Liston Trophy for the best player in the competition. In 1966 he represented the VFA at the Hobart carnival, became the first ever dual winner of the Liston Trophy, and helped the Panthers reach another Grand Final, which they lost to Port Melbourne. Another club best and fairest award followed in 1967, and Poore's services were vigorously sought by Hawthorn. However, he elected to see out his career with the Panthers, for whom he ended up playing 124 senior games, affirming himself in the process as the greatest player ever to represent the club.

Author - John Devaney