Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Jack Charles Collins

Known as
Jack Collins

Born
3 January 1930

Died
6 July 2008 (aged 78)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 20y 109d
Last game: 28y 232d

Height and weight
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 87 kg

Senior clubs
Yarraville; Footscray

Jumper numbers
Footscray: 2

Recruited from
Yarraville (1949)

Family links
Jim Collins (Father)Alan Collins (Brother)Bob Collins (Brother)

Jack Collins

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
YarravilleVFA1949
FootscrayV/AFL1950-19581543852.5054%13.756.0057
Total1949-19581543852.50

Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only

AFL: 5,956th player to appear, 1,243rd most games played, 111th most goals kickedFootscray: 363rd player to appear, 60th most games played, 5th most goals kicked

After playing initially with Yarraville, where his father Jim had been captain-coach in 1918-19 before embarking on a VFL career with Essendon, Jack Collins joined Footscray in 1950. During his debut season he played a number of games at centre half back, but it was ultimately as a key position forward that he made his name. Powerful overhead, and a tremendously accurate kick over long distances, he topped the VFL's goal kicking list on two occasions, and the Bulldogs' on five. His best season was 1954, when he amassed a personal record tally of 84 goals, the last 7 of which helped his club to a 51-point Grand Final defeat of Melbourne.

A regular VFL interstate representative, Collins also won Footscray's club champion award twice. His older brother Alan had earlier played with great success for both Yarraville and Footscray, as well as representing the 'Big V'. After his retirement as a player, Jack Collins continued his association with the Bulldogs by serving on the club committee, initially as secretary, and later as president.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.