Allan La Fontaine

DOB: 15 December, 1910
Died: August 14, 1999

Debut: Round 1, 1934 against Richmond at Punt Road
Last Game: Round 20, 1945 against Fitzroy at Brunswick Street

Games: 171
Goals: 77
Career Statistics

From: Old Paradians/University Blacks

Number: 17 1934-1945

Honours:
Premiership Player - 1939, 1940, 1941
Best First Year Player - 1934
Best and Fairest winner - 1935, 1936, 1941, 1942
Victorian state player - 1934, 1936
Team of the Century member
150 Heroes selection
Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee - 1996

Born in France, La Fontaine spent his youth in Australia and was a dominant full-forward with Old Paradians (143 goals in 1929) before joining University Blacks. There he booted 247 goals in 24 matches for the school, including a personal best of 21 in an inter-collegiate game before being recruited by Melbourne. He was already a five season veteran of the district cricket scene, playing with North Melbourne and University.

The Redlegs were lucky to get him. La Fontaine might have residentially been tied to Footscray if the VFL hadn't ruled that by living on-site at Melbourne Uni he could sign for the Reds. He argued that he had not lived for 13 straight weeks at Footscray anytime in the last four years and successfully won the right to play with Melbourne.

After an inauspicious debut, he kicked 9 goals in just his second game but spent much of his time during his career in the centre. He had played his football there at Old Paradians (his 143 goal haul obviously an exception) before going into the forward-line at the Blacks for team balance. Even though he had dominated, and showed early on that he could do the same in the VFL, La Fontaine felt more comfortable in the middle. He played one more game in the forward line after his nine goal haul before going back to the centre.

He played every game in 1934 and excelled with his excellent delivery to the dangerous forward line. A late starter to the VFL at 24-years-old he was picked to play for Victoria in his first year.

Promoted to vice-captain in his second year, La Fontaine spent much of the year skippering the side after Colin Niven was injured. That year he won his first Best and Fairest. His amazing ability to swerve and weave out of trouble had turned him into one of the superstars of the competition.

Splitting his time between football and a job in the oil industry, he was promoted to captain in 1936 - just his third year. He lifted the B&F again the next season.

LaFontaine captained the club to the 1939 and 1940 Grand Final triumphs before handing over the reigns to Percy Beames who guided the side to the 1941 flag.

Enlisting for the RAAF in 1942, LaFontaine rose to the rank as captain before returning in 1945. He was later named as centreman in the official Team of the Century

As Coach

Upon the retirement of Checker Hughes after the 1948 Grand Final victory, La Fontaine and Norm Smith were the only two applicants for the coaching job. La Fontaine had taken training several times throughout the year when the coach had been absent. With the committee split, and Smith supporter Francis Vine not present, La Fontaine prevailed on the casting vote of chairman Bill Flintoft.

The side were in contention the next year and made finals, but after that they rapidly slipped out of contention and by 1951 finished last. La Fontaine was once again thrown into a one-on-one vote with Smith for the job, and this time it was he who would come in one vote short. The season had been a disappointment but the 19 players who made their debut that year would go on to play a huge part in the side's next golden era.

Media
Football Permit Surprise - The Argus 05/04/1934
"Will Play With Melbourne" - 28/04/1934
"Two apply to coach Demons" - The Age 22/10/1948

Links
Wikipedia profile
Melbourne University players