Francis Vine

DOB: 1 October, 1904
Debut: Grand Final 1926 against Collingwood at MCG
Last Game: Round 18, 1934 against Footscray at MCG

Games: 105
Goals: 41
Career Statistics (external link)

Wins	Draws	Losses	Winning %
51	1	53	48.57

From: Old Melburnians

Number: 23 1926-1934

Honours:
Premiership Player - 1926
Captain - 1932 - 1933
150 Heroes selection

Nicknamed "Pop", Vine was one of the few players in history to debut in a Grand Final side. An amateur, he was called up for the Grand Final with just a day's notice as a replacement for Bob Corbett. He got an early goal and rarely let the Redlegs down after that.

Vine was a reliable centre half-back who was an excellent high mark even in wet weather. The next year he played 13 matches, and managed 15, 11, 9 and 14 over the next four years before being named captain for 1932. Relinquishing the job after an injury riddled 1933, Vine played fifteen games in his last season before retiring after the Fuschias failed to make the finals.

After his career ended Vine stayed involved with the club by hiring many of the younger players - including Norm Smith in at his business. It was in Pop Vine's factory that a young Jack Mueller lost two fingers in a machine accident - an injury which didn't stop him being one of the best forwards of the era.