Geoff Collins

DOB: 10 August, 1926
Debut: Round 4, 1948 against Richmond at Punt Road
Last Game: Grand Final 1954 against Footscray at MCG

Games: 88
Goals: 5
Career Statistics

From: Kew/Yallourn

Number: 3 1948-1952, 8 1954

Honours:
Premiership Player - 1948
Grand Final team - 1954
Captain - 1954
150 Heroes selection
Victorian state player - 1952

The son of Jack Collins, Geoff was a tough and courageous defender whose career spanned two great eras for the Demons. At the end of his first year, after just a handful of senior games, he played on a half-back flank in the winning 1948 Grand Final Replay. He had suffered an injury in his first game that kept him out for eight weeks before bouncing back to win his spot again and go on to play in the premiership side.

A member of the RAAF, Collins often found his football training duties impacted by service and his missed the 1953 season while serving with the RAAF during the Korean War. There he flew more than 100 missions and was commended for his courage.

Having returned from the war Collins was given a permanent post in South Australia. Needing a captain to replace Denis Cordner, Norm Smith and Bert Chadwick arranged for him to be transferred to Melbourne so he could return to the VFL. That year he played in another 1954 Grand Final, but this time came out on the losing side. It was still a remarkable achievement for a player who had missed two years of football, playing in a side that finished 11th the year before.

Retiring at the end of that year, just 28 years old, he moved to Gippsland and coached the Heyfield club.

His brother Mike played 4 games in 1961-1962.

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