Lance Collins
| Lance Collins | |||
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| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth | 19 June 1916 | ||
| Place of birth | Beulah, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 3 January 1988 (aged 71) | ||
| Original team(s) | Coburg | ||
| Debut | 23 May 1942, Carlton vs. Essendon, at Windy Hill |
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| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1942–1943, 1945 | Carlton | 33 (78) | |
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1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1945.
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| Career highlights | |||
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| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Lance Kitchener Collins (19 June 1916 – 3 January 1988) was a leading Australian rules footballer of the 1940s, playing for Carlton Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Born in Beulah, Victoria, Collins joined Victorian Football Association (VFA) club Coburg in 1935 and played 98 games for them, kicking 432 goals (including 116 goals in 1936), a club goal kicking record.
Called "a fine athlete with a big leap and strong hands... a precise kick for goal, and a deadly snapshot on the run", Collins spurned offers from numerous VFL clubs and was appointed captain-coach of Coburg in 1940. He led Coburg to the 1941 VFA Grand Final where they lost to Port Melbourne by 19 points.
Coburg went into recess in 1942 due to World War II and Carlton recruited Collins. Wearing guernsey number four, Collins made his VFL debut in Round three 1942 against Essendon at Windy Hill, kicking one goal.
Collins played nine games in 1942, kicking 13 goals, and had played a further seven games, kicking 16 goals in 1943 before enlisting in the Australian Army on 22 June 1943. Collins was posted to 53 Australian Bulk Issues Petroleum and Oil Depot Platoon, gaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. Initially based in Buna, Papua New Guinea the 53rd BIPOD Platoon was part of the 4th Base Sub Area, supporting the Bougainville campaign.
Returning to Australia in 1945, Collins sought to continue playing for Carlton in the 1945 VFL season rather than return to Coburg, which Coburg initially refused and it was not until well into the season, after intense negotiations, that Coburg granted a transfer, and Collins was immediately named in the centre in Carlton's league side.
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