Harry Collier
Encyclopedia
Harry Collier was an Australian rules football
er in the Victorian Football League.
, Collier played for the Collingwood Football Club
, debuting in 1926. Collier was a player in Collingwood's legendary premiership sides from 1927–1930, the only side to have won four premierships in a row in the entire history of the VFL/AFL.
He was appointed captain in 1935, a position which he held until 1939. During this period, his team won two premierships (in 1935 and 1936)), and finished runners-up in the other 3 years he was captain. He was said to be Collingwood's best player during the era, taking out the Club Best and Fairest
award in 1928 and 1930. Collier retired in 1940 after only one game for the season - his career record standing at 259 games and 299 goals with the Magpies.
to a premiership in 1941. He later became a committeeman for Collingwood.
Collier was also a noted television personality, during the time of Australia's first year of broadcasting in 1956 and subsequent years.
Collier died in 1994.
, after originally tying for the 1930 award. He, Stan Judkins
(Richmond
) and Allan Hopkins
(Footscray) all finished with an equal number of votes. The Umpires Board (which administered the award) recommended that no medal be awarded as there was no provision for a tied result. However, the VFL administration over-ruled the umpires board and created a criterion that the medal should be awarded to the player who played the least number of games. Judkins' banishment to the seconds had won him the award. Adding to the controversy, one vote for a Collingwood game was simply labeled "Collier", but as there were two Collier brothers playing in the game, the vote wasn't counted. To avoid situations like this in the future the rules were altered to a 3-2-1 system in 1931. In 1989, Hopkins and Collier, while both still living, were awarded a Brownlow Medal retrospectively for their performances in the 1930 VFL season
.
Other honours include his posthumous induction into Collingwood's Team of the Century and, in 1996, induction into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
.
Collier was the older brother of former champion Collingwood player (and the 1929 Brownlow Medal winner) Albert
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er in the Victorian Football League.
Playing career
Originally from Ivanhoe, VictoriaIvanhoe, Victoria
Ivanhoe is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 10 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Banyule. At the 2006 Census, Ivanhoe had a population of 10,600.-History:...
, Collier played for the Collingwood Football Club
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
, debuting in 1926. Collier was a player in Collingwood's legendary premiership sides from 1927–1930, the only side to have won four premierships in a row in the entire history of the VFL/AFL.
He was appointed captain in 1935, a position which he held until 1939. During this period, his team won two premierships (in 1935 and 1936)), and finished runners-up in the other 3 years he was captain. He was said to be Collingwood's best player during the era, taking out the Club Best and Fairest
Copeland Trophy
The E.W. Copeland Trophy is an Australian rules football award given by the Collingwood Football Club to the player adjudged Best and Fairest for Collingwood during the year....
award in 1928 and 1930. Collier retired in 1940 after only one game for the season - his career record standing at 259 games and 299 goals with the Magpies.
Post-playing career
Following his playing career, Collier coached the Essendon reservesEssendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
to a premiership in 1941. He later became a committeeman for Collingwood.
Collier was also a noted television personality, during the time of Australia's first year of broadcasting in 1956 and subsequent years.
Collier died in 1994.
Honours
Collier was retrospectively rewarded a Brownlow MedalBrownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
, after originally tying for the 1930 award. He, Stan Judkins
Stan Judkins
Stan Judkins was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club in the Victorian Football League between 1928 and 1936. He became the first Richmond player to win the game's most prestigious award, the Brownlow Medal.Judkins played his junior football as a rover for...
(Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
) and Allan Hopkins
Allan Hopkins
Allan Hopkins was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League. He started off his career with Footscray Football Club before they joined the Victorian Football League in 1925...
(Footscray) all finished with an equal number of votes. The Umpires Board (which administered the award) recommended that no medal be awarded as there was no provision for a tied result. However, the VFL administration over-ruled the umpires board and created a criterion that the medal should be awarded to the player who played the least number of games. Judkins' banishment to the seconds had won him the award. Adding to the controversy, one vote for a Collingwood game was simply labeled "Collier", but as there were two Collier brothers playing in the game, the vote wasn't counted. To avoid situations like this in the future the rules were altered to a 3-2-1 system in 1931. In 1989, Hopkins and Collier, while both still living, were awarded a Brownlow Medal retrospectively for their performances in the 1930 VFL season
1930 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1930.-Premiership season:In 1930, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus one substitute player, known as the 19th man...
.
Other honours include his posthumous induction into Collingwood's Team of the Century and, in 1996, induction into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
.
Collier was the older brother of former champion Collingwood player (and the 1929 Brownlow Medal winner) Albert
Albert Collier
Albert "Leeter" Collier was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League.-Playing career:...
.