George Robert "Tod" Collins (30 January 1876 – 24 August 1942) was an

Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an Australian rules football playing field, oval field, often a modified ...

er who played for the

Essendon Football Club The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed the Bombers or colloquially the Dons, is a professional Australian rules football club that plays in the Australian Football League (AFL), the game's premier competition. The club was formed by the McCrac ...

in the

Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football competition in Australia operated by the Australian Football League (AFL) as a second-tier, regional, semi-professional competition. It includes teams from clubs based in east ...

(VFL).

Family

The son of George Washington Collins (1852-1916), and Mary Collins (1851-1941), née McConnell, George Robert Collins was born at

Hobart Hobart ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the island state of Tasmania, Australia. Located in Tasmania's south-east on the estuary of the River Derwent, it is the southernmost capital city in Australia. Despite containing nearly hal ...

, Tasmania on 30 January 1876: although his given name was George, he was always known as "Tod Collins". He married Ada Catherine McKinnell (1875-1961) on 24 April 1912 in

Hawthorn, Victoria Hawthorn is an inner suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, east of Melbourne's Melbourne central business district, central business district, located within the City of Boroondara Local government areas of Victoria, local government area. ...

Football

Essendon (VFA)

Collins played mostly as a half back flanker and was a strong marker of the ball.

Essendon (VFL)

Playing on the half-forward flank, he was one of the 20 who played for Essendon in its first VFL match against Geelong, at Corio Oval, on 8 May 1897: Jim Anderson, Edward "Son" Barry, Arthur Cleghorn, Tod Collins, Jim Darcy, Charlie Forbes, Johnny Graham, Joe Groves, George Hastings,

Ted Kinnear Edward Hore Kinnear (27 October 1874 – 3 March 1965) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Essendon Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Family The son of George Steemson Kinnear (1825-1902), and his second w ...

George Martin Sir George Henry Martin (3 January 1926 – 8 March 2016) was an English record producer, arranger, composer, conductor, and musician. He was commonly referred to as the "fifth Beatle" because of his extensive involvement in each of the Beatle ...

, Bob McCormick, Pat O'Loughlin, Gus Officer,

Ned Officer Edward Albert Officer (29 March 1869 – 10 June 1927) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Essendon Football Club in both the Victorian Football Association (VFA) and the Victorian Football League (1897–1989), Victorian Foot ...

, Bert Salkeld,

George Stuckey George Stuckey (6 July 1871 – 15 March 1932) was an Australian rules footballer who played with and captained the Essendon Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Football Stuckey played as both a wingman and half back during h ...

, George Vautin,

Norman Waugh Norman James "Norm" Waugh (10 May 1874 – 6 August 1934) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Essendon Football Club in the Victorian Football League (1897–1989), Victorian Football League (VFL). In the first year of competi ...

, and

Harry Wright William Henry "Harry" Wright (January 10, 1835 – October 3, 1895) was an American professional baseball player, manager (baseball), manager, and developer. He assembled, managed, and played Center fielder, center field for baseball's first fu ...

. Collins was a member of the inaugural VFL premiership side with Essendon in 1897. During his career he was chosen to represent the Victoria interstate team, appearing in games against South Australia in 1900, 1901 and 1902. He captained Essendon in 1901 and 1902, the former a premiership team.

Preston (VFA)

In 1906 he became captain-coach of

Victorian Football Association The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football competition in Australia operated by the Australian Football League (AFL) as a second-tier, regional, semi-professional competition. It includes teams from clubs based in east ...

club Preston, but retired five games into the season.

Death

He died at

Malvern, Victoria Malvern ( ) is a inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, eight kilometres south-east of the Melbourne central business district, located within the City of Stonnington Local government areas of Victoria, local government area. Malve ...

on 24 August 1942.Deaths: Collins, ''The Argus'', (Tuesday, 25 August 1942), p.2.
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Notes

References

* Maplestone, M., ''Flying Higher: History of the Essendon Football Club 1872–1996'', Essendon Football Club, (Melbourne), 1996.

External links

* *
Tod Collins, at ''The VFA Project''.

Essendon Football Club profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Collins, Tod 1876 births 1942 deaths Australian rules footballers from Hobart Ballarat Football Club players Essendon Football Club (VFA) players Essendon Football Club players Essendon Football Club premiership players Northern Bullants players Preston Football Club (VFA) coaches VFL/AFL premiership players