John Charles "Jack" Collins (5 January 1930 – 6 July 2008) was a former Australian rules football

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 who played for the Footscray Football Club

Western Bulldogs

The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...

 (now the Western Bulldogs

Western Bulldogs

The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...

).

Collins was recruited to Footscray in 1950 from the Yarraville Football Club

Yarraville Football Club

Yarraville Football Club was an Australian rules football club founded in 1903 and played in the VJFA until 1927. In 1928, the club joined the VFA where it played until 1984 when the club went into recess. In 1996, the Kingsville Football Club in the FDFL who by this time had taken over the...

, and for the next two years he won the club's best-and-fairest award, the Charles Sutton Medal

Charles Sutton Medal

The Charles Sutton Medal is awarded to the player adjudged Best and Fairest for the Western Bulldogs. Scott West holds the record at the club, winning seven medals, followed by Gary Dempsey, with six...

. In 1953, Collins was suspended following a stoush with Collingwood

Collingwood Football Club

The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...

's Frank Tuck

Frank Tuck

Frank Tuck is a former Australian rules footballer, who played in the Victorian Football League .After VFL football he coached Corowa Football Club in the Ovens and Murray Football League then he bought a butcher business in Birchip, Victoria.-External links:*-References:*...

, and as a result, missed the finals of the 1953 VFL season

1953 VFL season

Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1953.-Premiership season:In 1953, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...

 in which Footscray finished third. He made up for in the 1954 season

1954 VFL season

Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1954.-Premiership season:In 1954, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...

, however, helping the Bulldogs, captained by Charlie Sutton

Charlie Sutton

Charlie Sutton is a former Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League .Although he served the club for many years as coach and committee man, he is perhaps best known for captaining his team, Footscray to their only premiership, in 1954.A tough, nuggety Bulldog player who...

, to their only premiership at the 1954 VFL Grand Final

1954 VFL Grand Final

The 1954 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Footscray Football Club and Melbourne Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 25 September 1954. It was the 58th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine the premiers...

, with Collins kicking a then-record 7 goals on the day. In addition, Collins was named VFL Leading Goalkicker

Coleman Medal

The Coleman Medal is awarded yearly to the Australian Football League player who kicks the most goals in regular-season matches in that year...

 with 84 goals scored in the 1954 season. He received the award again (by then named the Coleman Medal

Coleman Medal

The Coleman Medal is awarded yearly to the Australian Football League player who kicks the most goals in regular-season matches in that year...

) for the 1957 VFL season

1957 VFL season

Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1957.-Premiership season:In 1957, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...

 with a total of 74 goals.

After retiring from football after 154 games and 385 goals, Collins served as a players rep, then secretary, and finally president of the club. Collins was active in moves to save the Footscray Football Club when VFL

Australian Football League

The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...

 administrators sought to merge the Club with Fitzroy in 1989. The merger proposals were ultimately unsuccessful.

Collins was a personal friend of murdered lawyer Keith William Allan, and gave evidence at each of the three trials in the Supreme Court of Victoria

Supreme Court of Victoria

The Supreme Court of Victoria is the superior court for the State of Victoria, Australia. It was founded in 1852, and is a superior court of common law and equity, with unlimited jurisdiction within the state...

in which three persons were charged with Allan's murder.