David "Dickie" Collins was the final link in a game that took almost 24 years to complete albeit unofficially. But more of that later.
As a youngster, Collins and schoolmate Ben Wherrett, would kick a footy at North Hobart oval and dream of the day they would play league football. For Collins that dream became reality in 1961. After playing with his old school side, Friends in the amateurs, he made his first senior appearance for North Hobart or the "Robins," as they were then known. That year however, he returned to the amateurs mid season. In doing so he celebrated a premiership, under coach, Harold "Nunky" Ayers, but missed out on North Hobart's TFL flag. All was not lost; the following year he returned to North Hobart to be a member of their 1962 premiership team. During that season he topped the
league goalkicking, represented the state against both the VFL and the VFA, and started a career that was to produce some extraordinary highlights.
Collins was a member of the "rags to riches" 1967 North Hobart premiership side and two years later starred in their 1969 flag win. The following year he won the club's best & fairest award. He was a mercurial forward, renowned for his long left foot kicking for goal and torpedo punts. Collins stayed with North until 1973 before hanging up his boots. All in all he played 250 senior games, was a State and TFL representative, twice topped the league's goalkicking, won a club best & fairest, and was a triple premiership player. A fine record, but best of all is his involvement in a game at West Park, Burnie on the 30th of September 1967.
It was the State Premiership final day between the North Hobart Robins and John Coghlan's Wynyard Cats.
When Collins and his team mates ran onto the ground for their 2.15 appointment little did they know that the game would never end officially, and moreover take 24 years to get an "unofficial" result.
In the dying seconds of the game North Hobart captain/coach John Devine passed to Collins, who marked on the edge of the ten yard square. The siren sounded, but before Collins could take his kick spectators swarmed onto the ground and pulled out the goal posts. With police, umpires and officials unable to regain control the match was declared a "no game."
Probably no other match in the history of Tasmanian football has ended so sensationally.
Collins spoke of the turmoil this week and remarkably still has the football from the game. "I stuck it my jumper" he joked. More remarkably he eventually had THAT kick. In 1991, 24 years later almost to the day Collins, John Devine, John Coghlan and the umpires assembled and re-enacted the shot - much to Collins relief he kicked a goal - but unfortunately for North Hobart supporters the history books still show the match as abandoned.
These days David Collins is employed as a contracts engineer with the HYDRO or Aroura as they are now known. Married to Carol they have five children. He still follows the Demons but family commitments, particularly grand children, prevent him going to the footy as often as he would like.
On the statewide league - he is pleased that it has downsized this year, and expects the closeness of the competition to increase markedly over the next season or so. "I would love to see a Tassy team in the AFL - but I doubt we can afford it" he added.
Tough opponents from his playing days? "Never had any easy one" he said, but Dale Flint, Noel Taylor and Phil Tabe were always difficult. Among his team mates, Ray Bailey (now a state politician) and Noel Clarke, who was a classic kick, were simply great.
Memorable moments? "The debacle at Burnie, the premierships and my second game at North! - Paddy Williams from Hobart went straight through like the proverbial Bondi Tram and I was 'out like a light'. But no regrets, football was great to me I enjoyed every minute of it."
Collins was a great North Hobart player and a thorough gentleman to boot.
History shows both Dickie Collins and his number 9 guernsey are now part of TFL folklore.
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David Collins - A Tasmanian Football Legend
