- Joined
- Sep 14, 2005
- Posts
- 18,419
- Reaction score
- 18,686
Personal information -
Birth;
August 9, 1965(1965-08-09), Victoria
Recruited from Dandenong
Death;
October 7, 1991 (aged 26), Queens Rd, Albert Park
Playing career;
Debut Round 18, 1984, Collingwood vs. Richmond, at Victoria Park
Collingwood (1984-91)
147 Games, 78 Goals
Honours -
Collingwood Team of the Century
Collingwood 1990 Premiership
Copeland Trophy 1987
Represented Victoria 1986, 1988, 1989
Most Courageous Player 1990
Best First year Player 1984
Most Improved 1986
CAREER STATISTICS: 1984 - 1991
Year ,,Games ,,Kicks ,,Marks ,,Hballs ,,Goals ,,Bhds
1984 ,,,,8 ,,,,110 ,,,,24 ,,,,41 ,,,,4 ,,,,3
1985 ,,,,15 ,,,,148 ,,,,,47 ,,,,,84 ,,,,,1 ,,,,4
1986 ,,,,,22 ,,,,,333 ,,,,,107 ,,,,151 ,,,,,8 ,,,,10
1987 ,,,,,19 ,,,,,287 ,,,,,103 ,,,,118 ,,,,,18 ,,,,4
1988 ,,,,,21 ,,,,,333 ,,,,,118 ,,,,,173 ,,,,,11 ,,,,,8
1989 ,,,,,21 ,,,,,305 ,,,,,116 ,,,,,137 ,,,,,13 ,,,,,15
1990 ,,,,,,23 ,,,,,430 ,,,,,143 ,,,,,154 ,,,,,9 ,,,,,9
1991 ,,,,,18 ,,,,,296 ,,,,,123 ,,,,,101 ,,,,,14 ,,,,,16
Total ,,,,,147 ,,,,,2242 ,,,,,781 ,,,,,,,959 ,,,,,78 ,,,,,69
Game Av. ,,,,,,15.25 ,,5.31 ,,6.52 ,,0.53 ,,0.47
AFL career -
A highly skillful and strongly built wingman, Darren Millane was one of Collingwood's greatest footballers seen before a shocking car accident which would end his life and career in 1991, at the age of 26.
Millane was considered a fine youngster, who was considered by Sydney and St Kilda, but Hawthorn won the chance, with Millane training at Glenferrie with the Hawks, but didn’t like the atmosphere and went back to captain Dandenong in the VFA U18’s. Collingwood snapped him up and Millane liked what he saw, and his football career came along nicely, debuting in 1984, aged 19.
In 1987, Millane won the best and fairest award after a stellar season. He found his place on the wing and was a feared footballer for his toughness and attitude towards the game. He was most likely the recipient on the end of the kick-outs because of his strength. Although his skills were occasionally poor, at his best he found and used the football well, and became a favourite to fans at Victoria Park.
In 1990, the premiership drought breaking year for the Magpies, Millane was at his peak. He won the AFL Players Association MVP Award, now known as the Leigh Matthews Trophy; was selected as an All-Australian for the first time; and came second in Collingwood's best and fairest; but it was his finals campaign that was recognised. He broke his thumb just before the series, but bravely continued to play with pain-killers during the campaign. In the Grand Final, against Essendon, he had 24 touches, and ended up throwing the ball up in the air as the siren went at 5:11pm to end Collingwood's thirty-two year drought on October 6.
Millane's death -
On October 7, 1991, Millane was killed in a car crash while intoxicated. On the early morning of the day, he was driving on Queens Road, near Albert Park Lake, before he clipped a semi-trailer and rolled his car, being killed instantly. The autopsy revealed his blood alcohol content was .322 — well over the legal drinking limit of 0.05. [1] He was on his way to his Noble Park home, and that day he was set to join 19 of the other 1990 Premiership side members, but that had not happened, as players and officials, along with fans set off to Victoria Park.
The no. 42 on the Black and White Guernsey had also been retired from the game.
The funeral was held at Dandenong Town Hall, where more than 5000 people attended, while large crowds heard the service on a loud-speaker outside the venue. Millane’s Guernsey with no. 42 on it was laid on the coffin, while the 1990 flag hung in the background at half-mast.
Famous quotes -
“People like that…you believe they’re never going to die” – Peter ‘Crackers’ Keenan (Collingwood ruck coach)
“If you don’t get goose bumps on your neck when his name is mentioned, then I don’t think you have got the character to be around the club” – Collingwood captain Tony Shaw
”If he had been here tonight, he would want you all to have a good time…so lift your chins and make sure you get out there next year and win the flag” – Brother John Millane, when accepting the Phonse Kyne Trophy, for services to the club, awarded to Millane.
”’’’MILLANE KILLED’’’” – Herald Sun newspaper headline, October 7, 1991.
DARREN "PANTS" MILLANE - by Mountains Magpie
Darren “Pants” Millane was born on the 9th August, 1965 and originally wanted to play for St Kilda. He was playing with VFA club Dandenong and was residentially bound to the Swans. He trained at Hawthorn but was eventually picked up by Collingwood. Making his debut in 1984, Millane won Collingwood’s Best First Year Player award.
The awards continued with Most Improved and a state guernsey in 1986 followed by a Copeland Trophy for Best And Fairest in 1987. He appeared for Victoria in 1988 and 1989, kicking a lone goal in the 2nd match against Western Australia in July, 1988.
The crowning glory in Millane’s eight season career was the premiership in 1990. Playing the entire semi-final series with a now legendary broken thumb, he stitched Greg Anderson up and was one of the Magpies best on the ground.
A year and a day after this historic win, Millane was tragically killed in a car accident in Melbourne’s Albert Park. An estimated 8000 people attended his funeral in Dandenong and he is resting in Springvale Cemetery. Collingwood’s Best Clubman trophy is named in Darren’s honour.
Why is it then that this man is so revered by the Collingwood faithful ? Our current president co-wrote Millane’s biography in 1994. His guernsey number, 42, is retired and is likely to remain so. Why does this man invoke so much emotion ? His untimely death is certainly part of the reason but it has more to do with the way he lived his life.
On the field, he asked for and gave no quarter, highly skilled, a footballer first and then an athlete, an excellent mark, good vision, tough as teak and protective of his team mates. Players with these traits have the ability to rally their fellow players like no other and Darren was no exception. Off the field, he lived his life to the fullest. He had a deep loyalty to his family and friends and left a lasting impression on all those he met.
These are the traits we not only look for in other people, we look for them in ourselves, because they are rare qualities. We look to people like Darren when we need inspiration and encouragement. People like Darren have the ability to bring out the best in people. To not have him here makes these things so much harder and we are all certainly much poorer for his loss. We can only try to emulate him in standing together always and staying true to the cause through thick and thin.
Rest In Peace, Darren Millane, 2006 Collingwood Hall Of Famer.
If anyone can post more photos and videos then please do, because I know there are plenty out there.
