By Bob Utber
Monique FitzGerald is a happy-go-lucky mum of two boys but Grand Final day had her on tenterhooks.
As a member of what I would call a Demon Royalty family like many of her ilk she had to watch the Grand Final from her home in Maribyrnong.
“Normally we would be at the ‘G for any game the Dees are playing. Uncles, aunts, cousins and sometimes my mum. It was always a family get-together event. This year has been so different in many ways,” she said.
Demon royalty? Obviously the Cordners would be the numero uno but this family of Collinses is pretty high on the list as well.
Monique’s great grandfather Jack played 127 games for the Fuchsias and kicked seven goals as a dashing wingman. You can add the 1926 Premiership to that list and representing Victoria (1929).
Grandfather Geoff played 88 games and kicked eight goals for the Redlegs including a premiership in his first year (1948) and he captained the team in his last year 1954 against Footscray. According to the media of the day he was best player for the losers. He also represented Victoria in 1952.
Geoff’s brother Michael also played four games for the Demons and then went to the SANFL.
Geoff Collins is probably second to Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott when it comes to heroes of the Club. While at Melbourne, he was in the air force and was a fighter pilot in Korea where he flew 100 sorties and was cited for bravery. He also lost his canopy in one of those sorties. No wonder he was a tough relentless half back! That was in 1952-53 where he missed playing but returned to the Demons who made him captain for the 1954 season. Such was his respect at the Club.
Geoff and his wife Mary had seven children (five boys and two girls) and lived on a farm just out of Sale at Denison. He purchased the farm on his release from the air force as part of the servicemen resettlement policy. One of those boys, Peter, was Monique and her two brothers’ (Simon and Luke) Dad. “Dad loved his footy and was a Demon through and through,” said Monique. Brother Luke played with several clubs in the VFA/VFL but never made it into the big time.
Uniquely though, Luke and his uncle Mike both won the Trood/Rodda Medal for the best player in the Gippsland (Latrobe Valley) Football League.
Grandma Mary is 92 and is living in Sale.
Mike Collins has lived in WA since 1987 and was at the Grand Final in Perth while Monique and her family watched from their home in Melbourne. Other family members (of which there are many) watched from various locations in and around Sale. A touch of sadness for Monique as Grand Final day was the sixth anniversary of her dad Peter’s passing. “There was certainly a sense of Jack, Geoff and Dad sitting in the balcony and steering the Dees in the right direction,” said Monique.
“I couldn’t wait for the game to start,” said Monique after the family had put up their streamers and balloons throughout the house. “I knew we were in with a show but it was not until late in the third quarter that I knew the game was ours,” she said.
There were great celebrations for the Collins clan with memories flooding back for Jack, Geoff, Peter and Mike.
The next big thing for Monique? “Can’t wait to get my Full membership of the MCC. It is part of our family.”
Monique FitzGerald is a happy-go-lucky mum of two boys but Grand Final day had her on tenterhooks.
As a member of what I would call a Demon Royalty family like many of her ilk she had to watch the Grand Final from her home in Maribyrnong.
“Normally we would be at the ‘G for any game the Dees are playing. Uncles, aunts, cousins and sometimes my mum. It was always a family get-together event. This year has been so different in many ways,” she said.
Demon royalty? Obviously the Cordners would be the numero uno but this family of Collinses is pretty high on the list as well.
Monique’s great grandfather Jack played 127 games for the Fuchsias and kicked seven goals as a dashing wingman. You can add the 1926 Premiership to that list and representing Victoria (1929).
Grandfather Geoff played 88 games and kicked eight goals for the Redlegs including a premiership in his first year (1948) and he captained the team in his last year 1954 against Footscray. According to the media of the day he was best player for the losers. He also represented Victoria in 1952.
Geoff’s brother Michael also played four games for the Demons and then went to the SANFL.
Geoff Collins is probably second to Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott when it comes to heroes of the Club. While at Melbourne, he was in the air force and was a fighter pilot in Korea where he flew 100 sorties and was cited for bravery. He also lost his canopy in one of those sorties. No wonder he was a tough relentless half back! That was in 1952-53 where he missed playing but returned to the Demons who made him captain for the 1954 season. Such was his respect at the Club.
Geoff and his wife Mary had seven children (five boys and two girls) and lived on a farm just out of Sale at Denison. He purchased the farm on his release from the air force as part of the servicemen resettlement policy. One of those boys, Peter, was Monique and her two brothers’ (Simon and Luke) Dad. “Dad loved his footy and was a Demon through and through,” said Monique. Brother Luke played with several clubs in the VFA/VFL but never made it into the big time.
Uniquely though, Luke and his uncle Mike both won the Trood/Rodda Medal for the best player in the Gippsland (Latrobe Valley) Football League.
Grandma Mary is 92 and is living in Sale.
Mike Collins has lived in WA since 1987 and was at the Grand Final in Perth while Monique and her family watched from their home in Melbourne. Other family members (of which there are many) watched from various locations in and around Sale. A touch of sadness for Monique as Grand Final day was the sixth anniversary of her dad Peter’s passing. “There was certainly a sense of Jack, Geoff and Dad sitting in the balcony and steering the Dees in the right direction,” said Monique.
“I couldn’t wait for the game to start,” said Monique after the family had put up their streamers and balloons throughout the house. “I knew we were in with a show but it was not until late in the third quarter that I knew the game was ours,” she said.
There were great celebrations for the Collins clan with memories flooding back for Jack, Geoff, Peter and Mike.
The next big thing for Monique? “Can’t wait to get my Full membership of the MCC. It is part of our family.”
