Allan La Fontaine
Melbourne
AFL career
171 games77 goals
- Debut
- R1 1934 v RCH5 May 1934
- Most recent
- R20 1945 v FIT1 Sept 1945
Coaching career
56 games25 wins31 losses0 draws
- First
- R1 1949 v GEE16 Apr 1949
- Most recent
- R18 1951 v RCH1 Sept 1951
Stats
Bio
Recruited from University Blacks in the Victorian Amateur Football Association, Allan La Fontaine arrived at Melbourne in 1934 as a mature-age prospect who had already refined his craft outside the VFL system. A highly skilled centreman who relied on guile and precision kicking rather than brute strength, he quickly became the tactical linchpin of the side. His intelligent distribution and ability to read the play caught the eye of coach Frank 'Checker' Hughes, who elevated him to the captaincy in 1936, seeing him as the ideal on-field leader to execute the club's game plan.
La Fontaine's standing in the game is secured by his role as the skipper of Melbourne's legendary powerhouse era. He captained the Demons to three consecutive premierships in 1939, 1940, and 1941, managing a team of stars with a calm and masterful demeanour. While his career was eventually curtailed by World War II service and age, his contribution was recognised with selection in Melbourne's Team of the Century and induction into the Australian Football Hall of Fame. He later served the club as non-playing coach, further cementing his status as a pivotal figure in the club's history.
Profile
- Born
- 15 Dec 1910
- Died
- 14 Aug 1999 (aged 88y 242d)
- Birthplace
- Eskdale, VIC
- Height
- 175 cm
- Weight
- 81 kg
Teams
Coaching
- Melbourne (Senior Coach)1949–195156 games (W25 L31 D0), 44.6%
Honours
- Premiership(3×) 1939, 1940, 1941
- Hall of Fame1996
- Melbourne B&F(4×) 1935, 1936, 1941, 1942
- Melbourne captain(6×) 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941
- Brownlow Medal
- Top 10
- 1935, 1936
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from University Blacks in the Victorian Amateur Football Association, Allan La Fontaine arrived at Melbourne in 1934 as a mature-age prospect who had already refined his craft outside the VFL system. A highly skilled centreman who relied on guile and precision kicking rather than brute strength, he quickly became the tactical linchpin of the side. His intelligent distribution and ability to read the play caught the eye of coach Frank 'Checker' Hughes, who elevated him to the captaincy in 1936, seeing him as the ideal on-field leader to execute the club's game plan.
La Fontaine's standing in the game is secured by his role as the skipper of Melbourne's legendary powerhouse era. He captained the Demons to three consecutive premierships in 1939, 1940, and 1941, managing a team of stars with a calm and masterful demeanour. While his career was eventually curtailed by World War II service and age, his contribution was recognised with selection in Melbourne's Team of the Century and induction into the Australian Football Hall of Fame. He later served the club as non-playing coach, further cementing his status as a pivotal figure in the club's history.