Basil Collins

Born into the prominent local family behind the Collins Brothers woollen mills, Basil Collins was a Geelong College product who took nearly a decade to fully establish himself at the elite level. His early career between 1910 and 1915 was defined by sporadic appearances, often finding himself on the fringe of the selected side. It was during the player shortages of World War I that Collins finally found continuity; when Geelong returned to the VFL in 1917 after a one-year recess, he became a vital fixture in the lineup, utilizing his 185cm frame—exceptionally tall for a wingman of the era—to control play across the centre and half-back lines. He remained a regular contributor until his retirement in 1921, but his legacy at Kardinia Park was cemented off the field decades later. Collins returned to serve as club President from 1940 to 1945, guiding the Cats through the turbulent suspension of the competition during the Second World War.