Bob Burns
Collingwood
AFL career
2 games0 goals
- Debut
- R1 1904 v GEE7 May 1904
- Most recent
- R2 1904 v MEL14 May 1904
Stats
Bio
Recruited from Richmond Juniors, Robert "Bob" Burns remains one of the more fascinating "what ifs" in Collingwood history, breaking into the reigning premiers' lineup for the opening round of the 1904 season. A versatile operator capable of playing as a flanker or midfielder, he manned the back pocket for just two matches before abruptly walking away from his VFL career at age 20 to accept a headmaster position in Ballarat. Far from fading into obscurity, Burns moved west to become a formidable figure in the WAFL, captain-coaching East Perth from the bottom of the ladder to a Grand Final in 1910. His post-football life proved even more extraordinary, seeing him serve as a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I before establishing himself as a medical doctor in Wales.
Profile
- Born
- 03 June 1884
- Died
- 16 Aug 1949 (aged 65y 74d)
- Deathplace
- Abertillery, United Kingdom
- Height
- 175 cm
- Weight
- 78 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from Richmond Juniors, Robert "Bob" Burns remains one of the more fascinating "what ifs" in Collingwood history, breaking into the reigning premiers' lineup for the opening round of the 1904 season. A versatile operator capable of playing as a flanker or midfielder, he manned the back pocket for just two matches before abruptly walking away from his VFL career at age 20 to accept a headmaster position in Ballarat. Far from fading into obscurity, Burns moved west to become a formidable figure in the WAFL, captain-coaching East Perth from the bottom of the ladder to a Grand Final in 1910. His post-football life proved even more extraordinary, seeing him serve as a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I before establishing himself as a medical doctor in Wales.