Phil Manassa
Collingwood
AFL career
122 games60 goals
- Debut
- R3 1973 v GEE21 Apr 1973
- Most recent
- R21 1979 v CAR25 Aug 1979
Stats
Bio
A product of Melbourne High School and the tough northern suburbs, Phil Manassa established himself as a key pillar in Collingwood’s resurgence under Tom Hafey in the late 1970s. Debuting as a 17-year-old, he quickly developed a reputation not just as a stopper, but as a powerful, attacking half-back flanker who backed himself to break lines. With a thick frame and a penchant for long, dashing runs, Manassa was the prototype of the modern rebounding defender, often turning defence into attack with sheer physical momentum and a booming right boot.
While he was a consistent 100-game player for the Magpies, Manassa’s career is defined by a single, legendary passage of play in the 1977 Grand Final Replay. Gathering the ball on the half-back flank, he tucked it under his arm and charged through the centre of the MCG, taking four bounces and baulking a North Melbourne opponent before slotting a goal on the run. It remains one of the game's most iconic individual efforts. Surprisingly, Manassa’s time at the top level was brief; he left the VFL at just 23 years of age to pursue business and coaching opportunities in Tasmania. Despite his premature exit, his standing in the game is permanent, with the AFL’s annual Goal of the Year award named the Phil Manassa Medal in his honour.
Profile
- Born
- 29 Jan 1956 (age 70y 248d)
- Height
- 178 cm
- Weight
- 79 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionA product of Melbourne High School and the tough northern suburbs, Phil Manassa established himself as a key pillar in Collingwood’s resurgence under Tom Hafey in the late 1970s. Debuting as a 17-year-old, he quickly developed a reputation not just as a stopper, but as a powerful, attacking half-back flanker who backed himself to break lines. With a thick frame and a penchant for long, dashing runs, Manassa was the prototype of the modern rebounding defender, often turning defence into attack with sheer physical momentum and a booming right boot.
While he was a consistent 100-game player for the Magpies, Manassa’s career is defined by a single, legendary passage of play in the 1977 Grand Final Replay. Gathering the ball on the half-back flank, he tucked it under his arm and charged through the centre of the MCG, taking four bounces and baulking a North Melbourne opponent before slotting a goal on the run. It remains one of the game's most iconic individual efforts. Surprisingly, Manassa’s time at the top level was brief; he left the VFL at just 23 years of age to pursue business and coaching opportunities in Tasmania. Despite his premature exit, his standing in the game is permanent, with the AFL’s annual Goal of the Year award named the Phil Manassa Medal in his honour.