Darren Millane

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Born
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Dandenong, Victoria

Position
Wing

Status
Deceased

Ethnicity
White

Team Number
42

Height
187 cm (6 ft 2 in)

Weight
94 kg (207 lb)

Outfitter

Kit
Wage Year

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Sport

Australian Football

Team
_Deceased Australian Football

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Description

Darren Millane (9 August 1965 – 7 October 1991) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

One of the toughest and finest wingmen of his era, Millane's tragic death in a car accident at the age of 26, only a year after starring in the Magpies' drought-breaking premiership, is considered one of Australian football's saddest moments.

Millane debuted for Dandenong in the VFA in 1982. Millane was considered by both Sydney and St Kilda for a spot on their club list. Yet it was Hawthorn that won the chance, with Millane initially training at Glenferrie Oval with the Hawks. but did not like the atmosphere and went back to captain Dandenong in the Victorian Football Association. Collingwood snapped him up and Millane liked what he saw, and his football career came along nicely, debuting in 1984, aged 19.

In 1987, Millane won the best-and-fairest award. He found his place on the wing and was a footballer known for his toughness and attitude towards the game. He was most likely the recipient on the end of the kick-outs because of his strength. Although his skills were occasionally poor, at his best he found and used the football well, becoming a favourite to fans at Victoria Park.

In 1990, the premiership-drought-breaking year for the Magpies, Millane was at his peak. He won the AFL Players Association MVP Award, now known as the Leigh Matthews Trophy; was selected in the AFL Team of the Year for the first time; and came second in Collingwood's best and fairest; but it was his finals campaign that was recognised. He broke his thumb just before the series, but continued to play with painkillers during the campaign. In the 1990 Grand Final, against Essendon, he had 24 touches and ended up throwing the ball up in the air as the siren went at 5:11 pm to end Collingwood's 32-year drought on 6 October.

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