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Darren Millane
Millane playing for Collingwood in 1988
Personal information
Full name Darren Millane
Nickname(s) Pants
Date of birth (1965-08-09)9 August 1965
Place of birth Dandenong, Victoria
Date of death 7 October 1991(1991-10-07) (aged 26)
Place of death Albert Park, Victoria
Original team(s) Dandenong (VFA)
Height 187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 94 kg (207 lb)
Position(s) Wing
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1984–1991 Collingwood 147 (78)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1991.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

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.

Early life

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Darren Millane was one of three sons born to Robert Joseph Millane and his wife Denise. His brothers, John and Sean, also played football for Dandenong.

Football career

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Millane debuted for Dandenong in the VFA in 1982.[1] 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.[2] 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,[2] now known as the Leigh Matthews Trophy;[3] 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.

Career highlights

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Death

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On 7 October 1991, Millane was killed in a car crash while intoxicated.[4] In the early morning of the day, he was driving on Queens Road, near Albert Park Lake, before he clipped a semi-trailer and rolled his car, being killed instantly.[5] The autopsy revealed his blood alcohol content was 0.322 — almost six-and-a-half times the legal driving limit of 0.05.[4] He was on his way to his Noble Park home, and that day was set to join 19 other members of the 1990 premiership side. The reunion did not go ahead, as players, officials and supporters went instead to mourn Millane's death at Victoria Park.

Millane's funeral was held at the Dandenong Town Hall, where more than 5000 people attended,[2] while the large crowd outside heard the service on a loudspeaker. Millane's guernsey with No. 42 on it was laid on the coffin, while the 1990 flag hung in the background at half-mast. The No. 42 guernsey was then retired from the club. In 2011, there were discussions to bring it back to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Millane's death.[6] However, as of 2023, the number has remained unused.

References

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  1. ^ "Millane, Darren". The VFA Project. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Moment #22 The death of Darren Millane". Australian Football League. 13 March 2008. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  3. ^ "Peers again name Ablett the best". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 7 September 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  4. ^ a b Tom Arup (8 August 2008). "Millane's mother laments publicity". The Age. Melbourne. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  5. ^ Paul Gough (5 August 2008). "Pies deny drinking problem". Sportal. Archived from the original on 17 August 2008. Retrieved 2010-03-06.
  6. ^ "Pies to bring back No.42". The Age. Melbourne.
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