Born April 25, 1965
Recruited Doncaster Heights / Sandringham
Debut Order 710
Played 1987-1996
Games 212 Goals 37
Guernsey 40 (1987-88), 4 (1989-92), 5 (1993-96)
Premierships 1988, 1989, 1991
Night Premierships 1988, 1991, 1992
Encouragement Award 1987
Club Champion 1990
3rd Club Champion 1992
Consecutive Games 189 (club record) – R19 1998 to R 22 1996
Life Member 1993
Hall of Fame Inductee 2022
State Games 4
Box Hill Coach 2004-2005
Box Hill Assistant Coach 2001, 2020-2021
HFC Head of Development 2022-
Awards Committee 2019-
Andrew Collins was a tough, durable, and highly skilled player who has the distinction of being the first player chosen to wear the Iconic number 5 Guernsey, worn by the late Peter Crimmins, when this guernsey was brought out of retirement.
Collins experienced the then traditional Hawthorn apprenticeship by first starting with the Under 19s, graduating to the Reserves before playing his first senior game in Round 4 v Footscray in 1987.
Originally recruited from Doncaster Heights, he made the most of a second chance after being rejected by the Hawks early in his career. Crossing to VFA club, Sandringham, he won a recall to Glenferrie. Collins developed into a superbly courageous back pocket player who teamed with Chris Langford and Gary Ayres to form one of Hawthorn’s finest backlines.
He was a vital member of the Allan Jeans and Alan Joyce Golden Era, playing in the 1988,1989 and 1991 premiership sides. Known as a tough, uncompromising footballer with great endurance, he won the Club’s Best & Fairest in 1990.
Collins’ last game was in the now famous Merge match against Melbourne, Round 22, 1996. He retired in unfortunate circumstances as he was suspended following that game. The suspension ended a Club record of 189 consecutive games.
Collins has since returned to Hawthorn as part the Sam Mitchell coaching panel. A strong advocate of the Club’s values, history, and traditions, Collins was invited to join Hawthorn’s Awards Committee in 2019. He has been very strong supporter of the Hawks Museum as a guest speaker at numerous functions and is a major donor to the Club Collection.
