Kevin Darrigan
1950-51
Games 9, Goals 0
Eddie Millar 1958-59
Games 5, Goals 1
The Collingwood Football Club is saddened to learn of the deaths of two former 1950s players, Kevin Darrigan and Eddie Millar.
Kevin was a strongly built key defender who came to us from Preston Wanderers in 1949. He made his senior debut the following year, and played nine games across the next two seasons, playing mostly at full-back, centre half-back or in the back pocket, with some spells on the ball.
He always seemed close to senior selection without ever nailing down a spot, and played 51 reserves games in his three seasons on the senior list. He would likely have played in the 1952 finals series but badly tore the ligaments in his arm near the end of the year.
Feeling starved of opportunity he crossed to Fitzroy in 1953, where he played a further 34 games across four seasons. At the time of his death he was Fitzroy’s oldest past player, just a couple of weeks short of his 93rd birthday.
Eddie Millar played five games for the Club across the 1958-59 seasons. Recruited from Parade College, he first joined the Under-19s in 1957. He played 10 games at that level and 26 with the reserves across two seasons to go with his handful of senior appearances.
A ruck-rover and defender, Eddie wasn’t a star but was regarded as a solid and reliable contributor. He made his senior debut against Fitzroy on his 20th birthday, coming off the bench in the third quarter. But he started only two games across two seasons and, with senior opportunities limited at Victoria Park, he crossed to Preston in the VFA. He would go on to be part of their Second Division Premiership team in 1963.
The Board, management, staff, coaches and players of the Collingwood Football Club would like to acknowledge the contributions of both Kevin and Eddie to our club. Our thoughts are with their families, and their friends from Collingwood and beyond.
Side by Side.
