Allan La Fontaine

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Allan La Fontaine
Allan LaFontaine 1928.jpg
Personal information
Full name Allan Faulkner La Fontaine
Date of birth 5 December 1910
Place of birth Eskdale, Victoria
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Place of death Sydney, New South Wales
Original team(s) University Blacks
Position(s) Centreman
Career highlights

Allan Faulkner La Fontaine (5 December 1910 – 14 August 1999) was an Australian rules footballer who played with and coached Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Private life

La Fontaine was born at the country town of Eskdale, Victoria. While still a youngster his parents, Cyrelle and Beatrice, brought the family to Melbourne where they settled in the suburb of Footscray. He had three brothers, Claude, Lionel and Donald. La Fontaine attended St Joseph's CBC North Melbourne (later St Joseph's College, Melbourne) from 1925 to 1929 where he earned the title Captain of College three years in a row; 1927, 1928 and 1929.[1]

At school he made his mark as both an excellent athlete, handball player and footballer.[2] In 1930 he went on to complete his secondary education at St Kevin's College, Melbourne before proceeding to university where he was eventually granted Bachelor of Science in 1946.[3]

La Fontaine enjoyed a variety of activities which included boxing, cricket and in 1936 working as a seaman on an oil tanker bound for America.[4]

In July 1940, La Fontaine married Mary Williams at St Patrick's Cathedral.[5]

During World War II, he served as a Flying Officer with the RAAF between 1942 and 1945,[6] and he saw action in New Guinea and the nearby islands.[citation needed] Two of his brothers served in the Australian Army during the same conflict. On his return he took up his trade as an industrial chemist and analyst in a Melbourne business.[citation needed]

La Fontaine died in Sydney in August 1999 and is buried in Macquarie Park Cemetery.[7]

Football career

Recruited to the Old Paradians by its founder Lou Arthur, La Fontaine vindicated the transport magnate's faith by booting an incredible 156 goals in the football club's inaugural season of 1929.[8] His football career changed dramatically when he was later recruited from University Blacks. In his last year (1933) as an amateur he kicked a record 197 goals for the season.[9]

He was considered a brilliant amateur full-forward, and was to earn his fame playing with the Melbourne Football Club as a centreman. He was appointed captain of Melbourne in 1936. He led the club to their hat-trick of premierships in 1939, 1940 and 1941. La Fontaine went on to coach Melbourne from 1949 until 1951.[10]

In 1996 La Fontaine was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.[11]

References

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Sources

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External links

  1. ↑ Review of St. Joseph's Christian Brothers' College North Melbourne on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee 1903–1952, St Joseph's College, North Melbourne, 1953.
  2. ↑ St Joseph's College North Melbourne; Jubilee Review 1903–1928. St Joseph's College, North Melbourne, 1928
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Taylor, Percy, "Melbourne are Proud of their Great War Record", The Australasian, (Saturday, 24 June 1944), p.23.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2002). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (4th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Crown Content. p. 362. ISBN 1-74095-001-1.
  11. ↑ Hall of Fame – Players Archived 24 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
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