Dan Minogue; Collingwood legend or Collingwood villain?

[Presti35]

Way back in the season of 1911, Collingwood saw the emergence of a 19 year old centre half-back out of Bendigo by the name of Dan Minogue.

Considered a courageous player, Minogue played 9 games in 1911 and broke his collarbone playing for Collingwood in the opening minute of the 1911 Grand Final. He continued to play out the entire match, which Collingwood sadly lost to Essendon by 6 points. (We'd have to wait until 1990 to see them in another GF).

Minogue would go on to play 85 games for Collingwood between seasons 1911-1916, which included 2 losing grand finals (1911 and 1915). He would become the clubs 12th captain between 1914–1916.

In 1916, he was enlisted in the the Australian Army / Flying Corps and left for Europe during WW1. He returned to Australia in 1919. This is where things go sour for Collingwood. (It's worth noting the club did win the 1917 premiership while Minogue was in Europe).

On his return he stunned the club and asked to be able to play for Richmond. This happened because he was unhappy with Collingwood for their treatment of his close friend and teammate Jim Sadler, who was released in 1917. (Sadler played 135 games for Collingwood between 1908-17, including the 1910 premiership). Sadler was later awarded life membership in 1920, an honour that Minogue would never receive.

As Minogue was considered one of the clubs best players, Collingwood felt betrayed by his request and forced him to sit out the 1919 season rather than clear his move to the Tigers. There is also a story where it's believed the club turned Minogue’s photo to face the wall. (It is also worth nothing the club won the premiership in 1919 after Minogue's request).

Now 28, after three years service and one season sitting out of the game, Minogue took up the captaincy and led Richmond to their first two premierships in 1920 and 1921. Of course, in his first season at Richmond, he won the Grand Final against Collingwood. This would not have gone down well at the time.

He later played a game for Hawthorn and in addition to playing at three clubs, he coached at five. This record has never been equalled.

It's been said that it took decades for the Collingwood Football Club to forgive Minogue. I wonder if thats true?

Minogue passed away, aged 69 in July 1961.

In 1996, Minogue was an inaugural inductee into the Australian Football Hall of Fame. Jim Sadler is yet to receive that honour, as are many other Collingwood greats including Dick Condon, Marcus Whelan, Harold Rumney, Ray Gabelich and Thorold Merrett, but thats a conversation for another thread.

So, Dan Minogue. Hero? Villain? The original Nick Davis? Did the club really forgive him? It's possible that he'd have been on our team of the century had he stayed. All in all, it's an interesting story.

https://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/person/243169

https://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/players/dan-minogue/

https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/D/Dan_Minogue.html

[LaurieHolden]

Thanks Presti, I love a deep dive. Our history is our identity, so plaudits to those that give this life.

I'll do some 'diving' myself and see what I can uncover, but this story seems an injustice and more should be uncovered.

Floreat Pica.

[slangman]

I think that he was also disappointed that Jock McHale never enlisted in WW1.
I read a McHale biography a while ago and I recall them being very good friends prior to the war. Their differing views ended that friendship.

[Dr Pie]

[Piesnchess]

He sounds like the Magpies version of Breaker Morant, a scapegoat but really great bloke all round.

[Piesnchess]

He sounds like the Magpies version of Breaker Morant, a scapegoat but really great bloke all round.

[23 YIPPEE!!!]

Irony the Danielle Minogue the singer follows Carlton i feel kylie though is Collingwood girl

[Jezza]

Minogue's move marked the beginning of the Collingwood-Richmond rivalry in 1919. The rivalry intensified in the 20s during the "Machine Team" era.

Up until then, Fitzroy was our main rival followed by Carlton who we developed a rivalry with after the 1910 Grand Final.

[LaurieHolden]

Extracts from ‘Kill for Collingwood’ - R.Stremski 1986.

On the eve of the 1917 GF, morale was boosted when the Club received a timely gift from captain of the past 3 years, Dan Minogue , who was overseas with the AIF, sent a German shell fashioned into a lucky horseshoe.

Richmond enticed former captain Dan Minogue to Tigerland upon his return from the war.
Ostensibly Minogue left for money. Before the 1914 season the Club had refused a clearance when he wanted to accept a "lucrative' offer from /Essendon Town (VFA); instead, Minogue became captain. When Minogue did leave Collingwood 5 years later, money was not the primary consideration. While he was in France with the AIF, Minogue played football with an inter-divisional opponent, Hugh James of Richmond. James wrote to Richmond' secretary, W Maybury, that Minogue could be seduced for money and, more importantly, the coaching position.

Minogue could see that McHale was entrenched as Collingwood's coach; when Jock retired as playing coach at the end of 1918, he was appointed non-playing coach. Obviously, Minogue could become a playing coach only if he left Collingwood.

The Club planned a tremendous welcome home for its soldier-players in July 1919, but Minogue was the one who really mattered. The Club postponed and downgraded the function when it discovered that Minogue 'could not attend'. His unavailability made it clear the the Club was losing the champion it had recruited from Bendigo at age of seventeen.
The loss of Minogue was a bitter blow because he was still in his prime and his return had been eagerly anticipated. In his final game before departing for overseas Minogue had 'played so well he was carried off the ground' even though the Magpies lost the match.

Collingwood refused to clear Minogue in the 1919, but the Club's obstinacy was in vain. At the start of the season the League ruled that a returning soldier, after three years away, 'shall play with the Club in whose district he takes up residence'. Since Richmond had finalised negotiations with Minogue before he returned to Melbourne, his residence was prearranged, and his clearance could not be denied - though he had to sit out the remainder of 1919 to complete three years abstinence.
Collingwood's rivalry with Richmond originated with the Minogue transfer.

Minogue began his Richmond career as playing coach in the next year. He played 94 games for Richmond with the Tigers and coached over 300 games with five League clubs, achieving the pinnacle of success as coach twice. Minogue’s first premiership was attained by beating Collingwood in the 1920 Grand Final, which exacerbated the hostility.

The Club never forgave Minogue. He was the first outstanding player to desert Collingwood for another League team while still in his prime. Many had threatened, or wished, to do so, but Minogue set the precedent. Only he and Condon remain unforgiven from the Club’s first 9 decades. Condon was denied life membership; Minogue’s picture was turned to the wall. When Minogue tried to claim the £20 he had accumulated in the Retirement Allowance, he was rebuffed. The committee pointedly told him that the Compensation Fund has been ‘established to encourage loyalty to the Club’. A player who left ‘while his services were still required’ forfeited his retirement pay.

Minogue’s departure was viewed as treason only because he went to another League side. There was a procession of Magpies who left the nest to become captain / coach of another team in the early 1920’s. Collingwood actually assisted premiership captain McCarthy when Footscray soft drink magnate George Sayer offered him a better job than he had at Trescowthick’s. McCarthy clearly left for money since he was offered a bonus of £400 over two seasons. Collingwood was not thrilled but at least he was going to the VFA where he would not be competing against his old side.

Footnote :
Anyone in any doubt in regards to tracking down a copy and investing in this book, need not hesitate. It remains the Magnum opus to Collingwood’s history and the high bar of all Collingwood publications.

[Presti35]

Thank you for the replies. And wow, thank you LaurieHolden for that last post.

I wonder how differently he'd be remembered had he remained with the club? The premiership tally could be different, and he may have found himself in our ToC painting. And probably not yet in the HoF...

[Presti35]

Anyone who goes to Bendigo and does the underground mine tour will hear Minogues name get mentioned.

[Bruce Gonsalves]

I love reading the history of these old guys. Is it possible that someone could compile some history on Charlie Tyson. Much maligned and accused of playing dead.

My wife's aunty was his daughter and the accusations of him taking money on the side were always debunked in the family. It would be great if some research could be done.

[Presti35]

Some basic research on Charlie Tyson;

*Recruited from Western Australia. Playing in the Goldfields Football League for the Kalgoorlie Railways team.

*Tyson came from a leading Western Australian footballing family; his father Charles Snr, also played for Kalgoorlie Railways, as well as fellow Goldfields' club Coolgardie, and Western Australian Football League (WAFL) clubs East Fremantle and Midland Junction. Charles Sr also represented WA on three occasions, and had six brothers who all played football to a high standard.

*Played 106 games for the Pies and 38 for the Roos. He also coached the Roos for 23 games.

*He was named club captain in 1924 and led them to Grand Finals in 1925 and 26.

*Seemingly unlucky not to win a premiership, playing in 4 losing grand finals for Collingwood before transferring to North in 1927; the year Collingwood would win the first of 4 in a row. Would only play in 7 wins for North between 1927-1929.

*Was not a teammate of Dan Minogue, but played against him in the 1920 GF. He came to the club after Minogues shock departure.

*The 1926 Grand Final is where the controversy lays. Collingwood lost to Melbourne by 57 points. He was later accused of 'playing dead'.

[Bruce Gonsalves]

Thanks Presti, great info to work with there.

[neil]