Allan La Fontaine
Who was Allan La Fontaine?
Australian rules footballer (1910–1999)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Allan La Fontaine (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Allan Faulkner La Fontaine (5 December 1910 – 14 August 1999) was an Australian rules footballer, coach, and industrial chemist. He played an important role in Australian football through his long involvement with the Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Born in Eskdale, Victoria, La Fontaine grew up in regional Australia and was dedicated both to his education and his sporting dreams. He studied at St Kevin's College, one of Melbourne's well-known Catholic schools, which helped build the base for his academic and sports development.
La Fontaine's playing career with Melbourne was marked by consistent excellence. He won the Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal four times: 1935, 1936, 1941, and 1942. This medal is given to Melbourne's best and fairest player each season, and La Fontaine's repeated success shows how well he played across several years. Even during the tough war years of the early 1940s, he was one of the club's most reliable and talented players.
After retiring as a player, La Fontaine continued to contribute to the Melbourne Football Club as a coach, showing his deep understanding of the game and earning respect in the football community. His coaching extended the impact of his skills and strategic knowledge to a new generation of players.
Outside football, La Fontaine worked as an industrial chemist. This profession highlighted his abilities beyond sports and his readiness to work hard in challenging environments. His achievements in both sports and his professional life made him a well-rounded person of his time.
In 1996, in recognition of his contributions to Australian rules football, La Fontaine was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, three years before he passed away on 14 August 1999. This honor placed him among the most celebrated figures in the history of the game and acknowledged his lasting impact as both a player and coach with Melbourne in the VFL.
Before Fame
Allan La Fontaine was born on December 5, 1910, in Eskdale, a small town in the Upper Mitta Mitta Valley in Victoria's alpine northeast. Growing up in rural Australia in the early 20th century, La Fontaine would have experienced the rhythms of country life that shaped many Australians who later gained prominence in the cities. Australian rules football was already a big part of Victorian culture during this time, and talented young men from rural areas often moved to the city clubs seeking top-level opportunities.
La Fontaine went to St Kevin's College in Melbourne, a school known for producing notable footballers. His time there not only gave him a solid education that later supported his work as an industrial chemist, but also provided him with access to top-notch football coaching and competition that helped develop his natural talents. From St Kevin's, he joined the Melbourne Football Club, starting a VFL career that made him one of the club's most celebrated players in the 1930s and 1940s.
Key Achievements
- Won the Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal (Melbourne best and fairest) four times: 1935, 1936, 1941, and 1942
- Inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996
- Played and coached with Melbourne Football Club in the VFL
- Built a parallel professional career as a qualified industrial chemist
- Educated at St Kevin's College, Melbourne, before succeeding at the elite VFL level
Did You Know?
- 01.La Fontaine won the Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal four times, in 1935, 1936, 1941, and 1942, making him one of Melbourne Football Club's most decorated best-and-fairest winners.
- 02.He was born in Eskdale, a small and remote town in Victoria's alpine northeast, far from the metropolitan football culture in which he would make his name.
- 03.La Fontaine combined a high-level football career with a professional vocation as an industrial chemist, an uncommon pairing that reflected the era when footballers were not professional full-time athletes.
- 04.He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996, when he was 85 years old, receiving the honour late in a long life.
- 05.La Fontaine's two Truscott Medal wins in 1941 and 1942 came during the Second World War, a period when many footballers had enlisted and VFL competitions were significantly disrupted.
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Football Hall of Fame | 1996 | — |
| Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal | 1935 | — |
| Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal | 1936 | — |
| Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal | 1941 | — |
| Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal | 1942 | — |