Vale Geoffrey Hibbins

The VAFA extends its deepest condolences to Collegians Football Club, and the family and friends of Geoff Hibbins who recently passed away.

Geoff is widely regarded as the greatest Collegians player and one of the greatest ever to pull on the Big V. He is a three-time A Section Best & Fairest winner, a former Big V and Australian Amateur team captain and one of just 12 Big V Legends after being inducted in 2007.

Please read the message from Collegians FC and details of Geoff’s funeral below:

“It is with much sadness that Collegians FC announces the passing of Geoff Hibbins after a short illness.

Geoff’s career started at Collegians in 1948 when he played a few games whilst still at school. During his first full season in 1949, Geoff was selected in the VAFA state team to play Tasmania. In 1952-53 Geoff played in the VFL for St Kilda as an amateur and returned to Collegians in June of 1954 to play eleven games and win the B Section Best and Fairest along with the Collegians Best and Fairest.

One of the highlights of Geoff’s sensational career was to be appointed Captain of the Australian amateur side that played the VFL in a demonstration match in the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne. His jumper from that game sits proudly in the Collegians rooms to this day.

Geoff will most likely go down as the club’s greatest ever player and his honours include the following:

• Six times Collegians Best and Fairest in 1950, 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1961
• B Section Best and Fairest in 1954 and 1955
• A Section Best and Fairest in 1951, 1958 and 1961; and lost on a count back in 1959
• Club Captain, Coach and Secretary from 1955 to 1958
• Captain and Coach in 1961 and 1962 and non-playing coach in 1967 and 1968
• Was the outstanding player of five premiership sides in 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1961
• First selected in the Victorian Amateur Football Association team in 1949; he went on to represent and captain both the VAFA and the Australian Amateur sides many times
• Inducted as one of five Legends of the VAFA
• Geoff Hibbins was also a Life Member of Collegians Football Club

To Geoff the game of football was simple: “It’s a game of keepings off; keep possession and you win.”

On behalf of all Collegians Committees, players and coaches, both past and present, supporters and friends of Geoff Hibbins, we send the Hibbins family our sincere condolences on the passing of a legend in the true meaning of legend.

He will be sadly missed at home games at the Trott and not seeing Geoff sitting on the hill, will indeed be very sad; but we can all be very thankful for a life very well lived.”

A Celebration of the life of Geoffrey Hibbins will be held this

Friday 16th March at 2pm

Royal Brighton Yacht Club

253 Esplanade, Middle Brighton