I still shed a tear each time I watch this some 19 years later. His voice so soft and genuine when he met you whether we hadn't caught up for a few weeks or the day before. He would take your right hand in his, turn it over ,and warmly put his left palm patting your forearm saying 'How are you old son'. I had the great pleasure in having him as my guest at the one and only Grand Final he saw in 96 where the Swans pulled up just short. In August my one and only son was born and the Swans won the Granny the month late and now has seen them win 2. I can hear Bills voice as now my boy is a lanky rising 12 year old wearing the Swans No 8 not far away from Trafalgar, Bill would say 'Well old son you can forget him being a jockey but Kurt Tippett is just keeping the number 8 warm for him'. I love the Collins clan what a great family, Bill, Robin, Deb, Lyn and John. Bless You All, Andrew Castle
Thx u Kyle for posting this - Like Bruce Mcavaney and many others Bill Collins was my idol growing up, legendary and best race caller the world has seen and by a long way too!!, was lucky enough to meet him twice and briefly spoke to him, a great man sadly missed to this day.
I remember Bill Collins always being constantly interrupted by Mary Hardy when they did a regular Saturday TV show in Melbourne in the late `70s. How he didn`t throttle her I can`t imagine. That man had the patience of Job. Great racecaller.
