He initially played forward, but after a couple of seasons became a powerful centre half back,[3] and he was a vital part of 'The Machine', the 1927–1930 Collingwood teams who won four premierships in a row.

Before the 1940 season the Collingwood committee forced the Collier brothers into a reluctant retirement,[6] and Albert transferred to Fitzroy where he played in 1941 and 1942.

Collier later captain-coached Camberwell[7] in the throw-pass era VFA from 1945 until 1946, earning acclaim for building and leading the team to the minor premiership and a losing Grand Final in 1946.

[10] In 1942, Collier enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force[11] where he served in an Aircraft Repair Depot until the end of the war.

[14] In 1996 Albert was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, and was named at centre half back in Collingwood's Team of the Century.