[2] In 1930 he went on to complete his secondary education at St Kevin's College, Melbourne before proceeding to university where he was eventually granted Bachelor of Science in 1946.

[3] La Fontaine enjoyed a variety of activities which included boxing, cricket and in 1936 working as a seaman on an oil tanker bound for America.

[5] During World War II, he served as a Flying Officer with the RAAF between 1942 and 1945,[6] and he saw action in New Guinea and the nearby islands.

Recruited to the Old Paradians by its founder Lou Arthur, La Fontaine vindicated the transport magnate's faith by kicking 146 goals for the home-and-away season (152 including finals), which was easily a record in any Metropolitan Amateur Football Association (MAFA) division since the competition began in 1892.

[10] La Fontaine was considered a brilliant amateur full-forward, and was to earn his fame playing with the Melbourne Football Club as a centreman.