Burns, a rover, was recruited to Collingwood from Preston. He kicked 25 goals in 1960, three of them in a match winning performance against Fitzroy in the Preliminary Final. Burns was then in the forward pocket when Collingwood were comprehensively beaten by Melbourne in the Grand Final.
Western Australia 26.18 (174) defeated Victoria (VFA) 5.11 (41), at North Hobart Oval, 9 June 1966, crowd: 20,047 Tasmania 19.27 (141) defeated Victoria (VFA) 7.11 (53), at North Hobart Oval, 11 June 1966, crowd: 23,764 Victoria (VFL) 14.17 (101) defeated Victoria (VFA) 9.7 (61), at North Hobart Oval, 13 June 1966, crowd: 13,969 South Australia 21.20 (146) defeated Victoria (VFA) 9.11 (65), at North Hobart Oval, 16 June 1966, crowd: 10,199