This week’s team is based on the Brownlow Medal, which is coming up in 7 Days. The team is based on players who left the club they won their Brownlow Medal with. I was also going to do a team of players that left their club to go to another club and win a Brownlow Medal, but I did not quite have enough players for a side (15), so I have mentioned them at the end.
If I have missed anyone, please advise.
FB: Col Austen (Haw) Ross Glendinning (NM) Gavin Wanganeen (Ess)
CHB: Brad Hardie (Foots) Albert Collier (Coll) Sam Mitchell (Haw)
CE: Jason Akermanis (Bne) Greg Williams (Syd) Adam Cooney (WB)
CHF: Peter Bedford (Syd) Kelvin Templeton (Foots) Ben Cousins (WCE)
FF: Gary Ablett Jnr (Gee/GCS) Tony Lockett (St.K) Peter Moore (Coll)
RU: Gary Dempsey (Foots) Chris Judd (WCE) Ian Stewart (St.K)
Int Tom Mitchell (Haw) Brian Wilson (Melb) Shane Woewodin (Melb) Len Thompson (Coll)
Sub: Graham Teasdale (Syd)
Col Austen at Richmond [Source: Author]
Col Austen
85 Games Hawthorn 1940-49
Brownlow Medallist 1949
51 Games Richmond 1950-52
Austen tied 1949 Brownlow with Ron Clegg, but at the time had lost on countback. He was awarded the Brownlow retroactively in 1989. Austen left Hawthorn in 1950 after he had sided with outgoing captain coach Alec Albiston, who was removed before the start of the season by the board. The Hawthorn board gave Austen and Albiston an open clearance. Austen would captain Richmond reserves from 1953 to 1955, winning a premiership in 1954 & 55 and the Gardiner Medal in 1953.
Ross Glendinning
190 Games North Melbourne 1978-86
Brownlow Medallist 1983
40 Games West Coast 1987-88
Glendinning was equally brilliant at CHB or CHF and won the Brownlow playing both ends. Glendinning kicked 59 goals in 1979 and in his last year he kicked 73 goals in 1988. Glendinning left North Melbourne to return to his native Western Australia to captain the West Coast Eagles in their first two seasons.
Gavin Wanganeen
127 Games Essendon 1991-96
Brownlow Medallist 1993
173 Games Port Adelaide 1997-2006
Wanganeen is another player that could play anywhere on the ground especially in his time at Port Adelaide. Wanganeen went back to Port Adelaide where he was recruited from to be the inaugural captain of Port Adelaide and would win premierships at both clubs.
Brad Hardie at Footscray (Source: Author)
Brad Hardie
47 Games Footscray 1985-86
Brownlow Medallist 1985
101 Games Brisbane 1987-91
2 Games Collingwood 1992
Hardie won the Brownlow in his first year at Footscray aged 22 coming from South Fremantle. After a fallout with coach Mick Malthouse, Hardie left the club to join the Brisbane Bears, where he would play in the forward line and win the leading goalkicking twice.
Albert Collier at Collingwood [Source: Author]
Albert Collier
205 Games Collingwood 1925-30 & 1933-39
Brownlow Medallist 1929
12 Games Fitzroy 1941-42
Albert would win the Brownlow in 1929, with his brother Harry being one of three Brownlow Medallists in 1930. Albert played in six premierships and was vice captain to his brother Harry in two of them. Albert was CHB in Collingwood Team of the Century. In 1940, aged 30, Collingwood forced Albert and Harry into retirement. Albert thought he still had some football left in him and played 11 games for Fitzroy.
Sam Mitchell
307 Games Hawthorn 2002-16
Brownlow Medallist 2012
22 Games West Coast 2017
Mitchell’s career at Hawthorn included a JJ Liston trophy in 2002, Rising Star win in 2003 and he was Premiership Captain in 2008. In 2012, Mitchell shared the Brownlow with Trent Cotchin. This though would not be awarded until 2016, after it was initially awarded to Jobe Watson. Mitchell would play in four premierships before being traded to West Coast, where he had one year as a player and one year as an assistant coach, before returning to Hawthorn as assistant coach in 2019 and then senior coach from 2022.
Jason Akermanis
248 Games Brisbane 1995-06
Brownlow Medallist 2001
77 Games Western Bulldogs 2007-10
Akermanis was a three-time premiership player and four-time All Australian at Brisbane. Akermanis had a fallout with Leigh Matthews and the rest of the Brisbane Lions after he made inflammatory comments against Matthews, and upset the club with his newspaper stories. Akermanis would have four seasons at the Bulldogs, but would also leave the Bulldogs mid-year after courting more controversy in newspaper stories.
Greg Williams
34 Games Geelong 1984-85
107 Games Sydney 1986-91
Brownlow Medallist 1986
109 Games Carlton 1992-97
Brownlow Medallist 1994
Williams was from Carlton zone in Bendigo, but was rejected by the club. After two rejections from Carlton, he would join Geelong. In his second season, he would win AFL MVP and Geelong Best & Fairest. With his Geelong coach Tom Hafey appointed at Sydney, Williams would follow for double his pay. Williams would win a Brownlow in his first year with Robert DiPierdomenico. Williams would never win a Best & Fairest at Sydney, but did make the Team of the Century. Williams moved to Carlton with a desire to move back to Victoria and Sydney due to struggling finances. Williams would win the 1994 Brownlow, and a premiership and Norm Smith Medal in 1995.
Adam Cooney
219 Games Western Bulldogs 2004-14
Brownlow Medallist 2008
31 Games Essendon 2015-16
Cooney was Number 1 draft pick in 2003 for the Bulldogs and would be an All Australian in 2008. Cooney was traded to Essendon for Pick 37 after the Bulldogs were concerned about his ongoing injuries and deterioration with coach Brendan McCartney.
Peter Bedford at South Melbourne [Source: Author]
Peter Bedford
178 Games South Melbourne 1968-76
Brownlow Medallist 1970
8 Games Carlton 1977-78
Bedford is a five-time Swans Best & Fairest winner, captain from 1973-76, and was also a cricket state representative for Victoria, playing 39 games making 1602 runs and taking 45 wickets as a leg spinner. Bedford would leave South Melbourne to see if he could get a premiership at Carlton.
Kelvin Templeton
143 Games Footscray 1974-82
Brownlow Medallist 1980
34 Games Melbourne 1983-85
Templeton won the Coleman medal in 1978, with 118 goals, and 1979, with 91, and would also win two Best & Fairest in 1978 and 1980. Templeton would leave Footscray at the end of the 1982 season after he was offered a big contract to join Melbourne along with Peter Moore. Templeton would play three seasons, but retire due to injury aged 28.
Ben Cousins
238 Games West Coast 1996-2007
Brownlow Medallist 2005
32 Games Richmond 2009-10
Cousins joined West Coast as a Father Son selection and would win the Rising Star in 1996, premiership in 2006, four Best & Fairest at West Coasts and was captain from 2001-05. Cousins was sacked in November 2007 by West Coast and deregistered by the AFL for the 12 months for bringing the game into disrepute. Cousins was selected by Richmond with Pick 6 in the preseason draft.
Gary Ablett Jnr
192 Games Geelong 2002-10
Brownlow Medallist 2009
110 Games Gold Coast 2011-17
Brownlow Medallist 2013
55 Games Geelong 2018-20
Ablett joined Geelong as a Father Son selection in 2002. Ablett would win two premierships at Geelong, along with two Best & Fairest. Ablett would leave Geelong at the end of 2010 for new AFL club Gold Coast where he signed a five year deal. Ablett would captain Gold Coast for six years and win four Best & Fairest.
Tony Lockett
183 Games St Kilda 1983-94
Brownlow Medallist 1987
98 Games Sydney 1995-99 & 2002
Lockett would share the Brownlow with John Platten in 1987. Lockett also won two Coleman medals, with a best of 132 goals, and would win two Best & Fairest at St Kilda. Lockett would leave St Kilda after growing tired at the club, and despite some offers from Melbourne based-clubs, he would choose the anonymity of the Sydney Swans. Lockett ended up with the most goals ever in the AFL, two more Coleman medals, a Best & Fairest, and named full forward in the Saints and Swans team of the century.
Peter Moore
172 Games Collingwood 1974-82
Brownlow Medallist 1979
77 Games Melbourne 1983-87
Brownlow Medallist 1984
Moore was Collingwood captain from 1981-82 and two time Best & Fairest winner, as well as two time leading goalkicker, with a best of 76 goals. He played mainly as a forward while Len Thompson was first ruck. Moore joined Melbourne with Kelvin Templeton for an enticing financial offer. Moore would retire mid 1987 due to ongoing injuries.
Gary Dempsey at Footscray [Source: Author]
Gary Dempsey
207 Games Footscray 1967-78
Brownlow Medallist 1975
122 Games North Melbourne 1979-84
Dempsey was Footscray captain from 1971-72 & 1977-78 and would six Best & Fairest with the Bulldogs. Dempsey would join North Melbourne in the hope of winning a premiership. Dempsey would win the Best & Fairest in his first year at North Melbourne. Dempsey finished in the top ten of the Brownlow 13 times, and was ruck in Footscray team of the century and emergency in North Melbourne.
Chris Judd
134 Games West Coast 2002-07
Brownlow Medallist 2004
145 Games Carlton 2008-15
Brownlow Medallist 2010
Judd had an impact on the AFL right from his first game. Judd is a premiership captain in 2006, Norm Smith medallist in 2005 and would win the Best & Fairest twice. Judd would leave with a desire to be closer to his family in Melbourne. Judd would be traded for Josh Kennedy and draft picks. Judd was appointed captain in his first year at Carlton and would win three Best & Fairest at Carlton.
Ian Stewart at St Kilda [Source: Author]
Ian Stewart
127 Games St Kilda 1963-70
Brownlow Medallist 1965 & 1966
78 Games Richmond 1971-75
Brownlow Medallist 1971
Stewart is one of only four players to win three Brownlow medals. Stewart would captain St Kilda in 1969 and was a premiership player in 1966 and would win two Best & Fairest at St Kilda. Stewart had a falling out with Allan Jeans as a coach and requested a trade to Richmond for Billy Barrot. Stewart would win a Brownlow in his first year at Richmond and would win a premiership in 1973.
Tom Mitchell
65 Games Sydney 2012-16
106 Games Hawthorn 2017-22
Brownlow Medallist 2018
32 Games Collingwood 2023-
Tom is the son of former Swans great Barry and would play in one Grand Final at Sydney. Mitchell joined Hawthorn to try and get more midfield opportunities and would win three Best & Fairest at Hawthorn. Mitchell would leave Hawthorn for Collingwood, as Hawthorn were promoting more games into younger players, and would win a premiership at Collingwood.
Brian Wilson
9 Games Footscray 1978-79
39 Games North Melbourne 1980-81
154 Games Melbourne 1982-90
Brownlow Medallist 1982
7 Games St Kilda 1991
Wilson would debut with Footscray aged 16 but left in 1980 after being told he would be demoted to the Under 19s. Wilson finished third in North Melbourne Best & Fairest in 1981, but was traded to Melbourne with Alan Jarrott and Steven Icke so North Melbourne could use the money for the Krakouer brothers. Wilson would win the Brownlow in his first year at Melbourne playing in the centre, but he also played as a forward and would win the goalkicking in 1985. Wilson retired at the end of 1990, but was coaxed out of retirement by St Kilda where he kicked six goals against Melbourne. Wilson would though retire mid-season of 1991.
Shane Woewodin
138 Games Melbourne 1997-2002
Brownlow Medallist 2000
62 Games Collingwood 2003-05
Woewodin was picked up by Melbourne in the 1997 preseason draft aged 21. Woewodin had immediate impact with Melbourne and while Melbourne would make the Grand Final in 2000, Woewodin’s Brownlow was considered a surprise as he was not an All Australian. Two years later, Woewodin was advised to explore trade options, which saw him traded to Collingwood where he played in the 2003 Grand Final.
Len Thompson at Collingwood [Source: Author]
Len Thompson
268 Games Collingwood 1965-78
Brownlow Medallist 1972
20 Games South Melbourne 1979
13 Games Fitzroy 1980
Thompson was a five time Best & Fairest winner at Collingwood and was Collingwood captain in his last year at the club. Thompson apparently had issues with officials at the club and threatened to leave a few times before he was pushed out of the club one year into his captaincy. Thompson would spend 12 months at South Melbourne before going to Fitzroy where he played his 300th game.
Graham Teasdale at South Melbourne [Source: Author]
Graham Teasdale
6 Games Richmond 1973
121 Games South Melbourne 1975-81
Brownlow Medallist 1977
14 Games Collingwood 1982-83
Teasdale started his career at Richmond where he was swapped to South Melbourne with Francis Jackson and Brian Roberts for John Pitura. Teasdale would be a South Melbourne leading goalkicker in 1975 and Best & Fairest winner in 1977. Teasdale would leave South Melbourne, as he was reluctant to play in Sydney, but joined Collingwood where he was plagued by knee injuries.
The 13 players who moved clubs and won a Brownlow at that new club are:
Gary Ablett Jnr
192 Games Geelong 2002-10
Brownlow Medallist 2009
110 Games Gold Coast 2011-17
Brownlow Medallist 2013
55 Games Geelong 2018-20
Nathan Buckley
20 Games Brisbane 1993
260 Games Collingwood 1994-2007
Brownlow Medallist 2003
Buckley was a Rising Star winner for Brisbane in 1993, but did not want to stay with Brisbane and had a desire to play in Melbourne. Buckley would win six Best & Fairest, Norm Smith Medallist in 2002 and Collingwood captain 1999-2007.
Patrick Dangerfield
154 Games Adelaide 2008-2015
182 Games Geelong 2016-
Brownlow Medallist 2016
Dangerfield was drafted as a schoolboy to Adelaide, where he won one Best & Fairest in his last year. Dangerfield, originally from Moggs Creek near Anglesea, moved closer to home to Geelong where he has won three Best & Fairest and a premiership, and has been captain since 2022.
Gerard Healy
130 Games Melbourne 1979-85
81 Games Sydney 1986-90
Brownlow Medallist 1988
Healy was leading goalkicker at Melbourne in 1982 with 77 and was Best & Fairest winner in 1984. Healy left Melbourne for Sydney, lured by the big spending Dr Edelsten, where he would win three best & fairest before retiring to injury.
Chris Judd
134 Games West Coast 2002-07
Brownlow Medallist 2004
145 Games Carlton 2008-15
Brownlow Medallist 2010
Tom Mitchell
65 Games Sydney 2012-16
106 Games Hawthorn 2017-22
Brownlow Medallist 2018
32 Games Collingwood 2023-
Peter Moore
172 Games Collingwood 1974-82
Brownlow Medallist 1979
77 Games Melbourne 1983-87
Brownlow Medallist 1984
Lachie Neale
135 Games Fremantle 2012-18
134 Games Brisbane 2019-
Brownlow Medallist 2020 & 2023
Neale was a two-time Best & Fairest winner at Fremantle, before he decided to move to Brisbane due to a better financial offer. Neale has won three Best & Fairest at Brisbane and has been captain since 2023.
Bernie Quinlan at Fitzroy [Source: Author]
Bernie Quinlan
177 Games Footscray 1969-77
189 Games Fitzroy 1978-86
Brownlow Medallist 1981
Quinlan was Footscray leading goalkicker in 1971 and he was cleared by Footscray to Fitzroy for financial reasons. Quinlan would share the Brownlow Medal with his great Footscray friend Barry Round, who he debuted with in the same year. Quinlan would win the Coleman twice at Fitzroy in 1984-85, with a best of 116.
Barry Round at Sydney [Source: Author]
Barry Round
135 Games Footscray 1968-75
193 Games Sydney 1976-85
Brownlow Medallist 1981
Round started his career at Footscray and would leave them due to financial constraints for South Melbourne. Round would win two Best & Fairest at South Melbourne and captain the club from 1981-85. Round would share the Brownlow with Footscray friend Bernie Quinlan who was at Fitzroy. Round would win a Liston Medal aged 37 and captain coach a premiership at Williamstown aged 40.
Graham Teasdale
6 Games Richmond 1973
121 Games South Melbourne 1975-81
Brownlow Medallist 1977
14 Games Collingwood 1982-83
Greg Williams
34 Games Geelong 1984-85
107 Games Sydney 1986-91
Brownlow Medallist 1986
109 Games Carlton 1992-97
Brownlow Medallist 1994
Brian Wilson
9 Games Footscray 1978-79
39 Games North Melbourne 1980-81
154 Games Melbourne 1982-90
Brownlow Medallist 1982
7 Games St Kilda 1991
Bonus player: Tony Liberatore
Morrish Medal (Under 19) North Melbourne 1984
283 Games Footscray 1986-2002
Brownlow Medallist 1990
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Hi Rodney
Another great exercise in reliving the best of Aussie Rules. As a Hawker I tips me lid to Col Austen, who was a brilliant Hawks defender and got hit sideways by internal club politics. He also started a trend at Hawthorn where only players 6ft and under have been awarded the Brownlow.
Cheers
You might be able to add D Martin (Richmond) to that list next year.
These lists are surprisingly long Rodney.
Great work again, Rodney. An interesting subject matter. I remember a period in the 80s where there was was a high number of Brownlow Medalists associated with Footscray – either winning one there and then leaving, or winning one elsewhere after leaving e.g. Dempsey, Templeton, Quinlan, Round, Wilson, Hardie, etc.
Excellent team. Probably the best ever team ever selected in Footy Almanac history because of what each player achieved in their careers. I think Chris Judd and Greg Williams should be the dual captains or Sam Mitchell should be the captain-coach.
Perhaps in Grand Final week, if not already on the agenda, there can be a best team of Brownlow Medalists who have also won a premiership as a player during their career.
The Brownlow is now awarded to the best midfielder. Cripps ,Neale being recent examples.
It’s footballs version of the Logies.
A Kelvin Templeton or Graham Teasdale wouldn’t win it now.
Thanks Rodney. This is certainly a champion team of champions.
I wonder about those who won a Brownlow, then moved on from the VFL/AFL? Footscray’s Peter Box won the 1956 Brownlow but by 1958 was up in the Riverina playing with Grong-Grong, then Narrandera.In 1957 St Kilda’s Brian Gleeson won the Brownlow but injured a knee in a practice match in 1958, never to return to the VFL.
There’d be a few others for whom the Brownlow wasn’t just the zenith of their career but, for what ever reason, faded away. Thoughts?
Glen!
How good would this team be to watch! Interesting that the great Albert Collier is the only player whose career was pre WW2.
Thanks everyone for your comments and kind words
Thanks Swish I hope not, just would not like to diminish his legacy. He looked cooked this year. Would still love him.
Thanks Damian there is a Bulldogs connection with 8 players from 1975-91
Thanks Anon, might look at that one in future years
Thanks Glen, there was a few that did not regain their form after Brownlow for various reasons after winning. Ones in my lifetime be Templeton, Woewodin, Healy
Agree Dan, definately wont be a full back like Fred Goldsmith or back pocket like Bernie Smith
Thanks Luke not much movement in clubs then