Bernie Quinlan
Encyclopedia
Bernie Quinlan was a former Australian rules football
er and coach, who enjoyed a lengthy career with Footscray
and Fitzroy
in the VFL
. He played 366 league games in total.
as a 17 year old, debuting for the Bulldogs
in 1969. He played 177 games for the club, playing mostly at centre half-forward (also occasionally playing as a centre half-back). Quinlan didn't find consistency in his career until he moved to Fitzroy
in 1978, and wore the No. 5 guernsey. He played 189 games for the Lions, marking himself as one of their all-time greats (and also the only player to have played 150 games or more for two clubs), before retiring in 1986. He won the Brownlow Medal
in 1981, tying with his former Bulldog team mate Barry Round
(who had left the Bulldogs too by this stage). He also twice kicked more than 100 goals in a season: 1983 and 1984. Quinlan led a formidable forward line in the mid-1980s with the likes of Michael Conlan, Garry Wilson
, David McMahon and Gary Sidebottom. Together with Paul Roos
and Gary Pert
in the back line, they propelled Fitzroy to their most successful years in the post-war era.
He was a prodigious kicker of the football
which earned him the nickname "superboot". He regularly featured in the World of Sport kicking competitions (a sports program which was popular in Melbourne
for three decades) and is reported to have once kicked a goal from the wing at the Whitten Oval
, Footscray
(a distance approaching 100 metres). He also once appeared in an exhibition kicking challenge against the other football codes (including soccer
, Rugby Union
, rugby league
and American Football
, the latter representative actually throwing in the style of a quarterback). He won the challenge with a kick approaching 90 metres.
He is also credited with having instigated the "Hell Ride"
, a cycling training ride, with two others in 1984.
The Brisbane Lions mascot Bernie "Gabba" Vegas is partially named as a tribute to Quinlan.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er and coach, who enjoyed a lengthy career with Footscray
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
and Fitzroy
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
in the VFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. He played 366 league games in total.
Playing career
Quinlan was recruited from Traralgon, VictoriaTraralgon, Victoria
Traralgon is a regional city located in the Latrobe Valley in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. Traralgon is a city within the City of Latrobe....
as a 17 year old, debuting for the Bulldogs
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
in 1969. He played 177 games for the club, playing mostly at centre half-forward (also occasionally playing as a centre half-back). Quinlan didn't find consistency in his career until he moved to Fitzroy
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
in 1978, and wore the No. 5 guernsey. He played 189 games for the Lions, marking himself as one of their all-time greats (and also the only player to have played 150 games or more for two clubs), before retiring in 1986. He won the Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
in 1981, tying with his former Bulldog team mate Barry Round
Barry Round
Barry Round played for Footscray and South Melbourne/Sydney in the Victorian Football League between 1969 and 1985. Along the way, he played 328 games , won a Brownlow Medal in 1981 and was the Swans' first captain during the Sydney era...
(who had left the Bulldogs too by this stage). He also twice kicked more than 100 goals in a season: 1983 and 1984. Quinlan led a formidable forward line in the mid-1980s with the likes of Michael Conlan, Garry Wilson
Garry Wilson
Garry J. "Flea" Wilson is a former Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League.- Background :Wilson, during his playing days, was described by The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers as having "limitless courage" as a wispy rover, with a playing weight of only 64 kg. He played...
, David McMahon and Gary Sidebottom. Together with Paul Roos
Paul Roos (Australian rules footballer)
Paul Roos is a former Australian rules football player and coach in the VFL and Australian Football League.Playing the majority of his career with Fitzroy, Roos was one of the teams greats, captaining the side for a long time and was acknowledged as its best player for several seasons, being named...
and Gary Pert
Gary Pert
Gary Pert is a former Australian rules footballer in the VFL/AFL and businessman. Gary is the son of Brian Pert.-Fitzroy career:Pert was recruited from Bulleen to Fitzroy and made his debut for the Fitzroy Football Club in 1982...
in the back line, they propelled Fitzroy to their most successful years in the post-war era.
He was a prodigious kicker of the football
Sherrin
Sherrin is a brand of football used in Australian rules football and is the official ball of the Australian Football League, designed to its official specifications...
which earned him the nickname "superboot". He regularly featured in the World of Sport kicking competitions (a sports program which was popular in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
for three decades) and is reported to have once kicked a goal from the wing at the Whitten Oval
Whitten Oval
Whitten Oval is a stadium in the inner-western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia located at 417 Barkly Street, West Footscray. It is the training and administrative headquarters of the Western Bulldogs Football Club, which competes in the Australian Football League.Formerly known as the...
, Footscray
Footscray, Victoria
Footscray is a suburb 5 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Footscray had a population of 11,401....
(a distance approaching 100 metres). He also once appeared in an exhibition kicking challenge against the other football codes (including soccer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, Rugby Union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
and American Football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, the latter representative actually throwing in the style of a quarterback). He won the challenge with a kick approaching 90 metres.
He is also credited with having instigated the "Hell Ride"
Hell Ride, Melbourne
The Hell Ride is an informal training ride that follows the coastline of Port Phillip Bay through the south–eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia...
, a cycling training ride, with two others in 1984.
The Brisbane Lions mascot Bernie "Gabba" Vegas is partially named as a tribute to Quinlan.