Brunswick Football Club
Encyclopedia
Brunswick Football Club was an Australian rules football
club which played in the VFA from 1897 until 1990. They were originally nicknamed the Pottery Workers before being renamed the Magpies and were based in Brunswick, Victoria
. The club wore black and white guernseys. Three years prior to leaving the VFA they were renamed Brunswick-Broadmeadows.
Brunswick Football Club was formed in 1865 and joined the VFA in the 1897 season. Under the moniker the 'Pottery Workers' they wore light blue and red colors but changed to black and white when they became the Magpies. They struggled to be competitive in the league early on, finishing last in 1898, 1899 and 1902.
They won the first of their three 1st division premierships in 1909 which started a successful era for the club under Essendon player Jack McKenzie
. Up until 1915 they played in 6 finals series and 4 grand finals.
After consistently making the finals following the end of the war they won another premiership in 1925. They struggled during the 1930s, both financially and on the field, forcing them to sell their finest players to VFL clubs. Their last premiership success however came in the decade, defeating Brighton in the 1938 grand final by 33 points.
For much of the later part of the 20th century the club played in the 2nd division, winning premierships in 1975, 1980 and 1985.
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...
club which played in the VFA from 1897 until 1990. They were originally nicknamed the Pottery Workers before being renamed the Magpies and were based in Brunswick, Victoria
Brunswick, Victoria
Brunswick is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moreland...
. The club wore black and white guernseys. Three years prior to leaving the VFA they were renamed Brunswick-Broadmeadows.
History
They won the first of their three 1st division premierships in 1909 which started a successful era for the club under Essendon player Jack McKenzie
Jack McKenzie (footballer)
Jack Joseph "Dookie" McKenzie was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon and Melbourne in the Victorian Football League ....
. Up until 1915 they played in 6 finals series and 4 grand finals.
After consistently making the finals following the end of the war they won another premiership in 1925. They struggled during the 1930s, both financially and on the field, forcing them to sell their finest players to VFL clubs. Their last premiership success however came in the decade, defeating Brighton in the 1938 grand final by 33 points.
For much of the later part of the 20th century the club played in the 2nd division, winning premierships in 1975, 1980 and 1985.
VFA Premierships
- 1909
- 1925
- 1938
- 1975 (2nd Division)
- 1980 (2nd Division)
- 1985 (2nd Division)
Club Champions/Best & Fairest
- 1938 J Dowling
- 1939 H Jones & R Quinn (equal)
- 1940 C Crawford & J Dowling (equal)
- 1947 R Shaw
- 1949 I McIvor
- 1964 B Wicks
Notable players
- Frank AndersonFrank Anderson (footballer)Frank Anderson was an Australian rules footballer who played with Carlton in the VFL.Anderson started his career as a forward but played most of his football in defence. He was a premiership player with Carlton in 1938 and a Victorian interstate representative in 1941...
, Hedley Blackmore, Jack McKenzieJack McKenzie (footballer)Jack Joseph "Dookie" McKenzie was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon and Melbourne in the Victorian Football League ....
and Stewart McLatchie – Carlton footballers - Tom ClarkeTom Clarke (Australian rules footballer)Thomas Clarke was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the VFL.A wingman, Clarke won Essendon's best and fairest in 1931. He finished his career in the VFA with Brunswick. His son Ron went on to become an Olympic medalist in athletics and his other son Jack played 263 games...
– Essendon footballer - Roy McKayRoy McKay (footballer)Roy McKay was an Australian rules footballer who played for Footscray in the Victorian Football League during the early 1930s....
– Footscray footballer - Joe KinnearJoe Kinnear (Australian footballer)Joseph 'Joe' David Kinnear was an Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne in the Victorian Football League during the 1930s....
– Melbourne footballer - John Dowling, Keith GreigKeith GreigKeith Greig played on the wing for the Australian rules football North Melbourne Football Club from 1971 to 1985. He is considered as one of the most exciting players of the era, earning the nickname "Racehorse" because of his blistering speed on the field.Greig was recruited from Brunswick in 1971...
, Daryl O'BrienDaryl O'BrienDaryl Ernest O'Brien is a former Australian rules footballer who played 135 games for the North Melbourne Kangaroos during the 1960s....
, Wayne SchimmelbuschWayne SchimmelbuschWayne Schimmelbusch is a former Australian Rules Footballer in the Victorian Football League .A courageous wingman and inspirational speedster who seemingly never knew when to give up, Schimmelbusch played in 306 games, including 29 finals games, for the North Melbourne Football Club...
and Daryl SchimmelbuschDaryl SchimmelbuschDaryl Schimmelbusch is a former Australian rules footballer who played with North Melbourne in the VFL. He is the younger brother of Wayne Schimmelbusch....
– North Melbourne footballers - Ron CleggRon CleggRon "Smokey" Clegg was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League.A brilliant key position player at either centre half-forward or centre half-back, he was awarded the Brownlow Medal in 1949 while playing with the then South Melbourne Football Club...
and Charles ClementsCharles ClementsCharles 'Bones' Clements was an Australian rules footballer who played for South Melbourne in the VFL.Clements joined South Melbourne in 1904 after three seasons at Brunswick...
– South Melbourne footballers - Mark 'Jacko' Jackson – Melbourne/St Kilda/Geelong & entertainer
- Barry Nolan – 1978 J. J. Liston TrophyJ. J. Liston TrophyThe J. J. Liston Trophy is awarded to the best and fairest senior player in the Victorian Football League .-History:The VFA awarded the Recorder Cup from 1923 to 1941, and also ran a different award known as the VFA Medal .After a hiatus in 1942 to 1944 due to World War II, a best and fairest award...
winner - Tony WestTony West (footballer)Anthony C. "Tony" West is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the Victorian Football League during the early 1980s....
– 1986 J. J. Liston Trophy winner - John CurtinJohn CurtinJohn Joseph Curtin , Australian politician, served as the 14th Prime Minister of Australia. Labor under Curtin formed a minority government in 1941 after the crossbench consisting of two independent MPs crossed the floor in the House of Representatives, bringing down the Coalition minority...
– Australian Prime Minister - Ernest George – 1913 Stawell Gift winner
- Paul Young – 1985 Stawell GiftStawell GiftThe Stawell Gift is Australia's oldest and richest short distance running race. It is run over every Easter weekend by the Stawell Athletic Club, with the main race finals on the holiday Monday, at Central Park, Stawell in the Grampian Mountains district of western Victoria.The race is run on grass...
winner - Wayne HarmesWayne HarmesWayne Harmes is a retired Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League.-Football career:Recruited from Oak Park, as a youngster Harmes was perceived to have a lot of talent, winning The Sun newspapers' "Sunkick" competition. Added to this was the fact he was a grandson of Len Smith...
played one season in 1989 after leaving Carlton - Bill Jacobs - 1960's Australian Cricket Team Manager & Football Radio Broadcaster (3AW - 1957 to 1991 incl 25 Grand Finals)