Harry Brereton
Encyclopedia
Harry Brereton was an Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne
and South Melbourne
in the VFL
. Originally recruited from Port Melbourne
, Brereton made a startling entry into VFL football in 1909. After a slow start, he kicked nine goals against Geelong
in only his seventh match. This was the most goals kicked by a player in a match since Jim McShane
kicked 11 against St Kilda in 1899, and Brereton continued to top Melbourne's goalkicking for the year with 34 goals.
After a disappointing 1910, Brereton, who was one of the most accurate kicks in the VFL at the time with the long-obsolete place kick, rebounded solidly in 1911 to kick 46 goals and be second in the goalkicking behind Vin Gardiner
. He kicked five of his team's six goals on the coldest-ever match day of 7.1 °C (44.8 °F) in the twelfth round against eventual premier Essendon
. The following year, he did even better, heading the VFL goalkicking with fifty-six goals, but he did not play at all in 1913 and 1914.
1915, however saw him return to the Redlegs and with Roy Park provide a potent forward line that lifte Melbourne into the finals for the first time since 1902. Owing to the club's amateur
tradition, however, Melbourne withdrew from the VFL from 1916 to 1918 – there were also problems with the availability of the MCG which was used mainly for schoolboy matches – and when Melbourne did resume in the VFL Brereton was cleared to join South Melbourne
but did not play for them until Round 11. When he did play. however, Brereton shows he had not lost his skill, kicking eleven goals in his first two games in the red and white, including six of their record score of 29 goals 15 against St Kilda. After that, however, injury and work with the Melbourne Cricket Club
caused Brereton to fade from the scene, though when South were short of forwards he was recalled from retirement at the age of thirty-five in 1922 and still kicked five goals in each of his last two games with Fitzroy and Geelong.
Later in his life, Brereton served as secretary of the Victorian Cricket Association.
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
and South Melbourne
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
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...
. Originally recruited from Port Melbourne
Port Melbourne Football Club
The Port Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Borough, is an Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Port Melbourne and is currently playing in the Victorian Football League ....
, Brereton made a startling entry into VFL football in 1909. After a slow start, he kicked nine goals against Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
in only his seventh match. This was the most goals kicked by a player in a match since Jim McShane
Jim McShane
Jim McShane was a player for the Geelong Football Club. McShane was the first player in the VFL/AFL competition to kick ten goals or more in a match when he scored eleven goals against St Kilda in 1899....
kicked 11 against St Kilda in 1899, and Brereton continued to top Melbourne's goalkicking for the year with 34 goals.
After a disappointing 1910, Brereton, who was one of the most accurate kicks in the VFL at the time with the long-obsolete place kick, rebounded solidly in 1911 to kick 46 goals and be second in the goalkicking behind Vin Gardiner
Vin Gardiner
Vincent Sidley "Vin" Gardiner was an Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne and Carlton in the Victorian Football League ....
. He kicked five of his team's six goals on the coldest-ever match day of 7.1 °C (44.8 °F) in the twelfth round against eventual premier Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
. The following year, he did even better, heading the VFL goalkicking with fifty-six goals, but he did not play at all in 1913 and 1914.
1915, however saw him return to the Redlegs and with Roy Park provide a potent forward line that lifte Melbourne into the finals for the first time since 1902. Owing to the club's amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
tradition, however, Melbourne withdrew from the VFL from 1916 to 1918 – there were also problems with the availability of the MCG which was used mainly for schoolboy matches – and when Melbourne did resume in the VFL Brereton was cleared to join South Melbourne
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
but did not play for them until Round 11. When he did play. however, Brereton shows he had not lost his skill, kicking eleven goals in his first two games in the red and white, including six of their record score of 29 goals 15 against St Kilda. After that, however, injury and work with the Melbourne Cricket Club
Melbourne Cricket Club
The Melbourne Cricket Club is a sporting club based in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 1838 and is regarded as the oldest sporting club in Australia....
caused Brereton to fade from the scene, though when South were short of forwards he was recalled from retirement at the age of thirty-five in 1922 and still kicked five goals in each of his last two games with Fitzroy and Geelong.
Later in his life, Brereton served as secretary of the Victorian Cricket Association.