Brian Wilson

[Maldonboy38 6,390]

I have really enjoyed all the uploaded youtube videos of some great footy memories. As I was watching a few I noticed a certain B Wilson flash through the footage and wondered what Dees people think of him all these years later?

I remember so well the year he won the Brownlow medal - the channel 7 commentators were a little bit dumbfounded as it was a complete surprise to most footy watchers. A few of mates bagged me at the time that such a "nobody" could win the greatest individual prize available in footy. As I watched those youtube clips I was reminded that he was a bit slow, but he was amazing at getting to where the ball was. His reading of the play seemed as good as any others at the time.

I always thought he was better than a one year wonder and that he was an important part of what happened under John Northey, but he rarely gets mentioned in the same breath as Stynes, Lyon, Greg Healey, Grinter, Sean Wight etc...

So, how do you remember him?

.

[The Chazz 4,077]

I have really enjoyed all the uploaded youtube videos of some great footy memories. As I was watching a few I noticed a certain B Wilson flash through the footage and wondered what Dees people think of him all these years later?

I remember so well the year he won the Brownlow medal - the channel 7 commentators were a little bit dumbfounded as it was a complete surprise to most footy watchers. A few of mates bagged me at the time that such a "nobody" could win the greatest individual prize available in footy. As I watched those youtube clips I was reminded that he was a bit slow, but he was amazing at getting to where the ball was. His reading of the play seemed as good as any others at the time.

I always thought he was better than a one year wonder and that he was an important part of what happened under John Northey, but he rarely gets mentioned in the same breath as Stynes, Lyon, Greg Healey, Grinter, Sean Wight etc...

So, how do you remember him?

.

Wilson < Woewodin

[loges 6,767]

The year he won he was outstanding, heaps of possessions every week

[H_T 3,043]

Moved thread to locker room.

[daisycutter 29,605]

Why?

Locker Room is best reserved for current list

It gets messy if you deviate from this

[H_T 3,043]

Because the forum was created for discussion on past and present players.

[gsmith12 491]

I have really enjoyed all the uploaded youtube videos of some great footy memories. As I was watching a few I noticed a certain B Wilson flash through the footage and wondered what Dees people think of him all these years later?

I remember so well the year he won the Brownlow medal - the channel 7 commentators were a little bit dumbfounded as it was a complete surprise to most footy watchers. A few of mates bagged me at the time that such a "nobody" could win the greatest individual prize available in footy. As I watched those youtube clips I was reminded that he was a bit slow, but he was amazing at getting to where the ball was. His reading of the play seemed as good as any others at the time.

I always thought he was better than a one year wonder and that he was an important part of what happened under John Northey, but he rarely gets mentioned in the same breath as Stynes, Lyon, Greg Healey, Grinter, Sean Wight etc...

So, how do you remember him?

.

Brian Wilson was a talented and skillful player who had a few issues which prevented him from ranking with the guns you mentioned. He was often overweight which was the reason Royce Hart unloaded him from the Dogs, he was a tad lazy and he was a lair on occasions.

Make no mistake though, he earnt that Brownlow - I witnessed most games in 1982 and he was brilliant - it was the one year when he was quite fit.

Later in his career he spent time in the forward pocket where he excelled, his stats for MFC show 154 games and 208 goals.

Personally I loved watching him play.

[Sir Why You Little 36,991]

ALWAYS fired up against the Filth....Willo was a dam good player..he sometimes looked like he was doing too much, but he was always trying to be creative.

He was good on the yap as well...knew how to stir up opponents...Long after his Brownlow he still played well under Northey.

Always remembered in my house.

7.

Edited February 9, 2012 by why you little

[nutbean 8,838]

He was ultra hard at it and got where the ball always was in the year he won the brownlow - getting himself concussed on more than one occasion. Not quick but skillful and a good mark for his size.

If my dodgy memory serves me right he moved out of his favoured centre position to make for a very talented Chris Connelly and placed on the HFF where he had a bit of success early on but he drifted from being a hard working gather of the ball and became a bit showy and lairy and was lastly offtraded to the Saints.

[bush demon 2,039]

Excellent in heavy traffic a gun player for melbourne and a playmaker when he was on. offloaded to saints and paid us back by kicking a bag and beating us off his own boot.

[Redleg 40,863]

His Brownlow year was sensational. He was even the go to man from full back on the kick ins. He would be outnumbered and or against a bigger player and would still take the mark. He was short, a little chubby and a bit slow, but a really good player for a number of years.

Edited February 9, 2012 by Redleg

[gsmith12 491]

Excellent in heavy traffic a gun player for melbourne and a playmaker when he was on. offloaded to saints and paid us back by kicking a bag and beating us off his own boot.

Yes bd and I was a little more than pizzed off. High scoring game in 1991, round 3.

Saints 24.10 and Demons 21.19 - we kicked ourselves out of the game whilst Willo had 7 kicks for a return of 6.1

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Hard and courageous player, elusive and skilled. A gun.

Lost a bit of respect for the way he used to look like someone has unloaded 12 rounds into him every time his opponent touched him, especially coming toward the end of his career.

[Biffen 12,940]

I saw Wilson play and he was a lair and a showpony and it's true he would dive for frees .

Accused of being selfish , yet he could slot goals.

He was a top player even with all those selfish traits.

Had all the skills .

Made the game interesting .

[Supermercado 2,797]

Just watched the game against West Coast at Subi in 1990. Classic scenes with him and Grinter 'saluting' the crowd.

[Sir Why You Little 36,991]

Just watched the game against West Coast at Subi in 1990. Classic scenes with him and Grinter 'saluting' the crowd.

Darren Bennett got stuck in to the crowd that day to. That was the game when 3/4 time got very nasty. I have it on VHS somewhere.

I gotta go through some old boxes soon...!

Edited February 9, 2012 by why you little

[dee-eee 231]

Some have short memories. He left us for the Saints, only played a handful of poor games for them save a blinder against us( including the match winning goal ).To rub it in, he celebrated by giving the Members "the bird". Shortly after, HE RETIRED !

[Sir Why You Little 36,991]

Some have short memories. He left us for the Saints, only played a handful of poor games for them save a blinder against us( including the match winning goal ).To rub it in, he celebrated by giving the Members "the bird". Shortly after, HE RETIRED !

Haha! Yes the bird! B Wilson was a great Demon. Heard him speak at an after match in the old smokers stand. Myself and others all reminded him of that day, and also reminded him where he was standing!!

[gsmith12 491]

Some have short memories. He left us for the Saints, only played a handful of poor games for them save a blinder against us( including the match winning goal ).To rub it in, he celebrated by giving the Members "the bird". Shortly after, HE RETIRED !

Wilson didn't leave us for the Saints, he actually retired at the end of 1990 after badly tearing a hamstring in round 21 against Richmond which cost him a place in our finals campaign.

He was subsequently surprisingly drafted by St Kilda however lasted just 7 games prior to retiring for good.

[thaipantsman 180]

I liked Brian Wilson. I may stand corrected here but wasn't he the second youngest to debut after T Watson? 16 yo with the Bulldogs?? He was very good. Could kick a goal. Great hands and like the Great Robbie Flower could out mark the falls. Perhaps a lack of Leg speed stopped him winning 3 meds but then again how fast was Bobbie Skilton? Similar to Moloney, Jones and Sylvia .

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,706]

His Brownlow year was sensational. He was even the go to man from full back on the kick ins. He would be outnumbered and or against a bigger player and would still take the mark. He was short, a little chubby and a bit slow, but a really good player for a number of years.

Being short and a little chubby meant he had a low centre of gravity which in turn made it difficult for players to knock him over. He used that physical attribute particularly well. I always liked him.

This discussion leads to another question. Which of Peter Moore and Brian Wilson - being the players recruited from other clubs in that period who won a Brownlow with us - contributed more to the club? Too close to call, for mine.

[Craig Drinker 179]

I had a lot of respect for Brian Wilson as a player. The thing about him that stood out for me was that he never gave up even when all around him were falling by the way side.

He often led a lone charge when The Demons were getting overun by the opposition and at times inspired a revival when other Demons decided to follow his lead and make a stand.

[savoydee 6]

Actually, Brain resides in China, in partnership with Jamie Duursma. Maybe CS has called on him to assist with sponsorship as both have worked supplying Mitre 10 for years now.

[Barney Rubble 1,576]

Biggest Arse in football.

Great football brain.

[Biffen 12,940]

Willo was NOT popular with older dees in the 80's because he was a bit flashy and perceived as hungry .Looked good "selling candy" but got caught a bit too .Very hard to tackle .Had all the tricks .