Blast from the Past: Brian Wilson

[Demonland 66,978]

After failing to impress in nine games over two seasons at Footscray Brian Wilson crossed to North Melbourne in 1980 and suddenly hit his straps. He played 39 games in two years with the 'Roos, but then was surprisingly offloaded to Melbourne, where, playing in the centre, he promptly produced the best football of his career to win the Brownlow Medal.

Thereafter, Wilson never quite managed to recapture the same level of performance on a consistent basis, but he remained a very serviceable footballer for the Demons in 154 VFL games over nine seasons. Later in his career he played a good deal of football as a specialist forward pocket, and his tally of 208 goals affords evidence that he was a success in the role. Wilson's last port of call was St Kilda where he played seven games and kicked 16 goals in 1991.

Club	League	Career span	Games	Goals	Avg	Win %	AKI	AHB	AMK	BV
Footscray	V/AFL	1978-1979	9	5	0.56	22%	6.11	3.78	1.78	0
North Melbourne	V/AFL	1980-1981	39	17	0.44	54%	12.77	7.62	3.13	4
Melbourne	V/AFL	1982-1990	154	208	1.35	48%	12.04	8.57	4.86	52
St. Kilda	AFL	1991	7	16	2.29	29%	6.57	4.00	3.29	0
V/AFL		1978-1991	209	246	1.18	47%	11.74	8.03	4.35	56
Total		1978-1991	209	246	1.18	47%	11.74	8.03	4.35	56

 

 

[tilly18 283]

I cant agree with serviceable footballer. Willo was a champion.

[Salems Lot 2,406]

My favourite player of the time ahead of Warren Dean!

[Redleg 38,618]

About 180cms and we kicked out to him from full back and despite whoever was watching him, he generally marked it.

Very strong, well balanced and great hands. Not quick, but rarely caught. Loved a goal.

 A great player for us.

[old dee 23,256]

2 minutes ago, Redleg said:

About 180cms and we kicked out to him from full back and despite whoever was watching him, he generally marked it.

Very strong, well balanced and great hands. Not quick, but rarely caught. Loved a goal.

 A great player for us.

In the top 10% of all time IMO Mr Leg.

[Macca 16,174]

Pedersen is 'serviceable'

Willo was a lot better than that.  He gets marked hard for some odd reason but I rarely saw him play a bad game.  On top of that he was a very good team player ... always giving the ball off by hand or foot to a player in a better position.  

He loved a goal but so what?  It was a different game back then and when he was played as a permanent forward he was expected to hit the scoreboard.  And he did.

[Mazer Rackham 14,970]

1 hour ago, Macca said:

Pedersen is 'serviceable'

Willo was a lot better than that.  He gets marked hard for some odd reason but I rarely saw him play a bad game.  On top of that he was a very good team player ... always giving the ball off by hand or foot to a player in a better position.  

He loved a goal but so what?  It was a different game back then and when he was played as a permanent forward he was expected to hit the scoreboard.  And he did.

Willo always gave the crowd something for their money. An infuriating but entertaining player. Even my non-MFC mates enjoyed it when Willo got the ball.

Was always prepared to back himself in from anywhere within range to dodge 5 blokes, shrug 2 tackles, take 3 bounces and kick the dramatic sealer.

("within range" = anywhere from 130m out or closer)

("the sealer" ... even if it was the first quarter)

[Macca 16,174]

51 minutes ago, Mazer Rackham said:

Willo always gave the crowd something for their money. An infuriating but entertaining player. Even my non-MFC mates enjoyed it when Willo got the ball.

Was always prepared to back himself in from anywhere within range to dodge 5 blokes, shrug 2 tackles, take 3 bounces and kick the dramatic sealer.

("within range" = anywhere from 130m out or closer)

("the sealer" ... even if it was the first quarter)

From a personal point of view,  BW was one of my favourite players.  Barassi brought a number of different types into the club or back to the club ... Zantuck,  The Fidge bros,  Keenan,  Crosswell,  Jacko amongst others.

Edited September 17, 2017 by Macca

[Old Bear 388]

Funny how we all remember differently

Probably one of my least favourite players 

Thought be was a very selfish player and that is why he was traded by two clubs before us

Felt the same about Peter Moore and I'm  Big Fan of Ruckman

Not saying I'm right just how I remember them

[Biffen 12,567]

"You're a show pony Wilson!"

Was the old cry from his own fans and he was, but he was also very good.

[Stretch Johnson 2,603]

A lot better than serviceable. 

All of the above is true,  show-pony, selfish but mercurial and talented.  He was also courageous even though he would do15 dives a game in attempts to milk frees.

No Melbourne  player in my lifetime could work through heavy traffic like he did. 

Supreme agility and footwork.  In today's footy you would build a team around him.   He would be an even better player in today's game. 

 

Edited September 17, 2017 by Stretch Johnson

[Earl Hood 5,884]

46 minutes ago, Stretch Johnson said:

A lot better than serviceable. 

All of the above is true,  show-pony, selfish but mercurial and talented.  He was also courageous even though he would do15 dives a game in attempts to milk frees.

No Melbourne  player in my lifetime could work through heavy traffic like he did. 

Supreme agility and footwork.  In today's footy you would build a team around him.   He would be an even better player in today's game. 

 

All his so called foibles mentioned here were usual for the times for dominant players in the 80's. I remember him as one of the first midfielders to be racking up 30 plus disposals per week in an era where you had to get them yourself before the rapid handballs back and forth and chip kicking sideways and endless ball ups in congestion that allows your  Tom Mitchell's of this year and G Ablett Juniors of recent times to accumulate 40 plus touches every match. Great player, yes selfish but then think of the incompetents around him except for Robbie. 

[Dingo 857]

When I met my wife in 1985 she was living in Kensington.Willo was her neighbour.I had a couple of brief chats with him.Then we got married and moved away.I saw him at a Melbourne game about 2 years ago and introduced myself.He told me to stick with the Dees because we're going to come good.He's still a Dees supporter.

[BillyBeane 211]

Loved Willo. Very skillful footballer. Used to love acting for frees and a goal celebration!  He toweled us up playing for the saints and gesticulated aggressively at the members :

 

[nutbean 8,837]

My rusty memory remembers a career of two halves.

His first seasons he played in the centre and won a brownlow medal  - he was unselfish and continually put his head over the ball getting concussed on a few occasions.

This is where i get bit rusty - did he get injured  ? I recall that for some reason he was out of the team and a young Chris Connelly took over in the centre and was an instant hit. Wilson came back to play on the half forward flank and kick lots of  goals. At was at this time his game did change and he could be accused a little of being a little selfish and showboating.

He was so strong in the hips and very good overhead for his size.

 

 

[deelete my account 1,194]

Hello old people!

[Demonland 66,978]

57 minutes ago, Deeprived Childhood said:

Hello old people!

You didn't mind an old person helping you out with a rookie tech mistake last week. Just saying.

#hastag

[beelzebub 22,742]

#hashtag   ( rookie mistake )  

[Demonland 66,978]

14 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

#hashtag   ( rookie mistake )  

 

[McQueen 17,864]

15 hours ago, Old Bear said:

Funny how we all remember differently

Probably one of my least favourite players 

Thought be was a very selfish player and that is why he was traded by two clubs before us

Felt the same about Peter Moore and I'm  Big Fan of Ruckman

Not saying I'm right just how I remember them

From that era, I measure selfish against Kevin Bartlett. 

 

[beelzebub 22,742]

4 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

some of your finest work 

Edited September 18, 2017 by beelzebub

[daisycutter 28,728]

1 hour ago, BillyBeane said:

Loved Willo. Very skillful footballer. Used to love acting for frees and a goal celebration!  He toweled us up playing for the saints and gesticulated aggressively at the members :

 

demonluck too. that was the only good game he played for the aints

[Demonland 66,978]

1 hour ago, BillyBeane said:

Loved Willo. Very skillful footballer. Used to love acting for frees and a goal celebration!  He toweled us up playing for the saints and gesticulated aggressively at the members :

 

I forgot that Newport went to the Saints too. He has the ball when the siren goes.

[Tarax Club 3,354]

Blast from the past! Recall Willo's match winning performance Round 10 1988 v Pies at Waverley.  Sitting in the concrete 'cauldron' outer, a reflection of the crowd's  (60,000+) involvement not the wintry conditions. All the initial first quarter momentum with the opposition three unanswered goals. The ferals about were going apeshite, this was a top of the ladder clash. The demon supporters subdued and mostly hushed. The Colliwogs were running rampant, Darren Millane doing as he pleased until Ted Fidge infamously interjected. Brian Wilson led the MFC response in a brilliant individual and team lifting fashion scoring the first Dee's goal late in the first quarter and going on to kick five inspirational goals in total. A skite, show off, show pony call him what you will, but delivered as a champion footballer in spades.

Postscript post demons 'retirement' Willo the joker in the Saints pack '91!

[Glenn Molloy 494]

1 hour ago, Tarax Club said:

Blast from the past! Recall Willo's match winning performance Round 10 1988 v Pies at Waverley.  Sitting in the concrete 'cauldron' outer, a reflection of the crowd's  (60,000+) involvement not the wintry conditions. All the initial first quarter momentum with the opposition three unanswered goals. The ferals about were going apeshite, this was a top of the ladder clash. The demon supporters subdued and mostly hushed. The Colliwogs were running rampant, Darren Millane doing as he pleased until Ted Fidge infamously interjected. Brian Wilson led the MFC response in a brilliant individual and team lifting fashion scoring the first Dee's goal late in the first quarter and going on to kick five inspirational goals in total. A skite, show off, show pony call him what you will, but delivered as a champion footballer in spades.

Postscript post demons 'retirement' Willo the joker in the Saints pack '91!

Great post, I'd forgotten that game, but he won it off his own boot.  Those who describe him as a serviceable player do him very little justice.  Was one of our few players who had genuine roving ability off the packs, could kick goals, and was much more consistent than people give him credit for.  I'd love him in our side now!