Brian Wilson’s 1982 Brownlow Medal Returned

[Demonland 64,361]

 

[Supreme_Demon 3,009]

Saw this wonderful news on the Melbourne Demons website in a video posted today. I can't find a direct link to it, but you can view the video on the Melbourne Football Club website.

 

Brian Wilson, the former Demons player, sadly lost his 1982 Brownlow Medal about 10 years ago. However, it was remarkably found and landed on MFC CEO Gary Pert's desk!

Gary Pert then re-presented Brian Wilson with his 1982 Brownlow Medal at the MFC's President's Club Function prior to the Demons Vs Bulldogs match on Saturday evening.

This is a fantastic story and I am so proud of the Melbourne Football Club and incredibly happy and relieved for Brian Wilson and his family for having his 1982 Brownlow Medal returned.

There is a news story about it via this link here: https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/tears-flow-as-former-melbourne-star-brian-wilson-is-reunited-with-lost-brownlow-medal-c-10084426

Edited March 20, 2023 by Supreme_Demon

[Vipercrunch 2,800]

I'm too yound to have any meaningful memories of Brian Wilson, but he was my late father's favourite player of that era.  Great story and well done MFC.

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 3,797]

What you've all said above, about the club and Brian, and then some!

Wikipedia reminds me he is believed to be the only player to have won a Brownlow Medal at his third club and, at 20 years of age, he was the youngest winner since Bob Skilton won his first medal in 1959. His and Peter Moore's medals were little rays of sunshine in the dark days.

He finally participated in the club's relative success in 1987 and '88. I remember the expectation on him as the only player in the '87 squad to have played finals.

Footnote: Curious that the medal 'landed on [GP's] desk' 3 months ago? I guess they had to do a bit of checking, for example for authenticity. And maybe a bit of (successful but secret?) sleuthing?

 

Edited March 20, 2023 by Timothy Reddan-A'Blew

[Rocknroll 912]

Still loved his first game agaist us for the saints.  He kicked 5 i think then gave it to the members.  It was awesome.  Always had a soft spot for that barrell chested man.  

[Deebauched 1,219]

Remember him well.

Tough as army boots. 

Shaped  up to superthug RhysJones in the 88 Prelim  out at Waverley from memory.

All footballers were tough in those days otherwise you didnt last long.

[chook fowler 18,164]

saw him play a lot and  - built like a brick sh-t house with a booming kick. Great to watch 

[poita 3,571]

This is a wonderful story, and Brian seemed genuinely thrilled with the outcome.

He was my favourite player growing up, and his number 7 was the first number I had on a MFC jumper in the late 80s.

I'm glad there was a positive outcome.

[Sir Why You Little 34,405]

1 hour ago, Vipercrunch said:

I'm too yound to have any meaningful memories of Brian Wilson, but he was my late father's favourite player of that era.  Great story and well done MFC.

Willo was a magnificent player, always looked for the best option. 
Loved to kick a goal, particularly against The Filth. 
 

[Sir Why You Little 34,405]

40 minutes ago, Rocknroll said:

Still loved his first game agaist us for the saints.  He kicked 5 i think then gave it to the members.  It was awesome.  Always had a soft spot for that barrell chested man.  

Yes i will never forget the finger to the Members!! At the time I didn’t love it though 

We got him to 200 games and then we got the Finger!!

Jack Viney and Willo make the number 7 special 

He gave an umpire mouth to mouth back in ‘88 i think after he was badly winded in a collision 

[Deemania since 56 6,119]

1 minute ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Yes i will never forget the finger to the Members!! At the time I didn’t love it though 

We got him to 200 games and then we got the Finger!!

Jack Viney and Willo make the number 7 special 

He gave an umpire mouth to mouth back in ‘88 i think after he was badly winded in a collision 

Great footy player, one of the best, one of the cheekiest, hit 'em hard with focus on the ball, attitudinally perfect. Very little other than the unsuspecting 'bash' could stop Brian Wilson, Esq.

[Deemania since 56 6,119]

10 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Willo was a magnificent player, always looked for the best option. 
Loved to kick a goal, particularly against The Filth. 
 

He made hating the Filth a quite reasonable proposition. He did so by adopting and challenging the Dees' experiences and silent tolerances in the 50s and 60s against the Filth and the subsequent intolerance of Filthy Privilege when it came to favourite sons of the VFL administration (in those days).  He was a great role model for younger players and a fantastic team mate for all associated with what had become a significantly weakened side. If he were playing today, he's the type of talented mongrel we should sign up - highly motivating in all aspects of the game was our Brian.

[Sir Why You Little 34,405]

1 minute ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Great footy player, one of the best, one of the cheekiest, hit 'em hard with focus on the ball, attitudinally perfect. Very little other than the unsuspecting 'bash' could stop Brian Wilson, Esq.

Oh yes. He loved to play well in front of a big crowd, and usually did.

By the Time John Northey was coach Willo was mainly a dangerous forward,  often kicking 3-6 goals a game. Before “The Wiz” there was Brian Wilson 

In 1982 i saw him play St. Kilda at Moorabbin. His Centre work was an absolute clinic that day. I think it was the first time I noticed him as top shelf. 
Willo is right up there with the Melbourne Legends 

[Sir Why You Little 34,405]

Was he the swap for Les Bamblett?

[Deemania since 56 6,119]

On 3/19/2023 at 10:37 AM, Demonland said:

 

Goody should simply sit all the current players down in the theatrette and replay all of the past onfield highlights of Brian Wilson as an exemplar of his footballing greatness - and what it means to be a Demon.  It might prove to be a significant learning exercise - and a rallying one, at that.

[layzie 28,473]

Too young for his Brownlow but I do remember quite well him booting 6 against us at the G when he left for St Kilda. What a player.

Edited March 20, 2023 by layzie

[jnrmac 18,913]

So, was the medal stolen at some point?

[Maldonboy38 5,807]

From the seventies through to the nineties, all we ever heard on tv and radio were Collingwood, Carlton, Richmond and Hawthorn with only occasional mentions of others like North and the Bombers.

In these dark days of the MFC, Brian Wilson steps forward and shows a type of excellence we hadn't seen since Wells and Alves. Natural footballer, really evasive and elusive, loved a goal, and had presence. It always feels like he is the forgotten man of the MFC and not given enough air time. 

For me, it was a great opportunity to gloat and puff up amid all my intolerable Richmond and Carlton friends. Loved it.

And he looks genuinely thrilled about being back in touch at the MFC. 

[Jontee 3,624]

My favourite memory of Brian is, as usual, slightly off beat.

Our next game up was Carlton and some days before a certain Carlton player was seen committing a personal indiscretion whilst sitting alone in his car in a carpark off lygon st.

During the match brian greeted that Carlton player with a repetitive hand gesture.

Brian also had a big backside.

And his standout game for the Saints was in beating us.

[Go the Biff 3,124]

5 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Was he the swap for Les Bamblett?

I think we got access to Strawbs O'Dwyer as a result of letting Lally go to the Dogs.

 

Loved watching Willo. Strong,  low centre of gravity,  great skills and strong overhead for his size.  Also had a big arze and knew how to use it to move opposition players out of the way. 

And to me one of his most endearing traits was that he annoyed the absolute sheeiite out of opposition supporters. 

[Sir Why You Little 34,405]

16 minutes ago, Go the Biff said:

I think we got access to Strawbs O'Dwyer as a result of letting Lally go to the Dogs.

 

Loved watching Willo. Strong,  low centre of gravity,  great skills and strong overhead for his size.  Also had a big arze and knew how to use it to move opposition players out of the way. 

And to me one of his most endearing traits was that he annoyed the absolute sheeiite out of opposition supporters. 

You are correct. It was for Steve O’Dwyer

We did well out of the dogs in the 80’s

[Sir Why You Little 34,405]

18 minutes ago, Go the Biff said:

Loved watching Willo. Strong,  low centre of gravity,  great skills and strong overhead for his size.  Also had a big arze and knew how to use it to move opposition players out of the way. 

And to me one of his most endearing traits was that he annoyed the absolute sheeiite out of opposition supporters. 

Yep. Low center of gravity was exactly what Willo possessed 

Yep. He was loathed by opposition supporters. Fantastic!!

[John Crow Batty 8,217]

4 hours ago, jnrmac said:

So, was the medal stolen at some point?

One of life’s mysteries that may never be explained.

[dworship 3,342]

7 hours ago, Deemania since 56 said:

He made hating the Filth a quite reasonable proposition. He did so by adopting and challenging the Dees' experiences and silent tolerances in the 50s and 60s against the Filth and the subsequent intolerance of Filthy Privilege when it came to favourite sons of the VFL administration (in those days).  He was a great role model for younger players and a fantastic team mate for all associated with what had become a significantly weakened side. If he were playing today, he's the type of talented mongrel we should sign up - highly motivating in all aspects of the game was our Brian.

Was an absolute favorite to watch. Like most of his era he had a fulltime job as well as footy. I think he was an Aviation Firefighter from memory.

[Demonland 64,361]