Brunswick Football Club was an

Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...

club which played in the

Victorian Football Association The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia serving as one of the second-tier regional semi-professional competitions which sit underneath the fully professional Australian Football League (AFL). It ...

(VFA) from 1897 until 1991. Based in

Brunswick, Victoria Brunswick is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, north of Melbourne's Melbourne city centre, Central Business District, located within the City of Merri-bek Local government areas of Victoria, local gov ...

, for most of their time in the Association they were known as the Magpies, and wore black and white guernseys. In its final two seasons in the VFA, it was known as Brunswick-Broadmeadows.

History

Brunswick Football Club was formed in 1865 and joined the VFA in the 1897 season. The club was colloquially known in its early days as the ''Pottery Workers'' or the ''Brickfielders'', and its fans were known for sounding clayhole bells at matches; after changing their colours from light blue and red colors to black and white, they became informally, and then later formally, known as the Magpies. They struggled to be competitive in the league early on, finishing last in 1898, 1899 and 1902. Brunswick fc 1909

They won the first of their three 1st division premierships in

1909 Events January–February * January 4 – Explorer Aeneas Mackintosh of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition escaped death by fleeing across ice floes. * January 7 – Colombia recognizes the independence of Panama. * Januar ...

which started a successful era for the club under former

Essendon Essendon may refer to: Australia *Electoral district of Essendon *Electoral district of Essendon and Flemington *Essendon, Victoria **Essendon railway station **Essendon Airport *Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League United King ...

player Jack McKenzie. Up until

1915 Events Below, the events of World War I have the "WWI" prefix. January * January – British physicist Sir Joseph Larmor publishes his observations on "The Influence of Local Atmospheric Cooling on Astronomical Refraction". *January 1 ...

they played in six finals series and four grand finals. After consistently making the finals following the end of the war they won another premiership in

1925 Events January * January 1 ** The Syrian Federation is officially dissolved, the State of Aleppo and the State of Damascus having been replaced by the State of Syria. * January 3 – Benito Mussolini makes a pivotal speech in the Italia ...

. In 1926, the club dropped out of the Association near the end of the season in protest against suspensions meted out to captain-coach Wally Raleigh and team-mate Hassett, but was re-admitted prior to the 1927 season under an entirely new committee. Brunswick fc 1938

They struggled during the early 1930s, both financially and on the field, forcing them to sell their finest players to

Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia serving as one of the second-tier regional semi-professional competitions which sit underneath the fully professional Australian Football League (AFL). It ...

(VFL) clubs, but they went on to be one of the strongest teams of the late 1930s, winning three consecutive minor premierships from 1936–1938 and reaching three consecutive Grand Finals from 1937–1939. Their third and last first division premiership came during this period, defeating

Brighton Football Club Brighton Football Club was an Australian rules football club which played in the Victorian Football Association (VFA). The club was based in the Melbourne suburb of Brighton, and was nicknamed the Penguins. After suffering financial hardship t ...

in the 1938 Grand Final by 33 points in what was the first premiership of the throw-pass era. For the remaining fifty years of its time in the Association, Brunswick was consistently a middle-of-the-pack team. After the Association was partitioned into two divisions, Brunswick spent similar periods of time in both divisions; it was a regular finalist while in Division 2, winning three Division 2 premierships (1975, 1980 and 1985) from seven grand finals; but it seldom played finals in Division 1 and did not feature in a top division Grand Final after 1939. Brunswick was one of several inner suburban VFA clubs whose off-field viability deteriorated through the late 1970s and early 1980s, in large part due to demographic shifts in the local area towards a higher migrant population which was largely uninterested in Australian rules football, and at different times the club was heavily in debt and appeared likely to fold. In October 1989, Brunswick entered into a merger with the Broadmeadows Football Club – which was a football club in an administrative capacity only, as it had a board of directors and enough local Broadmeadows support to have previously launched a bid to join the VFA, but it had no home ground nor a team active in any league – to form the Brunswick–Broadmeadows Football Club, which was still based in Brunswick. However, factional infighting between Brunswick and Broadmeadows members of the club's unwieldy 14-man board of directors distracted from any efforts to clear the club's debt (prompting the VFA to intervene and sack the board in August 1990), and the on-field position deteriorated dramatically after there was an exodus of 35 players in the 1990/91 offseason due to owing player payments; on 6 May 1991, after three enormous losses to start the 1991 season, the club withdrew from the VFA, and folded soon after.

VFA Premierships

1st 18/Seniors *

1938 Events January * January 1 ** The Constitution of Estonia#Third Constitution (de facto 1938–1940, de jure 1938–1992), new constitution of Estonia enters into force, which many consider to be the ending of the Era of Silence and the a ...

, 1975 (Div 2), 1980 (Div 2), 1985 (Div 2) 2nd 18/Reserves * 1919 (Melbourne District FA), 1931 (VJFA), 1932, 1933, 1936, 1963(Div 1),1971(Div 2), 1972(Div 2), 1983(Div 2), 1984(Div 2), 1985(Div 2) 3rd 18/Under 19's * 1956

VFA Club Records

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

Brunswick FC Captains

* 1991 David Callender * 1990 David Callender * 1989 David Callender * 1988 Tony West * 1987 Tony West * 1986 David Whillas * 1985 Barry Nolan * 1984 Malcolm Toy * 1983 Barry Nolan * 1982 Barry Nolan * 1981 Barry Nolan * 1980 Barry Nolan * 1979 George Stone * 1978 Barry Nolan * 1977

John Williams John Towner Williams (born February 8, 1932)Nylund, Rob (15 November 2022)Classic Connection review ''WBOI'' ("For the second time this year, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic honored American composer, conductor, and arranger John Williams, who wa ...

* 1976 John Warden * 1975 John Warden * 1974 Jack Wrout * 1973

Daryl O'Brien Daryl Ernest O'Brien (born 10 September 1941) is a former Australian rules footballer who played 135 games for the North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the 1960s. A tenacious utility player who often started on the hal ...

* 1972

* 1971

* 1970 Alan Cook * 1969 Graham Leydin * 1968 Keith Burns * 1967 Keith Burns * 1966 Keith Burns * 1965 Keith Burns * 1964 Jim Whiley * 1963 Jim Whiley * 1962 Jack Edwards * 1961

Ron Clegg Ron "Smokey" Clegg (17 November 192723 August 1990) was an Australian rules footballer in the (then) Victorian Football League. Clegg was recruited from the South Melbourne Under 19's after winning the 1944 Melbourne Boys Football League's be ...

* 1960 Jim Whiley * 1959 Bob McFarlane * 1958 Jack Edwards * 1957 Leslie Pollard * 1956 Les Stanley * 1955 Maurice Rolfs * 1954 Maurice Rolfs * 1953 Frank Nielsen * 1952 Frank Nielsen * 1951 Ray Priestley * 1950

Ivor McIvor Ivor Thomas McIvor (16 September 1917 – 3 April 1997) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Сareer McIvor, a key position player, came to Essendon from local side Don Rovers. ( ...

* 1949

* 1948

Ron Baggott Ronald Idris Baggott (16 January 1917—26 April 2013) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He later captain-coached Brunswick. He was the younger brother of Jack Baggott ...

* 1947

* 1946

* 1945

Elton Plummer Elton Wilfrid 'Duffy' Plummer (31 July 1914 – 30 May 1988) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon Essendon may refer to: Australia *Electoral district of Essendon *Electoral district of Essendon and Flemington * Essendo ...

* 1944 ''N/A - WW2'' * 1943 ''N/A - WW2'' * 1942 ''N/A - WW2'' * 1941 Col Crawford * 1940 Roy McKay * 1939 Roy McKay * 1938 Roy McKay * 1937 Roy McKay * 1936 Roy McKay * 1935 Jim Jenkins * 1934 Jim Jenkins * 1933 Wally Raleigh * 1932

Hedley Blackmore Hedley Blackmore (30 January 1901 – 22 August 1992) was a former Australian rules footballer who played with Carlton in the Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Austral ...

/Wal Warden * 1931 Charlie Pannam * 1930

* 1929 Charlie Pannam * 1928 Tom Hassett * 1927 Cyril Bright * 1926 Wally Raleigh * 1925 Wally Raleigh * 1924 Dick O'Connor * 1923

Barney Herbert Bernard Vincent Herbert (20 February 1889 – 14 December 1949) was an Australian rules footballer who played in the VFL between 1909 and 1921 for the Richmond Football Club. He served as Richmond's President from 1932 to 1935 and again in ...

* 1922 Charlie Fisher * 1921 Leo Sullivan * 1920 Leo Sullivan * 1919 Henry Chase * 1918 Henry Chase * 1917 ''N/A - WW1'' * 1916 ''N/A - WW1'' * 1915 Henry Chase * 1914 Henry Chase * 1913 Jack McKenzie * 1912 Leo Leeds * 1911 Jack McKenzie * 1910 Jack McKenzie * 1909 Jack McKenzie * 1908 Henry Chase * 1907 Henry Chase * 1906 W Temple * 1905 R Casey * 1904 W Stevenson * 1903 R Coburn * 1902 R Coburn * 1901 R Coburn * 1900 R Coburn * 1899 Tom O'Loughlin * 1898 Tom O'Loughlin * 1897 Tom O'Loughlin

Notable players

VFL football * Frank Anderson - Carlton *

- Melbourne *

- Carlton * Lou Bols - Fitzroy * Newton Chandler - Carlton * Neil Clarke - Essendon * Tom Clarke – Essendon *

- South Melbourne * Charles Clements – South Melbourne * Ron De Iulio - Carlton * Colin Dell - Footscray * Frank Dimattina - Richmond & North Melbourne * John Dowling - Melbourne * Jack Edwards - North Melbourne * Glenn Gingell - Footscray *

Keith Greig Keith Southby Greig (born 23 October 1951) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the North Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Red-haired and pale-skinned, Greig was regarded as one of the most gr ...

- North Melbourne *

Frank Gumbleton Frank Gumbleton (born 6 March 1951) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the North Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League during the 1970s. Gumbleton was recruited from the country NSW football club of Gan ...

- North Melbourne *

Wayne Harmes Wayne may refer to: People with the given name and surname * Wayne (given name) * Wayne (surname) Geographical Places with name ''Wayne'' may take their name from a person with that surname; the most famous such person was Gen. "Mad" Anthon ...

played one season in 1989 after leaving Carlton *

Mark "Jacko" Jackson Mark Alexander Jackson (born 30 August 1959) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Melbourne Football Club, St Kilda Football Club and Geelong Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL), and for the South Fremant ...

– Melbourne/St Kilda/Geelong/South Fremantle & entertainer * Graeme Jenkin - Collingwood & Essendon *

Joe Kinnear Joseph Patrick Kinnear (born 27 December 1946) is an Irish former football manager and player. Kinnear played as a defender, spending the majority of his career—ten seasons—with Tottenham Hotspur. With Tottenham he won the FA Cup, the EFL ...

– Melbourne *

Wally Lovett Wally Lovett (born 15 December 1961) is an indigenous Australian, indigenous former Australian rules football player who played in the Australian Football League, Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1982 VFL season, 1982 for Collingwood Footbal ...

- Collingwood & Richmond * Leo Maynes - Essendon/Fitzroy * Robbie McGhie - Footscray, Richmond & South Melbourne *

- Essendon * Jack McKenzie - Carlton * Roy McKay – Footscray *

Stewart McLatchie Stewart McLatchie, MM (19 August 1896 – 31 January 1968) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Carlton and Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Military service McLatchie, a farmer from Sale, fought in World War I ...

– Carlton * Alby Murdoch - Essendon *

- North Melbourne * Daryl Schimmelbusch - North Melbourne * Wayne Schimmelbusch - North Melbourne * Noel Smith – Essendon 1939

Gardiner Medal {{Use Australian English, date=January 2018 The Gardiner Medal was an Australian rules football award, formerly awarded to the best and fairest player in the VFL Reserves competition. Officially named the Seconds prior to 1959 and the Reserves fr ...

winner *

- Essendon & Collingwood * Rodney Wright - North Melbourne & Melbourne Other notable players *

Barry Nolan Barry Nolan (born June 17, 1947) is an American former presenter on Comcast Cable's CN8 channel, once hosting the shows '' Nitebeat,'' ''Backstage'', and ''Backstage with Barry Nolan''. He is a panelist on ''Says You!'', a weekend radio word quiz ...

– 1978 J. J. Liston Trophy winner * Tony West – 1986 J. J. Liston Trophy winner *

John Curtin John Curtin (8 January 1885 – 5 July 1945) was an Australian politician who served as the 14th prime minister of Australia from 1941 until his death in 1945. He led the country for the majority of World War II, including all but the last few ...

– Australian Prime Minister *

Ernest George Sir Ernest George (13 June 1839 – 8 December 1922) was a British architect, landscape and architectural watercolourist, and etcher. Life and work Born in London, Ernest George began his architectural training in 1856, under Samuel Hewitt, ...

– 1913 Stawell Gift winner *

Paul Young Paul Antony Young (born 17 January 1956) is an English musician, singer and songwriter. Formerly the frontman of the short-lived bands Kat Kool & the Kool Cats, Streetband and Q-Tips, he became a teen idol with his solo success in the 1980s. ...

– 1985

Stawell Gift The Stawell Gift is Australia's oldest and richest short-distance running race. It is the main event in an annual carnival held on Easter weekend by the Stawell Athletic Club, with the main race finals on the holiday Monday, at Central Park, St ...

winner * Bill Jacobs - 1960s Australian Cricket Team Manager and Football Radio Broadcaster #3AW - 1957 to 1991 incl 25 Grand Finals# *

Alex Gillon Alexander George Gillon (23 December 1909 – 25 August 2007) was a civic and sporting administrator in Melbourne, Australia. He was most notable as the longest-serving president of the Victorian Football Association, and as a mayor of the ...

– the longest serving VFA president #27 years from 1954 until 1981#

References

External links

Fullpointsfooty
{{VFL

Brunswick Football Club Brunswick Football Club was an Australian rules football club which played in the Victorian Football League, Victorian Football Association (VFA) from 1897 until 1991. Based in Brunswick, Victoria, for most of their time in the Association the ...

Australian rules football clubs in Melbourne 1865 establishments in Australia Australian rules football clubs established in 1865 1991 disestablishments in Australia Australian rules football clubs disestablished in 1991