Gavin Brown (Australian rules footballer)
Encyclopedia
Gavin Brown was an Australian rules football
er who played in the Australian Football League
. Brown is currently an assistant coach to Brett Ratten at Carlton.
Brown was recruited into Collingwood from Templestowe where he contributed to the side for over a decade. Brown was part of the Magpies under-19 premiership side in 1986 with team-mates Damian Monkhorst
, Mick McGuane and Gavin Crosisca
, who would all make their debuts with the senior side in 1987. Brown quickly showed his true value as a tough and courageous footballer, and a great man off the field. He earned the nickname 'Rowdy' due to his quiet demeanour off the field. Brown started well in his career, earning his first Victorian guernsey in State of Origin football in his debut season.
In 1989 Brown turned into a great young footballer, winning the Copeland Trophy
, awarded to the club's best and fairest player, after finishing third the year before. In the same year, Brown made an impact against South Australia
in State of Origin, winning the EJ Whitten Medal. His great form lead into 1990 where Brown played a vital part in the Pies winning the premiership, their first in 32 years. Brown played mainly as a forward, after starting his career as a wingman. He was knocked out in the quarter-time brawl in the Grand Final against Essendon, but returned late in the game and kicked his second goal, celebrating early. A year later, Brown continued his enthusiastic and courageous work on the field, and finished runner-up in the best and fairest, as well as earning his first All-Australian selection, as a half-forward.
Brown was an extremely courageous player, and he was duly rewarded for this when the AFLPA awarded him the inaugural Robert Rose Award for Most Courageous Player
in 1991, and again in 1992.
In 1994, Brown was rewarded for his hard work with the captaincy, and he played good footy. He gained his second All-Australian selection, and win his second Copeland Trophy
, finishing equal with recruit Nathan Buckley
. He suffered hamstring injuries in 1995–1996, which hampered his career, but in 1997 he made a comeback, winning his third Copeland Trophy
. He also captained the state side against South Australia, winning a second EJ Whitten Medal for his best on ground performance due to a brilliant job on Darren Jarman
.
He handed over the Magpies captaincy to Nathan Buckley
at the end of 1998, despite his willingness to keep the leadership role. As his career was coming to an end, he continued to play brilliant footy in 1999 despite the team's lack of success, and was impressive with the youngsters around him, with another top 3 finish in the best and fairest. He retired at the end of 2000 after 254 games with Collingwood and kicked 194 goals in an outstanding VFL/AFL career.
Brown became an assistant coach to Mick Malthouse
after retiring, and in 2002 was awarded a spot in the Collingwood Team of the Century, filling in as the fourth interchange player. He was also inducted in the club Hall of Fame and in 2008 was appointed senior coach of Collingwood's newly created VFL
side.
In 2011, Brown moved to the Carlton Football Club
, taking on an assistant coaching role.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. Brown is currently an assistant coach to Brett Ratten at Carlton.
Brown was recruited into Collingwood from Templestowe where he contributed to the side for over a decade. Brown was part of the Magpies under-19 premiership side in 1986 with team-mates Damian Monkhorst
Damian Monkhorst
Damian Monkhorst is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the VFL/AFL.'Monkey' came to Collingwood from Woori Yallock and made his debut in 1988. The 202cm, 116kg big man was classed as a no.1 ruckman as soon as he got to Victoria Park, and his early career headed him to become a...
, Mick McGuane and Gavin Crosisca
Gavin Crosisca
Gavin Crosisca is a former Australian rules footballer in the VFL/AFL.Debuting in the VFL 1987 with the Collingwood Football Club, Crosisca was recruited from Western Districts Australian Football Club in Queensland...
, who would all make their debuts with the senior side in 1987. Brown quickly showed his true value as a tough and courageous footballer, and a great man off the field. He earned the nickname 'Rowdy' due to his quiet demeanour off the field. Brown started well in his career, earning his first Victorian guernsey in State of Origin football in his debut season.
In 1989 Brown turned into a great young footballer, winning the Copeland Trophy
Copeland Trophy
The E.W. Copeland Trophy is an Australian rules football award given by the Collingwood Football Club to the player adjudged Best and Fairest for Collingwood during the year....
, awarded to the club's best and fairest player, after finishing third the year before. In the same year, Brown made an impact against South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
in State of Origin, winning the EJ Whitten Medal. His great form lead into 1990 where Brown played a vital part in the Pies winning the premiership, their first in 32 years. Brown played mainly as a forward, after starting his career as a wingman. He was knocked out in the quarter-time brawl in the Grand Final against Essendon, but returned late in the game and kicked his second goal, celebrating early. A year later, Brown continued his enthusiastic and courageous work on the field, and finished runner-up in the best and fairest, as well as earning his first All-Australian selection, as a half-forward.
Brown was an extremely courageous player, and he was duly rewarded for this when the AFLPA awarded him the inaugural Robert Rose Award for Most Courageous Player
AFLPA Awards
The AFL Players' Association Awards are a group of awards given annually to players in the Australian Football League, voted for by all AFL players.-Leigh Matthews Trophy:...
in 1991, and again in 1992.
In 1994, Brown was rewarded for his hard work with the captaincy, and he played good footy. He gained his second All-Australian selection, and win his second Copeland Trophy
Copeland Trophy
The E.W. Copeland Trophy is an Australian rules football award given by the Collingwood Football Club to the player adjudged Best and Fairest for Collingwood during the year....
, finishing equal with recruit Nathan Buckley
Nathan Buckley
Nathan Charles Buckley is a former professional Australian rules football player, commentator and coach, best known for his time as captain of the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
. He suffered hamstring injuries in 1995–1996, which hampered his career, but in 1997 he made a comeback, winning his third Copeland Trophy
Copeland Trophy
The E.W. Copeland Trophy is an Australian rules football award given by the Collingwood Football Club to the player adjudged Best and Fairest for Collingwood during the year....
. He also captained the state side against South Australia, winning a second EJ Whitten Medal for his best on ground performance due to a brilliant job on Darren Jarman
Darren Jarman
Darren Jarman is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League. An elite midfielder-cum-forward, Jarman amassed a total of 386 games of senior football at SANFL, AFL and Representative level. He was widely reocgnised as one of the most skillful players of his era...
.
He handed over the Magpies captaincy to Nathan Buckley
Nathan Buckley
Nathan Charles Buckley is a former professional Australian rules football player, commentator and coach, best known for his time as captain of the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
at the end of 1998, despite his willingness to keep the leadership role. As his career was coming to an end, he continued to play brilliant footy in 1999 despite the team's lack of success, and was impressive with the youngsters around him, with another top 3 finish in the best and fairest. He retired at the end of 2000 after 254 games with Collingwood and kicked 194 goals in an outstanding VFL/AFL career.
Brown became an assistant coach to Mick Malthouse
Mick Malthouse
Michael "Mick" Malthouse is a former Australian rules footballer and the former coach of the Collingwood Football Club.While his playing career included a premiership for Richmond in the VFL, he is best known for his Australian Football League coaching career.Malthouse is the most successful coach...
after retiring, and in 2002 was awarded a spot in the Collingwood Team of the Century, filling in as the fourth interchange player. He was also inducted in the club Hall of Fame and in 2008 was appointed senior coach of Collingwood's newly created VFL
VFL
VFL can refer to:Sport* Victorian Football League, an Australian rules football league formerly known as the Victorian Football Association prior to 1996....
side.
In 2011, Brown moved to the Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
, taking on an assistant coaching role.