Brent Crosswell

DOB: 8 August, 1950
MFC Debut: Round 4, 1980 against Footscray at MCG
Last Game: Round 21, 1982 against Hawthorn at MCG

Games: 48 (222 total)
Goals: 57 (257 total)
Career Statistics (external link)

Wins	Draws	Losses	Winning %
9	0	39	23.07

From: Campelltown (Tasmania)/Carlton/North Melbourne

Number: 8 1980-1982

One of the most flamboyant, and controversial, players of his era Crosswell won two flags at Carlton in his first three years before crossing to North where he won two more. He debuted in 1968, played in a premiership in his first year and was best on ground in the Blues' 1970 Grand Final victory.

Known as "Tiger" because it was what he called people when he didn't know their name, Crosswell crossed to North in 1975 and played in two more premierships under Ron Barassi before joining the Demons in 1980 as part of a cash deal along with his North teammate Bill Nettlefold. Not surprisingly he was unable to repeat his premiership heroics at a Melbourne side who had spent more than 15 years out of the finals.

It took just six weeks for Crosswell to fall out with Barassi. Late in the first quarter of the round 6 loss to Geelong at the SCG Crosswell gave away a free kick that led to a goal and surrendered the quarter time lead.
He was dragged from the ground and when the coach came to address his side and give Crosswell a piece of his mind the two clashed and the player stormed away.

Demon team manage Max Scales convinced Crosswell to return but Barassi sent him away again. Crosswell returned later and broke his right thumb. It had been some sort of afternoon. During the following week it was suggested in the newspapers that Crosswell was free to any club who wanted him, but Barassi rubbish the reports saying "Who would I argue with?"

Despite suggestions that Crosswell was about to retire after he was suspended for four games for striking David Rhys-Jones in Round 18 Crosswell stayed silent and eventually opted to play on the next year. Despite being the most unlikely of coaches Crosswell had fulfilled his obligations to the club in '81 by acting as an assistant coach of the Under 19's to Ray Jordon for the last few weeks of the season.

In Round 21, 1982 Crosswell was reported for striking Michael Moncrieff and announced that he would not bother to attend the tribunal hearing as he was going to give the game away anyway. It was his last game of VFL football.

Describing himself Crosswell said "They think I'm psycho, like nitro glycerine, half crazy, sulky petulant. Certain elements of my game just don't appeal to Australians. They think of the things I do as ostentatious, lairising. I do it because I feel like doing it". It has been suggested that Crosswell was the basis for the Geoff Heywood character in the play and movie The Club.

Diagnosed with Menieres Disease in the early 90's, Crosswell has battled the illness since.

Crosswell's son Tom Kavanagh played two games for the Demons in 1989.

Year	Games	Goals	Brownlow
1980	15	31	0
1981	14	11	0
1982	19	15	0

Tribunal Record

Match	Charge	Sanction
1980 Escort Cup Round 1	Striking	4 matches
1981 Escort Cup Round 3	Striking	2 matches
Round 18, 1981	Charging	4 matches
Round 10, 1982	Striking	Not Guilty
Round 21, 1982	Striking	1 match