DOB: 13 June 1887
Died: 31 December 1950
Debut: Round 1, 1909 against Richmond at Punt Road
Last MFC Game: Semi Final 1915 against Carlton at MCG
From: Port Melbourne
Honours
Leading Goalkicker - 1909, 1911, 1912
Life Member - 1944
Games: 85 (102 total)
Goals: 187 (239 total)
Career Statistics
Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
39 | 2 | 44 | 45.88 |
Recruited from Port where he had played 36 games between 1907 and 1908, Brereton was invited to train with South Melbourne but wasn't picked up and instead joined Melbourne. He then became one of the best VFL forwards of his era. His seventh league match saw him boot nine goals against Geelong, and he managed 34 in total after playing every game for the year. Brereton rapidly became known as one the best place kicks of his generation.
He only managed 18 in 17 games in 1910, but returned to top the Redleg goal tally in 1911 with 46, including five of his side's six in the round 12 victory over Essendon in 7 degree temperatures. In 1912 he led the league goalkicking with 56 and represented the VFL against a Ballarat League team before missing both the 1913 and 1914 seasons. The latter year was missed with ill-health.
Returning in 1915 he teamed up with University recruit Roy Park and kicked 33 goals for the year to help fire his side into their first finals series in over a decade. The club were then forced to withdraw from the VFL due to World War I.
Despite the Redlegs resuming league football in 1919, Brereton was cleared to join South Melbourne in May of that year and returned to league football with the Swans in round 11 of that year. He played three seasons for them, missing 1921 and returning in 1922 only to fill in during an injury crisis.
Brereton was also a keen cricketer and was secretary of the Victorian Cricket Association for 25 years until his death after a long illness.
Year | Games | Goals | |
1909 | 18 | 34 | |
1910 | 17 | 18 | |
1911 | 17 | 46 | |
1912 | 17 | 56 | |
1915 | 16 | 33 |
Lists
South Melbourne
VFA
Notes
May have missed all of 1913 due to illness.
Media
Argus - 29/04/1909
Argus - 20/04/1914
Record - 13/01/1951
Links
Demonwiki image gallery
VFA Project profile
Wikipedia profile