Past Bernie 'Superboot' Quinlan (1978-1986)

[Grimreepah]

Re: Bernie "Superboot" Quinlan (1978 - 1986)

100 players who made the Lions roar

Bernie Quinlan is as decorated a player as any who has pulled on the Fitzroy guernsey. The only honour that eluded him during his long career was a premiership medallion. The son of Fitzroy reserves player Frank Quinlan, he was born on 21 July 1951. Quinlan played his early football at Traralgon in Gippsland and was zoned to Footscray. He made his VFL debut in Round 12 of 1969, ironically against Fitzroy, when he was days short of his 18th birthday, and kicked four goals from full forward.

He eventually played 177 games for 241 goals for the Bulldogs, winning the Footscray goalkicking in 1971 with 48 goals and representing Victoria twice while at the club. He crossed to Fitzroy mid-season 1978, having threatened to play with VFA club Sandringham if he was not given a clearance. He received overtures from both Collingwood and Geelong at the time.

Bernie Quinlan and Barry Round show off their Brownlow Medals jointly won in 1981

 

[Grimreepah]

Link ....

A shift took place from 1977 onwards that became entrenched in the 1980s. Teams became more accurate in front of goal. Brownlow medallist and champion goalkicker Bernie Quinlan's career statistics reflected that overall shift. From 1969-77, Quinlan kicked 241 goals with an accuracy rating of 49 per cent. From 1978-86, he kicked 576 goals (61.67 per cent).

However, Quinlan guesses it was probably a change in environment rather than a change in routine or kicking technique that explained the difference. "I don't think I changed anything significantly over the years," Quinlan said.

He changed teams in 1978, moving from playing home games at the windy Western Oval (now Whitten Oval) to the more predictable Junction Oval. No such thing as playing games under a roof in Quinlan's era. "There was a lot of bog heaps. Even the MCG was a mess at times. It was pretty hard to get your footing some days coming in to kick," he said.

 

[Grimreepah]

Footy record

Bernie Quinlan missed the elimination final through injury but he was quick to congratulate Michael Conlan for his last-goal heroics.

 

[Grimreepah]

Round 17, 1984

Fitzroy 11.11.77
Hawthorn 10.7.67

It was the wettest afternoon of the season, an afternoon for swimming to the ball first, diving into packs and paddling out to team mates.

Bernie Quinlan kicked only three, but he looked a threat every time the ball came in his direction.

 

[Mr Ripper]

Quinlan finally gets the all clear

 

[Last of the Roys]

The Lions website has a 5 minute video with footage of the end of the 1981 Brownlow Medal count (Bernie won along with Barry Round of South Melbourne for those that don't know).

http://www.lions.com.au/video/2015-04-23/tbt-bernie-quinlan-brownlow-1981

 

[winged1]

He could drop kick a mile, I remember one windy day, he was having shots from half way.

 

[cotter101]

He could drop kick a mile, I remember one windy day, he was having shots from half way.

Yeah, I remember the goal he kicked from the centre circle. Still cleared the goal line by a solid 10 or so metres.