He was my chlldhood hero, so am biased, but curious to know how people rate Dermott Brereton the footballer and where he sits in the echelon of modern footballers? I assume most opposition supporters at the time despised him, as he was the ultimate villain in the [PLAYERCARD]Toby Greene[/PLAYERCARD] mould – but wondering how people remember him as a player. Any good anecdotes or recollections?
Five premierships speak for themselves, but it’s also how Derm stood up on the biggest stage that stands out. Got pantsed in the 1987 Grand Final but his 8 goals in a losing side in 85 GF is often forgotten. 5 goals on debut in a final, too. But getting off the canvas in 1989 GF to kick that goal was probably his most famous moment, but 1991 GF he overcome some adversities to play a big role in that flag too. 11 goals with broken ribs was another standout for me.
Obviously a tough player – many would call him a dirty mongrel – but he gave as much as he got, and didn't seem to be one to ever complain. Derm was football’s first real rock star: bleached hair, earring, Harley rider, Ferrari driver, fluro boots at three-quarter time. Big goals, big marks, big moments. But running through the Essendon huddle sums him up, really. Right after kissing Billy Duckworth, too.
Got shafted by the club he loved and forced to move to Sydney, he still did everything he could to get back to Hawthorn– but something poetic about him ending up at Collingwood – the team he loved as a kid and playing in front of 90,000 at Anzac Day clashes.
Most would say Wayne Carey is the greatest centre half-forward the game has seen – and it’s hard to argue with that – but when it comes to a package of big-game players, presence and characters of the game, I'd argue Dermott Brereton has him covered.
Five premierships speak for themselves, but it’s also how Derm stood up on the biggest stage that stands out. Got pantsed in the 1987 Grand Final but his 8 goals in a losing side in 85 GF is often forgotten. 5 goals on debut in a final, too. But getting off the canvas in 1989 GF to kick that goal was probably his most famous moment, but 1991 GF he overcome some adversities to play a big role in that flag too. 11 goals with broken ribs was another standout for me.
Obviously a tough player – many would call him a dirty mongrel – but he gave as much as he got, and didn't seem to be one to ever complain. Derm was football’s first real rock star: bleached hair, earring, Harley rider, Ferrari driver, fluro boots at three-quarter time. Big goals, big marks, big moments. But running through the Essendon huddle sums him up, really. Right after kissing Billy Duckworth, too.
Got shafted by the club he loved and forced to move to Sydney, he still did everything he could to get back to Hawthorn– but something poetic about him ending up at Collingwood – the team he loved as a kid and playing in front of 90,000 at Anzac Day clashes.
Most would say Wayne Carey is the greatest centre half-forward the game has seen – and it’s hard to argue with that – but when it comes to a package of big-game players, presence and characters of the game, I'd argue Dermott Brereton has him covered.
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