Australian Football

A much-decorated servant of Queensland football as a Grogan Medallist and a premiership player and coach who in recent years has made his mark on the AFL scene in recruiting. 

Born in Melbourne but a football product of Cairns, where the family had migrated, Craig Brittain showed outstanding promise early, winning selection in the 1981 All-Australian Teal Cup squad, and in the same year playing in the Windsor-Zillmere (QAFL) premiership side under Frank Gumbleton as a 17-year-old. Recruited by North Melbourne the following year, he captained the Kangaroos U19 side in 1983 and played five senior games in 1984, but was denied a real chance to show his worth by recurring knee injuries. 

Returning to Queensland Brittain forged a stellar 200-game QAFL career highlighted by a unique double in 1988 – a record win in the Grogan Medal, when he polled 27 votes to win by 11 from Southport’s Ray Sarcevic, and a second QAFL premiership as captain of a Zillmere side which included his brother Michael and coached by another brother Wayne. Windsor-Zillmere merged with Sandgate to form North Brisbane in 1991 and Craig coached them to a first premiership in 1995. 

Craig Brittain joined his brother Wayne at Carlton in 2000 as a recruiter and scout but left after a year to coach the Brisbane Lions Reserves to the 2001 QAFL premiership. He has been involved with the Lions ever since, serving in various roles including recruiting manager and development coach.

Author - Murray Bird and Peter Blucher