Australian Football

Key position forward Ian Brewer had the rare distinction of enjoying top level success in the three main football states. At Collingwood he impressed as a full forward, kicking 164 goals in 84 VFL games between 1956 and 1961, which included topping the league list with 73 goals in 1958. He headed the Magpies' goal kicking ladder twice, and was at full forward in the 1958 premiership decider when the Woods upset firm flag favourites Melbourne by three goals. Earlier that season, on the Queen's Birthday holiday, he had produced arguably his most memorable performance for Collingwood in booting 6 of the side's 10 goals in an 11-point loss to Melbourne in front of an all time record VFL home and away crowd of 99,346.

In 1962 he crossed to St Kilda, but proved unable to break into the senior side. As a result, he seems to have decided that a change of scenery might suit him, and travelled to Western Australia. He spent the next couple of seasons with Claremont where, playing mainly as a centre half forward, he booted 55 goals to top the club's list in 1963, and was a member of its sensational "rags to riches" premiership team the following year.

The next stop was the SANFL where Brewer lined up with Norwood. In 1965 he was the competition's outstanding forward, missing the elusive ton by just 4 goals. He also topped Norwood's list with 76 goals the following year. After three years spent captain-coaching Wangaratta Rovers in the Ovens and Murray Football League he made a somewhat faltering return with the Redlegs in 1970, when his 3 appearances for the season gave him a career total of 171 league games comprised of 84 with Collingwood, 43 with Claremont, and 44 for Norwood.

Author - John Devaney