Australian Football

A superb kick and powerful mark, Bernie 'Superboot' Quinlan was one of the VFL's most exciting, if unpredictable, key position forwards of the 1970s and '80s. In addition to his kicking and marking prowess he had impressive pace for a big man. Beginning with Footscray in 1969 he played 177 games and kicked 241 goals for the Bulldogs before crossing to Fitzroy in 1978.

In nine seasons with the Lions, Quinlan produced the best and most consistent form of his career, playing another 189 VFL games as well as adding 576 goals, including centuries in both 1983 and 1984. The highlight of his illustrious career came in 1981 when, aged 30, he tied for the Brownlow Medal with South Melbourne's Barry Round, who ironically happened to be a close personal friend of Quinlan's. Few people were surprised when, in 2002, Bernie Quinlan was handed the pivotal centre half forward position in Fitzroy's official 'Team of the Twentieth Century'.

Author - John Devaney