Australian Football

Somewhat surprisingly for a club with such an illustrious pedigree, it took Carlton 27 years to come up with its first Brownlow Medallist in the shape of virtuoso centre half back Bert Deacon.

As fair as he was talented, Deacon began and finished his senior career with VFA side Preston. He joined the Blues in 1942, and was a key member of premiership teams in both 1945 and his Brownlow year of 1947. Strong overhead and brilliant at ground level, he effectively constituted the first line of attack for the Blues, with his superb anticipation frequently enabling him to intercept the ball and return it with interest, almost invariably to his team's advantage.

In 1952, Deacon returned to his original club Preston as captain-coach. He was regarded as having "an excellent rapport with his players",¹ but it was not until he began to coach the team from the sidelines that this began to bear fruit. In 1955 the Bullants qualified for the finals for the first time since the war, and although they would not win a premiership for another eight seasons there is little doubt that Deacon was instrumental in laying a foundation of professionalism on which his successors were able to build.

In 1958, Bert Deacon returned to Carlton as vice-president, and later served as club secretary.

Author - John Devaney