Australian Football

Ruckman Norm Brown joined Fitzroy from North Heidelberg and was almost a lone shining light at times in some dire Lions combinations during the 1960s and early 1970s. He played a total of 181 VFL games between 1962 and 1973, kicking 77 goals. He also represented the VFL. By no means pretty to watch, he was a paragon of strength, courage and almost fanatical devotion to his team. His three successive club best and fairest awards between 1965 and 1967 were extremely popularly received by the Fitzroy faithful.

In 1974 Brown was appointed captain-coach of Port Melbourne and had the immediate satisfaction of leading his charges to a 22.20 (152) to 11.17 (83) First Division Grand Final defeat of Oakleigh. Brown led the Borough to further premierships in 1976 and 1977, although he did not play in the 1977 Grand Final. He played a total of 57 VFA games for Port, retiring at the end of the 1977 season. He carried on as non-playing coach for one more year, but his team failed to annex a third successive flag, eventually finishing third. When Moorabbin re-entered the VFA after a two decade gap in 1983, Norm Brown was the reincarnated club's first coach. He only stayed in the post for one year, steering the side to eighth place (of twelve) in Second Division with a 7-11 record.

Author - John Devaney