Harry Brereton

Recruited from the Port Melbourne Juniors, Harry Brereton established himself as one of the VFL's most potent sharpshooters during the pre-war era. As a full-forward, he was the focal point of Melbourne's attack, possessing a reliable kick and the ability to score heavily in a low-scoring period of the game. He topped the club's goalkicking list four times and twice surpassed the 50-goal milestone in a season. Despite his on-field dominance, Brereton's legacy is defined by one of the earliest and most significant match-fixing scandals in league history. In 1915, he was disqualified for life following an investigation into allegations that he accepted a bribe to play poorly in a match against South Melbourne, a charge he denied but which effectively ended his VFL career at its peak.

Following the scandal and the conclusion of World War I, Brereton relocated north to continue his career in Sydney. While the disqualification prevented him from rejoining the Victorian competition, he became a prominent figure in the New South Wales league between 1919 and 1922, maintaining his reputation as a formidable goal scorer. His departure left a significant void in Melbourne's forward line, and he remains remembered as a talented spearhead whose tenure was cut short by controversy rather than form.