Ian Brewer

Recruited from Sale in country Victoria, Ian Brewer was a blond, crew-cut spearhead who became a central figure in Collingwood’s famous 1958 campaign. A natural full-forward with an uncanny sense for the big sticks, he peaked that year by topping the VFL goalkicking table with 73 majors and playing a key role in the Magpies' premiership upset over Melbourne. His season highlights included booting six goals in the Queen's Birthday clash before a record crowd of nearly 100,000 fans at the MCG. Brewer's time at Victoria Park was effectively cut short by a severe bout of hepatitis—contracted via a reused needle during club flu vaccinations—which ravaged his fitness and led to his departure after the 1961 season. Unable to break into St Kilda's senior side, he eventually found a second wind interstate, becoming a premiership hero for Claremont in the WAFL with two match-winning goals in the dying moments of the 1964 Grand Final, before later topping the SANFL goalkicking list with Norwood. He was the much older brother of Ross Brewer, who played for Collingwood and Richmond two decades later.