‘Keep clear of the beer. It’s no good’: Brownlow letters revealed as medal turns 100

Charles Brownlow began writing to Alec McKenzie in 1902, early in the young player from Warrnambool’s first season pulling on the hoops for Geelong.

The club secretary’s informality was evident from the start as he congratulated the 20-year-old McKenzie for his four-goal haul against Collingwood and enclosed passes for the next week’s match.

“I trust you have put in a good week’s training, not neglecting to take that fat little boy that plays on the wing with you,” he wrote before signing off “Brownie”.

Lachie Neale won his second Brownlow Medal last year.Credit: AFL Photos

The Brownlow Medal, named in “Brownie’s” honour, turns 100 this year.

The league decided in March 1924, less than two months after Brownlow died that January, to commemorate his contribution, writing to his wife Matilda that “a gold medal should be presented to the best and fairest player in premiership matches each season”.

Medals have been awarded in 96 seasons since, with voting suspended from 1942-1945 because of the war.

But it’s his 40-odd letters, which continued through McKenzie’s 87-game career from 1902-1908 as the player matured, married and moved into town, that reveal a side of Brownlow never seen before.

The treasure is now in the collection of Geelong historian Bob Gartland – a former Cats board member – after he bought them at auction this year.

“[Brownlow] seemed to operate on two levels – one was his advocacy to the league on behalf of the club and beyond that on behalf of football,” Gartland said.

Letters from Charles Brownlow to Cats player Alec McKenzie making sure he was aware of dangerous Collingwood champion Charlie Pannam.Credit: Bob Gartland’s private collection

“Take his VFL hat off and stick his Geelong hat on – he was vehemently passionate about Geelong.”

His Cats connection began with his debut in 1880, and a premiership in 1882 before becoming a premiership captain in 1883. He became Geelong secretary in 1885, with the club advocating for a breakaway competition that eventually became the VFL. The club delegate to the VFL from 1902 was VFL vice president for 14 years and VFL president in 1918-19.

But forget Brownlow being merely an administrator. The letters show Brownlow was a football diehard.

His writing to McKenzie carries all sorts of advice, personal and football-related, mixing exhortations with warm reassurance – a coach of sorts.

Brownlow told McKenzie in 1903: “The committee have picked you for Saturday, but will leave you to decide whether you will strip or not when you come down.”

By 1904, as McKenzie’s game developed, Brownlow wrote: “We will be expecting to see your smiling face once more. It is only four weeks to our first game against Collingwood, so I hope you will start chasing the rabbits … shall I send a ball up, have you any room to kick.”

But Brownlow was not without free advice that year, either. “Keep clear of the beer. It’s no good.”

His letters show he used, in familiar tone, earthy phrases that would not be used now, such as “fat boy failed to send me your address” when trying to contact McKenzie, who was about to get married.

One of the letters Charles Brownlow wrote to Geelong player Alec McKenzie.Credit: Bob Gartland’s private collection

In May 1905, with a win needed, the secretary wrote to McKenzie suggesting he train using “short sprints to the ball … for variety, put it down ten yards away and run at your tops and pick it up.” After the Cats finished that season, he wrote “the only chance of winning a premiership is to have 18 who are heart and soul in the team”.

The final round loss to St Kilda in 1905 hit Brownlow hard. He wrote “it took me a week to recover from that last knockout by St Kilda”, a feeling familiar to supporters of several clubs this September.

“Brownie” was rapt at McKenzie’s marriage and move to the city, as he wrote in 1907: “It will do you a lot of good, and I am sure that Mrs Mac will fully appreciate”. In 1908 he pleaded for McKenzie to “get plenty of ball practice and help us out of the rut we have fallen into”.

Despite his frustration and hope, the Cats’ lean patch continued. They did not win their first VFL flag until 1925, a year after Brownlow died at the age of 62.

By 1908, as McKenzie’s playing career wound down, Brownlow realised he couldn’t do it all through his letters and presence, and made a landmark decision.

On April 3, 1909, he advertised for a football coach at a salary of one pound a week. Dave Hickinbotham coached the Cats from 1910. No longer a one-man show, Brownlow’s connection to players remained strong.

In 1923, he published a message to football that included the line: “To keep it in the position it now occupies there can be no abuse allowed to creep into the game … play fair and all be well.”

Those words from Brownlow ring true as the AFL prepares for another Brownlow Medal, 100 years since the first, safe in the knowledge they got the decision to name it in Charles Brownlow’s honour right.

Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.