Melbourne auctions: Tom Browne scores auction win while other AFL personalities miss out under the hammer

Footy news breaker Tom Browne, Bomber-turned-Swan Aaron Francis and ex-VFL star Michael Lockman all sent their homes to auction on the weekend. See who scored a sale.

Outgoing footy journalist Tom Browne’s Prahran house sold under the hammer on Saturday.

Award-winning footy journalist Tom Browne has sold his renovated Prahran house under the hammer after it spent more than two years on and off the market.

But other AFL personalities weren’t so lucky on Saturday, with Swans swingman Aaron Francis’ and former VFL star Michael Lockman’s properties both passing in.

Outgoing Channel 7 chief football reporter Browne and his wife Tara listed their 44 Perth St home with a $2.1m-$2.3m price guide — a $500,000 haircut from when they first placed it on the market in April 2021.

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At that time the listing lingered for about 600 days before it was pulled last December.

After Browne’s shock retirement from Channel 7 and Triple M in July, he listed the home again as he gears up to move to Sydney for his new gig with Sydney Swans chairman Andrew Pridham’s MA Financial Group.

Two buyers competed for the keys to the period home at the Saturday morning auction, which kicked off with a $2.15m offer.

The rear of the home opens out to a covered courtyard.

Browne and his wife Tara renovated the Prahran house before placing it on the market.

The couple recently welcomed the birth of their second child.

Bids moved “relatively quickly” from there, surpassing the $2.3m reserve until reaching a $2.366m sale to a young couple.

Jellis Craig Stonnington auctioneer Nathan Waterson said Browne was happy with the result.

“He’s looking forward to now being able to move to Sydney and focus on his new adventure,” Mr Waterson said.

It comes after PropTrack recorded an early clearance rate of 64.2 per cent last week from 941 reported results.

Bomber-turned-Swan Aaron Francis’ St Kilda West home passed in under the hammer.

The Sydney swingman listed the property after moving to the club this season. Picture: Brendon Thorne/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Meanwhile in St Kilda West, the home where ex-Bomber Aaron Francis lived with Essendon star Matt Guelfi passed in on a $1.8m offer on Saturday morning.

The 55 Park St initially had a $1.85m-$1.99m asking price with McGrath South Yarra principal Charlie Clemons but is now on the private market for $1.75m-$1.85m.

Former VFL star Michael Lockman’s Glen Iris house also passed in.

Lockman played for Richmond, Collingwood and Sydney Swans.

And in Glen Iris, former Richmond, Collingwood and Sydney Swans player Michael Lockman’s house where he hosted a slew of football legends also failed to sell under the hammer.

It was listed for $1.5m-$1.65m and passed in on a $1.5m vendor bid.

The 4 Essex St pad is now being sold privately with a $1.55m price tag.

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Originally published as Melbourne auctions: Tom Browne scores auction win while other AFL personalities miss out under the hammer