Brian Gleeson

Infobox afl player


firstname = Brian
lastname = Gleeson


| birthdate = Birth date and age|1934|11|3|df=y
birthplace =
originalteam = Berrigan
heightweight = 188cm / 81.5kg
dead = alive
deathdate =
deathplace =
debutdate = 1953
debutteam = St Kilda
debutopponent =
debutstadium =
playingteams = St Kilda (1953-1957) 71 games, 47 goals
coach = notcoach
coachingteams =
statsend = 2005
careerhighlights =

*St Kilda Best and Fairest 1957
*Brownlow Medallist 1957
*Victorian state representative four times

Brian Gleeson (born 3 November 1934) is a former Australian rules footballer in the VFL.

Gleeson attended St Patrick's College, Ballarat and later played with St Kilda at Centre half-forward initially. He developed into a skilful and agile ruckman, winning the Brownlow medal in 1957. In the Melbourne evening paper The Herald, 29 August 1957 Gleeson said:"We are just like a family at St Kilda," he said. "We depend on teamwork and we bring each other into the game. Coach Alan Killigrew is responsible for that and the officials and supporters have given us encouragement and confidence."

Appointed club captain in 1958, he tragically injured a knee in a practice match and never played VFL football again.Trivia - Gleeson and 1961 Brownlow Medal winner John James, (who also finished third to Gleeson in 1957), played in the same school team!

References

* [http://saints.com.au/default.asp?pg=halloffameprofile&spg=display11&personid=193387 St Kilda Hall of Fame Profile]
* [http://crikey.com.au/articles/2002/04/28-alumni.html School reference.]
* [http://www.martinrothonline.com/lw4.htm Herald quote]
* [http://saints.com.au/default.asp?pg=history&spg=honorroll Saints honor roll]