The Father Of The Forward-Line

by juniorzola

One of the most difficult occasions for the common fan to reconcile with occurs when the career of someone or something they love draws to a close. Society tends to perpetuate the narrative that the given entity is “gone too soon”, with no conclusion proving satisfying to the fan’s never-ending appetite. James Dean, Ian Curtis and The Office all serve as contemporary examples as to the confusion, sadness and resonance that tends to stem from the (for whatever reason) seemingly premature end to a career.

The end of a sporting career, however, often plays out differently. There tends to be two extremes to said conclusion. The first refers to the retirement of a champion, when praise and reverence is heaped on the retiree ad nauseam. The second type of conclusion occurs when a player is delisted, with injury, age or poor form usually proving the catalyst. What often goes unnoticed is the retirement of the average player. The journeyman, the utility, the everyman; whilst the end of this player’s career often occurs under their own volition, it is rare that enough time is spent reflecting on their career.

Leigh Brown is that journeyman. The fact that his career has seen him lace up the boots for three clubs will probably dilute the important roles played by Brown over the years. He will have only played three seasons in the black and white stripes, but when he retires he will be considered a true Collingwood man, at least in the eyes of this fan. With one last Finals series upon us, now is the perfect time to reflect on just what the great man has brought to the table, because God knows the only thing he’s taken off the table is food.

It has become apparent to all Collingwood supporters that the notion of giving up is not in the vernacular of Leigh Brown. After being told that he was surplus to requirements at both Fremantle and North Melbourne (oh really?), big Leroy was given a seemingly final chance at the greatest club in the land. After flitting between the AFL and VFL in his early days, he eventually cemented his spot in the best 22 and has never looked back. His dedication and unrelenting effort has been symbolic of the Collingwood ethos. Whilst not the most skilful of players, he has always been one of the toughest and that is something that counts for a great deal to those who bleed Black and White. The pain of rejection has manifested itself into an absolute unwillingness to give in. There have been many examples of determination over Leroy’s career, but one moment stands out like no other:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10hVil1RdmA

Whenever the big Brown-let steps onto a footy field, you know you are going to get a failure to relent and a dogged devotion to the task at hand. What you never expect, however, is the flash of brilliance that occasionally emerges from the big number 15. Brown’s unexpected dalliances with the miraculous have provided so much joy (not to mention a lot of laughs) to so many Collingwood supporters, with the outrageous goal always coming out of left-field (and sometimes the left forward pocket). When Big Bad Leroy Brown gets on a roll, there is no telling what can happen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nnNCCbvyF0

You don’t become the second player in VFL/AFL history to play 50 games for three clubs without at least having some of the qualities required to succeed in the AFL. Although his skills may not have been considered sufficient for some clubs, Leigh Brown has always been a man with something to offer. The most prominent (but least tangible) example of this comes in the form of his reliability. Whether it is laying a shepherd, getting pinged for a needless free kick or being the most aggressive consumer of food at the club, Leigh Brown has always been a man to be relied on. When the game calls for someone to step up, Brown is simply a man who refuses to fail (get bent Huddo!).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLq5a9vX7GA

On the field, it is hard to get a read on the big man. His stoic, seemingly unchangeable expression is merely a shield for the massive heart and compassionate soul that exists off the field. Even though the charitable pursuits of Harry O and Daisy may take a lot of the media spotlight, Brown is a man who doesn’t require the attention of the public to provide inspiration for Magpie fans. Whilst his drive and passion for footy has always been apparent, it is his humility that has made the ride all the more enjoyable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FEAH-4mPSI

Though he may not be Lockett-esque in his goal-kicking abilities, Leigh Brown has always been there to offer advice on how to get the ball through the big sticks. Ardent observers will tell you that whilst this advice is not always (and very rarely) required, hearing his calming voice has allowed players like Jarryd Blair, Dayne Beams and Travis Cloke to make crucial contributions in some of our biggest games. He is the father of our forward-line. The fact that some of his advice could often be better applied to his own endeavours is irrelevant, because Leroy is always there to provide encouragement and support to his team-mates, something that will see him remembered as one of the great clubmen in recent Collingwood history.

As one of the larger members of the Black and White, Brown has often been the butt of jokes relating to food. A (quite literally) lesser man may have taken offence to such barbs, but Brown has always copped it with a smile and offered up a witty retort (the name Travis Cloke springs to mind). On his few opportunities to step in front of the camera, his dry wit and self-deprecating sense of humour has provided so much pleasure to those Collingwood fans that never miss a media opportunity. Listening closely during the following clip will be music to the ears of all Collingwood fans:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIOe4zVeFxg&feature=related

At the end of the day, Leigh Brown won’t be remembered as the most skilful, explosive or polished footballer. But to this Magpie fan (and surely countless others) he will always be a cult favourite because of his endeavour, determination and hardness; three factors that exemplify what it means to play for the Collingwood Football Club. Even though his time at the club was short, Collingwood has been lucky to have a man of his calibre amongst its ranks. Seeing him stand humbly on the premiership dais brought a tear to the eye of many of those present on that fateful day in 2010. Even if we don’t get to see that image in 2011, we’ll always have this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb05O-0eTmU&feature=related

S-B