A much-decorated servant of Queensland football as a Grogan Medallist and a premiership player and coach who in recent years has made his mark on the AFL scene in recruiting. Born in Melbourne but a football product of Cairns, he was a 1981 All-Australian Teal Cup selection who in the same year played in the Windsor-Zillmere premiership side under Frank Gumbleton as a 17-year-old.
Recruited by North Melbourne, he had three years at Arden Street (1982-84). He captained the Kangaroos U19 side in ’83 and played five senior games in ’84, but was denied a real chance to show his worth by recurring knee injuries.
Returning ‘home’, he enjoyed a stellar 200-game QAFL career highlighted by a uniquedouble in 1988 – a record win in the Grogan Medal, when he polled 27 votes to win by 11 from Southport’s Ray Sarcevic, and a second QAFL premiership as captain of a Zillmere side which included brother Michael and was coached by brother Wayne.
He added a third flag as captain-coach of North Brisbane in 1995, and a fourth in 2001 as coach of the Brisbane Lions Reserves after working a match day runner, forward scout and recruiting assistant at Carlton in 2000. Has filled a dual role with the Lions in recent years, first as a development/reserves coach from 2001-05 and recruiting manager since 2006. Is set to take back a coaching focus in 2009.
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