MAL BROWN IN TOWN

Learn more about this Saturday’s President’s Function Guest Speaker and much-adored Souths person, Malcolm Gregory Brown.

Watch our Club Legends Interview with Mal

Born in 1946 in leafy Mount Lawley, Mal and his family soon made the move to a small country town called Dowering.

In his schooling years, Mal attended Scotch College where just by Year 10 he made his debut in the first XVII, kicking 78 goals in his first year alone, as a footballing prodigy.

Mal grew up a keen South Fremantle supporter, admiring Club royalty in Clive Lewington and John Gerovich, and this support of the Club ultimately led to his career at South Fremantle as a Player and Coach.

Mal first played for the East Perth Football Club where, in 1969, he won the Sandover Medal as well as claiming three best and fairest awards across the seasons 1969, 70 and 72.

In 1970, Mal was appointed Player/Coach for East Perth, leading them to their 1972 premiership, and in the same year, being named All-Australian Captain.

In 1974, Mal moved over east to play for Richmond in the VFL where he played 14 games, kicking 25 goals as a ruck rover for the tigers.

Following his short Victorian stint, he then returned to Western Australia where in 1975, he was appointed Player/Coach for Claremont where he played 12 games kicking 21 goals.

1977 saw Mal move to his beloved Bulldogs as a Player for that season, playing a total of 10 games kicking 9 goals. After retiring as a Player at the back end of the 1977 season, Mal took the reins as senior Coach role in 1978 and did so for 182 games (119 wins), leading South Fremantle to a famous Premiership in 1980.

In 1985, Mal moved to Perth, coaching for 65 games over three years before returning to South Fremantle in 1992 to Coach for what was to be his final season as a Coach.

Mal’s impact on the game has been profound, and not isolated to any one Club nor region.

Whether in Fremantle, Perth generally or WA broadly, his reputation is significant and his contribution substantive.

On top of all his achievements as a Player and a Coach across the WAFL, Mal represented Western Australia between the years 1966-1973 where he played 16 games and kicked 20 goals.

In 2004, Mal Brown’s career as a Player and a Coach in the game of football was celebrated as he was inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Mal is a distinguished Club person, possessing South Fremantle Life Membership (1987) and Premiership Coach credentials (1980).

Written by Luke Lawson, SFFC Communications Intern