This Saturday at Pennant Hills’ last home game for season 2015, Demons stalwart Anthony Brawn will join an elite group, playing his 300th open-age club game. In the Club’s 45 year history only two other players have achieved this landmark … and today Brawn joins Chris Yard (the current Senior Coach) and Jason Clarke (the current Reserve Grade Coach) as the third member of the Pennant Hills Demons 300 Club.
Anthony was a latecomer to Australian Rules football having first played soccer for much of his boyhood. Joining Westbrook Juniors in 1990, he played his first season in the Under 15s. A gifted athlete and talented young sportsman, it was not long before his natural affinity for our great game became apparent.
In 1991 he first played in the NSW U17 Teal Cup side as well as the U16 NSW Combined High Schools team and he was subsequently selected in the CHS All Australian Team which included future AFL players, the likes of Peter Vardy, Darren Gaspar, Daniel McPherson, Nigel Lappin and Peter Bell. He played his first game with Pennant Hills U19s as a 16 year old also in 1991. He played in the NSW Teal Cup side again in 1992. In his two seasons at Westbrook Juniors, Brawny kicked 137 club goals.
Anthony played his first game of Senior club football for the Demons in Round 14 of 1992 against Western Suburbs at Wagener Oval. His debut game ended disappointingly with a 139 point drubbing by Wests, however, he did kick his first senior goal. Between 1993 and 2005 he played 13 consecutive seasons of first grade footy for the Demons. As a measure of his leadership quality, he was Club Captain for 5 consecutive years 1999 – 2003. For his prowess as a player, he won the Seniors Best & Fairest twice, in 1999 and 2004, and was also Pennant Hills Footballer of the Year in 1999. More recently, he was Reserve Grade Best & Fairest in 2013. As Club Captain he has the distinction of leading the Club to its inaugural First Grade premiership in 2000. After finishing runners-up in 3 seasons out of the previous five, the victory in 2000 was undoubtedly the pinnacle of his career as well as being a landmark achievement for the Club.
A right foot kick, like his soccer days playing striker, Anthony has played most of his footy as a forward. He was the senior team’s leading goal-kicker in 1997 (30 goals), 1999 (60), 2000 (33) and 2003 (38). His best haul in a match was 11 goals against Balmain at Drummoyne Oval in 1994.
In a career that spans 25 years, Anthony has only missed two seasons of footy, 2008 and 2011, when he took time out to help raise his three children and to renovate his home. Now, at age 40, he’s back at the Demons and plays up-front for the Reserve Grade side where he is still a prolific goal-scorer, 37 is this season’s tally so far. And, what’s more, a shot at another flag is in the offing.
From the day Anthony first pulled on a Pennant Hills jumper, he proved to be a talented footballer, but it is also his on and off-field leadership that make Anthony, not just an outstanding player, but also an outstanding Demons clubman. Congratulations Anthony on achieving this remarkable milestone. You have left an indelible mark upon the Pennant Hills Demons Football Club and are safely ensconced as one of the Club’s true Legends as player and as a leader. And, welcome to the Demons 300 Club!
Any enquiries – Ian Parker M 0428 261 984
Last Modified on 29/08/2015 08:43
