In a low-key kind of way, the Browne family has come to play a significant role in the Collingwood story.

Murray was the only one who actually played senior football, quietly accumulating 47 senior games over five seasons, together with a further 58 in the reserves. But two of his brothers also played with the under-19s and reserves, and one of them would later go on to lead the Club to an AFL Premiership.

Murray was recruited from Watsonia in Collingwood's northern suburban heartland, where he'd won that club's best-and-fairest award in 1980. A passionate Magpie fan as a boy, he was one of 150 local boys invited to train at Victoria Park during the pre-season of 1981. Despite the enormous competition, Murray won himself a spot on the list. He made a wonderful start to his career in '81, winning the reserves best-and-fairest award and also making his senior debut.

He played 19 games over the next two seasons without ever nailing down a senior berth, but enjoyed his best season in 1984 when he played 19 games. "He is now playing more consistent football, and has been one of the stars of our backline this year," said the Club's 1984 Yearbook. "His brilliant Anzac Day performance against Carlton showed he has the qualities to be a good senior footballer."

Murray actually started off as a forward/winger at Collingwood but was tried in defence during a stint in the reserves and found his niche there. At senior level he played mostly on the half-back flank or in the back pocket, where his hard-running and team-first focus made him a highly-respected and valued teammate. He was skilled on both sides of his body, still something of a novelty in the early 1980s, and a hard worker.

But the progress of 1984 couldn't be sustained, and after a quieter 1985 he moved to Fitzroy, where he played a further six games. He then moved to Golden Square in the Bendigo Football League but had to retire because of a persistent back injury and ended up coaching Marcellin in the Amateurs.

"I loved my time at Collingwood," Browne said in 2012. "To play for the Club I barracked for and who my brothers played with was a dream come true."

But the Browne family's contribution was really just beginning. One of his brothers, Trevor, had played 74 games with the reserves and under-19s between 1971 and 1974, while another brother, Jeff, played 22 games with the under-19s in 1972.

After his footy finished, Murray gave back to the footy club by spending 10 years with the Past Players Association, including four as President. But older brother Jeff went one better, becoming President of the entire football club in 2022, establishing himself as one of the Club's most influential Presidents despite his relatively short three-year tenure.

"I always knew Jeff would be an excellent AFL Club President," Murray said. "He has the right mix of business acumen and football knowledge. The time was right for him to do it in 2022 and I was enormously proud of how his leadership helped create a winning culture at the Club. He makes tough decisions and allows people to grow and develop in their roles."

Murray's son, Alex, showed that the footy bloodlines ran deep when he was drafted by Essendon in 2011 and played 11 senior games.

Between them, Murray Browne and his two brothers played just over 200 games at all levels for the Collingwood Football Club, plus producing a Club President and Past Players President. By any standards, that's a family contribution to be mighty proud of.

- Michael Roberts