We recognise the passing of former player Brian Turner, who died just before Christmas
Vale Brian Turner
1952-57
Games 38 Goals 11
The Collingwood Football Club has been saddened by the news of the passing of former player Brian Turner.
Brian played 38 senior games across seven seasons on the senior list, in a career blighted by frequent injuries. He also played a further 52 games with the reserves in his time at Victoria Park.
He was born in North Carlton, then moved to Northcote, where he lived in the same street opposite the Coventry brothers. He barracked for Collingwood from the start, idolising the stars of the 1940s. The Magpies invited him down to training for the 1952 pre-season. He starred at centre half-forward in his first practice match and remarkably found himself named in the same position in the seniors for the opening match of the season the next week, against Hawthorn at Glenferrie. It was a meteoric rise, to say the least.
Brian was strongly built and an excellent mark, but also extremely mobile for his size. His kicking wasn’t his strongest suit, and in the years ahead he would find himself increasingly played in defence, making him a valuable ‘swingman’ type option. He also took regular stints in the ruck, where his high leaping was a useful weapon.
But injuries always seemed to get in the way of any progress. He missed almost all of the 1953 season with a mystery back complaint that threatened his entire career, and was regularly troubled with niggling injuries thereafter.
After managing a career-high 11 games in 1957, Brian couldn’t crack a senior game in 1958 and was cleared to North Melbourne, where he played a further 43 games across three seasons. He later went into coaching with Edithvale Aspendale.
In the end Brian Turner managed 81 senior games across both clubs. That’s a fine return, but it almost certainly would have been far more had it not been for his injury issues.
The Board, management, staff, coaches and players of the Collingwood Football Club would like to acknowledge Brian Turner’s contribution to our footy club. He is survived by his wife Carmel, their four children Peter, Janine, Maryanne and Gabriel along with their partners, children and grandchildren.
Our thoughts are with his family and all his friends from Collingwood, North Melbourne and beyond.
Side by Side.
