Verdun Howell Brownlow up for auction

eel33 · Post: # 743770Post **eel33** » Sat 23 May 2009 7:06pm

Article on p.14 of today's Herald Sun, says that Verdun Howell's 1959 retrospective Brownlow (tied with Bobby Skilton, but missed out at the time on countback rules, with medal awarded by the VFL in 1989 when they changed the rules) will be auctioned next month. Howell wil be 73 next month and is selling the medal for his family's benefit.

bigred · Post: # 743801Post **bigred** » Sat 23 May 2009 8:24pm

This is where I wish the club had a heavy hitter cashed up supporter, or better still the club had the cash to buy it.

At auction.

For what it is worth.

To benefit the Howell family.

And to be kept where it will be truly valued for what it is.

Sainter_Dad · Sat 23 May 2009 8:28pm

Or indeed a web forum full of saintsationals who could all afford a little who could together make a single bid and donate it to the trophy cabinet!!!

Armoooo · Post: # 743806Post **Armoooo** » Sat 23 May 2009 8:35pm

How much do they normally go for?

I think it would be a great idea to get some money together.

Mr Magic · Post: # 743808Post **Mr Magic** » Sat 23 May 2009 8:37pm

I spoke to the Club about it (and other memorabilia that Verdun is now selling) in the hope that they might be in a position to purchase it/them for the Heritage Museum.
Unfortunately not, hence the reason it is now up for public auction.

I've also spoken to a couple of Saints memorabilia collectors/supporters who would love to have it but the price is not in their range.

There seems to be only 1 name that consistantly comes up.

Who knows Lindsay Fox well enough to talk to him about it?

Others who may be in a position to pay the price might include:-
Rod Butters
Greg Westaway
Andrew Plympton

Sainter_Dad · Sat 23 May 2009 8:44pm

The record price for a Brownlow Medal was $74,000, paid at auction nine years ago for the 1972 medal won by the late Collingwood ruckman Len Thompson.

ausfatcat · Post: # 743845Post **ausfatcat** » Sat 23 May 2009 11:08pm

Sainter_Dad wrote:Or indeed a web forum full of saintsationals who could all afford a little who could together make a single bid and donate it to the trophy cabinet!!!

$500 each?? I would pay that.

Bernard Shakey · Sat 23 May 2009 11:15pm

Not a big fan of retrospective Brownlows.

I can fully understand why Verdun is selling it.
It didn't exist for 30 years.
He knows he was beaten on a countback, but never considered himself a Brownlow medalist.

stinger · Post: # 743852Post **stinger** » Sat 23 May 2009 11:32pm

Bernard Shakey wrote:Not a big fan of retrospective Brownlows.

I can fully understand why Verdun is selling it.
It didn't exist for 30 years.
He knows he was beaten on a countback, but never considered himself a Brownlow medalist.

yep.......i knew verdon when i was a teenager..loved watching him play...so don't want to belittle his achievements...but he isn't a ridgy didge brownlow medalist......

widereceiver · Sat 23 May 2009 11:53pm

stinger wrote:
yep.......i knew verdon when i was a teenager..loved watching him play...so don't want to belittle his achievements...but he isn't a ridgy didge brownlow medalist......

absolute bollocks to that.

Mr Magic · Post: # 743871Post **Mr Magic** » Sun 24 May 2009 12:56am

Bernard Shakey wrote:Not a big fan of retrospective Brownlows.

I can fully understand why Verdun is selling it.
It didn't exist for 30 years.
He knows he was beaten on a countback, but never considered himself a Brownlow medalist.

I suugest you speak to Lew Mutch if you want to know the truth.

Sainter_Dad · Sun 24 May 2009 9:04am

ausfatcat wrote:
Sainter_Dad wrote:Or indeed a web forum full of saintsationals who could all afford a little who could together make a single bid and donate it to the trophy cabinet!!!
$500 each?? I would pay that.

Could we maybe take some pledges - contact Verdun - tell him the plan and see if he will withdraw it from auction and sell it to US. then we could probably get a set price - target - Maybe 1,000 shares at $50.00 a share then those that can afford $500 can get 10 shares!

Thinline · Post: # 743936Post **Thinline** » Sun 24 May 2009 9:24am

stinger wrote:

yep.......i knew verdon when i was a teenager..loved watching him play...so don't want to belittle his achievements...but he isn't a ridgy didge brownlow medalist......

Neither was Banger first time around.

perfectionist · Sun 24 May 2009 10:28am

We may find its price, but not its value.

Stephen Theodore · Sun 24 May 2009 11:28am

Does anyone know what else he is putting up for auction ?

mcadam05 · Post: # 743984Post **mcadam05** » Sun 24 May 2009 1:15pm

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0 ... 61,00.html

GrumpyOne · Post: # 744466Post **GrumpyOne** » Sun 24 May 2009 8:17pm

Lost a bit of respect for Verdun.

Footy's highest individual honour and he's selling it on the marketplace.

$50,000?

In the current economic climate I'd be surprised.

Perhaps he should have invested in private health insurance instead.

VietNam_Saint · Tue 26 May 2009 1:17pm

Thinline wrote:
stinger wrote:

yep.......i knew verdon when i was a teenager..loved watching him play...so don't want to belittle his achievements...but he isn't a ridgy didge brownlow medalist......
Neither was Banger first time around.

WTF !!!

It's the best AND fairest.

cowboy18 · Post: # 745825Post **cowboy18** » Tue 26 May 2009 1:52pm

VietNam_Saint wrote:
Thinline wrote:
stinger wrote:

yep.......i knew verdon when i was a teenager..loved watching him play...so don't want to belittle his achievements...but he isn't a ridgy didge brownlow medalist......
Neither was Banger first time around.
WTF !!!

It's the best AND fairest.

Fairest and best.

Thinline · Post: # 745977Post **Thinline** » Tue 26 May 2009 5:17pm

I'm not being disrespectful, but even the most one-eyed St Kilda supporter should recognise that Chris Grant's supension was pretty tiggy touchwood and highly irregular...

Yes, fairest and best etc, and Banger had a ripping year, but Grant was without a doubt the standout player that year IMO. 27 votes for a non-midfielder was a fine, fine effort.

Couldn't find footage of the said incident, but the following sums it up...

"It was round seven 1997, Footscray were playing Hawthorn at Princes Park, Chris Grant was in great form and the Doggies were on a roll. Grant lined up at centre-half-forward and had yet another great game finishing with 29 disposals, 11 marks and 2 goals. But during the match he was involved in a marking contest with Nick Holland, that was slightly dubious, but no report was made on the day.

"The umpires gave it the all clear, not only on the day, but after the game they reviewed it and didn't see an incident that warranted a report or suspension, so they didn't send it to the tribunal," says Grant.

In fact all three field umpires; Hayden Kennedy, Darren McCauley and Jamie Love not only didn't report Grant, but they award him the three votes for a best on ground performance.

Operations Manager at the time Ian Collins had a different opinion, he decided that the incident was reportable and for the first time he overrode the umpire's decision and sent Grant to the tribunal.

"All of that was really disappointing... this had never happened before, why are you doing this to such a small incident?"

The tribunal hearing that followed was equally extraordinary, all three field umpires were called as witnesses to Grant's defence and they once again reiterated that the incident was not reportable.

But the tribunal disagreed and suspended Grant for a week.

"We didn't know what the ramifications would be until the end of the year."

The ramifications were great; in fact aside from missing a grand final, it was the greatest consequence an AFL player could suffer. Grant missed out on winning the highest individual honour, the Brownlow Medal. He finished with 27 votes, one ahead of Robert Harvey, but due to the report was ineligible. Harvey was awarded the Brownlow."

#1GILL · Post: # 745979Post **#1GILL** » Tue 26 May 2009 5:22pm

Thinline wrote:I'm not being disrespectful, but even the most one-eyed St Kilda supporter should recognise that Chris Grant's supension was pretty tiggy touchwood and highly irregular...

Yes, fairest and best etc, and Banger had a ripping year, but Grant was without a doubt the standout player that year IMO. 27 votes for a non-midfielder was a fine, fine effort.

Couldn't find footage of the said incident, but the following sums it up...

"It was round seven 1997, Footscray were playing Hawthorn at Princes Park, Chris Grant was in great form and the Doggies were on a roll. Grant lined up at centre-half-forward and had yet another great game finishing with 29 disposals, 11 marks and 2 goals. But during the match he was involved in a marking contest with Nick Holland, that was slightly dubious, but no report was made on the day.

"The umpires gave it the all clear, not only on the day, but after the game they reviewed it and didn't see an incident that warranted a report or suspension, so they didn't send it to the tribunal," says Grant.

In fact all three field umpires; Hayden Kennedy, Darren McCauley and Jamie Love not only didn't report Grant, but they award him the three votes for a best on ground performance.

Operations Manager at the time Ian Collins had a different opinion, he decided that the incident was reportable and for the first time he overrode the umpire's decision and sent Grant to the tribunal.

"All of that was really disappointing... this had never happened before, why are you doing this to such a small incident?"

The tribunal hearing that followed was equally extraordinary, all three field umpires were called as witnesses to Grant's defence and they once again reiterated that the incident was not reportable.

But the tribunal disagreed and suspended Grant for a week.

"We didn't know what the ramifications would be until the end of the year."

The ramifications were great; in fact aside from missing a grand final, it was the greatest consequence an AFL player could suffer. Grant missed out on winning the highest individual honour, the Brownlow Medal. He finished with 27 votes, one ahead of Robert Harvey, but due to the report was ineligible. Harvey was awarded the Brownlow."

Well done Harvey..and just to prove he was worthy (unlike Cooney) he won it twice.....A true legend of the game

Thinline · Post: # 745986Post **Thinline** » Tue 26 May 2009 5:28pm

Agreed. Cooney is good, not great. Gablett was robbed blind...

GrumpyOne · Post: # 746020Post **GrumpyOne** » Tue 26 May 2009 6:09pm

GrumpyOne wrote:Lost a bit of respect for Verdun.

Footy's highest individual honour and he's selling it on the marketplace.

$50,000?

In the current economic climate I'd be surprised.

Perhaps he should have invested in private health insurance instead.

Since making this post, I have been apprised of Verdun's circumstances.

I was too hasty in coming to judgement on Verdun, and for that I apologise.

Legendary · Post: # 746146Post **Legendary** » Tue 26 May 2009 9:09pm

Yes, but after he was suspended and made ineligible for the Brownlow, Christ Grant received 3 votes for a game when he had 3 kicks and 1 mark for the match.

Karma.

ctqs · Post: # 746571Post **ctqs** » Wed 27 May 2009 4:42pm

[quote="GrumpyOne"]Lost a bit of respect for Verdun.

Footy's highest individual honour and he's selling it on the marketplace.

quote]

Not having a go - just curious - but how come? The medal is just a symbol. The title is the real honour. And isn't it honourable that he's trying to benefit his family?