Brennan earns life membership
There is a very good and simple reason that 150 games for the West Coast Eagles is rewarded with life membership. Because it signifies a virtual life-time commitment to the club.
For Michael Brennan, a humble, reliable, no-frills fullback who worried first about team, teammates and team success during and after his career, it was something very special.
In round 12, 1994 Brennan played his 150th game for the Eagles to qualify for life membership
So, as the Coronavirus pandemic flashback series continues, Brennan is the headline story for the ‘Best of round 12’.
Brennan posted his 150th game in a hard-fought 11.12 (78) to 10.9 (69) win over the Brisbane Bears at Subiaco in which Peter Matera earned three Brownlow votes for 18 possessions and two goals.
He was the second Eagles player behind Dwayne Lamb to 150 games and was among the first group of Eagles life members later that year, sharing the moment with Lamb and fellow teammates Chris Lewis, Chris Mainwaring and John Worsfold.
It was one of countless highlights in the 179-game career of a man widely known as ‘Monkey’ who, when he retired at the end of 1995, was the club’s games record-holder.
Brennan was a pillar in the foundations of the club, a member of the club’s first AFL side in 1987 who played in the first game at the Eagles’ two inaugural home grounds at Subiaco and the WACA Ground.
Vice-captain to John Worsfold through the early 1990s, he was a member of the club’s first grand final side in 1991 and the first two premiership sides in 1992-94. He was included in the club’s honorary best teams selected to mark 10, 20 and 25 years in the AFL.
He even served as the Eagles’ No.1 ticket-holder in 2011-12, recognised by the club under criteria listed on the club website as longevity of service, passion for the club, contribution to the community of Western Australia and the level at which they are recognised in their chosen profession by the community.
One of only 14 people to hold this honour, he is in very good company. He followed automotive industry leader Denis McInerney (1993-94), TV personality Ernie Dingo (1995-96), journalist Geoff Christian (1997-98), banking industry leader Ray Turner (1990-2000), ex-teammate Tony Evans (2001-02), cricketing great Dennis Lillee (2003-04), TV personality Jeff Newman (2005-06), building and property development industry leader Nigel Satterley (2007-08) and foundation Eagles captain Ross Glendinning (2009-10).
He has been followed by 26-year Eagles club doctor Rod Moore (2013-14), Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo (2015-16), politician Julie Bishop (2017-18) and Australian women’s soccer captain Sam Kerr (2019-20).
Finally, in 2014 Brennan was among the second group of inductees to the Eagles Hall of Fame.
It was that night when Brennan, massively underappreciated outside the club, was given due recognition for a job very well done and gave an insight into why he was so massively popular.
He joked about being a member of the Hall of Fame selection panel, but the mere fact he was asked by the club to sit on the panel said much about the high regard in which he was held.
A key player at East Fremantle when the inaugural Eagles squad was being put together in 1986, Brennan remembered how he knew of 25 players who had received a call before him and was starting to worry that he may have been overlooked.
He joked that, after picking up two Brownlow Medal votes in his first game, he went 178 games for just one more vote, and that maybe there had been a mix-up between his number #14 and the #4 worn by inaugural captain Ross Glendinning.
Still the Eagles games record-holder in #14, he told how he sends a text message to ex-teammate David Hynes just before the ball is bounced in the AFL grand final every year.
Why? Because in 1992 Hynes was left out of the grand final side to make way for Brennan’s return from injury after being semi-final standout as a replacement for Brennan in a 38-point MCG win over Geelong.
He told how delighted he was in 1994 that Hynes was part of the second flag, with his annual text serving as a special reminder of just what it all means to him.
Then, as he closed out his acceptance speech, he got it absolutely perfect.
He thanked his Dad, noting a defining piece of football advice he’d given him in his early days to “run straight at the ball, and if anyone is in the way clean them up as well”.
He thanked his Mum, highlighting her chauffer service to and from training countless hundreds of times. Except one night when, sitting down to dinner, she realised only five or her six children were there. She’d forgotten Michael.
He thanked wife Kathy and their “beautiful children” Georgia and Jacob, who later became the club’s first “genuine” father/son recruit from one who actually wore the blue and gold.
In an unusual insight into what was special to Brennan, he also made special mention of life-long school mates who had attended the dinner to share his golden moment.
Thereafter it was all about the club. The club itself and all his mates. He spoke of “a lot of quality people” and what a special bond the premiership group continued to share. And he closed with special mention of the late and great Chris Mainwaring.
Round 12 at a glance
The Eagles have enjoyed an 18-12 win/loss record in Round 12 matches, including 9-1 through the 1990s, with three byes.
Their best round 12 record has been against Brisbane (3-0), Hawthorn (3-1), Adelaide (2-1) and Carlton (2-1). They were 1-0 against the Western Bulldogs and had a split against North Melbourne (1-1), Collingwood (1-1), Port Adelaide (1-1), Essendon (1-1) and Richmond (1-1). They were on the wrong side of the ledger against Sydney (1-2) and Geelong (0-1).
They went 8-3 in round 12 games at Subiaco and 3-1 at the WACA Ground and 4-4 in Victoria after games at the MCG (2-1), Victoria Park (1-0), Princes Park (1-0), Docklands (0-2) and Kardinia Park (0-1). They are unbeaten in Queensland, with a 1-0 record at the Gabba and Carrara, have a 1-1 split at Football Park in Adelaide, but at 0-2 at the SCG and 0-1 at York Park in Launceston.
