Brownlow Medal Winners - Ivor Warne-Smith

The Brownlow Medal

At the conclusion of every season, the Australian Football League (AFL) awards the Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as The Brownlow Medal. The medal is awarded to the player or players adjudged by the field umpires to have been the fairest and best for that season.

The award is named after and is in honour of Charles Brownlow. Brownlow was involved in football in many capacities as a player, captain, coach and administrator from the 1870s to the early 1920s. He was revered and admired by those who knew him because of his gentlemanly demeanour, fine leadership, sincerity, loyalty, fairness and clarity of thinking. As a result, the Brownlow Medal - first instituted in 1924 - is the most prestigious award attainable to an Australian Football League player.

Ivor Warne-Smith was Melbourne's first Brownlow Medallist.


Ivor Warne-Smith

Date Of Birth – 29 October 1897
Playing Height - 182 cm
Playing Weight - 86 kg
Recruited From – Wesley College

Guernsey No. 33 (1919), 14 (1925-1932)

1919, 1925-1932
146 games, 110 goals
Premierships - 1926

Captain-Coach – 1928-1931
Playing Coach - 1932
Brownlow Medallist – 1926, 1928

Interstate Representative (Victoria) – 1926-1929 (captain 1928, 1929)
Life Member - 1952

Committee of Management – 1947-1960
Selector – 1947-1960
Chairman of Selectors – 1949-1960
Member – AFL Hall of Fame
MFC Team Of The Century - 2000 (Centre Half-Forward)
MFC Hall Of Fame Inductee - 2001 (Yesteryear)


Ivor Warne-Smith was born at Lavender Bay, Sydney, but learned about football when attending Wesley College in Melbourne. During the First World War, he served in France and Gallipoli. In 1919, he was invited to train with Melbourne, and proved good enough to play the last eight games of that season. But, in 1920, he went to Tasmania to run an apple farm. He went on to play football with Latrobe in North-Western Tasmania, and led them to two premierships and three Grand Finals in three years, after being appointed their captain-coach in 1922. In 1924, he won the Cheel Medal, for being the North-WesternUnion’s (Tasmania) best and fairest player. He also won two best and fairest awards with Latrobe. At the end of 1925, he was chased by Richmond to return to playing VFL football, but found out that he was tied to Melbourne. So, at the age of 27, Ivor Warne-Smith started playing again for the Club. He was capable of playing all around the ground, although was generally considered as being at his best in the centre.

In 1926, Warne-Smith was voted best afield at least nine times, and won the Brownlow Medal in Melbourne’s premiership year, with nine votes, four ahead of his nearest rivals. In 1927, he became Melbourne’s vice-captain, and in 1928, was appointed captain-coach of the side. In that year, he became the first player to win the Brownlow Medal twice. Despite initially being non-playing coach in 1932, Warne-Smith was re-introduced as a player in that season due to the side being decimated by poor form and injury. This led to the unusual situation of the coach playing, but not captaining the side.

Ivor Warne-Smith ultimately retired as a player at the end of the 1932 season. He had 146 games to his credit, and 110 goals. But he had more than that – two time winner of the Brownlow Medal, he was one of the game’s highest ever achievers.

His connection with Melbourne survived retirement. He went on to serve again in wartime, successfully appealing the Army’s ruling that, at the age of 43, he was too old. Upon return from the war, he became Chairman of Selectors at Melbourne in 1949, going on to work closely with champion coach Norm Smith. He held his position until his death in 1960, and was an integral part of the side’s success throughout this era.

What's been said about Ivor Warne-Smith:

‘New players in 1925…Ivor Warne-Smith, who showed marked ability with us four years ago, and has since been entitled the Champion of Tasmania…’
(Melbourne Football Club Annual Report, 1925)

‘Warne-Smith was a star of the first magnitude…’
(Post Brownlow reports, 1926)

‘Ivor Warne-Smith, quiet and unassuming, was none the less energetic and enthusiastic in his endeavours to keep the Team up to the mark. The Club is fortunate indeed in having such a brilliant and versatile player as Coach and leader. Old and new Players alike treat his advice and instructions with the utmost respect.’
(Melbourne Football Club Annual Report, 1929)

‘For solid, effective brilliance, Ivor Warne-Smith will always rank as one of the best players the game has known….he can play anywhere. The ruck, defence, attack, or centre positions all come alike to this brainy, sterling footballer. Warne-Smith is an astute leader, who makes some daring moves and inspires his players by his own brilliance….’
(Sporting Globe Football Book, 1930)

‘We mourn his passing with the certain knowledge that, in having known him, our club has been much the better for it….’
(Melbourne Football Club Annual Report, 1960)