BIO

Donald M Brebner joined Norwood from Adelaide University in the South Australian Amateur Football League in 1951. He had been a State representative from 1948 to 1950, and made the All-Australian Amateurs team in 1950; during that season he had played against the Victorian Amateurs on the Norwood Oval.

Despite moving to a club that had won the flag in the previous year, the dour defender found himself a spot in the Norwood League team at centre half back.

Don Brebner played 18 games in his first season and had a steady, if not spectacular year. His form earned him a spot in South Australia's second eighteen that played Geelong on the Adelaide Oval. He only played 2 games in 1952, and was playing locally for Walkerville in the Amateurs at year's end. At the start of 1953 he played trials for North Adelaide, but ended up continuing his career with the Walkerville Football Club.

Playing at centre half back, he represented the State in the 1953 Australian Amateur Carnival in Adelaide. After retiring as a player, Brebner served on Norwood's Committee in 1959 and 1960.

Brebner then joined the administration of the SANFL. He was Vice-Chairman from 1962 to 1965 and President from 1966 to 1978. During these periods some of the major developments in SA football included the admission into the League of the Central District and Woodville Football Clubs and the building of Football Park.

Judge Donald M Brebner AM was made a SANFL Life Member in 1972, and inducted into the SANFL Hall of Fame in 2002.

R Cialini June 2014