Known as ‘Superboot’ for his prodigious right foot kicking, Bernie Quinlan was a superbly talented footballer recruited from Traralgon, in the heart of Footscray’s recruiting zone.

Tall and athletic, he was the perfect prototype of the modern footballer. His long reach, dynamic spring, agility and pace for a big man made him a dangerous player while his versatility allowed him to play forward and back, key position or flank, with equal aplomb.

He won Footscray’s Most Versatile Player in his first two seasons, was Most Improved and leading goal-kicker in 1971, and won the Most Consistent Player award in 1973. Quinlan was a member of Footscray’s 1970 night premiership side and played in Footscray’s only two day finals in the 1970s.

He was a Victorian state representative in 1974 and 1977, finished third in the best and fairest on three occasions (1973, 1975, 1977) and fourth once (1974). After playing 177 games at Footscray, for 241 goals, Quinlan was cleared to Fitzroy where he went on to become one of the greatest players the game has seen.

He tied for the Brownlow Medal in 1981 with former Bulldog teammate, Barry Round, and kicked a century of goals twice during the ‘80s. Bernie Quinlan was an automatic selection in the AFL’s Hall of Fame in 1996.

Key stats

Played: 1969-77
Games: 177 (85 wins, 4 draws, 88 losses-Success ratio 49.15%)
Goals: 241
Best & Fairest: nil R/U: nil 3^rd:1973, 1975, 1977 4^th: 1974 Top 4: 4 times
Leading Club Goalkicker: (1) 1971
Brownlow career votes: 57.5
Finals: 2
Victorian Rep Games: 2 (1974, 1977)
Inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame: 1996

Class of '18 | View The Biographies of the latest crop Footscray-Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame inductees.

Hall of Fame
Don Ross
Peter Box
Bernie Quinlan
Steve Wallis
David Smorgon

Legends
Chris Grant
Norm Ware
Allan Hopkins