Club/s
Fitzroy
Years
1979-80, 83
Games
213
Goals
228
Honours/Awards
Fitzroy Best & Fairest 1975
Fitzroy Team of the Century
Lions Life Member
Fitzroy Vice Captain (1975-77)
Fitzroy Night Premiership Player 1978
Victorian State Representative (6 times)
He was fresh-faced and slightly built, and living proof that looks can be deceiving. Warwick Irwin was a champion. A brilliant Fitzroy rover through the 1970s and into the 80’s, he was tough and quick, as courageous as they come, with silky skills and a rare football nous.
Recruited from Surrey Hills, he debuted as a 17-year-old and played 213 games for Fitzroy from 1970-80 and in 1983, was club champion in 1975, and was selected on the wing in the Team of the Century.
Ranked 10th on the club’s all-time games list, he was a regular Victorian representative, Fitzroy vice-captain 1975-77 and a member of the club’s night premiership side in 1978.
Lured by a big-money offer to Collingwood, he played 16 games and was a member of their losing grand final side in 1980 only to be cast aside following a major injury in 1982.
So highly was he regarded at Fitzroy that he was hotly pursed by then coach Robert Walls to finish his career in the red, blue and gold in 1983.
Once a Lions champion always a Lions champion, and now a member of the Brisbane Lions Hall of Fame … WARWICK IRWIN.
