Fitzroy legend Kevin Murray didn’t live his life or look to his now iconic tattoos to gain attention, the 333 gamer and 1969 Brownlow medallist let his football do the talking.
One of the more unassuming characters the game has ever seen, Murray - or “Bulldog” as he was affectionately known – played the game with the hardness and selflessness that one would expect from a career scaffolder, a relatively thankless job in its own right.
Murray is one of only 84 Australians who can claim to own a Brownlow medal, and has always looked at the individual accolade as a team achievement to share with the Lions faithful.
“I used to get stop so often in the street by a father with his son or daughter to get a photo with them, and I’d always put the Brownlow around the kids neck so that they have something to remember me by when I’m pushing up daisies,” Murray told Mike Sheehan of Fox Footy.
Murray held off Essendon’s Barry Davis and Footscray’s George Bisset to win the Brownlow by a solitary vote in a season where he averaged more than 21 disposals a game.
While many would point to Brownlow night as the pinnacle of a footballer’s career, Murray has managed to share the games highest achievement with fans for nearly 47 years after the date.
“I’ve worn it ever since and hundreds and hundreds of people have had the pleasure of having it on and it meant a lot to these people and it meant a lot to me,” he said.
“I’m very grateful for my teammates and all the Fitzroy supporters that helped me win this because they’re the ones that guided me there.”
Murray’s story is a lesson in persistence for young footballers’ as he was named as the league’s best & fairest after playing 223 senior games and narrowly missing out on a number of occasions.
“In 1960 I ran second to ‘Johhny’ (Shultz) by one, in 1961 I was the favourite and came nowhere, 62’ I came equal second (when) Alistair Lord won it by the leaf of the straight, in my 14th season I ran third to (Bob) Skilton and Denis Marshall and in my 15th season I won it.”
Brownlow medallists are often remembered and defined by that fateful night, but Murray - as one of the handful of tattooed players at the time - was instantly recogniseable by his inked-up biceps and right forearm.
While Murray’s tattoos may not be as detailed or consuming as some of the current Lions – Dayne and Claye Beams come to mind – he said they were just enough to warrant consideration from his brother Dan.
“He (Dan) called me the night before (the Brownlow) and said ‘Kevin, would you do Mum, Dad and I favour and wear a long sleeve jumper when you get the medal from the Governor?’,” he laughed.
“I did that for them and I got abused later on by a lot of Fitzroy supporters saying “why did you wear those long sleeves, you never wear them!?”
It was something my Dad asked me to do, and I would have never played the games I played if not for the help of my father (because) he treated a lot of my injuries.”
Murray’s excellence knew no borders, as he captained and won the best and fairest for East Perth in the WANFL in 1965 whilst also representing both WA and Victoria at the state level.
The Lions legend sits atop the Fitzroy/Brisbane all time games played list (333) and club champion awards (9), and in addition to his Brownlow Medal, he was named in the AFL/VFL and in Fitzroy’s team of the century where he was named captain.
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