A Footballer Built Ahead of His Time
In any serious discussion about the most physically imposing and technically gifted footballers in VFL/AFL history, Bernie Quinlan deserves a place near the very top. Nicknamed “Superboot”, Quinlan was more than just a long kick — he was a footballer whose blend of size, athleticism, versatility and accuracy would not look out of place in today’s fully professional AFL.
At 193 centimetres, with reach, agility and speed that defied his size, Quinlan represented the prototype of the modern key position player decades before the term existed. While many forwards of his era relied heavily on close-range opportunities, Quinlan changed defensive thinking entirely. Anywhere inside 60 to 65 metres, the goals were well and truly in range.
Those who played against him knew the danger. Those who coached against him built entire game plans around stopping him — often unsuccessfully.
Early Years at Footscray: Raw Talent, Limited Stage
Bernie Quinlan began his senior VFL career with Footscray in 1969, immediately showcasing his rare physical attributes and booming right foot. Even in a team that struggled for sustained success during the early 1970s, Quinlan stood out as a match-winner.
He became Footscray’s leading goal kicker in 1971, but despite his individual performances, the club’s limited exposure and inconsistent results meant Quinlan was yet to receive league-wide recognition befitting his ability.
It wasn’t a question of talent — it was a question of platform.
The Fitzroy Move: A Career-Defining Decision
Everything changed in 1978, when Quinlan made the move to Fitzroy. It was one of the most significant transfers of the era and one that transformed both player and club.
At Fitzroy, Quinlan was given the freedom to fully express his game. Surrounded by quality ball users and a system that maximised his strengths, he quickly evolved into one of the competition’s most feared players.
Stationed predominantly at centre half-forward, and later transitioning to full-forward, Quinlan became the focal point of Fitzroy’s attacking structure. His ability to:
- Mark overhead
- Win ground balls
- Cover territory
- Launch goals from extreme distance
made him virtually unmatchable on his day.
This was when “Superboot” became more than a nickname — it became a warning.
The Most Lethal Right Boot the Game Has Seen
Many players have kicked long goals. Few have done it with Quinlan’s accuracy.
What separated Bernie Quinlan from other long kickers was not just distance, but control. His right foot was a weapon — flat, penetrating, and repeatable. Whether from a set shot near the boundary or on the run outside 50, he made difficult kicks look routine.
From a football purist’s perspective, Quinlan’s kicking technique was elite. His ball drop was clean, his follow-through strong, and his confidence absolute. Defenders knew that giving him even a metre of space was often fatal.
In an era without protective zones or interchange rotations, Quinlan still found space — and punished teams relentlessly for it.
Late Peak, Ultimate Reward: The 1981 Brownlow Medal
One of the most remarkable aspects of Bernie Quinlan’s career is when he reached his peak.
At 30 years of age, Quinlan won the 1981 Brownlow Medal, defying conventional wisdom that midfielders or younger players dominated the award. His win was a testament to his all-round influence — not just goals, but contested marking, work rate, and match impact.
Key forwards rarely poll well in the Brownlow count. Quinlan didn’t just poll — he won it.
This achievement alone places him in rare company and underscores just how dominant he was during this phase of his career.
Coleman Medals and Goal-Kicking Brilliance
If the Brownlow Medal validated Quinlan’s influence, his Coleman Medals confirmed his scoring supremacy.
In 1983, Quinlan became the only player in Fitzroy’s history to kick 100 goals in a season, a feat he astonishingly repeated in 1984. These were not easy years for forwards — defensive pressure was fierce, and team scoring was lower than in modern times.
Winning back-to-back Coleman Medals cemented Quinlan as the premier goal kicker of the competition and one of the most dangerous forwards the VFL had ever seen.
Rare Longevity Across Two Clubs
Bernie Quinlan belongs to an exclusive group of players who managed to play over 150 games for two different clubs — Footscray and Fitzroy. That longevity speaks volumes about his durability, adaptability, and professionalism.
Across 366 senior games, Quinlan kicked 817 goals, a tally that places him among the most prolific scorers in league history. Importantly, these numbers were achieved without the benefit of modern sports science, recovery programs, or interchange rotations.
This was football played the hard way.
Career Summary
Clubs:
- Footscray (1969–1977)
- Fitzroy (1978–1986)
Games: 366
Goals: 817
Major Honours
- Brownlow Medal: 1981
- Coleman Medal: 1983, 1984
- Fitzroy Leading Goal Kicker: 1981–1985
- Footscray Leading Goal Kicker: 1971
- Fitzroy Team of the Century: Centre Half Forward
- Australian Football Hall of Fame Inductee
- Brisbane Lions Hall of Fame
Legacy: The Original Power Forward
Bernie Quinlan’s influence on the game is clearer with hindsight. He was a generation ahead — a tall, mobile, long-kicking forward who could dominate games from anywhere inside the arc.
Modern power forwards owe much to the template Quinlan helped establish. His combination of size, endurance, skill and confidence remains a benchmark for key position players.
For Fitzroy supporters, he was a once-in-a-lifetime footballer.
For defenders, a nightmare matchup.
For the game itself, a reminder that true greatness doesn’t fade — it echoes.
Bernie Quinlan wasn’t just a great goal kicker.
He was one of the most complete and destructive footballers Australian rules has ever produced.
