AFL North Coast Honours a True Pioneer

AFL North Coast has moved to pay tribute to a pioneer of the code in the region by naming the League Best and Fairest award the Brian Saville Medal.

Brian and his wife Lynne moved to Coffs Harbour from near Warragul in Victoria in the early 1970s where Brian had simultaneously been a player, coach, and committee member of his local club. Upon arriving in the area he found that AFL was virtually unheard of, so in 1976 Brian joined forces with Fred Miller and others to form the first club in the region. Brian assumed the Secretary-Treasurer role and AFL in the region was underway.

Demonstration matches were played in Coffs Harbour in 1977 and a team entered the Armidale competition in 1978. In late 1979, Brian and others championed the establishment of a second club in Coffs Harbour and this occurred in 1980.

In 1982 the two Coffs clubs were joined by Grafton, Woolgoolga, Urunga, and Port Macquarie and North Coast AFL was formed. Brian Saville was the inaugural president and served in this role for several years through the establishment of the League.

Paul Taylor, AFL Football Operations Co-ordinator, said that naming of the medal is a fitting honour. “It’s been 35 years since the North Coast League was first established and it’s fantastic that we’ve been able to create a meaningful link to those early days. If it wasn’t for the tireless dedication of people like Brian Saville and the other pioneers there wouldn’t be such a long history of AFL in the area. We’re forever indebted to Brian and this is a small way in which we can show that gratitude.”

The first ever Brian Saville Medal will be presented at a function on Saturday 9 September. Brian and his wife Lynne will both be in attendance and Brian will present the award to the winner.

Adding to the night will be larrikin guest speaker and AFL legend Peter “Spida” Everitt. Spida played 291 games for St Kilda, Hawthorn, and the Sydney Swans and has since carved out a successful career in the media.