Brian Adamson

Brian Ronald Adamson is a former Australian rules footballer who played for West Perth in the West Australian National Football League (WANFL) and Norwood in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). Playing primarily as a centre-half forward, he was part of West Perth's 1975 premiership team and featured in Norwood's one‑point win in the 1978 SANFL Grand Final.^[1][2]

Early career

Adamson made his WAFL senior debut for West Perth in 1975 and played in their Grand Final victory that year.^[1] He became a key forward for the team and finished as the club's leading goalkicker in 1977.^[2]

Norwood (1978–1979)

Before the 1978 season, Adamson transferred to Norwood following a landmark legal dispute in the Supreme Court that upheld his right to move across state borders—a decision regarded as a restraint-of-trade case in the football context.^[3]

He debuted for Norwood in Round 15, 1978, and went on to play 20 league games, kicking 50 goals across the 1978 and 1979 seasons.^[1] In the 1978 SANFL Grand Final—played in Norwood's centenary year before a crowd of 50,867—he kicked five goals as Norwood overcame Sturt by a point in one of SANFL's most dramatic comebacks.^[4]

Return to West Perth and retirement

Adamson returned to West Perth in 1980 and again led the club's goalkicking in 1981.^[2] He continued to play in the WAFL until retiring midway through the 1985 season due to injury,^[5] finishing with 120 WAFL games, plus two state games and five NFL or NFC games.^[6]