The 1952 grand final was tagged “the Des Kelly Premiership” following the performance of Simpson Medallist, South Fremantle ruckman  Des Kelly, who put in a matchwinning display.

Forty years later an East Fremantle player would put in an effort to match Kelly’s, and sink the  Bulldogs premiership hopes.

Whereas Kelly was a relative youngster in 1952 at the age of twenty two, Clinton Browning in 1992 was nearing the end of his career as a thirty year old. South Fremantle had been the masters in all three derbies plus the second semi final, and went into the decider as popular favourite to win. Full forward Craig Edwards, who had shared the Bernie Naylor Medal that season, was expected to be a trump card for the Bulldogs, but Browning, who had played in attack for most of the season and was at full forward in the second semi final, was sent back to accompany Edwards in a surprise move by coach Ken Judge.

The complete blanketing of the South forward was the key factor in the Sharks premiership that year, and Browning was a shoe-in for the Simpson.

It was a repeat performance of his effort in his other premiership win with East Fremantle, albeit at the opposite end of the ground. His six goals in 1985 were instrumental in the defeat of Subiaco, and Browning must have gone close to complete the remarkable feat of winning two Simpsons at either end of the ground. Brian Taylor of Subiaco  was adjudged the winner that year from a losing side.

Clinton Browning was recruited by East Fremantle Junior Coordinator Trevor Sprigg from Mingenew, where he was playing on Saturday mornings with the colts and Saturday afternoon with the seniors,  including one outing against Perenjori when he bagged twenty one goals three before lunch and had five more majors before tea. Browning also set a North Midland League goalkicking record for a season that stood for many years.

A West Perth supporter, it was ironic that his league debut in 1981 was against that club.

His first kick after coming onto the ground after half time landed in the arms of future coach Ken Judge, who kicked truly. It was in 1982 that Browning arrived as a league footballer, and in his first full season of league football he finished third in the Lynn Medal, East Fremantle’s fairest and best award, going one better two years later when winning the medal. In later years he would be runner up twice.

Clinton Browning was a coach’s dream as a footballer, six foot three, a leaping mark and agile, with the added ability to play anywhere. Over his career the only position he wasn’t asked to fill was rover, and that wouldn’t have been out of the question either.  He was also a courageous player, and that attribute was exemplified in the 1985 grand final, when a long sleeved guernsey hid the heavy taping on a troublesome shoulder. Clinton overcame the difficulty to kick six goals.

Originally penciled in  for centre half back for the big game, he was swapped in a pre game move with Colin Waterson, who was considered a better matchup for the tall and talented Laurie Keene.

1985 was also the year he made his State debut.

Playing in the forward line, Browning was among WA’s best in a heavy loss to South Australia at Subiaco Oval, and was also in the side for the match against Victoria, which also resulted in defeat.

Browning was signed by Hawthorn in 1986, Hawthorn’s fourth successive premiership year, and it was a tough time to try to break into the side. After managing just a pre season night game, the Mick Malthouse-coached Footscray offered Clinton a spot with them the following season, but the Hawks refused to clear him. Returning to East Fremantle, who had lost the 1986 grand final to Subiaco, Browning was part of the Sharks side when they lost what would be the first of three preliminary finals in a row.   

It was in 1987 at the WACA ground that Browning encountered Stephen Kernahan, then playing for South Australia. “Best I ever played on,” was Clinton’s verdict, as the ace goalsneak gathered six goals. Captaincy of the Sharks followed in 1987, but the tenancy was to last for only one season. He was drafted by West Coast the following year, so was forced to relinquish the position. Playing four games with the Eagles under John Todd, the new regime of Malthouse saw a focus on youth, at the expense of players like Browning and Shane Ellis.

Browning’s form in the 1992 grand final indicated he could continue for several more seasons, but a growing business commitment was beginning to take its toll, and after doing pre-season work in 1994  he called it a day, after two hundred and twenty games with East Fremantle, four at West Coast, four for WA, and a season at Hawthorn. 

Showing his astuteness wasn’t limited to the football field, Browning went into the financial broking field. United Financial Services (“UFS”) is one of Australia’s leading financial services businesses that specialises in providing a broad range of automotive and personal finance products.  “Providing clients with a comprehensive range of competitive finance and insurance products, delivered with unrivalled personalised service,” says Clinton.

Semi-retired these days, Browning has developed a liking for the big ones off Exmouth, and the greens at Melville Glades, where he is committed to achieving a single figure handicap, and despite his former Eagle allegiances, is a keen Docker supporter.  Wife Karen was no slouch as a sportswoman herself, having represented East Perth in the State Basketball League. The Brownings have two daughters, Melissa and Samantha, and a son, Travis, who played colts for East Fremantle before moving to Amateurclub, Bullcreek-Leeming. Travis has stunned the family by now taking up gridiron with the Croydon Chargers in Melbourne.

Clinton played with many fine players, but he had a special mention for rover Brad Rowe. “When he first turned up at Moss Street he caught me several times at training, and I thought: “this kid is super quick.”  

Clinton Browning was one of the most versatile players to wear the blue and white jumper, and was a consistent and outstanding competitor, especially in the big games, where he performed brilliantly.