Brownlow Heritage Walk - Stop 8

Corio Oval, was used by the Geelong Football Club in the VFA and the VFL from 1878 to 1915, and 1917 to 1940.

Sited in Eastern Park, the oval was served by trams from 1930 when the line was extended along Ryrie Street to the football ground built in 1925 as a memorial stand to Henry “Tracker” Young a former Geelong champion player and Charles Brownlow and burnt down by fire in 1928.

Brownlow played his league football at this ground. In 1881 the Geelong Football Club selected him for his first senior match. The Geelong Advertiser described him as follows – “He gained great notoriety and popularity as a sturdy defender who employed determination and excellent judgment.” 

Brownlow developed into highly reliable performer who played the code fairly and had the ability to feature in the play at vital moments. He was ahead of his time tactically, realising that positional play and teamwork resulted in team success.