Neil Pearson

Who is Neil Pearson?

Neil Pearson was an Australian rules footballer who played with Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League.

Pearson made his debut in the opening round of the 1945 VFL season against Essendon and kicked four goals.

A wingman, he was a solid performer for Hawthorn and brought up his 100th league game in 1952. He represented Victoria at the 1953 Adelaide Carnival, where they went undefeated.

Despite only playing 13 games in the 1953 season, Pearson was Hawthorn's equal leading vote getter at the Brownlow Medal count that year.

He won a Gardiner Medal in 1954 as playing coach of the reserves but also participated in seven VFL games during the year. His younger brother Ian played at St Kilda and Hawthorn.