Likely McBrien

Who was Likely McBrien?

Likely Herman "Like" McBrien OBE was a leading Australian rules football administrator in the Victorian Football League and a Victorian politician.

Likely McBrien was born on 7 December 1892 in South Melbourne and educated at Middle Park Central School. In 1906 he commenced work as a messenger for The Age newspaper. He served in World War I in a clerical capacity and was based in London. Following his discharge from the services in 1917 he resumed work at The Age, becoming assistant circulation manager and advertising manager. In 1922–29 he was secretary of the Authorised News Agents' Association of Victoria.

On 16 July 1919 he married Madge Margaret Summers at St Luke's Anglican Church, South Melbourne.

McBrien was an avid sportsman with a variety of interests. He played cricket and tennis, and later golf and bowls, and was a prominent rower. Australian rules football was the passion of his life. From 1909 to 1911 he was a player and treasurer of the Leopold Football Club. He went on to a long career in football administration.

He was a qualified accountant, and a fellow of the International Institute of Accountants and of the Institute of Commerce, England. In addition, he was a director of Disher & McBrien Pty Ltd.