Brereton's parents, Dermott Joseph and Jean Nancy Austin, were both born in Dublin and migrated to Australia - Dermott arriving in 1958 and Jean following 12 months later via Fremantle.
1964
Dermott Hugh Brereton (born 19 August 1964) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Hawthorn Football Club, Sydney Swans and Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
1980
Born of Irish migrants, Brereton is regarded as one of key members of Hawthorn's era of dominance in the 1980s.
A centre half-forward with strong marking skills and a reliable kick for goal, Brereton was renowned for his flamboyant style and rugged on-field conduct, which resulted in frequent visits to the Tribunal.
For all his physicality, Brereton was as courageous as he was aggressive and his ability to play through debilitating injuries was remarkable, although inevitably this would impact him severely in later years.
He also represented Victoria in State of Origin matches, and both played for and coached Australia in the International Rules Series.
Brereton had a reputation as a tough player, and as a big-game performer was an important player in a number of Hawthorn's grand final teams during the 1980s (including premierships in 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989 and 1991).
Brereton was known for his bustling style and strong marking abilities and off-the-ball scuffles.
1982
His debut was against North Melbourne in the 1982 finals series—he kicked five goals and assisted in a few more.
1985
He won Hawthorn's best-and-fairest award in 1985 and was the team's leading goalkicker in the same year.
He achieved All-Australian status in 1985.
Having bulked up over his career, Brereton became a football punisher and was known for his aggressive hip-and-shoulder bumps on running players.
His targeting of other players by this method led to the charging rule being instigated to protect players whose intention was to focus on the ball.
1988
A famous incident in 1988 involved Hawthorn's rival Essendon at Waverley Park.
Brereton ran through Essendon's three-quarter-time huddle, much to the surprise of the Bomber players, causing a scuffle to break out.
This incident was in retaliation to a free kick paid against Brereton for kissing Essendon's Billy Duckworth while Jason Dunstall lined up for goal.
Dunstall kicked the goal; however, due to Brereton's indiscretion, the goal was disallowed.
Brereton, fuming, ran through Essendon's huddle as an act of retaliation.
Post-match, Essendon's coach, Kevin Sheedy, shrugged off the event as insignificant, quipping: "Just another mad Irishman!"
1989
Perhaps the most memorable moment of his playing career was the 1989 VFL Grand Final, which was featured in a Toyota Memorable Moments television commercial.
In one of the toughest grand finals in the league's history, Brereton was lined up at the centre bounce by Geelong Football Club's Mark Yeates and hit with a solid shirtfront.
Severely winded and concussed, he was attended to by trainers.
He began to vomit before jogging back into the play.
Only minutes later in the game, he marked and kicked an inspirational goal.
He would finish with three goals in a game that Hawthorn would win by six points.
He was later diagnosed with broken ribs.
During his career at Hawthorn, Brereton was selected to play representative State of Origin football for Victoria nine times and kicked a total of 18 goals in this format.
Brereton's physical style of play came at a cost.
1992
By the end of 1992, he was suffering from crippling chronic hip pain and struggled to make regular appearances.
1993
He didn't play a game in 1993; and, at the end of the season, when offered a minimum-wage contract, decided to leave the club.
You'd look to take somebody out, and wilfully take them out, within the rules.
Brereton walked out on Hawthorn in October 1993 following a pay dispute, stating that the offer made by the club insulted him.
The struggling Sydney Swans under coach Ron Barassi were in need of a big-name player capable of helping to turn around the team's performance as well as draw crowds to their home games at the SCG.
In November 1993 the club offered Brereton a 3 year contract which would make him one of its highest paid players.
1994
The club drafted him for the 1994 season and he was considered to replace Paul Kelly as club captain.
1999
Brereton was recognised for his on-field achievements when he was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1999.
He has since become a respected member of the football media, working for various TV and radio stations in Melbourne covering the AFL as a commentator and analyst.
2010
In an article published by the Herald Sun in 2010, Brereton revealed to journalist Mark Robinson about his father's dark past, chronicling his cocaine addiction and the physical abuse he suffered, from his father and from the Christian Brothers.
Dermott Brereton featured on the cover of the Inside the Battle of '89 DVD in a memorable-moment pose after recovering from a solid Mark Yeates shirtfront.
Brereton, nicknamed "The Kid", played most of his career (189 games and 427 goals) in the centre half forward position at the Hawthorn Football Club, where he formed part of a potent forward line that included champion players such as Jason Dunstall.
