Bryant quickly established himself as one of the premier players in the VFA second division, initially as a half-forward but later as a centreman with outstanding foot skills and stamina.
[2] Box Hill president Reg Shineberg claimed likewise, and reported to have received the fee clandestinely – in cash, under cover of darkness, and from a man he did not know.
[3] North Melbourne was required to face the VFL arbitrators over the affair, but charges against the club were dropped when Hill did not provide any written corroborating evidence; so whether or not the illegal transfer fee was actually paid was never proven.
He transferred back to Box Hill prior to the commencement of the 1972 season, supposedly due to a disagreement with North Melbourne's coach Brian Dixon.
Ironically for such a decorated player, Bryant generally was a member of teams that struggled and he never played in a finals match with either Box Hill or North Melbourne.