Brian Sawley is also remembered for being knocked unconscious by Victorian ruckman John Peck in the third quarter of the interstate match between Victoria and South Australia in Adelaide om 7 July 1963.
Peck was found guilty of the offence by the South Australian Tribunal, which left the penalty to be determined by the VFL[2] – displaying controversial leniency, the VFL only suspended Peck for two weeks.
He joined the VFL side South Melbourne while on RAAF duties, and played in 7 games in the 1941 season.
[6][7] He was killed during the Second World War in a training accident whilst serving in the Royal Air Force.
Soon after, Sawley's plane crashed into the North Sea off Findhorn, Scotland, killing the flying officer and the 4 other crew on board.