When Mal left home for the big time in 1974 he had a career record of 9 weeks suspension from 9 years of football. A year later, after 14 weeks of VFL football, his tally was 14 weeks suspension in 10 years. Back to Perth. By the end of 1975 it was 35 weeks from 11 years. Could it be said that Mal was a bad influence on Victorian football or was Victorian football a bad influence on Mal? 

He amassed more than a score of tribunal appearances – most of them for abusing umpires with a dash of misconduct which included running through a reserves umpire, hurling a missile (a football) at a senior VFL umpire, elbowing the umpires advocate in the stomach. During his tempestuous career, Brown: 

• Was given 15 weeks for pushing an umpire in an intra-club match
• Walked out on several tribunals
• Walked off the ground with 10 minutes to play as a consequence of being reported.
• Took his team from the field in another clash and was fined $5000
• Was banned from taking the playing field as coach so he erected a tent with half on the field and half over the fence and gave his quarter time address in the tent.
• Took the field wearing guernsey no. 100
• Started the biggest football riot in league history – the Windy Hill riot which led to police charges and court appearances for a Richmond legend and a fellow player 
• Knocked out four Carlton premiership players in one national championship
• Burst into a WA League director’s meeting in full football gear to give them a piece of his mind.
• Took the WA Football council to the supreme court
• Was sacked by his club for sending a player back on the field knowing he had contravened the rules
• Jumped into a crowd to administer justice to three louts who were taunting his players and flicking beer and other objects at him.
• Provoked an international incident. There was an all in brawl, tables, chairs, boots and punches when he rescued a fellow player from Bugis Street depravity in Singapore. 

Apart from all that, he is a bloody nice bloke, much admired and respected by knowledgeable football authorities. A lovable Larrikin. He won the Sandover Medal, won all-Australian captaincy, coached and played in West Australian premierships, coached a WA side to beat the might of the Big V. He was a member of the 1974 Richmond Football Club premiership team but suspension cost him a grand final appearance.