Early in his career, he played in the centre and later became a forward pocket. At Melbourne he developed into an aggressive player, winning possessions in packs and showed great handballing skills.
Believed to be the only player to have won a Brownlow Medal at his third club. At 20 years of age, he was also the youngest winner since Bob Skilton in 1959.
Wilson would play nine seasons with Melbourne, playing for the club in the 1988 VFL grand final loss against Hawthorn.
He would transfer to St Kilda ahead of the 1991 AFL season, before retiring at just 29 years of age at the end of the season, opting to pursue business interests.[3]
In the seasons following his medal win, Wilson struggled with the attention of being a Brownlow medallist, but was able to regain his form in the late 1980s.[7]
Wilson revealed in 2018 that he had lost the medal, but that it was returned to him via the Melbourne Football Club in 2023.[6]
^Timms, Daryl (1 May 2008). "Braybrook's famous five". Herald-Sun. Melbourne, Victoria: Nationwide News Pty Ltd. p. 97.
^ abPiesse, Ken (13 June 2004). "The business of being Brian". Sunday Herald-Sun. Melbourne, Victoria: Nationwide News Pty Ltd. p. 49.
^Wilson, Caroline (27 August 2000). "THE DARK HORSE; THE BROWNLOW MEDAL". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria: Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited. p. 14.
^Niall, Jake (27 September 2023). "Medal win a surprise, but we've been there before". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria: Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited. p. 44. Melbourne's Brian Wilson was another who came from the clouds in 1982 and whose career resume isn't at the level of most winners
^ abMcFarlane, Glenn (19 March 2023). "Dees reunite Wilson with long-lost Brownlow Medal". Herald-Sun. Melbourne, Victoria: Nationwide News Pty Ltd. p. 98.
^Anderson, Jon (21 September 2009). "The day Charlie changed my life". Herald-Sun. Nationwide News Pty Ltd. pp. 48–49.
South Australia 26.16 (172) defeated Victoria 17.14 (116), at Football Park, 16 May 1983, crowd: 44,521
Western Australia 16.22 (118) d Victoria 16.19 (115), at Subiaco Oval, 12 July 1983, crowd: 44,213