<P> 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 . </P> <P> A famous incident in 1988 involved Hawthorn's rival Essendon at Waverley Park . Brereton ran through the 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 but due to Brereton's indiscretion, the goal was disallowed . Brereton, fuming, ran through Essendon's huddle to prove a point . Post match, Essendon's coach, Kevin Sheedy shrugged off the event as insignificant, quipping, "Just another mad Irishman!" </P> <P> Perhaps the most memorable moment of his career was the 1989 VFL Grand Final that 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 . </P> <P> 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 . </P>

What was significant about dermott breretons performance in the 1989 grand final against geelong