How an AFL legend is battling to prove he is the rightful owner of his three Brownlow medals after they went missing 30 years ago – but are now on sale for over $120,000

Footy great Ian Stewart had not seen his three Brownlow medals for nearly 30 years.

But the Richmond and St Kilda legend is now fighting to get his best and fairest trophies back, with the accolades having reappeared in Australia.

Stewart, 81, is renowned as one of the greatest players to have graced the sport, having clinched VFL premierships with St Kilda and Richmond during his decorated career.

He made 127 appearances for the Saints and 78 for the Tigers before hanging up his boots in 1975 before the Australian Football Hall of Famer would step into coaching.

He won two Brownlow medals during his time with St Kilda in 1965 and 1966 before being voted the league’s best and fairest during his first season with the Punt Road-based outfit in 1971.

Stewart is one of only four players to have won three Brownlow medals that includes the likes of Haydn Bunton Sr. Dick Reynolds and Bob Skilton.

But according to 7News, his medals went missing nearly 30 years ago after they had reportedly spent some time in the window of a clothes shop in Elsternwick.

The outlet claims that they had been on an odd journey and had travelled all the way to England where they ended up in a family home.

Footy legend Ian Stewart is fighting to get his Brownlow medals back after they reappeared 30 years after going missing

It is understood that they had gone on a mysterious journey to England before returning to Melbourne 

Remarkably, the Brownlow medals have now reappeared in Victoria. Stewart learned of the news earlier this week and was informed that they were set to be sold at an auction in two week’s time.

Leski Auctions have listed the three medals for an upcoming auction on February 12 at 12pm AEDT. They are each being estimated to be sold for around $50,000-$75,000 and have a starting price of $40,000.

But speaking to Mitch Cleary of 7News, the footy said he is exploring steps to prove the medals are his.

‘I can guarantee you 1000 per cent I never gave them away or sold them,’ Stewart, who hails from Queenstown, Tasmania, said.

‘I don’t know how the hell they ended up there.

‘I don’t want to see them auctioned.

‘I’m going to take steps to prove that I’m the rightful owner.’

Prior to Stewart’s statement, Leski Auctions had issued a statement on the medals and had hoped that they would ultimately be returned to Tasmania and end up in the new AFL’s newest franchise’s Macquarie Point Stadium.

‘Ian Stewart is a Tasmanian and it would be appropriate and a principled decision for his medals to be permanently located in the new stadium, which is set to open in 2029 at Macquarie Point in Hobart,’ Leski Auctions said.

It comes as Nathan Buckley was forced to buy back some of his prized possessions at an auction, with Collingwood chipping in to help the footy star recover some of his prized items from his illustrious playing career.

Leski Auctions are now facilitating the sale of the medals but are hopeful that they will end up being placed in the stadium of the AFL’s new franchise in Tasmania 

Buckley had placed some items on sale as part of his divorce but managed to recover some of his prized items before donating them to Collingwood’s club museum.

The footy club have since opened an exhibition in their museum paying tribute to Buckley, with his Brownlow Medal and 2002 Grand Final guernsey all displayed in the exhibit.

Stewart, meanwhile, began his playing career with Hobart, making his debut for the club in 1962 at the age of 18. A year later, he’d be recruited to join St Kilda, where he enjoyed great success, being crowned the club’s best and fairest winner in 1964 and 1966.

He’d later move to the Tigers and again would enjoy great success at the club, kicking 55 goals across 78 appearances.