In 1989 he left Western Australia and joined the Brisbane Bears. Bain was the joint winner of Brisbane's best and fairest in 1990 with Martin Leslie. He also finished equal fourth in the Brownlow Medal count. In 1994 he crossed to Fitzroy and spent a season with the club, winning the Gardiner Medal for the best player in the reserves competition.[1]
The third part of his career was spent in the QAFL where he had a successful stint as captain of the Southport Sharks, leading them to four premierships and winning two Grogan Medals. In 2023 he was inducted into the Queensland Football Hall of Fame.[2]
The Grogan Medal has been awarded most years since 1927, and every year since 1945, to the best and fairest player in the Queensland Australian Football League and, historically, other high-level Queensland football competitions. It was known as the De Little Medal until 1946.
