1922 SEASON

Wests, in 1922, started to see the fruits of its rebuilding program from the previous year. Local juniors who made their First-Grade debut in 1922 included Lou and Fred Yanz, Joe Drew, Reg Darke, Neil Matterson, Cyril Bellamy and Arthur Mendel. Wests also picked up the tough and experienced “Tedda” Brooks from Newtown and Billy Lane from Souths.

The season didn’t start off too well with five straight losses, but Wests started to build a combination and won six of the eleven remaining games. Of the five matches lost in the later part of the season, three were close with five or less points separating the teams. One of the wins was against premiers North Sydney.

Wests finished the season in 6th position, but the future of the Club was looking positive. The Western Suburbs President’s Cup team of 1922 already delivered Arthur Mendel to First Grade and was also bringing along Cec Rhodes and a young Cec Fifield, who went on to have a great international career.

Western Suburbs DRLFC First Grade -1922

Back: C J Elliott (Treasurer), J Sweeney (Trainer), W Barclay (Trainer), W Collins, W J Joass, E J Courtney, W Dwyer (Ass. Secretary), C McFayden (Trainer), E Mead (Delegate), J Reidy Middle: F Yanz, W Easterbrook, C Bellamy, C Winn (President), R Vest (Captain), E McFayden (Secretary), C Prentice (Vice-Captain), E Brooks, N Matterson,
Front: H J Leddy, E Doig, A Mendel, F McMillan, J Drew, L Yanz

Western Suburbs DRLFC 3rd Grade -1922

Back L to R: J Scullin (Sec), J Denehy, A Maston, G Bennett, J McGain, W McCabe, W C McCredie (Train)
Middle: A Murray, C Matterson, A McLean, C Waters (C), S Burden, D Cutcliffe, W McLean
Front: W Carpenter, W McCredie, R Ferguson (VC)

Bill McCabe and Bill Carpenter were in this team and went on to play First Grade in 1923. Charles “Chat” Matterson, brother of Neil, Frank and Jack Matterson was also in this team.

Wests President’s Cup team of 1922 was also the source of some fine talent, a number of whom went on to make their mark in future Wests teams. These players included Arthur Mendel, Cec Fifield, and Cec Rhodes. Bill McCabe was also in this team before he was drafted to Wests 3rd Grade, 2nd Grade and then the Metropolitan Reserve Grade Representative Team, all in 1922. The 1922 President’s Cup team was comprised of the following players.

Western Suburbs President’s Cup Teams 1922

Backs: Clarke and Gough (Summer Hill Iona B), McCabe, Glover, Ayling (Ashfield United A), Grace, Cleary (Haberfield), Cashman, Mendel, Fifield, (Five Dock A), Green, McDonald (Enfield B), Byrne, Stark (Burwood Junior B), Hay (Summer Hill Junior B)

Forwards: McFarlane (Flemington A), Murray (Summer Hill Juniors B), Rhodes (Ashfield United A), Thompson and Morrison (Summer Hill Iona B), Hart and Miles (Concord United A), McLennon (Ashfield United B), and Graham (Enfield B)

Western Districts:
Goodman, Quinlan, Sargeant, Jacobson (All Parramatta North) – Incomplete List

1922