1938 SEASON

Wests did not build on the momentum of the 1937 City Cup competition by taking that form into 1938. With so much promise, it was a major disappointment for the First-Grade team to lose its first five competition games. The first three matches were by substantial scores, culminating in an embarrassing loss to Balmain by 11-57.

Cec Fifield had been appointed as the First-Grade non-playing coach but in round four, after the Balmain loss, he once again pulled on the boots to steady the ship. In his first game back Wests were beaten by Souths, but it was a hard fought 4-8 score line.  In the last nine rounds of the competition Wests secured four wins, four losses and a draw to salvage something from the year.

Cec ‘Dicky’ Fifield, the non-playing coach pulled on the boots after Round Three to help out the ailing team

A notable appearance for Wests in 1938 was the debut of a young Bill Keato with two First Grade games. Keato went on to be a point-scoring sensation for Wests and gave the Club more than a decade of fine service.

The Reserve Grade team was a little unlucky not to have made the semi-finals as this team was quite competitive. It had the unusual record of having four draws in its first eight matches with two wins and two losses. However, it was the Third-Grade team that was once again the shining light, taking out another premiership in 1938.

While Wests had reaped the benefits of a strong junior competition since the early 1920s with the inclusion of four sub districts at one point, by 1938 problems were emerging. Wests had already lost the Canterbury District juniors to the senior Club in 1935 and in 1938 Southern Districts did not have a junior competition and Western Districts had withdrawn from the President’s Cup competition, leaving only Western Suburbs juniors as the main source for junior development.

Western Suburbs DRLFC First Grade 1938

L to R: Albert McGuiness, Cec Fifield (Coach), Don Murray, Colin Fewtrell, Adrian Gleeson, Stan Simpson, Cal Lynch, Jack Schuback, Don Gulliver, Ken Lock, William Purcell, Athol Smith, Jim Sharman (Captain)

Western Suburbs DRLFC Third Grade 1938 Premiers

Premiers 1936 & City Cup 1937
Back: A Kelly, Henry “Mick” Martin, N Hogan, Jim Kinnard, M Bourke, C Sherry, J White,
Middle: E Brady, Harry Allen, John M Caffrey, J Farrell (C), Robert Fayers, Fred Fayers, Doug Rogers
Front: J Thomas, Ken Kelly, Absent: Stan Mildwater, Alexander Patrick

Western Suburbs President’s Cup Squad

 Speechley (Homebush), Holley (Ashfield Kings), Bell (Cabramatta), Rae (Ashfield Kings), Green (Granville Shamrocks), Bruce Brown (Granville Districts), Barker (Manners Athletic), Reading, Dwyer (Granville Shamrocks), Costello (Manners Athletic), Brian Thompson (Homebush), Green (Homebush), Jack Spooner, Edwards, Wal Taylor, Tom Slattery (Homebush), Chambers, Beaver, Freeman (Manners Athletic), Cheeseman (Granville Shamrocks), L Wilmott (Granville Districts), C Anderson (Marist Brothers)

The Team on 11 June 1938 was Fullback: Les Hoshke, Wings: Bruce Brown, Burton, Centres: Brian Thompson, Rae, Half: Green, Front Row: Anderson, Tom Slattery, Wal Taylor, Second Row:

Note: Southern Districts did not have a junior competition in 1938 and therefore did not field a President’s Cup Team.

Note: Western Districts withdrew from the Presidents Cup competition