1951 SEASON

First Grade team v Newtown 9th May 1951
(L to R) Bill Horder, Eric Worne, Bob Dimond, Kevin Cullen, Jack Woods, Dev Dines, Don Stait, Pat Leal, Alan Hornery, Arthur Collinson, Keith Holman, Frank Stanmore, Kevin Hansen (Captain)

1951 was a season characterised by a long injury list. A number of times during the season key players were out injured and Wests lost some close games because of it, although they still made the semi-finals. They went into the semi-final against Manly without Frank Stanmore (ligaments), Dev Dines and Arthur Collinson and during the match Bob Dimond, Kevin Hansen and Peter McLean all became passengers, with Wests predictably losing 37-9.

Arthur Collinson (who had played Country Firsts in 1950) was a significant buy and had been one of Wests’ best forwards all season. There was also a significant loss of Bill Keato, who retired to become Club Treasurer, and the goal-kicking was not up to his standard. A rule change which said “The kick could now be taken from the mark of the penalty rather than having to go back to kick over the man on the mark” emphasised the kicking prowess of Keato who would often pilot the ball over from past half-way, with a man on the mark!

The retirement of Ern McFayden from an administrative role cannot be over-emphasised. It is easy to argue that Western Suburbs would not have survived as a football club without the efforts of Ern McFayden. The deaths during the year of two stalwarts, Ted Mead (1908 pioneer and administrator) and Sam Shaw were also significant.

Keith Holman (3) and Frank Stanmore (2) played in Tests against France and Holman again won the Herald “Best and Fairest” Competition.

Wests had the makings of a top-grade side and an injury-free 1952 and Premiership Honours beckoned.

Wests’ Great – Keith Holman