Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Alan Thomas Preen

Known as
Alan Preen

Born
4 July 1935

Place of birth
Fremantle, WA (6160)

Died
27 November 2016 (aged 81)

Place of death
Perth, WA (6001)

Height and weight
Height: 177 cm
Weight: 70 kg

Senior clubs
East Fremantle

State of origin
WA

Hall of fame
Western Australian Football Hall Of Fame, Inducted 2009

Alan Preen


ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
East FremantleWANFL1953-1959122930.76
Total1953-1959122930.76

One of East Fremantle’s many shining lights during a 1950s decade that yielded rather less in the way of premiership success than might have been expected or hoped, Alan Preen could play with equal effectiveness at centre half forward or as a support ruckman. Between 1953 and 1959 he played a total of 122 WANFL games for the club, winning fairest and best awards in 1954 and 1958. He enjoyed a particularly noteworthy year in 1954, scoring more than double the votes of his nearest contender in the fairest and best count. When Old Easts beat East Perth 10.18 (78) to 9.8 (62) in the 1957 Grand Final Alan Preen was one of the best players afield. 

A talented cricketer who played at the first class level for Western Australia, Preen twice sought a clearance to Victoria, to play with the Melbourne football club and to further his cricketing opportunities. Twice he was denied, and in frustration quit the winter game at the age of 24 and ventured to the United Kingdom where he forged a noteworthy career as a professional in the Lancashire and other northern cricket leagues.

A near automatic selection for Western Australia for most of his career, he played a total of 15 state games, and was chosen in the 1958 All Australian team. In 1997 he was selected on a half forward flank in East Fremantle’s official ‘Team of the Century’.

Author - John Devaney with additional material from Adam Cardosi

Sources

Full Points Footy's WA Football Companion

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.