Australian Football

East Perth centreman Deverick Cronin (invariably referred to as ‘Mick’) was at the peak of his form during the 1937 interstate football carnival in Perth when he put in two near best-on-ground performances in helping Western Australia to annihilate South Australia by 19 goals, and get to within eight points of a powerful ‘Big V’ combination. He was rewarded with football's first ever Tassie Medal as the carnival's pre-eminent player.

A forceful, energetically dynamic performer, Cronin was just as much at home on the half forward line as in the centre, and it was as a half forward flanker that he represented the Royals in their winning Grand Final team of 1936. In 1939, he took over as coach of the club from the legendary ‘Jerry’ Dolan, steering his side to two finals appearances in his three years at the helm. He also continued playing, but a series of bad leg injuries limited his availability, and adversely affected his form when he did manage to front up.

After retiring as a player, ‘Mick’ Cronin took up umpiring for a time, and it was in this capacity that he ventured to Hobart in 1947 for the first post-war Australian interstate championship series. He returned to East Perth as non-playing coach in 1951 but in five seasons in charge he was unable to lift his charges above fourth place on the ladder. Besides his Tassie Medal, Cronin also won the Royals’ fairest and best award in 1931, and represented Western Australia in the interstate arena on 12 occasions. He also coached the state in 1951.

In June 2006, Cronin was included at half forward right in East Perth’s official ‘Team of the Century 1906 to 1944’.

Author - John Devaney