Australian Football

In the decade or so following the end of World War II, West Perth fielded some of the finest teams in the club’s history. In the eight-season period between 1946 and 1953 the side contested every Grand Final bar one, for premierships in 1949 and 1951. Full back in both of those Grand Final-winning teams was Ray Schofield, rated by many as one of the finest West Australian players never to win a Sandover Medal.

Schofield's consistent brilliance is clearly shown by his achievement in winning fairest and best awards in 1948-50-53-54-55 at a time when the club also boasted players of the calibre of Fred Buttsworth, ‘Pops’ Heal, John Loughridge and Ray Scott. Hardly surprisingly, Schofield was a ‘shoe-in’ for West Australian state teams for much of his career, playing a total of 21 interstate matches including appearances at the 1950 and 1953 carnivals. He amply demonstrated his versatility in interstate football, being used as a half back flanker or in the forward lines in addition to his more customary role of full back.

Among the main highlights in Western Australian club football during the late ‘40s and early ‘50s were the clashes between arguably the strongest teams of the period, West Perth and South Fremantle. One of the things that made these games so fascinating were the individual confrontations between Schofield and the greatest goal kicker of his era, Bernie Naylor. The South spearhead kicked more than his share of goals in these contests, but the converse of this was he that he also lowered his colours to Schofield more than to any other opponent.

No more nor less intrinsically talented than many other league full backs of his day, Ray Schofield rose above them because of his fanatical, never say die approach. Quite simply, he never knew when he was beaten - and, indeed, as many Cardinals fans of long standing will grow misty-eyed in telling you, he very seldom was.

Ray Schofield's brilliant career was acknowledged officially when he was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2024.

Author - John Devaney with updates by Andrew Gigacz