Australian Football

Bill McFarlane had the rare misfortune for a Port Adelaide footballer of spending the better part of a decade in league football with the Magpies without appearing in a premiership team, unless you count the wartime flag of 1942 won by a Port Adelaide-West Torrens combined side. McFarlane made his senior debut for Port in 1941, and when he retired at thee end of the 1948 season had played a total of 102 league games, including 40 for the combined wartime team. 

McFarlane also represented South Australia seven times, including games at the 1947 Hobart carnival. The closest he got to playing in a premiership side was his membership of the Magpies’ losing Grand Final combinations of 1945 against West Torrens and 1946 against Norwood.

Author - John Devaney