Australian Football

Debuting with Subiaco as a 19-year-old in 1929 Billy Faul quickly developed into a tenacious, no nonsense half back flanker who rarely lowered his colours. He played a total of 55 league games for the Maroons, winning the club's fairest and best award in 1931, but perhaps somewhat surprisingly was never chosen to represent Western Australia.

In 1932, Faul joined the rapidly expanding 'foreign legion' at South Melbourne, and after putting in a superbly consistent season he was rewarded with his second club champion award in a row, as well as runner-up spot in the Brownlow Medal behind Haydn Bunton. The following year was even better as he helped the Blood Stained Angels secure their first flag since 1918 with a comprehensive 9.17 (71) to 4.5 (29) Grand Final demolition of Richmond.

After 117 VFL games in seven seasons at South, Faul crossed to Prahran as captain-coach where he played 66 games in three seasons, winning consecutive club best and fairest awards in 1940-1. After the war he coached VFA club Northcote to fourth place in 1948, before returning to Prahran. He coached the Two Blues to a flag in 1951, an achievement he repeated as coach of Moorabbin in 1957, the first of his three year stint at the club. The 1953 to 1956 seasons had seen him back at Northcote, but apart from 1954, when the side finished third, this was a distinctly unmemorable phase of Faul's career.

Author - John Devaney