Australian Football

After a somewhat stuttering start to his league career, West Perth’s Brian Foley developed into one of Australia’s finest ruckmen. Making up in dogged persistence for what he may have lacked in raw talent, Foley gave as good as he got against the likes of Farmer, Clarke, McIntosh and Slater at home, and Nicholls, Schultz, Wedding and Wright interstate. The fact that Foley made no fewer than 22 interstate appearances for Western Australia in an era when the state was blessed with considerable ruck strength is perhaps the most persuasive testimony as to his prowess, as well as to the esteem in which he was held.

From an individual perspective, the highlight of Brian Foley’s illustrious 202-game league career came in 1959 when he was a runaway winner of the Sandover Medal. Foley also won his second Cardinals fairest and best trophy that year, having previously won the award in 1957. In 1960, he was one of the most conspicuous performers on the ground as West Perth overcame arch rivals East Perth by 32 points in the Grand Final.

Given that he was playing at a time when VFL clubs were beginning to make significant inroads into Western Australia’s vast pool of playing talent it was inevitable that Foley should become a prime recruiting target. North Melbourne came closer than anyone to procuring him - Foley even signed a form four - but the Cardinals steadfastly refused to agree to a clearance. This, of course, was in the days when the ANFC was in ostensible control of interstate clearances.

Captain of West Perth from 1960 to 1964, Foley decided to play one last season in 1965 after Bob Spargo took over as captain-coach. He finished on a ‘high’, performing consistently well all year, as well as leading the ruck in typically resolute fashion when Western Australia came from behind to defeat the VFL in a mid-season interstate clash at Subiaco Oval.

Author - John Devaney