Australian Football

Had South Fremantle not boasted one of the greatest teams in football history during the early 1950s Don Byfield might well have made his senior debut somewhat earlier than he did, in which case he might feasibly have finished his career with approaching 300 games under his belt. As it is, when he retired at the end of the 1963 season, his actual tally of 239 games had been exceeded by only one South Fremantle player, Frank Treasure.

Byfield made his league debut in 1950, but did not become a regular until 1953, the season after he had helped the seconds to a premiership. He made the victorious league Grand Final side in 1953, as twentieth man. The following season saw him lining up in a back pocket on Grand Final day as South trounced arch rivals East Fremantle by 78 points to claim their fifth senior grade flag in seven years. After that, it was all downhill as far as club achievements went, although later in the decade Byfield would embark on a successful interstate career that saw him installed as Western Australia’s first choice permanent back pocket player between 1957 and 1959. 

All told, he represented his state 9 times, including games at the 1958 centenary carnival in Melbourne. He also played a couple of games for Western Australian number two sides against visiting clubs from interstate.

Author - John Devaney