Australian Football

A flanker of considerable verve, vim and pace whose kicking was of the highest quality, Paul Symmons enjoyed a meritorious and noteworthy career at both national and state league level. He commenced with West Perth in 1992 and showed enough during the year to be taken by West Coast at that year’s National Draft. He made his Eagles debut in 1994 whilst continuing with West Perth when not selected for the AFL.

The 1994 season found Symmons in fine form at WAFL level, representing the state in a win over South Australia at Football Park, and winning the Simpson Medal as Western Australia’s best player in the match, besides polling 19 votes in the Sandover Medal. The following year saw him playing only in the AFL, and doing well, but in 1996 he was subject to persistent shoulder problems, placing his AFL career in jeopardy. His recovery was quite spectacular as in 1997 he enjoyed the best season of his career, coming third in the Eagles’ best and fairest count and playing state of origin football for Western Australia against the Allies. After that, his form gradually dipped, but he retained his place on West Coast’s list until the end of the 2000 season, by which time he had played 99 AFL games and kicked 36 goals. Meanwhile, he had continued to appear intermittently for West Perth, so that by the time he sought pastures new in terms of joining East Perth he had played 81 games for the Falcons and booted 32 goals.

Over the last five seasons of his playing career Symmons proved that he still boasted plenty of ability. He was a member of East Perth’s 2001 and 2002 premiership-winning teams and typically produced his best football in finals. He had played 82 games and kicked 37 goals for the Royals by the time he retired in 2005.

Author - John Devaney