William Brian DEMPSEY

PLAYER: 1960-76

GAMES: 357: West Perth 343: WA 14

PREMIERSHIPS: 1969, 71, 75

HONOURS: Simpson Medal 1969; premiership captain 1975, Club fairest and best 1966; member West Perth team of the century MBE for services to football 1976

A key figure in a golden era for West Perth in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.  His 343 games is the second highest for just one club in WA, beaten only by teammate Mel Whinnen.  The pair were outstanding in the team’s 1975 premiership and have a gate named jointly in their honour at Subiaco Oval and a grandstand named after them at Arena Joondalup.  Big crows and big occasions seemed to suit Dempsey.  He was a fixture in the ruck or as a defender standing resting ruckman in WA teams.  He reserved some of his best performances for grand finals.  The 1969 climax to the WAFL season was played in front of a then record crowd of 51,385 people.  West Perth routed East Perth 21.21 to 10.14 with Dempsey winning a Simpson Medal playing in front of his mother, who the club had brought down from Darwin.  There were another 42,000 there in 1975 as Dempsey, Whinnen and West Perth demolished South Fremantle 23.17 to 7.9.