RIP

It appears to be fixed now Aldo.

Or they could read my book

You’ve got a book?

Yes, despite it being given the Fawlty Towers 'don't mention the war' treatment by some at the Club (nothing political, of course ), it's done very well, first edition of 250 sold out.

I know you think it's strange an author would continue to promote it, but many, many West supporters around Australia have contacted me to express their enjoyment and historians have given it great reviews.

Keep chipping away, you'll be getting into stalking territory soon.

Meanwhile, life's good.

I can recall the effect Murray Weideman had on our team when he arrived.  We seemed to stand taller and he was a charismatic leader, who could definitely play.

His coaching took us from the depths of the years after the Kerley sacking to being a finals team and very competitive.

We lacked success for years before he arrived and for years after he left coaching.  He still served the club in other capacities later and was a revered figure at the Club.

RIP Murray, legend.

Many years ago whilst on a business trip to Victoria a friend took me to dinner at the Collingwood Club --- all off a sudden all patrons started clapping and it was because Murray had walked in --- the amount of respect this man had was amazing.

It is with great sadness to inform you of the passing of a true West Adelaide legend.

Brian Keith Faehse who passed away peacefully on Sunday 21st March, 2021 at 96 tears old after a short illness, which he battled with the same grit & determination that he demonstrated in all of his 222 games for West Adelaide, a club record on his retirement from the game.



Coming from the Eyre Peninsula town of Cummins, Brian made his first appearance for West Adelaide in the Senior Colts in 1943 whilst serving his apprenticeship as an Electrical Engineer.

Playing his first game in 1944, for what was then West-Glenelg during WW2, he would break his ankle in his 7th game which unfortunately ended his season.

Brian didn’t miss too many games through injury, playing 128 consecutively, earning him the nickname Ironman.

He represented the State on 19 occasions.



The player races to enter the field at the old Adelaide Oval were a result of Brian taking on the Port Adelaide supporters after the siren at the halftime break of the 1954 Grand Final. At the time players had to leave the oval through the crowd without any protection.

As a result, the SANFL decided to install the races in the off season to protect the players entering and leaving the field. Ironically, Brian was the first to use the new players’ race, when in 1955 he led West Adelaide onto the field against Norwood.



Anyone who visits Richmond Oval (currently Hisense Stadium) will have seen the B.K. Faehse

Stand, which was renamed the Brian Faehse Stand in late 2020 on his personal request.

Brian was given the honour of having the stand named after him as he was a key figure &

part of the sub-committee which started the acquisition & development of Richmond Oval.

He organised the plan of the oval, arranged earthmoving equipment & clearing of the land, in addition to digging the trenches for the watering system and the laying of the turf for the oval. He banded together past & present players, officials & supporters for the installation.

Unfortunately, he had retired by the time the first game was played at Richmond Oval in 1958.

The great Fos Williams said on Brian’s retirement from the game after the 1956 season, ’I’ve never met a better teammate or a more ferocious & determined opponent’

Apart from football, Brian was an accomplished golfer playing for Glenelg Golf Club representing them in the Simpson Cup.

Brian will be remembered as our 1947 Premiership Player, Captain, Coach and a member of our management committee, but most of all as a gentleman.

If a football club ever needed a template on which to build a culture, it would well benefit to use the example of the way Brian Faehse conducted himself on & off the field in life & his time at The West Adelaide Football Club.



Our thoughts are with Brian’s family, friends and especially his long-time friend & companion Janet who has given exemplary care to Brian through his illness.



Bernie Conlen

WAFC Past Players & Officials President.



Vale Brian Keith Faehse





SANFL debut with West-Glenelg on 27 May 1944

West Adelaide Premiership Player 1947

West Adelaide Best & Fairest 1950 & 1951

West Adelaide Captain 1951-56

West Adelaide Captain Coach 1951-52

19 State games for South Australia 1948 -56

West Adelaide Football Club Life Member 1949

SANFL Player Life Member

SANFL League Tribunal Commissioner 1964-78

South Australian Football Hall of Fame Inaugural inductee 2002

West Adelaide Football Club Hall of Fame Inaugural inductee 2005

Official Legend of the West Adelaide Football Club 2011

From email I received today

It is one thing to lose a supporter in the later stage of life but to lose a bloody kid is just terrible

Rest in peace dear West Adelaide Player Charlotte Agostino --------- Your present duties to the West Adelaide Football Club have now ended but now you take on a new role as part of the rich history of our great club

https://www.facebook.com/westadelaidefootballclub/posts/10159188608055909

RIP Bernie Scanlan gonna miss you mate you were a true friend

My football friends we lost a great West Adelaide person and a close friend yesterday
West Adelaide Life Member Malcolm  McCracken.
08.07.1935 - 18.06.2021
Loving husband of Barbara for almost 65 years. Cherished father and father-in-law of Geoff and Enrica, Jenny, Bruce, Heather and Brenton. Proud grandfather of Joshua, James and Samantha, Naomi and Jacob, Ben and Sarah, Dominic, Dani. Loved great-grandfather of 7.
Malcolm gave approximately 47 years of service to the club in various roles as a volunteer within the football rooms --- some but not all roles undertaken include Senior & Deputy League Property Steward, Room Steward, Room security and Colour Steward.

RIP Malcolm, iv'e organized black armbands for this weeks game v the Crows.

Great comment Alldo --- he used to throw me out also (correctly) when i was a kid LOL

It is amazing how many older members mention this then go on to say what a good guy he was.