Over my 27 years as a West Coast jumper, I have played 322 matches for 163 wins, two draws and 157 losses.  

My highlights include playing in the club’s inaugural match against Richmond in 1987 and winning two premierships in 1992 and 1994, as well as lining up for two losing grand finals in 1991 and 2005.

The years I’d rather forget are 2000 and 2008 when I was unable to play a single match.

The first player to pull me over his head was Wally Matera. Wally and I played in 24 games together over two seasons before he was traded to Fitzroy. He was a loveable larrikin and I was sorry to see him go.



Wally Matera was the first to wear jumper no.1

Next, I was handed on to Don Pyke who wore me for 20 games over two seasons before he switched to the no.10 jumper in 1991.

Although I was a little heartbroken by Don brushing me aside so carelessly for another, more mature jumper, luckily for me Brett Heady was there to pick me up and dust me off, so I was able to pull myself together and play for another 126 games.

My partnership with Brett was by far my most successful and we won two thirds of the games we played together. It was also during this period that I was able to run out for three grand finals, winning the premiership on two occasions.

I was devastated when Brett succumbed to injury and retired in season 1999 and I needed a year off to gather my thoughts and consider whether I was to go on.



Michael Gardiner battles Port's Matthew Primus in 2002

Young ruckman Michael Gardiner showed me that there was life after Brett, and I got back on the horse, so to speak, to play for another 72 games over six seasons.  Michael and I did make it to another grand final in 2005, but we sadly lost by four points. I was devastated.

Mitch Brown then took me under his wing and we enjoyed a great time together until he left the club at the end of 2016. Although we had slight hiccups with knee reconstructions in 2008 and 2015, we played 94 games together and Mitch was one of the best blokes to have me on his back. 

Jumper no.1 timeline
1987 Wally Matera 11 games (won 4, lost 7)
1988 Wally Matera 13 games (won 7, lost 6)
1989 Don Pyke 16 games (won 3, lost 13)
1990 Don Pyke 4 games (won 2, lost 2)
1991 Brett Heady 26 games (won 21, lost 5)
1992 Brett Heady 11 games (won 7, drew 1, lost 3)
1993 Brett Heady 19 games (won 10, lost 9)
1994 Brett Heady 21 games (won 16, lost 5)
1995 Brett Heady 15 games (won 8, lost 7)
1996 Brett Heady 7 games (won 4, lost 3)
1997 Brett Heady 21 games (won 11, lost 10)
1998 Brett Heady 15 games (won 8, lost 7)
1999 Brett Heady 1 game (won 1)
2001 Michael Gardiner 20 games (won 5, lost 15)
2002 Michael Gardiner 16 games (won 7, lost 9)
2003 Michael Gardiner 18 games (won 11, drew 1, lost 6)
2004 Michael Gardiner 3 games (won 1, lost 2)
2005 Michael Gardiner 12 games (won 9, lost 3)
2006 Michael Gardiner 3 games (won 2, lost 1)
2007 Mitch Brown 5 games (won 3, lost 2)
2008 Mitch Brown 0 games
2009 Mitch Brown 19 games (won 6, lost 13)
2010 Mitch Brown 13 games (won 2, lost 11)
2011 Mitch Brown 6 games (won 4, lost 2)
2012 Mitch Brown 8 games (won 3, lost 5)
2013 Mitch Brown 19 games (won 8, lost 11)
2014 Mitch Brown 19 games (won 9, lost 10)
2015 Mitch Brown 1 game (lost 1)
2016 Mitch Brown 4 games (won 3, lost 1)