{xtypo_dropcap}T{/xtypo_dropcap}hroughout it’s proud history, WA football has been blessed with many fine centremen, and the mantle of “best ever” would be a highly debated subject. But there hasn’t been a better exponent of the art of playing in the pivot position than East Fremantle champion, Ray Sorrell. 

“He was strong, fast, intelligent in both attack and defence, elusive and a powerful kick. I’ve played against him three times, and haven’t beaten him once.” This appraisal of Sorrell came from Essendon and Victorian champion Jack Clarke, a three time All Australian and wearer of the big V on 27 occasions.

The 1961 and 63 Sandover Medallist, who was also third in 1958, was a permanent fixture in Western Australian state sides throughout his career. He won Simpson Medals in the 1962 grand final against Swan Districts, and in 1963 for WA, two Lynn Medals as East Fremantle’s fairest and best, and two All Australian blazers.  He was named in East Fremantle’s official “Team of the Century”.

Ray Sorrell graduated from the North Fremantle juniors to make his league debut on a half forward flank against Swan Districts midway through the 1956 season. Switched to the middle after half time, he quickly made the position his own and, in a rich era for exponents of that role in the WANFL, he soon became the league’s number one centreman.

After being an integral part of Old East’s 1957 premiership, Sorrell took over from Don Marinko as State centreman the following year. He was to play a further seventeen games for WA, including his most memorable, the 1961 Brisbane Carnival game against Victoria.

Sorrell was a drawcard in the late fifties and early sixties, not only for his clashes against players of the ilk of Todd, Marinko, Amaranti, Clune, Everett, Whinnen, and others, but also his gathering of the ball from the centre, with quick, clearing dashes complimented by long penetrating kicks or precise stab passes to leading forwards. He had the added gift of being a good reader of the play, which made him a most damaging midfielder, and was equally adept when the ground was wet.

In 1961, he tied for the Sandover Medal with Perth centre half back Neville Beard, who was awarded the medal after a countback, which was ironic because the two became firm friends, and no one was happier than Beard when Sorrell was in later years retrospectively given a Sandover for that year in his own right.

He beat another Perth player, Frank Pyke, to claim the 1963 Sandover.

Sorrell was lured to South Fremantle as coach in 1964.  “ It was a tough time,” Ray recalled. “East Fremantle supporters disowned me, and I wasn’t completely accepted at South either. I didn’t handle it as well as I could have, and my inexperience as a coach wasn’t a help.”

Returning to East after two seasons, Sorrell played another year before injuries forced his retirement in 1967, after 159 games with East Fremantle, 23 at South, and 18 for Western Australia.

Ray Sorrell played against many great players, and lists Peter Amaranti, John Todd, South Australian champ Peter Motley, and Essendon’s Jack Clarke as hard to beat, but reckons that the toughest was the Carnamah Kid, Kevin Clune of Claremont.  “I was lucky enough to play with and against the best in Australia,” Sorrell said. “ But two of the best were my team mates Normie Rogers and Jack “Stork” Clarke.”

His reflections on today’s game? “ Umpires have to address the way they are meddling and interfering with our game,” he said. “ They are taking the toughness out of football and turning it into basketball.”

Ray shared a story with us about one of East Fremantle supporters most popular players, but one not so warmly embraced by opposition fans, Ron “Trizzie” Lawrence. 
“The faithful in the McDonald Stand hated Lawrence, and he only needed to give them the slightest encouragement to send the feet stamping from the bottom of the old building to the top.  “Trizz said to me, the quicker that joint is demolished the better. I’ll try my best to help things along.” Ray recalls. “So he had the feet stomping and the teeth hissing throughout the game with intentional gestures to them.”

Ray Sorrell was involved in the car industry, real estate, and the hospitality area during his business life. He has now retired, well, sort of. “My wife Jean and I bought a place needing work intentionally so we’d have something to do. We’ve done all that now, so I’m back into the estate game on a part time basis because I was getting bored,” he commented.  Ray and Jean enjoy travelling, and have been fortunate enough to do some of that in recent times.

Ray Sorrell was one of East Fremantle and Western Australia’s best ever players, was a true champion of the game, and is a member of the Western Australian Football Hall Of Fame.