Alan Watling was a hard running, tenacious onballer, who was one of the driving forces behind  the three premierships West Perth won between 1969 and 75. 

His 1972 season was topped off with All Australian selection, and culminated in a tour with a “Rest Of Australia” team, which played against Carlton in exhibition games in London, Singapore, and Athens.  When we chatted with Alan, he recalled that tour. “ In Athens they had a couple of blokes holding up the point posts” he joked.

Watling was switched to roving duties in 1975, an inspired move by coach Graeme Campbell that allowed the speedster to play his natural game, which was based on the ability to read the play and judge the flight of the ball.  His stamina was such that he could cover the ground in the twinkling of an eye, coupled with exemplary kicking skills.

Alan Watling went on to play 284 games with the Cardies over fourteen seasons. “I was very fortunate to play in four Grand Finals, winning three, when great players like Derek Chadwick didn’t play in any,” he said. He also represented Western Australia on five occasions.

He  was a player who was known for his accurate disposal.  Asked about this  his response was:”I didn’t like to waste the ball, it was too hard to get...it was also my job to run and link up”. West Perth named Watling in their official Team of the Century in 2000.

Asked for the best he played with he paid tribute to the champ Mel Whinnen. “It was a highlight of my football days just playing alongside him on the wing when he was in the middle,” he said, while giving an honourable mention to John Wynne. Watling  named the tigerish East Perth wingman Gary Gillespie and Subiaco’s Stephen Heal when asked about opposition players.  “Gillespie and Heal were both tough opponents,” he said.

Watling was also no slouch on the cricket pitch, having been an A Grade pennant player with Subiaco, where he batted at number four.  He recalled the day he was asked to drop down a place in the batting order for a “promising fifteen year old”. It turned out to be  future Australian captain, Kim Hughes.  After three years with Subiaco, football commitments forced Watling to join some of his West Perth teammates at Leederville, where he became a prolific rungetter , holding the club record with over 12,500 runs. Also able to roll his arm over, he took more than 700 wickets.

These days Alan is enjoying life by the sea in the South West, and has swapped his footy boots for a pair of oars. “I love it out there, fishing in the boat, while the young blokes do some diving” he said.

But you can’t slow the  man down.

“Got a game of cricket on tomorrow,” he told us.