{xtypo_dropcap}L{/xtypo_dropcap}aurie Kettlewell is recognised at Subiaco as one of the best players ever to wear the maroon and gold, and is certainly one of the most versatile  ever to play in the WAFL.   He is a WAFL Football Hall of Fame inductee, was named at centre half back in Subiaco’s official Team of the Century, and in 1954, his debut season, he was named at centre half back when the  Eastern States publication, “Sporting Life” selected it’s  All Australian team . He won two club Fairest and Best awards, a number to which there was no doubt he could have added if he hadn’t been the team’s “Mr Fixit”, and been able to play  in a set position.

One of three brothers to play with Subiaco(twin brothers Neville and  Norm also wore the maroon),  Laurie was a  product of the Subiaco Police Boys juniors and was just seventeen when he was an instant sensation on his debut at centre half back against Swan Districts at Bassendean in 1954.   Three months later he was wearing the black swan against the big V at Subiaco, and must have wondered what was happening when Victoria led 10.12 to nil at the first break.  The home side rallied after that and actually outscored the Vics for the rest of the game, but it was a tough initiation to Interstate football for the young tyro.

 Kettlewell impressed despite the loss, and went on to play in fifteen State matches, positioned at different times at centre half back, half back flank, full forward, centre half forward, and half forward flank. He also starred in the centre for Subiaco, and at various stages of his career played in every position on the ground during his 205 games with the club.  Subiaco went through some lean times in that era, and it was a shame that Laurie Kettlewell was one of those  great players who never got to experience the  league premiership that they so richly deserved.

 He had all the attributes that are the hallmark of champions, with the strength, agility, and high marking  skills of a big man, plus the ability to match anyone when the ball hit the ground, and his kicking was long and accurate.

 In 1963, Kettlewell received a lucrative three year offer from Mt Barker, and moved to the Great Southern to captain coach that team. The explosive start he had at Subiaco in 1954 was repeated at Mt Barker in 63, and the premiership that he was denied with the maroons became a reality at  his new club.  

Tragedy was to intervene, however, as the football world was rocked by the deaths of two of Subiaco’s best and most respected players, Rod Newton(98 league games) and Merv Screaigh(87), who were tragically killed in a car accident near Cranbrook.  With the blessing of the Mt Barker club, Laurie Kettlewell returned to a shattered Subiaco.

A year in the bush hadn’t dimmed his ability, however, and Kettlewell slotted straight back into the WAFL as if he’d never left. The State selectors thought so too, and he was back in the State colours in 1965. At the end of that season, at the relatively young age of 28, Laurie Kettlewell retired from league football. There is no doubt that he could have gone on at a high level of competition for another two years at least, but he left the football stage in the same form as he came onto it.

A modest man, he was reluctant to talk about his football achievements, preferring to reminisce about those he played with and against. “ With the State side, the Harper brothers, Ray Sorrell, Ray Schofield, Jack Clarke, Polly Farmer, John Colgan, Cliff Hillier, and many others were a privilege to play with,” he recalled. “And playing on people like Des Rowe, Thorold Merrett, and Owen Abrahams was tough but satisfying when you did well on them.”  

And “did well” was an understatement. Looking back at State games, Kettlewell was more often than not among the best players.   “Kett. could beat anyone on his day and that was usually when playing on a big name player,” was the summary from former team mate, State player, and Subiaco President, Kevin Merifield.

Regarding AFL football today, Laurie commented: “I’m not too rapt about the game today. They play the rules to make it into more basketball/football these days. There’s not much man on man.  The tag stuff was around when we played, but it was only man on man, not several on one, leaving loose men running free.”

A former linesman with the SEC, Laurie Kettlewell is enjoying retirement on the south west coast . With three sons in the North West of the State, he and his wife Beth spend a lot of the winters caravanning to that area and beyond.

Laurie Kettlewell was most certainly  a true champion of the WAFL.