The East Perth combination of the late fifties is widely regarded as one of the best sides to have played in the WAFL. With players such as Sheedy, Farmer, Kennedy, Hawke, Mose, Seal, Bull, Washbourne, Everett, Watts, McGill, Kilmurray, Hunt, Ray, Walker, Roe, Atwell, Bellos, Hall, Giblett, and Langdon, the Royals were permanent grand finalists in the years between 1956 and 61, collecting three flags.A name that is perhaps lesser known than his illustrious teammates is Bevan Byrne.A victim of injury, Byrne’s career spanned virtually two seasons, but in both he was an integral part of two premierships.  Bevan Byrne had come under the notice of the Royals in 1957, when as an eighteen year old he was part of a Western Australian Metropolitan Juniors side that was successful in Melbourne against a Collingwood seconds and thirds combination before also beating a Victorian representative junior side. Invited to pre season training at Perth Oval in 1958, Byrne was selected in the league team for the opener against West Perth in 1958.“I had always been a West Perth supporter, with Ray Schofield my idol, and I found myself standing alongside him for the first bounce,” Bevan recalled. “My illusions were destroyed that day, as I experienced all of his tricks of the trade. Ray had plenty of ways of making life tough for a forward, and it was a tough initiation.”Byrne soon became a permanent fixture in the East Perth forward line, his pace and goalkicking ability from half forward proving a perfect foil for coach Jack Sheedy on the other flank. “I used to love a fly in my junior days,” he said. “But Sheedy made it plain straight up: “Your job is on the ground, let some other bugger go for the speccies.”  On a wet day for a league debut, Jack’s instructions were a bit unnerving for a junior from Inglewood-Maylands. “If the ball’s on the ground, give it a kick. If it’s got ears on it, kick it twice as hard.”Among his side’s best in the 1958 grand final win over East Fremantle, Byrne was also part of another premiership success the following season against Subiaco. “I think I had two soccers against Laurie Kettlewell, a tough man to get over.”The 59 grand final turned out to be Bevan Byrne’s  virtual swansong.Missing most of the 1960 season with shoulder and hand injuries, he made only a couple of appearances a year later before suffering a compound fracture and dislocation of the elbow. After fifty appearances in the blue and black Byrne retired from league football. Midway through the 1962 season he joined Sunday League club Inglewood, and underlined the tragic waste of his talent by winning the club’s fairest and best award despite playing in just twelve games.   Appointed captain coach of Wyalkatchem in 1963, Bevan took the club into the final four before graduating as an accountant and taking up employment in Melbourne. He later joined the Commonwealth Public Service in Canberra, and after a nine year absence returned to Western Australia with the Commonwealth Department of Aboriginal Affairs, the responsibilities of which took him to the far North West. “They were the best years of my life,” he said. “I traded my suits for shorts and spent many rewarding years working closely with aboriginal communities.” Byrne coached junior football in the bush, and later helped out at St Pats in Geraldton.It’s the Canning River that greets Bevan and Jill Byrne these mornings, and the walk around the river near Salter Point with their beloved dog “Bella” is most enjoyable. He also likes a swing of the clubs at Melville Glades, and is a Fremantle supporter. Claremont rover Les Mumme was Bevan’s nomination as hardest opponent. “Les was built like a gorilla, you couldn’t get around him,” he laughed. Another tough customer was East Fremantle defender Norm Rogers. “I was playing on Norm one day when he did something untoward to me, which made me mad. I was so incensed that I whacked the bugger on the side of his head.”“Rogers just gave me a glance and said: “Come near me again, I’ll kill you.”“I believed him.”Byrne could well have named the bulk of East Perth’s playing list when asked for best teammate, they had so many great players, but he recognised the class of Graham Farmer and the talent of Don Langdon.  Bevan Byrne’s two full  seasons of league football as part of one of the finest football teams seen in Western Australia encompassed two premierships. One of the prime movers in the first one, he was a valued member of both, and can be proud of his achievements.