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91 games between 1953-60 Anchorman

Smokey did, I can vaguely remember him.
I think he lives just a few doors from the ground.
Smokey can also confirm that.

“Ern Henfry(Perth Coach) would try suspect blokes out with a few sprints after the main training was finished and before team selection was done, he pitted me against a pretty quick player in Bill Curtis. Bill was real impressive and was well in front. Towards the end he realised my situation and eased up for me to catch him.”

“It was an expensive gesture by Bill because it convinced the selectors I was alright and I was picked………….in Bill’s spot.”

The above recollection from Bill Leuzzi was not only a memory from a fine football career but also an indication of the camaraderie that existed in football at the time. The two Bills were friends as well as teammates, and the gesture is still remembered by each after the passing of half a century.

Curtis was indeed a fast man, enjoying success in his youth as a professional runner in the Goldfields. A member of the Mines Rovers combination that dominated the local junior football competition in the late forties, he was signed by Perth on the instigation of his coach at Kalgoorlie, Owen Guyatt, with some persuasion from Demons committeeman Ted Morris, a friend of Bill’s father.

Making the transition to the WACA ground in 1953, he played in several seconds matches before being selected in the league side. “They just knocked yer down,” was Bill’s first impressions of the big time. It was certainly a different ball game for the twenty one year old, and after about half a dozen appearances in the red and black, Morris told him: “Get into ‘em..sort the buggers out.”

An elusive, constructive, and hard working half forward who knew where the goals were, Bill Curtis established himself as a regular in the Perth side, and went on to become a premiership player in 1955, the year in which he also represented Western Australia in a second side clash with Essendon at Subiaco Oval.

“Should have won another one in fifty seven,” lamented Bill, as he recalled the 1957 preliminary final loss to East Fremantle.

Perth were up 16.17 to 9.6 at three quarter time, and the champagne was on the ice.

But it was an amazing turnaround during the last half hour of the game, when East booted ten goals four to the Demons one goal one, that enabled the blue and whites to prevail by four points in a barnstorming finish.

Curtis retired from league football at the end of the 1960 season, after chalking up ninety one games, to join former West Perth star Ray Schofield for a year with Hellenics. “ I reckoned it was tough in the WAFL, but it had nothing on the clashes between the Greeks and Italians in the Sunday League,” he said. He later served for eight years with the Perth past players association.

Spending most of his working life with the State Electricity Commission at the Perth Gasworks, Bill is now enjoying retirement with lovely wife, “the better half,” Carmel, and played bowls at the Carlisle-Lathlain club until it’s closure a couple of years ago.

He regarded East Fremantle toughman Wilson Onions as hardest to beat, with Keith Harper best team mate.

The 1955 premiership was a memorable one for the Perth Football Club in an era of great footballers, and was a fitting tribute to their champion ruckman, Merv McIntosh. A fine half forward, Bill Curtis’s contributions over the season and on grand final day, with the goal he kicked vital in a two point win, were instrumental. A good team man, he was a consistent player over seven seasons.

Demons Forever wrote: Smokey did, I can vaguely remember him.
I think he lives just a few doors from the ground.
Smokey can also confirm that.

Yes DF, Can't be sure but I think that Bill still lives close to the hallowed turf of Lathlain Park.
My best memory of Billy Curtis was as a 10 year old watching Perth down at a flooded WACA ground in the early fifties.
The ground was totally awash, not a square inch not under water and a category 5 hurricane was blowing from the city end.
Billy started a run thru the lines from half back and while still backwards of the centre he let fly with a punt that kept going and going on the wind, landed in the goal square and floated through for a goal.
YES, I did say floated.
Perth were almost unbeatable on a wet day at the WACA in those days.

Bill was a very useful player didn't look that fast but did not lack pace at all and had a bit of grunt. But that run at the WACA that day he had wings.
Wore number 15 from memory.

Very neat duplex about where one has to park.

Demons Forever wrote: Very neat duplex about where one has to park.

That's the one I think.