{xtypo_dropcap}G{/xtypo_dropcap}raham “Polly” Farmer has justifiably been lauded for his trailblazing feats as a star Western Australian player making the insular Victorian football public re assess their thoughts on the capabilities of those from the western side of the Nullarbor, as have others who followed him, such as Barry Cable, Dennis Marshall, and Graham Moss.

But largely forgotten these days are the exploits of a star West Aussie who preceded  “Polly” to Victoria by almost two decades, a man who, when recruited to the proud Carlton club was immediately installed as captain, and a man who was made captain of the Victorian State side, an unheard of happening for an “outsider.”

Ern Henfry was a sensational player throughout his on field career, one of the great coaches after his playing days, and later a respected and popular analyst of the game on radio.  A highly skilled centreman, standing just under six foot, and weighing almost thirteen stone, his good pace and evasiveness coupled with rare kicking and disposal abilities made him a general of the midfield from the beginning of his career until the end.

He is revered at Carlton to this day as one of their great captains.

Like many other Perth stars, Henfry began his football career at Victoria Park Metropolitan Juniors. His abilities were such even as a junior that he was quickly signed by Perth, and in the 1937 season, at the age of sixteen years and forty nine days  played his first game of league football. Preferring to stick with Victoria Park, Henfry played just two games with Perth in two years, finally deciding to commit to the Demons in 1939.

Henfry made an immediate impression at League level, gaining State selection mid season while still only seventeen. Lining up on a half forward flank, with the centre position being taken by captain Ross(later Sir Ross) Hutchinson and with Frank “Scranno” Jenkins alongside him at centre half forward, Henfry was named as one of Western  Australia's best players in their twelve point win, and was subsequently chosen in the return match.

In 1941, Ern won the fairest and best at Perth and was runner up to the great Haydn Bunton senior for that year's Sandover Medal. 1941 was also the year he enlisted, as did thousands of other nineteen year olds, in the Australian Armed Forces. Football was off the radar for several years, but while on  leave in Melbourne in 1944, he was snapped up by Carlton, and, because of the rule which allowed members of Australia's Armed Forces to play anywhere without needing a clearance, he took the field for the Blues,and once again left a huge impression on all who saw him play.

Such an impression did the West Australian leave on the Carlton Football Club, moves were made behind the scenes by those with connections at Carlton, with the result being a sudden transfer to Melbourne in Henfry's  bank employment. The unimpressed Perth Football Club were understandably upset, and flatly refused to clear their star, a stance backed by the WANFL Clearance Board. Henfry stood his ground, and he didn't play anywhere during  the 1946 season.

Instead of sitting back and biding his time, the football student Henfry used his time on the sidelines furthering his knowledge of  tactics and delving in the coaching and motivational aspects of the game. It may indeed have tapped him into a new dimension, and his new club were obviously impressed, controversially naming the twenty five year old Western Australian recruit as captain early in 1947.

When finally the Carlton appeal to the Australian National Football Council was upheld, Ern Henfry's displays on the field had the Carlton heirachy in immediate raptures.  With coach Percy Bentley and Henfry forming an inspirational leadership team, the Blues took all before them, and, with Henfry and the immortal Dick Reynolds of Essendon facing off in the centre in an absorbing grand final contest, the Dons wilted at the final hurdle, giving Henfry a dream result in his debut season as skipper, with his side one point victors. Henfry was later to tie for Carlton fairest and best with 1947 Brownlow Medallist Bert Deacon.

Essendon had their revenge two years later,  but Henfry enjoyed another stellar season,  taking out the Blues fairest and best once again. He was not only selected to wear the big V for Victoria, but was made captain of the side, which was another notable achievement for a non Victorian.

Injuries started to dog Henfry over his last two years at Carlton, and he retired from VFL football in 1952, while still captain.

Returning to Perth in 1953, Henfry was immediately installed as captain coach of Perth Football Club, thus beginning a phase of his life that was to further display and utilise the leadership qualities that had been evident to those at Carlton. His shrewdness, assurance, tactical nouse, and ability  to impart a message to his players quietly and clearly soon had a positive effect on a club that hadn't known premiership success for forty eight years, and Ern Henfry's coaching career kicked off as his playing career had. After becoming a full time non playing coach in 1955, he guided his charges to a long awaited flag. It was just a matter of time before he was co-opted into the coaching role with the Western Australian team, in 1956.

Retiring from the coaching role in 1959, Henfry transferred his vast knowledge to a radio audience, and he achieved prominence in another aspect of the game. Coaxed back for another coaching term between 1962 and 65, he was later credited with  the ground work that laid the foundations for even greater success for Perth, who went on to better things under Mal Atwell. 

Ern Henfry was inducted into the Carlton Hall of Fame in 1992, a creditable distinction, considering he played just eighty four games with the Blues, but it certainly underlined the respect in which he is held at that club. He is also a member of the Western Australian Football Hall of Fame. In 1999, he was named as centreman for the official Perth Team of the Century.

“Ern Henfry was a wonderful man, one of the finest I ever met,” were the words of Perth Sandover Medallist, Neville Beard, who played under Henfry. “He had a headful of football knowledge, and was able to get his message across to his players in a quiet manner, never needing to raise his voice. Ern made everyone play for him, he was that sort of coach. Ern Henfry was a gentleman.” 

Ern Henfry played eighty five games with Perth to add to his eighty four at Carlton, with the two years he initially missed at Perth, four years of service with the Armed Forces, plus a year out of the game due to a clearance dispute tragically cutting short a fine career. 

He was indeed one of the great players of Western Australian football, and one of it's most astute coaches, with a knowledge of the game unsurpassed by anyone.