The round thirteen clash in 1961 between Perth and South Fremantle at Lathlain Park would prove a significant one. Perth were floundering with three wins, while South had won only one more. Neither could afford a loss. At the end of the day it was the Bulldogs who prevailed by twelve points in a bruising encounter, but it was an incident in the final quarter that dominated the Saturday night news bulletins.Perth full back Brian Conduit, who had dominated in defence against State full forward John Gerovich, was knocked out, and Gerovich, frustrated by the tactics of his opponent, was on report. It was big news, because the State side was due to fly to Brisbane for the Australian Carnival during the following week, and Gerovich was one of the stars of the side.It was widely expected to be a guilty verdict, and ironically it was Perth goal sneak Bob Coleman who was put on standby as a replacement. Gerovich was found not guilty on a technicality, and celebrated  with five goals against Tasmania the following Sunday in a one hundred and eleven point win by Western Australia, on the way to an historic carnival win. “I had no desire to see the bloke put out of the carnival,” Conduit said. “In the end there was a dispute about where I was hit, and Gero’s people used it to clear him.”As a result of that incident Brian was nicknamed “candles” by coach Jack Ensor. “One blow and you’re out.” Brian Conduit played all of his career in defence, but his uncle Jack Coulthard was a star at the opposite end in another code.Born in England, Coulthard arrived in WA following World War One, and became a star in local soccer, playing eighty games with Perth City and 262 for Victoria Park. At Victoria Park he scored 421 goals, and was regarded as the most dangerous and brilliant of strikers in the post World War Two period, representing Western Australia ten times.  He played with Blackpool in England between 1930 and 32.  Brian Conduit played his junior football with East Victoria Park before moving to the WACA to join the Perth thirds, coached by Jack Ensor, in 1958. The following season, playing at newly developed Lathlain Park, he was part of the club’s first ever flag at it’s new home. Making his league debut in 1961, he proved to be a flexible defender who had the ability to hold down a key position, the pace to play on a flank, and the depth in his kicking(with both feet)to move the ball quickly into attack. Conduit captained the 1963 Perth reserves premiership side that beat Swan Districts by four points in the grand final, and was in and out of the league side over the following two years. 1964 was a good year for Brian, becoming a permanent member of the side. The arrival of Malcolm Atwell saw him included in the league squad for the 1966 season, and at the age of twenty six he appeared to be part of what would be a premiership season at Perth. But it was a cruel twist of fate that denied him the opportunity.As a bank employee, he was obligated to spend time at country branches, and his employer chose that year to send him to Southern Cross. “I wonder what may have been, but certainly don’t regret the posting,” he said. “I met some wonderful people at Southern Cross, including my wife Helen, and enjoyed the three football seasons tremendously.”Snapped up by the local side as captain coach, Conduit won a fairest and best and guided the club into finals football. “It was a strong competition, with many ex league players, as well as country blokes returning home from league clubs.”   Brian was selected in Eastern Districts Carnival sides, including the combination that won two Country Championships out of three in 1966,67, and 68 before returning to the city and joining Sunday League club Metropolitans.“Footy was a big part of our lives,” Brian said. “I consider myself lucky to have played with Perth and am proud to have been there with three Sandover Medalists. Playing football helped me a lot in my life, it opened doors, and gave me many great friendships, with both team mates and opposition.”Retired these days, Brian Conduit relaxes on the tennis court at Alexander Park, where he has enjoyed the company over the last few years of a few other ex players, including Peter Tolcon, Russell Aitken, Archie Duda, Peter Steward, Bill Valli, and Peter Quinn. He and Helen have two girls and a boy, Brett, who played colts at Subiaco and amateurs with Hamersley-Carine before suffering a knee injury. Claremont’s Wayne Harvey and East Perth full forward Phil Tierney were Brian’s toughest opponents, while Pat Dalton, Neville Beard, “Dickie” Walker, Frank Pyke, and Paddy Astone were terrific team mates, but number one was Barry Cable. “I was on relief at the bank, and spent time at Narrogin,” he recalled. “Having a game of darts with the locals, I was asked about how the local boy, Barry Cable, was faring in the big smoke. “A bit small, may find it hard,” was my reply. At the time he was playing on a wing, and it was before he became a champion rover. Talk about famous last words!”“Mal Atwell was highly protective of the little master, and was free with the advice to opposition players: “hit Cable, you’re dead!” Anything dished out to Barry was quickly repaid in spades.”Brian is loud in his praise of his coaches. “I owe a lot to Jack Ensor,he and Ern Henfry were very knowledgable men with high mentoring skills, while Malcolm Atwell in a different manner was very effective.”Perth have boasted some fine full backs over the years, and Brian Conduit, while not reaching the heights of some, was a resolute defender who held his own with most of the top forwards that abounded in his era.