The Swan Districts 1961 side has now become part of football legend, the side that came from last in 1960 to win the club it’s first WANFL premiership, and one that ranks among the best combinations of all time. The stars of that team are household names, many of them recognised  as all time greats of the game.But for half forward Max Ashworth it was not only the zenith of his career but almost the swansong.And it was also touch and go whether he’d be in the 1961 premiership side at all.After a season playing mostly reserves, the twenty one year old Ashworth had finally cemented a spot in the side as a half back flanker when a suspension in the last qualifying round saw him outed for two weeks. “It couldn’t have come at a worse time,” he said. With Swan Districts playing in the second semi final against East Perth, his chances of playing in a grand final rested on the second semi going the Royals way, then a preliminary final win, and with competition for places at Bassendean cut throat, he was no certainty to be selected for the big game in any case.East Perth hammered the black and whites to take the second semi final by forty eight points, but Swans rebounded to account for Subiaco by sixteen the following week.The reliable high marking and toughness of the six foot Ashworth were well regarded by coach Haydn Bunton, and he was selected in the grand final side, his two goals just before half time providing a thirteen point buffer for his side at the long break. Max has vivid memories of the latter of the two. “I  was running goalward on an angle and aimed for the near post. The ball actually slewed into the other upright. I thought, bugger, I’ve missed, but the goal ump waved two flags, much to the ire of the East Perth supporters. The ball had apparently crossed the line then spun back into the post.” Swans went on to upset the highly fancied Royals, with the work of Keith Slater, who eclipsed the champ “Polly” Farmer, aided by some behind the scenes assistance from Fred Castledine, being rewarded with a Simpson Medal. “It was bedlam at Bassendean that night,” Max said. “There were people bringing their own kegs in, and blokes were sozzled from one end of the ground to the other.” But as he joined in the celebrations, Ashworth had no inkling that his league career was almost over.“I began in great form at the start of 1962, playing at full forward, but everything came crashing down in the second game of the season,” he recalled. “I smashed my ankle just on three quarter time, and that was it for that year.” He never really recovered from the setback, and retired from league football at the age of twenty six, having played fifty two games.A younger brother of Vic Ashworth, who made a hundred and thirty six appearances with Swan Districts and six for Western Australia between 1946 and 1954, Max played his junior football at Belmont, and went to Bassendean in 1959, playing the last few games of that season with the thirds, who were beaten in the grand final by Perth. Making his league debut the following season against Claremont at half forward, Ashworth started the premiership 1961 season in less than auspicious fashion. “I had fitness problems, and barely made the seconds side at the start of the year,” he said.  The absence of John Turnbull, Haydn Bunton, Ken Bagley and Slater in the Brisbane Carnival saw him selected in the league side and he did well enough to hold his place on their return. After retiring from league football in 1966, Ashworth joined Colin Maynard at Meckering for two years before being transferred in his employment to Margaret River, where he lined up at centre half back for Augusta-Margaret River. Coaching stints at Tom Price and Fortescue rounded off Max’s football career. A banker, Ashworth is enjoying his retirement, but is plagued by recurring football aches and pains. He rated Slater, Bagley, Turnbull, Castledine and Billy Walker as the best he’d played with. Injury caused Max Ashworth’s football career to falter when he was in his prime, but what can’t be taken away is that premiership medallion in what was one of Western Australia’s most memorable premierships, as well being part of a great football side.