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The Curley name is held in high esteem at the West Perth Football Club. Yet if it hadn’t been for the enthusiasm  of the original player of that name to wear the cardinal colours , the family association  with the club may not have been. Peter Curley was first invited to West Perth in 1966, but National Service was to put paid to any thoughts of Leederville Oval he may have entertained.  After two years away he returned to play for Mt Hawthorn Amateurs, and decided to try out with West Perth the following year, but his highly anticipated  first game of that season was on the bench for the reserves. It did dampen a young aspiring league footballer’s ambitions somewhat, but , in his own words, “ I reckoned I’d hang in there.” Curley soon started to show West Perth what he was capable of.  He kicked the season  off in blistering form, his first seven games gathering him enough votes to be runner up at season’s end for the reserves fairest and best.  Although as a centreman he was up against the champ Mel Whinnen for a spot in the league side, he was capable of playing elsewhere.  All he needed was a break. The  “break” came.  And it wasn’t a good one for West Perth. Star player Peter Panegyres broke his arm a third of the way through the 1970 season.   Curley had received recognition by being chosen as a reserve two weeks before, and was the natural replacement. Lining up on a half forward flank, he kicked five goals five behinds against Subiaco on debut, and went on to win the club’s best first year player award. In 1971, Peter Curley was part of the West Perth premiership flag .  Playing mainly off a half forward flank, his combination and understanding with Whinnen was a feature of West Perth’s forward line, and he enjoyed the role. In 1973, Curley left the Cardinals to captain coach his old Amateur side, Mt Hawthorn.  After thirty seven games with West Perth, it was a debatable decision, as he looked set for a long league career. In those days there wasn’t the money in the game that there is now, except for the Cables, Farmers, and Walkers, so it wasn’t an uncommon move for a league player to take on a paid coaching career in a lesser competition. Peter showed his ability hadn’t waned in the new venture by being part of that year’s State Amateur side, which included a young Gerard  Neesham.   He moved to Narrogin as playing coach in 1974, followed by five years as assistant playing coach with Wanneroo, under former West Perth player Bob Howat.  Curley was awarded the H.E .Graham Medal as best on ground in Wanneroo’s 1975 premiership, one of two flags he was part of at Wanneroo.   He followed the lure of the North after that, and spent  a season at Port Hedland Rovers the following year.  After his retirement he coached juniors at Karratha and later on with Warwick, in West Perth’s zone.Peter Curley was an elusive player, a good ballgetter, and extremely adept at reading the play. His disposal was a feature, he was dangerous around the goals, and he seemed to grow a leg in the wet.   A South Fremantle supporter as a boy, his idols were the same as most boys of the red and white persuasion..Toddy and Gero..but he rates Farmer, Stephen Smeath, and Mel Whinnen the best he played with.   As for opponents, East Fremantle’s Freddy Lewis, and East Perth’s Ken Mc Aullay and Don Rintoul were hardest to beat. Along with the 1971 premiership, Peter Curley regards the careers of his two sons as highlights of his football life. “Adam played 163 games for West Perth, while Todd represented West Perth 148 times, as well as 118 in the AFL, with Western Bulldogs and Collingwood,” said Peter.  Peter  is still a follower of football and West Perth and often watches them. A painter and decorator by trade, he ended his career as a teacher at TAFE. These days he is one of the many ex league footballers trying to conquer the course at the West Australian Golf Club, and enjoys spending time with wife Glenys either at home or on the road caravanning. West Perth Football Club and it’s supporters are thankful that Peter Curley “hung in there” in 1969. The dividends were worth it.   

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