{xtypo_dropcap}{/xtypo_dropcap}Mel Whinnen and Bill Dempsey are names synonymous with each other as well as the West Perth Football Club. Their careers travelled identical paths, amassing a staggering 714 games between them.

 They were recipients of Simpson Medals in Grand Finals, Dempsey in the memorable 1969 victory over East Perth, where he teamed up with Polly Farmer to form a dream ruck combination,  and Whinnen in the demolition of South Fremantle in 1975.  Each of them played the same number of State games: 14.

 Both joined the club in 1960, Dempsey retiring in 1975 and Whinnen hanging up the boots in 1977.

They played in three Premiership sides together: 1969-71-75, while Whinnen was also a member of the 1960 flag winning combination.  Both are among a select group of WAFL footballers to receive an MBE for services to the game.

If opposing sides breathed a sigh of relief when Don Marinko called it quits they wouldn’t have credited that another centreman just as good or better  would emerge for the Cardinals.  Whinnen was an immaculate, professional operator, fast, well balanced, and highly skilled.  Supporters of West Perth and rival clubs remember him most for the scrupulously fair manner he played the game, whose immense value to his club was reflected with an impressive nine fairest and best awards. It could be said that he cost his good friend Dempsey a few of them, although Bill managed to wear the medal in 1966.

While Whinnen was recruited from North Perth, Dempsey made the long trek from Darwin to play with West Perth.  Early in his career, he was a year by year  proposition, returning home after each season and having to be enticed back the following year. 

Like Whinnen, he played the game hard and fair. At 6 foot 2(188cm)he wasn’t overly tall for a ruckman even in those days but it was his strength that enabled him to outplay opposing ruckmen. When resting in a back pocket his marking ability came to the fore and he was almost impassable in defence.Also like Whinnen, his consistency was a feature of his game.

Whinnen played 371 games for West Perth and Dempsey chalked up 343.

No club has had more loyal servants than Mel Whinnen and Bill Dempsey.