Vale Bill Dempsey

[Monocle]

Very sad to read that Bill Dempsey has passed at 83.

West Perth Royalty.

A WAFL Legend, I would imaging that he and Denis Cometti would be have some good chats about all thing "Cardinals".

Was one of my favourite non Claremont plays in the WAFL as I grew up.

Terrific player who could play anywhere down the spine , ruck and ruck rover.

The Big Fella always put in when he played for WA and he was a Big Game Player.

Thanks Bill for such wonderful memories and RIP.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Had the pleasure of meeting him once, randomly at a workplace Christmas lunch. I’ve got no idea why he was there, but I was lucky enough to be sitting across from him and he was an amazing storyteller.

 

[Mulldogg]

Bill was a lovely man. When I was working in Subiaco I’d often see him at Tastings lunch bar on Rokeby Road.

Got talking to him randomly one time because I knew who he was as a West Perth fan even though he played before I was born. I mentioned that my pop held him in high regard as a player. He was very modest but appreciated the acknowledgement.

After that if I saw him in and around Rokeby Road he always said hello.

Vale Bill.

 

[Tugga27]

His book is a belter.

The Boy from Birdum

Bill Dempsey was a humble achiever. He was known primarily as a champion footballer with West Perth and the Darwin Buffaloes. A premiership captain who played over 400 games in 20 seasons in Perth and the Northern Territory, and a member of the AFL’s Indigenous Team of the Century, his record...

www.magabala.com

 

[Tugga27]

Classic.

 

[Knees of Ben Allan]

I have only just heard the news. I caught a couple of minutes of NITV today, where they were playing a documentary on NT footy involving him (from what I could ascertain, specifically the Buffaloes), which weaved through footage of Cyclone Tracee, from what seemed to be a few years back.

So I thought I would see what he has been up to then receive this news.

I used to get the same bus home from the city. He cut a dignified, gentle figure, waiting for the bus on Wellington Street, near the Western Power building. I loved it when people recognised him on the bus, as it clearly didn't happen as often as it once may have.

My late Nan really imparted the significance of gents of this ilk and their time treading the suburban grounds, way before my birth. They are very much the shrinking few, the giants of the WAFL, when it was still the big game in town.

Been a bit of a sad time for the Cardies recently. Sorry for your losses, friends.

And thanks for the book recommendation, Tugga. I’ll aim to get my grubby lil mitts on that.

Much respect and well wishes to the family.