FONG STILL A FALCON FAVOURITE

LAST Friday the West Perth Football Club kicked of its finals campaign with a luncheon at Kailis Bros in Leederville with league coach Bill Monaghan and club champion Les Fong addressing the faithful. 

A full house of Garlic Munchers converged into Leederville to hear great stories from the past from Fong and how coach Monaghan was going to guide the Falcons to the WAFL grand final of 2013.

Les Fong played 284 games (equal third all-time at West Perth), won a flag in 1975, captured two Breckler Medals and has been inducted in the WA Football Hall of Fame. For all his achievements he considers his highest honour being captain of West Perth for a record seven seasons.

Fong spoke about the passion of representing the Falcons over so many seasons and how his passion still burns for his club. Running through his playing days under coaches Jones, Campbell, Cometti and Wynne, it was Percy Johnson that Fong was most fond of.

Fong brought back vivid memories to the packed house of his 250th game against Claremont. A game in which his son Matt ran on the ground with him and the game turning incident that saw George Michalczyk knocked out and the Falcons turn a 41-point deficit in the last quarter, into victory.

There was also the day the champion rover kicked nine goals in John Wynne’s first league game and the record crowd at Leederville oval against East Perth in 1978.

In a thoroughly entertaining 40-minute segment Fong ran through a commentary of debuting, the 1975 premiership, State footy and former great Falcons.

Fong and Peter Menaglio were often targets for opposition hit men. Fong spoke passionately about the support he and Menaglio received from Ben Jaeger and John Duckworth in an era that was very different to the one we have today.

There is no doubting Les Fong still has strong feelings for his club and that is reciprocated by the club.

The Falcons'16s development squad (a precursor to colts) has spurned players of the ilk of Darling, Hill, van Berlo, Black and Nelson, and is named in honour of him. Fong attends the annual jumper presentation and is still a regular at Falcons games.

Kailis Bros has hosted many past champions including Harris, Whinnen, Duckworth and this year number 1 ticket holder, former coach and player Dennis Cometti but there was little doubt that Fong remains a favourite amongst the Falcons.

Falcons President Brett Raponi suggested to Fong that his name was held in such high regard that it is at least the equal of Whinnen and Dempsey in a club that is 129 years old. Ever so humble Fong refused the suggestion and went on to speak about his love for both Whinnen and Dempsey.

Interestingly Whinnen and Dempsey were in attendance as were past greats Darren Harris, Kim Rigoll and Steve Arnott.

If the main course was the interview with Bill Monaghan then the dessert was the football journey of Les Fong.

The club would like to thank Kailis Bros for their on-going support of the Falcons.