Former West Perth Captain Les Fong Honors Premiership Captain Bill Dempsey
Former West Perth captain Les Fong has paid heartfelt tribute to his mentor and humble premiership captain Bill Dempsey, following the football legend's passing at age 83. Dempsey, a triple premiership player with West Perth and member of both the Australian Football Hall of Fame and Indigenous Team of the Century, died on Sunday, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in Australian football.
A Lifelong Friendship and Mentorship
Fong first met Dempsey as an eight-year-old when his father, a truck driver for Berry Joinery, introduced him to the then-clerk at Berry Hardware in Scarborough Beach Road. "I was eight years of age when I first met Bill," Fong recalled. "Dad was a West Perth person as I was even at that age. He introduced me to Bill, and that was my first time to be impressed with this big, tall guy." Eight years later, their connection deepened when Fong joined Dempsey in the league team at West Perth's former home ground, Leederville Oval.
Fong admits he probably idolized the Northern Territory recruit, who had also won three premierships with the Darwin Football Club. More importantly, Dempsey became Fong's mentor, entrusting him and his then-girlfriend Shelley to babysit his son Joshua when Fong was too young to attend functions with alcohol. "And that's when Bill and I became even closer because he'd come home from a function and we would sit up for a number of hours and talk about life," Fong said.
Precious Memories and Football Glory
Those late-night conversations covered everything from their upbringings to life advice, with Dempsey's Indigenous background and Fong's Asian heritage creating a unique bond. "We'd talk about life itself, what to try and do in life, and always to try and do it at your best," Fong remembered. "And he'd always leave a couple of beers in the fridge. So even though I was underage, he'd have a beer with me. Those times for me were very precious, very good to have him as one of my main mentors in life."
Fong was fortunate enough to play alongside Dempsey for approximately four seasons, including their triumphant 1975 premiership win over South Fremantle. Dempsey, who played 343 games for West Perth and was named a "legend" in the inaugural induction of the AFL Northern Territory Hall of Fame, possessed exceptional athletic abilities despite not being particularly tall.
Exceptional Talent and Protective Nature
"Bill wasn't that tall, as you know, but he had a really good leap on him," Fong explained. "He knew how to use his body, and he made sure he protected us rovers the way that ruckmen were able to in those days." Fong recalled a specific incident where Dempsey shielded him from North Melbourne's Mick Nolan, declaring "don't you hurt my little guys."
Dempsey's marking ability was phenomenal, with Fong remembering a State game at Subiaco Oval where Dempsey out-marked the much taller Gary Dempsey. The champion ruckman won the Simpson Medal in West Perth's 1969 flag win over East Perth under coach Graham "Polly" Farmer and proudly held the 1975 premiership cup aloft as captain of the red and blue.
Final Visits and Lasting Legacy
Though Dempsey was inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2004, Fong expressed frustration that his friend had not been elevated to "legend" status within that institution. "He's a living legend as far as I'm concerned," Fong stated emphatically.
Fong was thankful to have visited Dempsey several times recently, including a final hospital visit on Friday morning where he recorded a video message from Dempsey for the 1975 premiership squad who were meeting for lunch that day. "Bill was disappointed he couldn't get to the lunch," Fong revealed. The former players filmed their own message for their captain, and Fong was preparing to deliver it along with a bottle of Dempsey's favorite merlot when he received the news of his friend's passing.
A Humble Champion Remembered
Fong will remember Dempsey as an exceptionally humble man. "He was the most gracious, most humble guy going around," he said on Sunday. "Bill never talked about himself, never sang praises on himself. He was just a genuinely really nice guy who, at the end of the day, loved his merlot with ice."
Fong hopes to honor his mentor's memory in a particularly meaningful way. "So I'm hoping I'm allowed at his funeral to place the bottle of red - that I was to deliver him today - on his coffin, so he can take it with him." As fellow 1975 premiership player Ronnie Wilson observed, "we're all in the last quarter," a sentiment underscored by recent losses including Shane Sheridan, John Vukman, Dennis Cometti, and now Bill Dempsey.
The 1975 premiership team continues to gather annually, recognizing that their numbers will diminish but committed to maintaining their bonds. Dempsey's premiership games total for West Perth remains second only to teammate Mel Whinnen's WAFL games record of 367 matches, cementing his place as one of West Perth's greatest champions and a beloved mentor to generations of footballers.
