Fred Castledine
Encyclopedia
Fred Castledine is a former Australian rules football
player who played for the Swan Districts Football Club
in the WAFL
throughout the late 1950s and 1960s. His career with Swan Districts commenced in 1958 when the Swans were languishing at the bottom of the league ladder. He is described as a strong and versatile player with good skills and endurance. The club's fortunes rapidly improved with the appointment of Haydn Bunton, Jr.
as senior coach at the end of the 1960 season, after Swan Districts had finished at the bottom of the ladder. Castletine was a member of perhaps the greatest team that has played for the club and who won the WAFL premiership flag in 1961, 1962 and 1963. In the 1961 Grand Final
against East Perth
, Castledine played and interesting but important role as a ruck rover. Castledine effectively negated the performance of champion ruckman
Graham "Polly" Farmer
by engaging in a series of physical engagements that left Keith Slater
free to dominate in the ruck contests.
In the 1962 Grand Final Castledine also played on the ball as a ruck rover in the victory against East Fremantle
.
Castledine was moved to the centre half back position for the 1963 Grand Final and played an outstanding game once again so that the Swans were victorious.
An important player throughout 1964 Castledine won the Swan Medal for that year. By 1965 Castledine had become the captain
/coach
of Swan Districts and remained in that position for the 1966 and 1967 seasons. Swan Districts finished as minor premiers by being at the top of the ladder at the end the 1965 season made it as far as the Grand Final in 1965 but lost the game in a third quarter fade out to East Fremantle. A valuable contributor to the team and a great clubman, Fred Castledine played 163 games for Swan Districts from 1958-1969. He also represented the WA state team in 1961-1964 and is was selected at centre half back in the Swan Districts team of the century.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
player who played for the Swan Districts Football Club
Swan Districts Football Club
The Swan Districts Football Club, nicknamed the Swans, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The club is based at Bassendean Oval, in Bassendean, an eastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia...
in the WAFL
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
throughout the late 1950s and 1960s. His career with Swan Districts commenced in 1958 when the Swans were languishing at the bottom of the league ladder. He is described as a strong and versatile player with good skills and endurance. The club's fortunes rapidly improved with the appointment of Haydn Bunton, Jr.
Haydn Bunton, Jr.
Haydn Austin Bunton was a player and coach of Australian rules football. He became the youngest ever coach in a major league of Australian rules, when he was appointed coach of Norwood Football Club in 1957....
as senior coach at the end of the 1960 season, after Swan Districts had finished at the bottom of the ladder. Castletine was a member of perhaps the greatest team that has played for the club and who won the WAFL premiership flag in 1961, 1962 and 1963. In the 1961 Grand Final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
against East Perth
East Perth Football Club
The East Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Royals, is an Australian rules football club that is a member of the West Australian Football League...
, Castledine played and interesting but important role as a ruck rover. Castledine effectively negated the performance of champion ruckman
Ruckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
Graham "Polly" Farmer
Graham Farmer
Graham Vivian "Polly" Farmer, MBE is a retired Australian rules football player and coach. Born in Western Australia, he joined the East Perth Football Club as a ruckman in 1953, where he won several awards and contributed to the team winning three premierships...
by engaging in a series of physical engagements that left Keith Slater
Keith Slater
Keith Nichol Slater is a former Western Australian and Australian cricketer and WAFL player....
free to dominate in the ruck contests.
In the 1962 Grand Final Castledine also played on the ball as a ruck rover in the victory against East Fremantle
East Fremantle Football Club
The East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team's home ground is East Fremantle Oval...
.
Castledine was moved to the centre half back position for the 1963 Grand Final and played an outstanding game once again so that the Swans were victorious.
An important player throughout 1964 Castledine won the Swan Medal for that year. By 1965 Castledine had become the captain
Captain (Australian rules football)
A captain of an Australian rules football team, sometimes known as a skipper is a player who, during the course of a match and off the field, has several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of a regular player....
/coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
of Swan Districts and remained in that position for the 1966 and 1967 seasons. Swan Districts finished as minor premiers by being at the top of the ladder at the end the 1965 season made it as far as the Grand Final in 1965 but lost the game in a third quarter fade out to East Fremantle. A valuable contributor to the team and a great clubman, Fred Castledine played 163 games for Swan Districts from 1958-1969. He also represented the WA state team in 1961-1964 and is was selected at centre half back in the Swan Districts team of the century.