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After
commencing his League career with Morningside,
for whom he played in the losing grand finals of 1982 and 1983, Rod Willet
was recruited by Subiaco in 1984. His
arrival at the Lions coincided with that of 'the little master', Haydn
Bunton junior, under whose orchestration the club would finally re-emerge
as a force after more than a decade in the doldrums. Rod Willet's
contribution to that resurgence was considerable. Playing initially
on a half back flank, the position he had occupied for much of his two
year period in Queensland football, Willet rapidly developed into a solid
and unflappable defender who refused to be intimidated (see
footnote 1). Willet held down the half back flank position with
considerable aplomb when Subiaco finally returned to the WAFL winners'
rostrum in 1986 with a 69 point grand final thumping of East
Fremantle. Two years later he was at full back, the position he
would go on to make his own for a time, in the Lions' equally emphatic
grand final victory over Claremont.
Like good wine, Rod Willet
seemed to improve with age. As his career developed, he demonstrated
tremendous versatility, being equally at home in a key attacking position
as in the backlines. In 1992 he topped Subiaco's goal kicking list
(with 43 goals), and the following year he was the recipient of the club's
fairest and best award. He had also captained the Lions in 1992.
Rod Willet retired after
the 1994 season with 188 WAFL games to his credit, having also represented
his home state of Queensland at state of origin level, and his adopted
state of Western Australia in inter-league state football. |
