East Fremantle’s Michael Regan reckons he missed four years of action, including a twenty one week penalty which finished his career, through suspension.(See Memory Lane)
He would have the distinction of being one of the most-suspended players ever.
Danny Penny was certainly frightening. I remember seeing him pick up a young Peter Sumich before he started playing afl and throwing him like a rag doll about ten metres during a melee. Suma got up and ran off without looking back.
Every wafl club has a player you just know would have made it at afl level but never got the chance. Penny was one of those. For a bloke built like a tank he moved beautifully and was a wonderful kick. Found the footy as well.
he also missed a fair bit of time ending up in Freo Prison.
One of the toughest = Bill Skwirowski
I don’t really believe there are any soft players as it takes courage to go out there
as a east freo junior and supporter all my life Gary Gibellini was the dirtiest ive ver seen i was embarrassed at some of the things i saw him do. off the field you couldnt meet a friendlier bloke
Big difference between being hard and a grub. From Subi, Ali Pickett hands down was the hardest and toughest I’ve seen. He never shirked a contest even though he was the smallest bloke on the park. Michael Symonds was also pretty hard at it along with Ian Dargie.
As for softest, I don’t think you can make it to senior WAFL footy if you’re a bit timid although Alan Daniels did push the boundaries a bit.
Great blast from the past thread.
Remember as a kid when Tommy G ,Georges brother got a broken jaw,mid 70’s.
East Perth had some real enforcers on the field.Ron Webster,Ian McK,Bradley Smith.Irish Hayes use to let a few go behind the play.
Swans,remember bulldog Shine.Baker and the Narkle brothers,Nawotny had amazing courage.Man mountain Ron Boucher.
Jonny Duckworth,David Miers,Benny Vagona,Steven Michael.Peter Wilson had white line fever.Ian Dargie.
Softies Shorty Daniels and Warren Ralph come to mind.
A bit before my time but have seen you tube clips.Mal Atwell was an enforcer.Broke Mark Odogahue collar bone in late 60’s,Ep v P GF.Must of been a hell of a shirt front.Also storys of Mal belting Victorian players in a state games
.It was normally Vics taking out Wa skill players.A football carnival in Queensland in the late 1960’s.In one game Mal belted ,Barassi,Nicholls and Karl Dietrich.Was told that story by an eye witness.
I lived in Dampier in the mid 80s and played for Sharks in the North Pilbara league and an ex-EF bloke called Danny Malone was playing for Karratha Cardinals at the time. He was the biggest grub I ever saw on the same field as me. Took out our coach Peter Lauritsen behind play with a big elbow and knocked him clean out. Lauro came from Souths and was bit of a show pony which Malone took exception to apparently.
Although in saying that, Malone didn’t look sideways at another one of our guys former WP strongman Lindsay McGuiness. The Buffalo was the toughest I played with that’s for sure and glad he was on our side.
If we are talking Tough players as against dirty thugs, then 2 players, very different types spring to mind, Stephen Michael and Bunton jnr were the toughest players I saw play the game, close 3rd would be Ken Hunter. My old man always reckoned Dinny Barron (who I only saw as a kid) was the toughest bloke to ever pull on a set of boots.
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Dale Reeves had iron knuckles , Maurice Rioli had the fastest hands seen in WAFL history ask Gerard Neesham’s face , Peter Worsfold , John Worsfold , Basil Campbell , Wayne Dayman , Phil Clucas (Matthew’s old man) Mal Brown punched hard and just kept hitting you and hitting you
Jack Sheedy was a very hard man for his size
Sorry Southerner, but punching blokes doesn’t make you tough, just dirty. Maybe need a separate topic on favourite Football thugs.
For those who may believe Austin Robertson to have been “soft”, he played his first WAFL game at 18, lined up against Mal Atwell at full back, and Sheedy in the pocket. 
For mine, the hardest I have seen was Dennis “Dinny” Barron.
Every single one of those blokes were seriously tough guys hard as nails steel and teak
No one went for them and just about everyone avoided them
The fisticuffs were a part of the game for decades and we all know that
The real thugs were in Vicco
Being one eyed, Peakie and or Budgie were a tough bulldozers. Dumbest - Reeves for getting the wrong man in the 79 GF. Softest, Souths supporters may be able to help with a name. Was a full forward in the 60/70’s, big man and had a nickname like pussyfoot or something.