Subiaco and Eagles Premiership star enters WA Hall of Fame
Written by Simonette Cox
Only 11 West Australians in history have played more senior football than Dwayne Lamb but no one exhibited more courage or played at a more consistent level from the start of his career to the end. As a ruck rover with a precise left foot kick and a shuffling running style that belied deceptive pace, Lamb’s durability and consistency enabled him to reach the 50, 100 and 150 game milestones ahead of any other West Coast Eagle from the clubs inception in 1987.
Commencing his football journey at North Innaloo as an 11 year old, Dwayne Lamb moved to Subiaco at 18 and made his senior debut as a back pocket player in week 2 of the 1980 season. This game immediately followed the mid week sacking of coach Peter Burton and the Lions, under stand-in coach Peter Metropolis, copped a caning from Perth. Media reports had Lamb among the better players but Subiaco officials saw it differently and he spent the rest of the season in the seconds. From the commencement of 1981 however he was a fixture in the Lions improving line up, winning fairest and best awards in 1982 (as a back pocket specialist), 1984 and 1985, when they fell just short of the Sharks in the Grand Final. In 1984, new coach Haydn Bunton converted Lamb into a defensive midfielder charged with cutting off opposition ”seagulls” hovering forward of the play. Excelling in this role but still occasionally posted in defence, Lamb enjoyed premiership success with the Lions in 1986, the last WAFL season uncompromised by VFL expansion.
His concentration, stamina and ability to attract the football ensured Dwayne Lamb was an automatic selection in the inaugural West Coast Eagles squad in 1987. At the Eagles “Fatty” Lamb was a midfielder of extraordinary consistency with season disposal averages of 19.9, 19.6, 19.4, 20.8, 18.5 and 19.3 per game in the 6 seasons from 1987 to 1992. In his 151 AFL games he averaged 19.1 disposals per game which compares favourably with the top midfielders (eg Chris Judd 22.1 in 178 games). Lamb was a vital component of the historic first premiership side in 1992 and his toughness and durability were the stuff of legend. A dislocated shoulder did not keep him out of the clubs first final against Melbourne in 1988 and a broken wrist in the 1989 pre-season competition kept him out of only 2 games.
After becoming the first Eagle to 150 games in 1994, Dwayne Lamb returned to Subiaco for two final seasons before calling it a day, 3 months short of his 35th birthday. In 1996 Lamb was named in the Eagle's official 'Team of the Decade' and in 2006 he was named in the Eagle's Official Team 20.
WA Football Hall of Fame induction is just reward for a long and rich football career featuring premierships and life membership at 2 clubs, multiple fairest and best awards at Subiaco and multiple state representation.
Dwayne Lamb
Player 1980-1996
Games 349 (Subiaco 190, West Coast 151 WA 8) Goals 113 (Subiaco 67, West Coast 44 WA 2)
Honours: Subiaco Fairest and Best 1982, 1984 and 1985
Subiaco premiership 1986 West Coast Eagles premiership 1992
Simpson Medal 1988 v Victoria in Bicentennial Carnival
Subiaco Team of the Century 2008
