VALE CYRIL CASELLAS

Vale Cyril Casellas | By Ken Casellas

Cyril Casellas, a resolute and robust half-back flanker for Claremont in the late 1950s, died on Tuesday morning after a comparatively short illness. He was 87.

He made his league debut as an 18-year-old against East Perth at Perth Oval on July 13, 1957. That was his only senior appearance that year in which he finished third in the club’s fairest-and-best award in the thirds competition before playing another 37 league matches for the Tigers.

His final match was also against East Perth, at Claremont Oval on September 3, 1960.

Casellas played in 14 league matches in 1958 when he finished seventh in the fairest-and-best award. This year was his best, and some of the comments in the Football Budget included:

Round 15: Almost impassable in defence.

Round 17: Dashing game in defence, opposed to Onions and Lawrence whom he outmarkedand outpaced.

Round 18: Purposeful, determined game as a half-back flanker where he rarely failed to come through for a good result in disposing of the ball. He showed sound anticipation and made position well.

Round 19: Consistent Cyril Casellas, who obviously has a liking for the straight ahead play of a defender. He again starred on a half-back flank. He marked with assurance, made position adroitly and disposed of the ball to advantage.