Brian Faehse

Brian Keith Faehse (born 8 October 1924) is a retired Australian rules football player who played his league career with West Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) between 1944 and 1956. He was born in Cummins, South Australia. Fos Williams, who played alongside Faehse at West Adelaide, and against him with Port Adelaide, paid him the ultimate compliment when he said "I've never met a better team mate or a more ferocious and determined opponent".

Faehse made his league debut with the wartime West Adelaide-Glenelg combination on 27 May 1944, initially in the Ruck. A last minute inclusion in the side, Faehse kicked four goals in his first game. He would go on to play seven more games before a broken ankle put him out for the season, the longest layoff throughout his football career.

After attending Prince Alfred College and with World War II coming to an end in 1945 West Adelaide and Glenelg both resumed as separate clubs, with Faehse remaining with The Bloods being a member of Wests Colts in 1943 and beginning an apprenticeship as an electrical engineer. He continually played in the ruck despite being just over six feet tall and weighing 12½ stone. After being overheard by coach Harry Lee complaining about playing in the ruck he was moved to Centre half-back, becoming the best player of the position in South Australia which saw him represent South Australia on 19 occasions between 1948 and 1956.

Faehse was a member of West Adelaide's 1947 premiership side which defeated Norwood 10.15 (75) to 5.15 (45) in front of just over 32,000 fans. It would be the only time in three Grand Final appearances that he would come away with the SANFL premiership. He was appointed as West Adelaide Captain-Coach in 1950 by the club committee, but that committee was ousted and the new leaders installed into the position instead, with the club paying Faehse the sum of A£60 for his trouble. At this time he considered asking the club for a clearance to play for neighboring West Torrens but decided to stay with West. Despite the off field dramas, Faehse had a supreme year in 1950 winning the first of two Best & Fairest awards with the club (the award, currently known as the "Steve Hamra Medal", was known at the time as the "Trabilsie Medal").