1. Bernard George Andrew Naylor was an Australian rules footballer who was one of the most successful full-forwards in the history of the West Australian Football League.
13 Facts About Bernie Naylor
1. 2.
Bernie Naylor began his football career with Fremantle Christian Brothers College Old Boys of the WAAFL in 1940 and made his debut for South Fremantle in 1941.
3.
Bernie Naylor kicked sixty goals in his debut season, including nine in the first semi-final against Claremont, but the Second World War caused the WANFL to revert to an underage competition for three seasons.
4.
Bernie Naylor naturally became the first choice full-forward for interstate games, but after having injury problems during the 1949 season was surprisingly played as a half-forward flanker for part of the next two seasons.
5.
In 1952 Bernie Naylor asserted himself as one of the greatest goalkickers in the history of Australian Rules with a tally of 147 goals, which beat George Doig's 1937 record of 144.
6.
Against lowly Subiaco Bernie Naylor kicked a total of 48 goals in three games, including a still-standing WANFL record of 23 in their third meeting, plus eighteen in their first despite leg problems.
7.
In 1954, Bernie Naylor was again leading goalkicker with 133, but his work as a property developer meant he intended to retire after the season.
8.
In ten seasons and 194 games with South, Bernie Naylor kicked 1034 goals, as well as another 45 goals in 16 games for Western Australia.
9.
Bernie Naylor was the leading goalkicker for South Fremantle in all ten seasons that he played at the club, kicking over 100 goals on five occasions.
10.
Bernie Naylor was only held goalless in a match on four occasions.
11.
Bernie Naylor relied for his success on long torpedo punts and extremely fast leading to space: unlike his successor John Gerovich he was not a spectacular high mark but had a safe pair of hands and considerable strength from his 86 kilograms frame.
12.
Bernie Naylor was inducted to the Fremantle Football Hall of Legends in 1996 and the West Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
13.
Bernie Naylor was inducted into the WA Hall of Champions in 2005.