Born Perth, W.A.
16 April, 1941
In 30 years of senior lacrosse, Brian Griffin gave long and distinguished service to the sport at State, national and international level.
As an attacker of the highest quality, he first represented Australia in 1962 and subsequently played in two World Series. He represented Western Australia and Australia more times than any other player, appearing in more than 500 matches and scoring more than 3000 goals.
Griffin was 16 when he made his A-grade debut for Nedlands-Subiaco in 1957, the youngest player to compete in a senior club team. In 1958, aged 17, he played for the W.A. under-21 side and was the leading goalscorer, the start of a 22-year reign at the top of the local scoring list.
His first appearance at senior level for W.A. was in 1959. He represented Victoria during an employment transfer to Melbourne and on his return to W.A. in 1963, he re-joined State ranks and became captain-coach of Nedlands-Subiaco, leading them to the first A-grade Premiership.
Griffin was Australia’s leading goal-thrower on a tour of the United States and England in 1962 and was captain for the inaugural World Series in Toronto in 1967 when he was voted most valuable player.
Major awards he won include the W.A. Sports Federation Sportsman of the year in 1967 and the W.A. Lacrosse Association’s fairest and best award five times between 1963 and 1968.
In 1982 he was recalled to the W.A. team for the national championships and, at the age of 41, was again selected in the Australian team as well as being voted most valuable player of the series. American experts described Griffin as the best player in the world in 1967. in 1972 he was recognised by the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame in Baltimore.
Griffin also served lacrosse with distinction as a coach at both State and national level and also as an administrator.