The Western Australian Hall of Champions is saddened by the passing of lacrosse legend and member Brian Griffin who passed away Wednesday, June 17, 2020, aged 79.
Brian was inducted into the WA Hall of Champions in 1986, among the second group to be inducted. Over 30 years of Brian gave distinguished service to the sport of lacrosse at state, national and international level as a player, before serving with distinction as a coach and administrator at both state and national level.
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 just 16 when he made his A-grade debut for Nedlands-Subiaco in 1957, the youngest player to compete in a senior club team. A year later, he played for the WA Under-21 side and was the leading goal scorer, the start of a 22-year reign at the top of the local scoring list.
His first senior level appearance for WA came in 1959. He represented Victoria during an employment transfer to Melbourne and on his return to WA in 1963, he re-joined State ranks and became captain-coach of Nedlands-Subiaco, leading them to the first A-grade Premiership.
Internally 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, where he was voted most valuable player.
In 1982 he was recalled to the WA team for the National Championships and, at the age of 41, was again selected in the Australian team, and was 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.
Brian is survived by daughter Nadine, son Scot and five grandchildren.
WA Hall of Champions Chairman David Hatt AM said, “Acknowledged world wide as a player of the highest quality at state, national and international level Brian Griffin was a very early inductee to the Hall in 1986.
“Brian was a loyal supporter of the WA Hall of Champions, where he and teammate Jeff Kennedy reflected nothing but credit on the sport of lacrosse. We will formally recognise Brian at our annual induction function in November.”
