A season ending injury to regular  full back Brian Ashbolt in 1960 saw the Perth Football Club searching desperately for a worthy replacement. It was at a time when most sides had a damaging full forward, with the mercurial John Gerovich(South Fremantle) and East Fremantle’s Len Anderson just two of an imposing list. Half back Brian Knowles was eventually thrust into the hot seat, and performed creditably, his record of goals against being the lowest of any custodian in the league. A booming kick on either foot and a sound reader of the play, Knowles’s efforts were recognized with the Demons “most improved” award on trophy night. Originally from Wembley, Knowles had played his junior football with Wembley Athletic Club in the Metropolitan Juniors competition before moving to Maddington. It was Perth president Pat Rodriguez who asked the Maddington club to forward any outstanding players to the Demons, and the resulting nominee was Brian Knowles, who already had his name on fairest and best awards at both Maddington and the South Suburban League.  The twenty one year old played seven seconds games before debuting against Swan Districts in 1957 on a half back flank. Quickly establishing himself in the league side, Brian’s career then suffered badly from two consecutive setbacks.  A wrenched knee early in the 1958 season was immediately followed by an ankle injury in round three of 1959, in what was the club’s initial home game at Lathlain Park. After that gutwrenching two years, his performances in 1960 were encouraging for the battling Knowles.“I was fired up, and trained my guts out in the summer of sixty one with a regular role in the Perth defence my aim,” he recalled. It was a time of turmoil at the club, however, with several coaches going through the revolving door, and Brian found himself in the seconds side for round one of 1961on the return of Ashbolt. The twenty four year old had filled a tough role well, and, while the return of the regular full back was expected, he was considered hardly done by to be dropped from the league side.   Former West Perth player Mike Whittaker, who was coaching and playing with South Australian club West Whyalla, quickly contacted the defender. The money offer coming hard on the heels of disappointment at Lathlain was tempting, and Brian packed his bags.  In the second of two years at West Whyalla he won the fairest and best, before accepting a playing coach position at West Augusta,  Taking his new club from last to third, a money dispute saw Knowles transfer to Mt Gambier, where he was coach, and once again won a best player award. Knowles returned to Maddington in 1969, and continued with the South Suburban club until he was forty. He coached the colts side for several seasons. Honoured with selection in a South Suburban League combined side that played at Narrogin, Brian and a couple of teammates enjoyed the winning celebrations so much they missed the bus, which resulted in the catching of a train at two am in the morning. A fitter and turner by trade, Brian Knowles played squash until he was seventy, and is now busily engrossed in vintage cars. He regarded Neville Beard as the best player he played with, and as for best opponent: “they were all good.”Brian Knowles was perhaps a victim of a coaching roundabout at Perth. His meritorious season in what was the only full year he had at the club  would suggest that he was capable of carving a niche for himself as a league footballer, but he was lost to the Demons after just forty two games.  Three subsequent fairest and best trophies, albeit in lesser competitions, add weight to that.