Vale Ted Kilmurray

The East Perth Football Club are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of champion Royal and Life Member Ted ‘Square’ Kilmurray. 

Ted was born in Wiluna in 1934 and spent his youth with Graham Farmer at several orphanages under the administration of Anglican nun Sister Kate. He and Farmer impressed at country football level, and soon they would both join East Perth. 

Ted played 257 games in the black and blue, the third most in Royals history, and his eye-catching marking skills and ball-snatching ability were a trademark of his gameplay. He mastered the art of the ‘flick’ pass, to such a degree that the rules of the game were altered to specify the clenched-fist flat-palm handballing action we see today.  

Ted adopted several positions, equally at home in the forward line or ruck roving. He earned the moniker ‘Square’ due to his remarkable ability to drop unnoticed into the goal square. He would kick 431 goals for the Royals, the third most in our history. One of Ted’s most memorable majors would come in 1956, where he kicked the winning goal against South Fremantle on the day the new Perth Grandstand was unveiled.

 A snippet from the club's first known history book, recounting Kilmurray's heroics.

Ted took part in six grand finals, successful in 1956, 1958, and 1959. He was the EPFC Leading Goalkicker in 1954, 1955, 1956, and 1964, and was also the East Perth Fairest and Best in 1958, breaking good friend Graham Farmer’s successive run of four F&Bs. This same year he would take home the Sandover Medal. Knee injuries would force his hand in 1966 as he retired a true East Perth legend. 

It wasn’t just at club level he impressed. A four-time WA state representative, Ted was acknowledged by the wider West Australian football industry. He was inducted into the WA Football Hall of Fame, as well as the EPFC Team of the Century, in 2006 and had made the AFL’s Indigenous Team of the Century the year prior.  

Our Loyal Royals are aware of Ted’s contribution to the club and many hold fond memories of watching him snap the ball over his shoulder for a goal or grab a mark out of the pack. Ted was a Life member of the East Perth Football Club and held strong ties to the community. We are deeply saddened at his passing and extend on our sincerest condolences to his family and loved ones on behalf of the entire Royals Community. 

 Ted Kilmurray

Thank you to our historian Peter Carter for his assistance in compiling this information. 
Should you wish to take a trip down memory lane, here are some great resources that can tell you a bit more about Ted Kilmurray’s life and playing career: 
OzFooty
Australian Football
WA Football Hall of Fame
Ted 'Square' Kilmurray: A WA great entwined with Polly Farmer