ONE of West Perth Football Club's favourite sons was laid to rest last week at the age of 97.Jack ‘Spike’ Pola was honoured as a Cardies great last Monday, his coffin draped in two of his old playing jumpers, with the club song sounding as he was farewelled at Karrakatta Cemetery.
The mood was light as guests heard how his birth name – Giovanni Stefano – was changed by Deed Poll to Jack after his mum became concerned he may be ridiculed at a state schoolboys football carnival in 1928.
But West Perth’s oldest life member only ever answered to Spike, which came about through a mate called Ike.
“Someone saw them walking together one day and said ‘hey look it’s Spike and Ike’,” Son-in-law David Pearce said.
Pola was the captain and last surviving player of the Falcons’ 1941 premiership winning team that beat arch-rival East Perth.
Also West Perth’s fairest and best that year, he was known for his unwavering commitment to the club and was still spotted in the stands during the 2011 season.
West Perth president Brett Raponi said Pola was a gentleman who played the game hard.
“Although I didn’t see Spike play football, his friends tell me that he was a determined and fearless rover,” he said.
“Spike was a life member and one of only 11 premiership captains at the oldest and one of the most successful clubs in the WAFL.
“This in itself says enough about his standing within the history of West Perth.”
Rising through the ranks of Mt Hawthorn Metropolitan Juniors, Pola made his league debut in 1935 and went on to play 152 games before retiring in 1947.
He missed three years while fighting for Australia in World War II between 1942 and 1944 but returned to captain the side in 1945.
