Career
In cricket he only played in only one Test, but 74 first-class cricket matches for Western Australia. He was an all-rounder whose international career was probably shortened by doubts over his bowling action. He was indeed called for throwing while playing against New South Wales in 1964-1965.
He continued to play for Swans for the following two seasons before Subiaco, who had between 1947 and 1956 constantly occupied the bottom two places with Swans and whose president Frank Exell had approached Slater a season before, lured him as their captain-coach after two disappointing seasons.
In Slater’s first season the Maroons made only their fourth open-age finals appearance since 1936, but were unexpectedly defeated by the equally unsuccessful Claremont in a rainy first semi-final. The following two seasons proved very disappointing, with the Maroons winning only eight games in 1965 and six (plus one draw) in 1966, when they lost their last nine matches.
This led to questioning of Slater’s coaching methods, notably his taking the Maroons on a trip to Singapore during the 1964/1965 off-season, and his contract was not renewed for 1967. Slater returned to Swan Districts for 1967 but retired following that season.
