Part of his match preparation was to drink six beers every Saturday morning before a game, followed by another at half-time, a habit he had been following since he was sixteen and as it had served him well thus far, Whitfield was in no mood to change it.

[5] Never one to shy away from a fight, Whitfield was reported a number of times throughout his career, including in three separate matches in 1945.

[6] When the umpire attempted to report Whitfield, he pulled his jumper over his head and ran down the other end of the field to stop the umpire taking his number, later claiming he thought he had heard the final siren and was running off to swap guernseys with his opponent.

[7] Whitfield, who declined to attend the tribunal hearing because he had already bought a ticket to a Cabaret Ball held the same night, was suspended for twelve months plus two games and then informed by South Melbourne that not only was he no longer required as a player, but he was barred from the Lake Oval as a spectator; Whitfield was eventually welcomed back to South Melbourne, becoming a member of the Past Players' Association in the 1960s.

[6] With his VFL career finished after 54 games and 11 goals,[5] Whitfield played and coached in country Victoria, including a stint with Wimmera Football League club Ararat from 1949 to 1951, playing 54 games, winning the club Best and Fairest in 1949 and being the competition Leading Goalkicker in 1951.