1938 WANFL season

Last updated

1938 WAFL season
Teams8
Premiers Claremont
1st premiership
Minor premiers East Fremantle
23rd minor premiership
Sandover Medallist Haydn Bunton, Sr. (Subiaco)
Bernie Naylor Medallist Ted Tyson (West Perth)
Matches played85
←  1937
1939  →

The 1938 WANFL season was the 54th season of the Western Australian National Football League, and saw Claremont, under champion coach Johnny Leonard who had transferred from West Perth, [1] win its first premiership after losing two Grand Finals and drawing the first one this season. The blue and golds were to win the following two premierships before a long period near the foot of the ladder after Claremont Oval was gutted by a fire in 1944.

Contents

1938 also saw triple Brownlow Medallist Haydn Bunton senior, enticed by the offer of employment, move to Subiaco and win the first of three Sandovers in only four seasons in Perth; however his presence overshadowed the rest of the team and the Maroons were to advance only one place compared to 1937, being handicapped by the loss of champion defender Lou Daily to the Goldfields where he led Mines Rovers to several premierships. West Perth, who under Leonard and Jack Cashman had won three premierships earlier in the decade, had a disastrous time and finished the season with twelve consecutive losses despite the brilliant form of goalsneak Ted Tyson, who set numerous records in the final round and finished as leading goalkicker.

Swan Districts, in a last promising season before descending for two decades to the status of perennial easybeats, [2] achieved a notable feat in becoming the first club to hold George Doig and then Ted Tyson goalless during a match.

A number of notable club tours took place during July, with mid-table VFL club St. Kilda touring Albany, Kalgoorlie and Perth, whilst East Fremantle embarked on a lengthy tour of the Eastern States [3] and Perth made a shorter tour of rural Western Australia. Old Easts’ tour saw them lose narrowly to a team from Broken Hill [4] but convincingly defeat a local team from Sydney the following week [5] and a combined St. Kilda/Melbourne team by forty-three points in Victoria on the last Saturday of July. [6]

Home-and-away season

Round 1

Round 1
Saturday, 23 April (2:45 pm) Perth 23.17 (155)def. West Perth 14.12 (96) WACA [7]
Saturday, 23 April (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 17.10 (112)def. South Fremantle 10.5 (65) Fremantle Oval [8]
Saturday, 23 April (2:45 pm) Claremont 16.15 (111)def. Swan Districts 14.11 (95) Claremont Oval [9]
Saturday, 23 April (2:45 pm) East Perth 11.17 (83)def. by Subiaco 14.14 (98) Perth Oval [10]

1937 wooden spooners Subiaco, despite Bunton still not having a clearance, beat perennial finalists East Perth, with Les Hardiman a matchwinner.

Round 2

Round 2
Saturday, 30 April (2:45 pm) Subiaco 13.18 (96)def. West Perth 12.9 (81) Subiaco Oval [11]
Saturday, 30 April (2:45 pm) East Perth 16.20 (116)def. Perth 6.8 (44) Perth Oval [12]
Saturday, 30 April (2:45 pm) Claremont 19.12 (126)def. East Fremantle 13.12 (90) Claremont Oval [13]
Saturday, 30 April (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 13.7 (85)def. by Swan Districts 13.17 (95) Fremantle Oval [14]

Perth lose century goalkicker Gook to a serious wrist injury as East Perth rebound from their Subiaco loss.

Round 3

Round 3
Saturday, 7 May (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 9.8 (62)def. by East Fremantle 10.19 (79) Bassendean Oval [15]
Saturday, 7 May (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 27.19 (181)def. Claremont 15.20 (110) Fremantle Oval [16]
Saturday, 7 May (2:45 pm) West Perth 10.14 (74)def. East Perth 9.15 (69) Leederville Oval [17]
Saturday, 7 May (2:45 pm) Subiaco 18.12 (120)def. Perth 12.20 (92) Subiaco Oval [18]
  • George Doig is goalless for the only time in 202 games for East Fremantle, [19] whilst rival Holdsworth kicks eight of Swans’ nine, yet East Fremantle’s superior on-ball division wins.
  • South Fremantle kick their highest score to that point [20] with Chandler kicking 13.7 (85) against the dual grand finalists. The score remains the highest against an eventual premier club in major Australian Rules leagues.
  • Bunton kicks six in his first appearance for Subiaco, who become the solitary undefeated club after three weeks.

Round 4

Round 4
Saturday, 14 May (2:45 pm) Claremont 15.14 (104)def. Subiaco 12.12 (84) Claremont Oval [21]
Saturday, 14 May (2:45 pm) East Perth 11.12 (78)def. by Swan Districts 13.12 (90) Perth Oval [22]
Saturday, 14 May (2:45 pm) Perth 20.18 (138)def. South Fremantle 16.14 (110) WACA [23]
Saturday, 14 May (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 21.12 (138)def. West Perth 12.8 (80) Fremantle Oval [24]

Claremont end Subiaco’s unbeaten run, whilst Perth, with Grigg taking the place of Gook and kicking eight, bring South Fremantle to earth.

Round 5

Round 5
Saturday, 21 May (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 15.10 (100)def. Perth 11.9 (75) Bassendean Oval [25]
Saturday, 21 May (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 14.15 (99)def. East Perth 13.15 (93) Fremantle Oval [26]
Saturday, 21 May (2:45 pm) Claremont 19.18 (132)def. West Perth 17.10 (112) Claremont Oval [27]
Saturday, 21 May (2:45 pm) Subiaco 11.13 (79)def. by East Fremantle 12.14 (86) Subiaco Oval [28]

East Fremantle hold off Subiaco (without Hardiman) in a brilliant match to move clear at the top of the table.

Round 6

Round 6
Saturday, 28 May (2:45 pm) East Perth 21.17 (143)def. Claremont 20.5 (125) Perth Oval [29]
Saturday, 28 May (2:45 pm) Subiaco 10.15 (75)def. by Swan Districts 13.19 (97) Subiaco Oval [30]
Saturday, 28 May (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 20.25 (145)def. West Perth 13.14 (92) Fremantle Oval [31]
Saturday, 28 May (2:45 pm) Perth 12.17 (89)def. East Fremantle 10.11 (71) WACA [32]

For the first time in WANFL history, both teams score twenty goals in a match, and East Perth’s first quarter of 10.5 (65) is enough to rebound from a poor start to the season. [a]

Round 7

Round 7
Saturday, 4 June (2:45 pm) West Perth 13.10 (88)def. Swan Districts 10.14 (74) Leederville Oval [33]
Saturday, 4 June (2:45 pm) East Perth 9.12 (66)drew with East Fremantle 9.12 (66) Perth Oval [34]
Saturday, 4 June (2:45 pm) Perth 17.9 (111)def. Claremont 13.12 (90) WACA [35]
Saturday, 4 June (2:45 pm) Subiaco 23.15 (153)def. South Fremantle 15.20 (110) Subiaco Oval [36]

Round 8 (Foundation Day)

Round 8
Monday, 6 June (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 13.17 (95)def. Claremont 9.10 (64) Bassendean Oval [37]
Monday, 6 June (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 14.14 (98)def. by East Fremantle 14.15 (99) Fremantle Oval [38]
Monday, 6 June (2:45 pm) Subiaco 8.12 (60)def. by East Perth 16.10 (106) Subiaco Oval [39]
Monday, 6 June (2:45 pm) West Perth 13.9 (87)def. Perth 5.16 (46) Leederville Oval [40]
  • East Fremantle kick one point against three misses from deadly rival South Fremantle in their second consecutive thriller.
  • West Perth win their last match before losing twenty-seven consecutively, the equal longest losing streak in WA(N)FL history and at the time beating Subiaco’s 24 straight losses in 1902 and 1903. [41]

Round 9

Round 9
Saturday, 11 June (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 15.12 (102)def. Claremont 13.16 (94) Fremantle Oval [42]
Saturday, 11 June (2:45 pm) Perth 12.13 (85)def. East Perth 11.15 (81) WACA [43]
Saturday, 11 June (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 25.24 (174)def. South Fremantle 14.18 (102) Bassendean Oval [44]
Saturday, 11 June (2:45 pm) West Perth 20.7 (127)def. by Subiaco 20.14 (134) Leederville Oval [45]
  • Swan Districts kick its highest score until 1961, [46] with Holdsworth kicking eleven goals and Park seven. In the last three quarters Swans kicked 23.22 (160) to 9.12 (66).
  • With the return of Gook, Perth jump East Perth and rebound to challenge for only their third finals berth in eighteen seasons.

Round 10

Round 10
Saturday, 18 June (2:45 pm) East Perth 22.17 (149)def. West Perth 12.7 (79) Perth Oval [47]
Saturday, 18 June (2:45 pm) Claremont 13.18 (96)def. South Fremantle 12.12 (84) Claremont Oval [48]
Saturday, 18 June (2:45 pm) Perth 15.7 (97)def. Subiaco 13.16 (94) WACA [49]
Saturday, 18 June (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 13.11 (89)def. by Swan Districts 14.15 (99) Fremantle Oval [50]
  • A comeback win from Swan Districts effectively places them on top of the table, with Old Easts having played two more matches due to their forthcoming tour interstate.
  • With 8.1 (49) from captain-coach Robertson in a tricky wind, Perth consolidate their place in the four.

Round 11

Round 11
Saturday, 25 June (2:45 pm) West Perth 14.11 (95)def. by East Fremantle 14.13 (97) Leederville Oval [51]
Saturday, 25 June (2:45 pm) Subiaco 15.7 (97)def. by Claremont 23.9 (147) Subiaco Oval [52]
Saturday, 25 June (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 17.15 (117)def. Perth 16.12 (108) Fremantle Oval [53]
Saturday, 25 June (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 7.16 (58)def. by East Perth 14.13 (97) Bassendean Oval [54]

Ted Tyson kicks ten goals to begin a brilliant finish to the season, but East Fremantle just manage to overcome the struggling Cardinals.

Round 12

Round 12
Saturday, 2 July (2:45 pm) East Perth 17.14 (116)def. South Fremantle 11.12 (78) Perth Oval [55]
Saturday, 2 July (2:45 pm) West Perth 12.7 (79)def. by Claremont 18.17 (125) Leederville Oval [56]
Saturday, 2 July (2:45 pm) Perth 11.9 (75)def. Swan Districts 7.14 (56) WACA [57]
Saturday, 2 July (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 11.12 (78)def. Subiaco 10.10 (70) Fremantle Oval [58]

An umpires’ strike affects this round, but at one game players actually congratulate the replacements.

Round 13

Round 13
Saturday, 9 July (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 13.20 (98)def. East Fremantle 10.12 (72) Fremantle Oval [59]
Saturday, 9 July (2:45 pm) Claremont 19.10 (124)def. Swan Districts 15.9 (99) Claremont Oval [60]
Saturday, 9 July (2:45 pm) Perth 16.14 (110)def. West Perth 9.8 (62) WACA [61]
Saturday, 9 July (2:45 pm) East Perth 12.10 (82)def. Subiaco 9.13 (67) Perth Oval [62]

St. Kilda Tour Match

Western Australian Second XVIII v St. Kilda
Saturday, 16 July (2:45 pm) Western Australia Second XVIII 20.16 (136)def. St Kilda 13.14 (92) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 15,322) [63]

Handicapped by injury, St. Kilda are no match for a West Australian Second Eleven, for whom Bunton and Shea of Subiaco shows their best form and Swans’ Zilko keeps Mohr quiet.

Round 14 (Labour Day)

Round 14
Monday, 2 May (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 17.16 (118)def. East Perth 8.12 (60) Subiaco Oval [64]
Saturday, 23 July (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 17.15 (117)def. Subiaco 15.12 (102) Fremantle Oval [65]
Saturday, 23 July (2:45 pm) Claremont 17.17 (119)def. Perth 6.14 (50) Claremont Oval [66]
Saturday, 23 July (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 11.18 (84)def. West Perth 7.9 (51) Bassendean Oval [67]
  • East Fremantle’s match with East Perth is moved forward to Labour Day to allow a tour of the Eastern States.
  • Tyson is kept goalless for the first time in his 167th match for West Perth [68] by Andrew Zilko of Swan Districts. [19]
  • Former Sandover winner Ted Flemming makes a comeback for the Cardinals, handicapped by injuries to key players Rainoldi, Anderson, Marinko, McDiarmid and Braun.
  • A new grandstand was opened at Bassendean Oval during the half-time interval. [69]

Round 15 (Easter Monday)

Round 15
Monday, 18 April (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 22.15 (147)def. Perth 13.12 (90) Fremantle Oval [70]
Saturday, 30 July (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 11.21 (87)def. Subiaco 10.11 (71) Bassendean Oval [71]
Saturday, 30 July (2:45 pm) West Perth 13.12 (90)def. by South Fremantle 19.12 (126) Leederville Oval [72]
Saturday, 30 July (2:45 pm) Claremont 15.15 (105)def. East Perth 11.8 (74) Claremont Oval [73]

To allow East Fremantle to tour the Eastern States, the game with Perth is moved to Easter Monday, a week before the normal beginning of the season.

Round 16

Round 16
Saturday, 6 August (2:45 pm) Claremont 12.7 (79)def. by East Fremantle 13.10 (88) Claremont Oval [74]
Saturday, 6 August (2:45 pm) Subiaco 21.7 (133)def. West Perth 15.10 (100) Subiaco Oval [75]
Saturday, 6 August (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 12.13 (85)def. Swan Districts 9.9 (63) Fremantle Oval [76]
Saturday, 6 August (2:45 pm) East Perth 11.9 (75)def. by Perth 15.14 (104) Perth Oval [77]

South Fremantle press for their first finals appearance since 1932 by beating Swan Districts at Fremantle for the first time since Swans entered the WANFL.

Round 17

Round 17
Saturday, 13 August (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 14.18 (102)def. Claremont 8.10 (58) Fremantle Oval [78]
Saturday, 13 August (2:45 pm) East Perth 10.20 (80)def. West Perth 11.7 (73) Perth Oval [79]
Saturday, 13 August (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 8.11 (59)def. by East Fremantle 14.19 (103) Bassendean Oval [80]
Saturday, 13 August (2:45 pm) Perth 7.15 (57)def. by Subiaco 14.5 (89) WACA [81]
  • Bert Chandler becomes the first South Fremantle player to kick 100 goals and the sixth different player in two seasons, beating Holdsworth and Tyson who finish the round with tallies of 98 and 97 respectively.
  • An accurate Subiaco inflict Perth’s first loss on the WACA ground to push that latter club to fifth with three rounds remaining.
  • On Saturday 20 August there was a rest from WANFL football as a schoolboys’ carnival used Subiaco Oval. [82]

Round 18

Round 18
Saturday, 27 August (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 23.16 (154)def. Perth 9.20 (74) Fremantle Oval [83]
Saturday, 27 August (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 10.9 (69)def. by East Perth 21.15 (141) Bassendean Oval [84]
Saturday, 27 August (2:45 pm) Subiaco 16.14 (110)def. by Claremont 19.17 (131) Subiaco Oval [85]
Saturday, 27 August (2:45 pm) West Perth 10.5 (65)def. by East Fremantle 12.22 (94) Leederville Oval [86]
  • South Fremantle crush Perth for a sixth straight win and suddenly have a chance of second position, being a game and three percent behind Claremont with two games to play.
  • East Perth, with Lockyer holding Holdsworth goalless, record a crushing win to leave Swan Districts out of the four.
  • Ted Tyson kicks his hundredth goal for the fifth straight season with seven in a valiant effort by the undermanned Cardinals, who lose their tenth game in succession.

Round 19

Round 19
Saturday, 3 September (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 21.12 (138)def. Subiaco 14.18 (102) Fremantle Oval [87]
Saturday, 3 September (2:45 pm) East Perth 15.17 (107)def. South Fremantle 9.10 (64) Perth Oval [88]
Saturday, 3 September (2:45 pm) West Perth 12.6 (78)def. by Claremont 20.20 (140) Leederville Oval [89]
Saturday, 3 September (2:45 pm) Perth 12.11 (83)def. by Swan Districts 18.14 (122) WACA [90]
  • East Perth end South Fremantle’s run with a superb last quarter, whereby veteran follower Jerry Dolan moves up forward to kick seven goals.
  • In a match which determines who will drop out of the running for the finals, Swan Districts comfortably defeat Perth.

Round 20

Round 20
Saturday, 10 September (2:45 pm) Subiaco 16.12 (108)def. South Fremantle 13.14 (92) Subiaco Oval [91]
Saturday, 10 September (2:45 pm) West Perth 18.7 (115)def. by Swan Districts 18.15 (123) Leederville Oval [92]
Saturday, 10 September (2:45 pm) Claremont 16.16 (112)def. Perth 12.14 (86) Claremont Oval [93]
Saturday, 10 September (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 13.18 (96)def. East Perth 14.10 (94) Fremantle Oval [94]
  • In an extraordinary match at Leederville, Swan Districts, after being outplayed for three quarters, kick 11.4 (70) to 7.1 (43) in a last quarter described as “lacking in zest” to take South Fremantle’s place in the four. At the time it was the second highest-scoring quarter in WANFL history, [95] and it remains the highest for any quarter at Leederville.
  • Ted Tyson, who displaced Chandler at the head of the goalkicking, set numerous records with his 17.5 (107):
  1. The most goals for a losing side in any senior Australian Rules league, beating Frank Hopkins’ record of 14 in 1930. [96]
  2. The most goals by a player who kicked all but one of his team’s goals, beating Allan Evans’ thirteen for Perth in 1921 against East Fremantle.
  3. The most goals for West Perth in any match, beating his own record of fifteen against Claremont-Cottesloe in 1934. [97]
  • Subiaco’s surprise win over South Fremantle ensures East Perth remain in the four despite just failing to catch East Fremantle.

Ladder

1938 ladder
PosTeamPldWLDPFPAPPPts
1 East Fremantle 20154119631670117.562
2 Claremont (P)20137021921960111.852
3 Swan Districts 20119018011791100.644
4 East Perth 20109119101652115.642
5 South Fremantle 201010021122060102.540
6 Perth 2091101769201887.736
7 Subiaco 2081201942201296.532
8 West Perth 2031701724225076.612
Source: WAFL Footy Facts
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals

First semi-final

First semi-final
Saturday, 17 September (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 9.11 (65)def. by East Perth 8.18 (66) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 9,618)

East Perth win a thrilling final with a succession of behinds into a strong wind. [98]

Second semi-final

Second semi-final
Saturday, 24 September (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 13.18 (96)def. by Claremont 17.19 (121) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 10,428)

Claremont run away in the third quarter and comfortably hold off Old Easts to reach their third consecutive grand final. [99]

Preliminary final

Preliminary final
Saturday, 1 October (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 15.9 (99)def. East Perth 9.13 (67) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 12,786)

In an extremely spiteful game with numerous clashes, East Fremantle kick 11.1 (67) to 1.8 (14) after half-time for a second successive showdown against Claremont. [100]

Grand Final

1938 WANFL Grand Final
Saturday, 8 October (2:45 pm) Claremont drew with East Fremantle Subiaco Oval (crowd: 19,104) [101]
4.2 (26)
9.6 (60)
10.12 (72)
 13.16 (94)		Q1
Q2
Q3
 Final		3.5 (23)
6.7 (43)
10.8 (68)
 14.10 (94)		Umpires: Owens
Compton 4, O‘Reilly 4, Hooper, Menhennett, Heusler, Reeves, LovegroveGoalsGeorge Doig 5, McGlinn 4, Wendt 2, Gabrielson 2, Daniell
Gibson, Reeves, Sutherland, Lovegrove, O‘Neill, ComptonBestHutchinson (best on ground), McGlinn, George Doig, Briggs, Daniell, Gabrielson, Charlie Doig

East Fremantle come back from nineteen points down midway through the last quarter to force a replay. It was the league’s second Grand Final draw, but the last senior WA(N)FL finals draw until 1989. [102]

Grand Final replay

1938 WANFL Grand Final replay
Saturday, 15 October (2:45 pm) Claremont def. East Fremantle Subiaco Oval (crowd: 15,402) [103]
2.9 (21)
6.9 (45)
11.12 (78)
 14.17 (101)		Q1
Q2
Q3
 Final		0.1 (1)
6.12 (48)
9.13 (67)
 11.13 (79)		Umpires: Owens
O‘Reilly 3, Serjeant 3, Compton 3, Reeves, Gibson, Hunter, Hooper, George Moloney GoalsGeorge Doig 5, Donegan 3, McPharlin, Daniell
Reeves, George Moloney, Lovegrove, Reid, Syd Moloney, Headon, HooperBestN. Doig, Charles Doig, Hutchinson, George Doig, Donegan
Compton (leg)InjuriesKingsbury (leg)
O‘Reilly for fighting with DaniellReportsDaniell for fighting with O‘Reilly

Claremont’s dominance in the ruck and its greater pace and stamina allow it to win its first premiership at its fourth attempt.

Notes

a Until the end of July, East Fremantle had played two extra games and East Perth and Perth one extra game to allow Old Easts to tour the eastern states that month.

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The 1939 WANFL season was the 55th season of the various incarnations of the Western Australian National Football League. It is best known for West Perth's record losing streak of twenty-seven matches up to the fifteenth round, an ignominy equalled by Peel Thunder in their formative years but never actually beaten. The Cardinals finished with the worst record since Midland Junction lost all twelve games in 1917, and were the first WANFL team with only one victory for twelve seasons. In their only win, champion forward Ted Tyson became the first West Australian to kick over one thousand goals and he just failed to replicate his 1938 feat of leading the goalkicking for a bottom club. Subiaco, despite a second Sandover win from Haydn Bunton won only three matches, and Swan Districts, affected by the loss of star goalkicker Ted Holdsworth to Kalgoorlie, began a long period as a cellar-dweller with a fall to sixth.

The 1925 WAFL season was the 41st season of the West Australian Football League. It was notable as the season where a fully-fledged system of district football was firmly in place after two seasons of planning, with Perth divided into eight zones, one of which was allocated to Claremont in preparation for their entry to senior WAFL ranks for 1926 and another covered the Midland area later to be allocated to Swan Districts. Along with this, the WAFL introduced a reserves competition for players not good enough for their club's league team.

The 1940 WANFL season was the 56th season of the various incarnations of the Western Australian National Football League. It saw Claremont win its third consecutive premiership, but its last before returning to the status of cellar-dweller it occupied during its first decade in the WA(N)FL – between 1943 and 1978 Claremont played finals only five times for one premiership. South Fremantle, after a lean period in the middle 1930s, displaced perennial power clubs East Fremantle and East Perth as the Tigers’ Grand Final opponent, and established some of the basis, in spite of three disastrous wartime under-age seasons, for the club's fabled dynasty after the war.

The 1941 WANFL season was the 57th season of the various incarnations of the Western Australian National Football League. Owing to the drain of players to military service in World War II, the league was forced to suspend the reserves competition until 1946, and ultimately this was to be the last season of senior football in Perth until 1945 as the supply of available players became smaller and smaller and the Japanese military threatened northern Western Australia.

The 1969 WANFL season was the 85th season of the Western Australian National Football League. It saw continued dominance by the three Perth clubs and Subiaco, who occupied the top half of the ladder constantly from the fourth round onwards, and finished four games clear of the other four clubs, who were all in a “rebuilding” mode with varying success – late in the season both Swan Districts and Claremont fielded some of the youngest teams in the competition's history, whilst the Tigers, who fielded thirteen first-year players including Graham Moss, Russell Reynolds and Bruce Duperouzel, began disastrously but four wins in five games paved the way to impressive record from 1970 to 1972. Among the top four, Perth failed to achieve a fourth consecutive premiership that at one point looked very much in their grasp due to the overwork of Barry Cable which robbed him of some brilliance, early-season injuries to key players Iseger and Page and a couple of surprising losses to lower clubs, whilst East Perth, who won consistently without being impressive for most of the season, failed for the fourth time in as many seasons in the Grand Final, this time to West Perth and in a much more decisive manner than any of their Perth defeats.

The 1942 WANFL season was the 58th season of the Western Australian National Football League. Whilst the previous two seasons had been increasingly affected by the drift of players to the services, the 1941/1942 off-season saw the Imperial Japanese Navy and air force move into the north of Western Australia, bombing many northwestern settlements.

The 1922 WAFL season was the 38th season of the West Australian Football League. It saw East Perth equal East Fremantle's feat of winning four consecutive premierships, this time against a rejuvenated West Perth team which had a lean period since 1912. Their most notable feat during the season was a record comeback against South Fremantle, but on an August tour of the Eastern States the Royals also defeated SANFL premiers Norwood by the score of 8.20 (68) to 7.10 (52) and runners-up West Adelaide by 11.12 (78) to 7.12 (54), after having lost by a point to St. Kilda two weeks beforehand. A consequence of their trip – hastily planned when Subiaco's tour there was cancelled during July – was that their last round match with wooden-spooner Perth was never played – a cancellation to be repeated the following season.

The 1944 WANFL season was the 60th season of the various incarnations of the Western Australian National Football League. Consequent upon the improved fortunes of the Allies in the Pacific War, the league's decision to restrict football to those under nineteen as of 1 October become somewhat controversial, but the WANFL after much debate during the early weeks of the season decided it would not raise the age limit or even as West Perth suggested allow four 1943 players over the limit to play. This meant that a large number of players who had been mainstays in the 1942 and 1943 seasons were no longer eligible to play, and as in 1943 a number of players still eligible were erratically available due to service in the war.

The 1946 WANFL season was the 62nd season of senior football in Perth, Western Australia.

The 1947 WANFL season was the 63rd season of senior football in Perth, Western Australia. With the background of war completely removed, 1947 saw the WANFL begin a golden age of growth dominated by the two Fremantle clubs, West Perth and Perth, who made the league for the following nine seasons a de facto hierarchy led by South Fremantle and West Perth, who respectively won 128 and 121 of their 159 home-and-away matches between 1947 and 1954. Zones with vastly different populations and large unzoned areas allowed these more successful and financially secure clubs to monopolise the leading player talent.

References

  1. ↑ Devaney, John; Full Points Footy’s WA Football Companion; p. 173. ISBN   9780955689710
  2. ↑ Devaney; Full Points Footy’s WA Football Companion; p. 292.
  3. ↑ ‘Football Stars Begin Tour’; The Daily News , 9 July 1938, p. 1
  4. ↑ ‘East Fremantle Beaten’; The Sunday Times , 17 July 1938, p. 17
  5. ↑ ‘Old Easts Win’; The Sunday Times, 24 July 1938, p. 17
  6. ↑ ‘Football – East Fremantle’s Tour – Easy Victory in Melbourne’; The West Australian , 28 July 1938, p. 10
  7. ↑ ‘One-Sided Match: Perth Overwhelms West Perth’; The West Australian, 25 April 1938, p. 9
  8. ↑ ‘East Fremantle’s Success – Centre Line Works Smoothly’; The West Australian, 25 April 1938, p. 9
  9. ↑ ‘Claremont Wins Hard Game: Team-Work Beats Swan Districts’; The West Australian, 25 April 1938, p. 9
  10. ↑ ‘Subiaco Does Well: Victory over East Perth’; The West Australian, 25 April 1938, p. 9
  11. ↑ ‘Subiaco Successful – Hard-Pressed by West Perth’; The West Australian, 3 May 1938, p. 23
  12. ↑ ‘East Perth Wins: Injured Players Handicap Perth’; The West Australian, 3 May 1938, p. 23
  13. ↑ ‘Saturday’s Games – Claremont’s Strong Finish: East Fremantle Badly Beaten’; The West Australian, 3 May 1938, p. 23
  14. ↑ ‘A Keen Struggle – Swan Districts’ Good Effort’; The West Australian, 3 May 1938, p. 23
  15. ↑ ‘Leader’s Success – East Fremantle Finishes Well’; The West Australian, 9 May 1938, p. 16
  16. ↑ ‘Claremont Beaten: South Fremantle Impressive’; The West Australian, 9 May 1938, p. 16
  17. ↑ ‘West Perth’s First Win – Close Game at Leederville’; The West Australian, 9 May 1938, p. 16
  18. ↑ ‘Devastating Last Quarter – Subiaco Overwhelms Perth’; The West Australian, 9 May 1938, p. 16
  19. 1 2 Atkinson, Graeme and Hanlon, Michael; 3AW Book of Footy Records: All the Great Players, Matches, Goals, Kicks, Brawls and Sensations from More Than 100 Years of Aussie Rules in Australia; p. 147. ISBN   1863210091
  20. ↑ South Fremantle: Highest Scores
  21. ↑ ‘Subiaco Beaten: Claremont Better in Team-Work’; The West Australian, 16 May 1938, p. 4
  22. ↑ ‘Exciting Last Quarter – Swan Districts’ Strong Finish’; The West Australian, 16 May 1938, p. 4
  23. ↑ ‘Perth Succeeds: South Fremantle Outstayed’; The West Australian, 16 May 1938, p. 4
  24. ↑ ‘System Prevails – East Fremantle’s Victory’; The West Australian, 16 May 1938, p. 4
  25. ↑ ‘Swan Districts Strong: Perth Outplayed at Bassendean’; The West Australian, 23 May 1938, p. 6
  26. ↑ ‘Last-Minute Victory – South Fremantle’s Success’; The West Australian, 23 May 1938, p. 6
  27. ↑ ‘Claremont Pressed: Good Showing by West Perth’; The West Australian, 23 May 1938, p. 6
  28. ↑ ‘A Strenuous Fight – East Fremantle Heads Subiaco’; The West Australian, 23 May 1938, p. 6
  29. ↑ ‘Claremont Outpaced: East Perth’s Second Victory’; The West Australian, 30 May 1938, p. 8
  30. ↑ ‘Swan Districts Wins: Too Strong for Subiaco’; The West Australian, 30 May 1938, p. 8
  31. ↑ ‘South Fremantle’s Success – Chandler Kicks Nine Goals’; The West Australian, 30 May 1938, p. 8
  32. ↑ ‘Perth’s Determined Effort: East Fremantle’s Setback’; The West Australian, 30 May 1938, p. 8
  33. ↑ ‘West Perth Successful – Several Players Return to Form’; The West Australian, 6 June 1938, p. 11
  34. ↑ ‘A Hard-Fought Draw: Stirring Finish at Perth Oval’; The West Australian, 6 June 1938, p. 11
  35. ↑ ‘Claremont Ragged: Perth’s Comfortable Win’; The West Australian, 6 June 1938, p. 11
  36. ↑ ‘Control of Key Positions – South Fremantle Beaten’; The West Australian, 6 June 1938, p. 11
  37. ↑ ‘A Strenuous Game – Swan Districts Win’; The West Australian, 7 June 1938, p. 19
  38. ↑ ‘Victory by a Point: Fremantle Teams’ Great Struggle’; The West Australian, 7 June 1938, p. 19
  39. ↑ ‘Weak Forward Play – Subiaco Easily Beaten’; The West Australian, 7 June 1938, p. 19
  40. ↑ ‘West Perth’s Success: Poor Performance by Perth’; The West Australian, 7 June 1938, p. 19
  41. ↑ "WAFL Footy Facts: Consecutive Games Lost". Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  42. ↑ ‘Last Quarter Rally – East Fremantle Successful’; The West Australian, 13 June 1938, p. 17
  43. ↑ ‘Perth’s Narrow Victory: East Perth Beaten by Four Points’; The West Australian, 13 June 1938, p. 17
  44. ↑ ‘Heavy Scoring – E. Holdsworth’s 11 Goals’; The West Australian, 13 June 1938, p. 17
  45. ↑ ‘Subiaco Wins Well – West Perth’s Great Fight’; The West Australian, 13 June 1938, p. 17
  46. ↑ Swan Districts: Highest Scores
  47. ↑ ‘West Perth Outclassed – Eight Goals to R. Lawn’; The West Australian, 20 June 1938, p. 17
  48. ↑ ‘Claremont Solid – Victory over South Fremantle’; The West Australian, 20 June 1938, p. 17
  49. ↑ ‘Perth’s Strong Finish – Four-Point Win Against Subiaco’; The West Australian, 20 June 1938, p. 17
  50. ↑ ‘Last Quarter Rally – Swan Districts Successful’; The West Australian, 20 June 1938, p. 17
  51. ↑ ‘A Close Call – West Perth Fails by Two Points’; The West Australian, 27 June 1938, p. 8
  52. ↑ ‘Subiaco Outclassed: Runaway Victory for Claremont’; The West Australian, 27 June 1938, p. 8
  53. ↑ ‘Perth Beaten – A Thrilling Last Quarter’; The West Australian, 27 June 1938, p. 8
  54. ↑ ‘East Perth Wins Easily – Swan Districts’ Ragged Form’; The West Australian, 27 June 1938, p. 8
  55. ↑ ‘A Poor Display – Easy Victory for East Perth’; The West Australian, 4 July 1938, p. 15
  56. ↑ ‘Claremont’s Success – West Perth Overwhelmed’; The West Australian, 4 July 1938, p. 15
  57. ↑ ‘Swan Districts Defeated: Perth Wins Drab Match’; The West Australian, 4 July 1938, p. 15
  58. ↑ ‘East Fremantle Pressed – A Last-Quarter Rally’; The West Australian, 4 July 1938, p. 15
  59. ↑ ‘A Disappointing Game – East Fremantle Beaten’; The West Australian, 11 July 1938, p. 7
  60. ↑ ‘Claremont Wins Well: Too Strong for Swan Districts’; The West Australian, 11 July 1938, p. 7
  61. ↑ ‘Perth’s Rugged Display: West Perth Easily Outpointed’; The West Australian, 11 July 1938, p. 7
  62. ↑ ‘Subiaco Beaten Again – East Perth’s Powerful Finish’; The West Australian, 11 July 1938, p. 15
  63. ↑ ‘St. Kilda Is Outplayed by Local Team’; The Sunday Times, 17 July 1938, p. 17
  64. ↑ ‘A Comfortable Victory – East Perth Soundly Beaten’; The West Australian, 3 May 1938; p. 23
  65. ↑ ‘Souths Prevail Against Maroons’; The Sunday Times, 24 July 1938, p. 17
  66. ↑ ‘Claremont Thrashes Perth in One-Sided League Encounter: Home Team Always Much Superior’; The Sunday Times, 24 July 1938, p. 17
  67. ↑ ‘Last-Quarter Dash by Swans’; The Sunday Times, 24 July 1938, p. 17
  68. ↑ ‘Swans Victorious in Poor Game’; Mirror, 23 July 1938, p. 7
  69. ↑ ‘Bassendean Grandstand Opened’; in The West Australian 25 July 1938; p. 6
  70. ↑ ‘League Football: Opening of Season – Value of Teamwork: East Fremantle Beats Perth’; The West Australian, 19 April 1938, p. 16
  71. ↑ ‘Swans too Good for Subiaco’; The Sunday Times, 31 July 1938, p. 17
  72. ↑ ‘Souths’ Six-Goal Win over Wests’; The Sunday Times, 31 July 1938, p. 17
  73. ↑ ‘Claremont Finish All Over East Perth In Gruelling Spectacular Game – Match Close Until Final Term’; The Sunday Times, 31 July 1938, p. 17
  74. ↑ ‘Claremont Outplayed – East Fremantle’s Strong Finish’; The West Australian, 8 August 1938, p. 7
  75. ↑ ‘Accurate Kicking – Subiaco Not Fully Extended’; The West Australian, 8 August 1938, p. 7
  76. ↑ ‘Final Quarter Effort – Easy Victory for South Fremantle’; The West Australian, 8 August 1938, p. 7
  77. ↑ ‘Perth Beats East Perth – A Muddling Game’; The West Australian, 8 August 1938, p. 7
  78. ↑ ‘Claremont Outplayed – Victory to South Fremantle’; The West Australian, 15 August 1938, p. 7
  79. ↑ ‘Beaten in Last Quarter – West Perth Loses to East Perth’; The West Australian, 15 August 1938, p. 7
  80. ↑ ‘East Fremantle’s Superiority – Swan Districts Fades Out’; The West Australian, 15 August 1938, p. 7
  81. ↑ ‘Accurate Kicking – Subiaco Outclasses Perth’; The West Australian, 15 August 1938, p. 7
  82. ↑ ‘Football – Schoolboys’ Carnival’; The West Australian, 22 August 1938, p. 7
  83. ↑ ‘Perth Defeated – South Fremantle’s Strength’; The West Australian, 29 August 1938, p. 6
  84. ↑ ‘East Perth Wins: Poor Showing by Swan Districts’ The West Australian, 29 August 1938, p. 6
  85. ↑ ‘Claremont’s Brilliant Rally: Subiaco Beaten by 21 Points’ The West Australian, 29 August 1938, p. 6
  86. ↑ ‘West Perth’s Keen Fight – East Fremantle Not Worried’ The West Australian, 29 August 1938, p. 6
  87. ↑ ‘Goal Front Accuracy – East Fremantle’s Success’; The West Australian, 5 September 1938, p. 6
  88. ↑ ‘South Fremantle Fails: 33-Point Victory for East Perth’; The West Australian, 5 September 1938, p. 6
  89. ↑ ‘Claremont Untroubled – Uninspiring Game at Leederville’; The West Australian, 5 September 1938, p. 6
  90. ↑ ‘Perth Beaten: Swan Districts Wins Comfortably’; The West Australian, 5 September 1938, p. 6
  91. ↑ ‘South Fremantle’s Lapse – Display of System by Subiaco’; The West Australian, 12 September 1938, p. 7
  92. ↑ ‘Win for Swan Districts; Tyson (West Perth) Scores 17 Goals’; The West Australian, 12 September 1938, p. 7
  93. ↑ ‘Claremont Beats Perth – A Tame Match’; The West Australian, 12 September 1938, p. 7
  94. ↑ ‘Excitement at Fremantle – East Perth’s Narrow Defeat’; The West Australian, 12 September 1938, p. 7
  95. ↑ "WAFL Footy Facts: Most Combined Points in Fourth Quarter". Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  96. ↑ Atkinson and Hanlon; 3AW Book of Footy Records; p. 138
  97. ↑ See WAFL Footy Facts: West Perth v Each Opponent Archived 17 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  98. ↑ ‘Football Semi-Final – Stirring Last Quarter; East Perth Wins – Only a Point to Spare’; The West Australian, 19 September 1938, p. 17
  99. ↑ ‘Football Semi-Final – Claremont’s Strong Finish; East Fremantle’s Brief Rally’; The West Australian, 26 September 1938, p. 11
  100. ↑ ‘Football Final – East Fremantle’s Success; Spiteful Incidents; East Perth Fades Out’; The West Australian, 3 October 1938, p. 21
  101. ↑ ‘Exciting Draw – Football Grand Final; Claremont’s Lapse: Replay Next Saturday’; The West Australian, 10 October 1938, p. 17
  102. ↑ See WAFL Match Program and Results 1989 (archived)
  103. ↑ ‘Claremont’s Success – Premier Football Team; Pace and Teamwork: East Fremantle Outplayed’; The West Australian, 17 October 1938, p. 17
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