1944 WAFL season | |
---|---|
Teams | 8 |
Premiers | East Perth 9th premiership |
Minor premiers | East Perth 8th minor premiership |
Sandover Medallist | Jim Davies (Swan Districts) |
Bernie Naylor Medallist | Alan Watts (East Perth) |
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, [1] 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. [2] 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 1944 season is notable for the first perfect season in the history of Western Australian league football, by East Perth. Under the coaching of former forward Cecil Rowland an exceptionally powerful core of players was developed from 1942 and 1943 mainstays including Frank Allen, Ken Wimbridge, Ray Perry, John “Todge” Campbell and Ron Brentnall, joined by outstanding talents in full-forward Alan Watts, key position player Jim Washbourne and injury-plagued but talented rover Norm Gibbney. [3] So well-equipped were the Royals that they did not suffer during the finals from the loss of best-and-fairest Campbell, ruckman Brentnall and Ron Frankish – instead fitting Northam defender Jack Leadbitter and Wesley rover Ernie England for their only games of the season and losing nothing in efficiency. [3] At the other end of the ladder, South Fremantle, already last in 1943, lost their only class players in Frank Treasure and Erik Eriksson and became the first team since Midland Junction in 1917 to lose every match. The red and whites in fact never led during the second half in any of their nineteen matches, and officials were so desperate that a meeting of former players was called mid-season to revive the club's on-field fortunes [4] – to no effect.
Apart from South Fremantle's winless season, Claremont suffered a huge loss when Claremont Oval, which had been their home ground since 1927, had its grandstand completely burnt down in a fire at 5:11 a.m. on 28 July. [5] In the fire, which was estimated to have cost a total of £3000, all the records, jerseys and training equipment were lost, [1] and Claremont were forced to play home matches at Subiaco Oval and the W.A.C.A. until 1948, [lower-alpha 1] despite financial donations by Collingwood to help rebuild the grandstand. [7] The Tigers had to take the field in several games wearing East Perth guernseys, and suffered from the loss of key players like Robin Farmer, consequently falling to second-last on the ladder.
Round 1 | |||||
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Saturday, 13 May (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 6.17 (53) | def. by | Perth 8.18 (66) | Subiaco Oval | [8] |
Saturday, 13 May (2:45 pm) | East Perth 41.30 (276) | def. | South Fremantle 3.2 (20) | Perth Oval | [9] |
Saturday, 13 May (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 16.19 (115) | def. | Claremont 5.4 (34) | Fremantle Oval | [10] |
Saturday, 13 May (2:45 pm) | West Perth 9.16 (70) | def. | Swan Districts 10.6 (66) | Leederville Oval | [11] |
East Perth’s mammoth win sets numerous records:
|
Round 2 | |||||
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Saturday, 20 May (2:45 pm) | East Perth 9.14 (68) | def. | West Perth 9.9 (63) | Perth Oval | [17] |
Saturday, 20 May (2:45 pm) | Perth 12.5 (77) | def. by | East Fremantle 14.10 (94) | WACA | [18] |
Saturday, 20 May (2:45 pm) | Swan Districts 22.11 (143) | def. | South Fremantle 9.3 (57) | Subiaco Oval | [19] |
Saturday, 20 May (2:45 pm) | Claremont 9.4 (58) | def. by | Subiaco 13.19 (97) | Claremont Oval | [20] |
Following upon their record score, East Perth are nearly brought to earth by West Perth, with only a late goal from Outridge ensuring a victory that would prove their closest shave for the season. |
Round 3 | |||||
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Saturday, 27 May (2:45 pm) | Perth 9.12 (66) | def. by | Claremont 9.15 (69) | WACA | [21] |
Saturday, 27 May (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 8.10 (58) | def. by | West Perth 17.12 (114) | Fremantle Oval | [22] |
Saturday, 27 May (2:45 pm) | Swan Districts 10.9 (69) | def. by | East Perth 16.5 (101) | Bassendean Oval | [23] |
Saturday, 27 May (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 14.15 (99) | def. | East Fremantle 10.8 (68) | Subiaco Oval | [24] |
Alan Watts kicks eleven goals straight to comfortably win a match where Swans matched their powerful rivals in general play. |
Round 4 | |||||
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Saturday, 3 June (2:45 pm) | West Perth 11.11 (77) | def. | Subiaco 9.10 (64) | Leederville Oval | [25] |
Saturday, 3 June (2:45 pm) | Swan Districts 8.12 (60) | def. | Perth 7.11 (53) | Bassendean Oval | [26] |
Saturday, 3 June (2:45 pm) | Claremont 8.8 (56) | def. by | East Perth 14.25 (109) | Subiaco Oval | [27] |
Saturday, 3 June (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 11.12 (78) | def. | South Fremantle 9.5 (59) | Fremantle Oval | [28] |
A burst of five goals in ten minutes places South Fremantle within four points of their local rivals, but they fail to go on and this proves their solitary chance of a win for the season. |
Round 5 | |||||
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Saturday, 10 June (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 27.22 (184) | def. | South Fremantle 5.7 (37) | Subiaco Oval | [29] |
Saturday, 10 June (2:45 pm) | Claremont 13.18 (96) | def. | Swan Districts 10.12 (72) | Claremont Oval | [30] |
Saturday, 10 June (2:45 pm) | East Perth 16.21 (117) | def. | Perth 9.8 (62) | Perth Oval | [31] |
Saturday, 10 June (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 8.22 (70) | def. | West Perth 7.10 (52) | Fremantle Oval | [32] |
|
Round 6 | |||||
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Saturday, 17 June (2:45 pm) | Swan Districts 10.7 (67) | def. by | East Fremantle 12.11 (83) | Perth Oval | [34] |
Saturday, 17 June (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 11.10 (76) | def. by | East Perth 11.20 (86) | Subiaco Oval | [35] |
Saturday, 17 June (2:45 pm) | West Perth 18.15 (123) | def. | Claremont 3.5 (23) | Leederville Oval | [36] |
Saturday, 17 June (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 5.8 (38) | def. by | Perth 14.26 (110) | Fremantle Oval | [37] |
East Perth again recover from being jumped by the opponent to win, despite a brilliant eight-goal effort from Ernie Tonkinson. |
Round 7 | |||||
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Saturday, 24 June (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 11.8 (74) | def. by | East Perth 12.17 (89) | Subiaco Oval | [38] |
Saturday, 24 June (2:45 pm) | Perth 6.15 (51) | def. by | West Perth 13.20 (98) | WACA | [39] |
Saturday, 24 June (2:45 pm) | Swan Districts 12.8 (80) | def. by | Subiaco 12.22 (94) | Bassendean Oval | [40] |
Saturday, 24 June (2:45 pm) | Claremont 21.21 (147) | def. | South Fremantle 10.8 (68) | Claremont Oval | [41] |
Round 8 | |||||
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Saturday, 1 July (2:45 pm) | Swan Districts 9.14 (68) | def. | West Perth 8.10 (58) | Bassendean Oval | [42] |
Saturday, 1 July (2:45 pm) | Claremont 8.16 (64) | def. | East Fremantle 8.9 (57) | Claremont Oval | [43] |
Saturday, 1 July (2:45 pm) | Perth 6.11 (47) | def. | Subiaco 5.3 (33) | WACA | [44] |
Saturday, 1 July (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 2.3 (15) | def. by | East Perth 17.16 (118) | Fremantle Oval | [45] |
In shocking conditions due to heavy rain [46] and strong winds, South Fremantle, devoid of talent in attack all season, for the first of three times kick the lowest WA(N)FL score since Subiaco’s 1.2 (8) against the Royals in 1920. [47] |
Round 9 | |||||
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Saturday, 8 July (2:45 pm) | Swan Districts 17.20 (122) | def. | South Fremantle 2.1 (13) | Perth Oval | [48] |
Saturday, 8 July (2:45 pm) | West Perth 8.10 (58) | def. by | East Perth 15.14 (104) | Leederville Oval | [49] |
Saturday, 8 July (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 13.19 (97) | def. | Claremont 7.11 (53) | Subiaco Oval | [50] |
Saturday, 8 July (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 12.14 (86) | def. | Perth 10.11 (71) | Fremantle Oval | [51] |
For the second consecutive week South Fremantle kick the lowest WA(N)FL score since 1920, [47] and as the lowest score against Swan Districts it was unequalled until Claremont kicked 1.7 (13) in 1996. [52] |
Round 10 | |||||
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Saturday, 15 July (2:45 pm) | West Perth 22.25 (157) | def. | South Fremantle 6.7 (43) | Leederville Oval | [53] |
Saturday, 15 July (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 9.12 (66) | def. | Subiaco 8.17 (65) | Fremantle Oval | [54] |
Saturday, 15 July (2:45 pm) | East Perth 8.13 (61) | def. | Swan Districts 7.11 (53) | Perth Oval | [55] |
Saturday, 15 July (2:45 pm) | Perth 10.12 (72) | def. | Claremont 7.12 (54) | Subiaco Oval | [56] |
|
Round 11 | |||||
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Saturday, 22 July (2:45 pm) | Claremont 7.11 (53) | def. by | East Perth 13.15 (93) | Claremont Oval | [57] |
Saturday, 22 July (2:45 pm) | Perth 10.12 (72) | def. | Swan Districts 6.11 (47) | WACA | [58] |
Saturday, 22 July (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 9.11 (65) | def. by | West Perth 10.7 (67) | Subiaco Oval | [59] |
Saturday, 22 July (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 7.17 (59) | def. | South Fremantle 6.8 (44) | Fremantle Oval | [60] |
East Perth’s eleventh consecutive win would prove the last match at Claremont Oval until the opening round of 1948, [1] owing to the Claremont Oval fire the following Friday. [5] |
Round 12 | |||||
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Saturday, 29 July (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 4.4 (28) | def. by | Subiaco 15.20 (110) | Fremantle Oval | [61] |
Saturday, 29 July (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 16.18 (114) | def. | West Perth 5.4 (34) | Subiaco Oval | [62] |
Saturday, 29 July (2:45 pm) | Swan Districts 12.11 (83) | def. | Claremont 10.10 (70) | Bassendean Oval | [63] |
Saturday, 29 July (2:45 pm) | Perth 8.12 (60) | def. by | East Perth 15.18 (108) | WACA | [64] |
Round 13 | |||||
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Saturday, 5 August (2:45 pm) | East Perth 11.12 (78) | def. | Subiaco 7.7 (49) | Perth Oval | [65] |
Saturday, 5 August (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 13.15 (93) | def. | Swan Districts 7.15 (57) | Subiaco Oval | [66] |
Saturday, 5 August (2:45 pm) | West Perth 12.14 (86) | def. | Claremont 9.14 (68) | Leederville Oval | [67] |
Saturday, 5 August (2:45 pm) | Perth 17.21 (123) | def. | South Fremantle 2.3 (15) | WACA | [68] |
A fine comeback in the last quarter after Subiaco take the last in third gives East Perth the longest winning sequence to this point in WA(N)FL history. [69] |
Round 14 | |||||
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Saturday, 12 August (2:45 pm) | East Perth 11.16 (82) | def. | East Fremantle 7.11 (53) | Perth Oval | [70] |
Saturday, 12 August (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 8.11 (59) | def. by | Swan Districts 9.15 (69) | Subiaco Oval | [71] |
Saturday, 12 August (2:45 pm) | West Perth 12.9 (81) | def. | Perth 9.9 (63) | Leederville Oval | [72] |
Saturday, 12 August (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 4.3 (27) | def. by | Claremont 18.27 (135) | Fremantle Oval | [73] |
Round 15 | |||||
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Saturday, 19 August (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 12.14 (86) | def. | Claremont 7.14 (56) | Fremantle Oval | [74] |
Saturday, 19 August (2:45 pm) | Perth 10.12 (72) | def. | Subiaco 8.13 (61) | WACA | [75] |
Saturday, 19 August (2:45 pm) | West Perth 11.15 (81) | def. | Swan Districts 12.8 (80) | Leederville Oval | [76] |
Saturday, 19 August (2:45 pm) | East Perth 17.21 (123) | def. | South Fremantle 1.5 (11) | Subiaco Oval | [77] |
For the third time in eight matches, South Fremantle kick the lowest score since 1920. [47] In the process, the red and whites become the first WA(N)FL team since East Perth themselves against West Perth in 1913 to fail to score in the first half, and for the third time in 1944 lose three successive matches by over a hundred points. [15] |
Round 16 | |||||
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Saturday, 26 August (2:45 pm) | Swan Districts 9.7 (61) | def. by | East Perth 15.14 (104) | Bassendean Oval | [78] |
Saturday, 26 August (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 9.6 (60) | def. by | West Perth 18.18 (126) | Fremantle Oval | [79] |
Saturday, 26 August (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 11.10 (76) | def. by | East Fremantle 12.8 (80) | Subiaco Oval | [80] |
Saturday, 26 August (2:45 pm) | Perth 16.12 (108) | def. | Claremont 10.13 (73) | WACA | [81] |
Round 17 | |||||
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Saturday, 2 September (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 7.8 (50) | def. by | West Perth 9.9 (63) | Subiaco Oval | [82] |
Saturday, 2 September (2:45 pm) | Swan Districts 11.6 (72) | def. by | Perth 11.15 (81) | Bassendean Oval | [83] |
Saturday, 2 September (2:45 pm) | East Perth 17.21 (123) | def. | Claremont 3.5 (23) | Perth Oval | [84] |
Saturday, 2 September (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 33.23 (221) | def. | South Fremantle 2.8 (20) | Fremantle Oval | [85] |
Perth’s win against Swan Districts ensures their first finals appearance since 1934. |
Round 18 | |||||
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Saturday, 9 September (2:45 pm) | West Perth 9.14 (68) | def. by | East Fremantle 9.17 (71) | Leederville Oval | [86] |
Saturday, 9 September (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 7.7 (49) | def. by | Subiaco 13.23 (101) | Fremantle Oval | [87] |
Saturday, 9 September (2:45 pm) | Claremont 8.10 (58) | def. by | Swan Districts 17.7 (109) | Subiaco Oval | [88] |
Saturday, 9 September (2:45 pm) | East Perth 14.18 (102) | def. | Perth 4.3 (27) | Perth Oval | [89] |
Despite starting the final quarter four points ahead and scoring only 0.7 (7), East Fremantle hold off West Perth and secure the double chance in the finals. |
Round 19 | |||||
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Saturday, 16 September (2:45 pm) | Claremont 10.26 (86) | def. | South Fremantle 7.5 (47) | Subiaco Oval | [90] |
Saturday, 16 September (2:45 pm) | Perth 13.12 (90) | def. | West Perth 8.13 (61) | WACA | [91] |
Saturday, 16 September (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 10.5 (65) | def. by | East Perth 16.23 (119) | Fremantle Oval | [92] |
Saturday, 16 September (2:45 pm) | Swan Districts 7.9 (51) | def. by | Subiaco 11.4 (70) | Bassendean Oval | [93] |
Despite the absence of four key players, East Perth restrict Old Easts to 1.1 (7) after half-time to go through the home-and-away season undefeated, and Alan Watts with eight majors beats “Bonny” Campbell’s 1926 record of eighty-nine goals. |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | East Perth (P) | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 2061 | 948 | 217.4 | 76 |
2 | East Fremantle | 19 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 1633 | 1233 | 132.4 | 56 |
3 | West Perth | 19 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 1537 | 1276 | 120.5 | 48 |
4 | Perth | 19 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1371 | 1322 | 103.7 | 40 |
5 | Subiaco | 19 | 8 | 11 | 0 | 1503 | 1195 | 125.8 | 32 |
6 | Swan Districts | 19 | 7 | 12 | 0 | 1429 | 1374 | 104.0 | 28 |
7 | Claremont | 19 | 6 | 13 | 0 | 1276 | 1638 | 77.9 | 24 |
8 | South Fremantle | 19 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 709 | 2533 | 28.0 | 0 |
First semi-final | |||||
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Saturday, 23 September (2:45 pm) | West Perth 7.21 (63) | drew with | Perth 9.9 (63) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7,000) | [94] |
West Perth’s early inaccuracy keeps the Redlegs in a match that culminates in a thrilling struggle where the lead changes several times in the last few minutes before finishing in a tie. |
First semi-final replay | |||||
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Saturday, 30 September (2:45 pm) | West Perth 5.7 (37) | def. by | Perth 8.13 (61) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8,000) | [95] |
A brilliant last quarter into the wind, whereby the Cardinals are held scoreless, gives Perth a comfortable win in a third successive battle with West Perth. |
Second semi-final | |||||
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Saturday, 7 October (2:45 pm) | East Perth 14.8 (92) | def. | East Fremantle 9.20 (74) | Subiaco Oval | [96] |
With a more efficient forward line, and a defence bolstered by Northam recruit Jack Leadbitter, East Perth win their twentieth consecutive match for the season. |
Preliminary final | |||||
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Saturday, 14 October (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 10.15 (75) | def. | Perth 7.8 (50) | Subiaco Oval | [97] |
Prime Minister John Curtin, a devoted football fan, is part of what is viewed as the largest crowd of the season. |
1944 WANFL Grand Final | |||||
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21 October (2:45pm) | East Perth | def. | East Fremantle | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8,991) | [98] |
5.3 (33) 6.4 (40) 11.9 (75) 14.13 (97) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 1.3 (9) 2.13 (25) 2.16 (28) 4.17 (41) | Umpires: Leo McComish | ||
Sparrow 4, Outridge 4, Watts 3, England, Washbourne, Gibbney | Goals | Cumbers 2, Hinkley, McIntosh | |||
Perry (best on ground), Watts, Washbourne, Grose, Wimbridge, Outridge, England, Candler, Gibbney | Best | Hird, Cormack, Crannage, Garrity, Bowen, Billett, Hinkley | |||
East Perth complete a flawless season with a convincing win driven by overwhelming ruck superiority and polished flawed play that contrasts with East Fremantle’s 2.13 (25) – including ten consecutive behinds – in the first half. |
The 1934 WANFL season was the 50th season of the various incarnations of the Western Australian National Football League. Following upon numerous unsuccessful attempts to revive Midland Junction during the 1920s, Bassendean-based Swan Districts were admitted to the competition. The black and whites were more competitive than previous new clubs owing to the presence of a number of players with previous WANFL experience, including Fred Sweetapple from West Perth, captain-coach "Judda" Bee from East Fremantle and Nigel Gorn from South Fremantle, but after five promising campaigns were to endure nineteen open-age seasons without once winning as many matches as they lost.
The 1933 WANFL season was the 49th season of the Western Australian National Football League in its various incarnations. It was the last year of a seven-team senior competition, and saw George Doig, during the second semi-final, become the first player to kick one hundred goals in a season.
The 1932 WANFL season was the 48th season of the Western Australian National Football League. The premiership was won by West Perth for the first time since 1905. The Cardinals’ win ended both a run of four consecutive premierships by East Fremantle, which won its fifth of seven successive minor premierships but lost both finals it played to be eliminated in the preliminary final, and West Perth's longest premiership drought in its history. West Perth's win was highlighted by the success of champion full forward Ted Tyson, who headed the goalkicking with eighty-four goals including a record eight in the Grand Final[a]. Tyson went on to kick an unprecedented 1,203 goals during a twelve-season career with the Cardinals, but their rise from winning only six matches in 1931 was due to the development of second-year defender Max Tetley, the discovery of a third pre-war Cardinal stalwart in Norm McDiarmid,[b] brother of star ruckman Jack, plus further outstanding youngsters Jim Morgan and Bob Dalziell.
The 1931 WANFL season was the 47th season of the Western Australian National Football League and the first under that moniker, having been called the West Australian Football League (WAFL) until 1930.
The 1930 WAFL season was the 46th season of the West Australian Football League in its various incarnations, and the last before it changed its name to the ‘Western Australian National Football League’. The season saw East Fremantle win the premiership for the third consecutive season, marking the second time that the club had achieved the feat; the club was never seriously challenged as the best team except during the interstate break and achieved the unusual feat of being the only club with a percentage of over 100.[a] Jerry Dolan said in retrospect that East Fremantle's 1930 team was the greatest he had ever played in or coached – including even the unbeaten team of 1946.
The 1929 WAFL season was the 45th season of the West Australian Football League in its various incarnations.
The 1935 WANFL season was the 51st season of the Western Australian National Football League. The season saw West Perth win the premiership under the coaching of Johnny Leonard; it was the only time in West Perth's history that it won consecutive premierships, preceding a brief but exceptionally steep decline that saw the Cardinals four years later suffer the equal longest losing streak in WA(N)FL history.
The 1936 WANFL season was the 52nd season of the Western Australian National Football League. The most conspicuous features were the rise of Claremont to their first finals appearance since entering the WAFL ten years beforehand after having won only forty of its first 183 games, and the thrilling finals series in which East Perth rose to their first premiership for nine years after holding on to a thrilling struggle for fourth position where all eight clubs were in the running well into August, then winning two finals by a solitary point. In the process the Royals set a record for the most losses by an eventual premiership club in major Australian Rules leagues,[a] but won their last open-age premiership until 1956. The Royals overcame much adversity to win the premiership, including a crippling injury toll and a schedule modified to allow them to tour Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania between 4 July and the first week of August.
The 1928 WAFL season was the 44th season of the West Australian Football League. The most notable event of the season occurred off the field on Monday, 11 June, when champion East Perth coach Phil Matson was killed in a truck crash at Nedlands after being thrown into a telegraph post. The Royals under the coaching of Paddy Hebbard did manage to reach a challenge final against minor premiers East Fremantle, but were beaten and suffered an abrupt fall to a clear last the following season.
The 1937 WANFL season was the 53rd season of the Western Australian National Football League. The season saw numerous notable highlights, including:
The 1927 WAFL season was the 43rd season of the West Australian Football League. It saw the last premiership of the East Perth dynasty dating back to the end of World War I, as mastermind coach Phil Matson was to be killed in a truck crash the following year and the Royals were to fall to a clear last in 1929 as most of their champions retired. Despite opening their permanent home ground at Claremont Oval, newcomers Claremont-Cottesloe showed little improvement on their debut season and again won only a single game. The most notable change in fortunes was from South Fremantle, who had their first season with more wins than losses since their last premiership in 1917, and extended Matson's Royals in the grand final.
The 1973 WANFL season was the 89th season of the Western Australian National Football League. It is most famous for Subiaco breaking the longest premiership drought in the history of the competition, winning for the first time since 1924 after having been a chopping block for most of the middle third of the century. Under the coaching of former St Kilda champion Ross Smith, the Lions, as they became christened in July, bounced back from two disappointing seasons to lose only two of their final sixteen home-and-away games for their first minor premiership since 1935, then in a low-scoring Grand Final comfortably defeated a much more hardened West Perth team.
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, 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.
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 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 1945 WANFL season was the 61st season of the various incarnations of the Western Australian National Football League.
The 1946 WANFL season was the 62nd season of senior football in Perth, Western Australia.