1946 WANFL season

Last updated

1946 WAFL season
Teams8
Premiers East Fremantle
21st premiership
Minor premiers East Fremantle
26th minor premiership
Sandover Medallist John Loughridge (West Perth)
Bernie Naylor Medallist Bernie Naylor (South Fremantle)
Matches played80
←  1945
1947  →

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

Contents

With the background of the Pacific War almost entirely removed, [note 1] the WANFL entered a period of exceptional growth that was to last until the middle 1960s. [1] Attendances reached levels never seen in the pre-war WANFL, highlighted by two record crowds between grand finalists East Fremantle and West Perth. The league also restored the seconds competition, which had been placed into recess in 1941, as a “colts” competition for players under 25.

1946 is most famous for Old Easts’ feat of a perfect season, [note 2] winning all twenty-one of its matches to finish the season with a winning streak of thirty-one consecutive games, easily the longest in the history of the competition.

There was a controversy in the third-last round when East Fremantle played Subiaco and, owing to a number of injuries, played colts wingman Harry Townsend in the league team, although regulations did not permit a colts player to start in the league team on the same day: [2] a protest by Subiaco was dismissed on a technicality. Old Easts’ perfect season was only slightly marred by losing to third-placed VFL club Collingwood in an exhibition match at Subiaco Oval on October 15. [3]

1946 also saw Perth, who had been in the doldrums since the end of World War I, begin its rise to power with the return of Merv McIntosh. The Redlegs stood third with two games remaining but lost a decisive match to Subiaco, who played open-age finals for the first time in a decade, in spite of being very weak in attack and the failure of their protest against Townsend.

Swan Districts, who had reached the finals in 1945, fell to second-last place and began its bleakest period on record, as well as one of the bleakest in elite Australian rules football history. Until Haydn Bunton, Jr. joined the club in 1961, Swans were never to win more than seven games in a season, would receive seven wooden spoons and never finish higher than sixth. Overall Swan Districts won just 61 and drew one of 301 games played between 1946 and 1960, for a success rate of just 20.43 percent. [4] Despite this, Swans won their first premiership of any kind in the seconds competition.

Despite the return of Bernie Naylor, who went far beyond his 1941 promise with 131 goals, South Fremantle fell to fourth owing to injuries and business commitments, one of which caused their coach to resign while their form was at its best.

Perth and West Perth toured Sydney and Melbourne respectively during the first three weeks of August, [5] and played each other four times during the season.

Home-and-away season

Round 1

Round 1
Saturday, 27 April (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 7.8 (50)def. by Subiaco 11.15 (81) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2065) [6]
Saturday, 27 April (2:45 pm) Perth 11.13 (79)def. by West Perth 19.13 (127) WACA (crowd: 3120) [7]
Saturday, 27 April (2:45 pm) Claremont 8.12 (60)def. by South Fremantle 25.12 (162) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 2533) [8]
Saturday, 27 April (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 17.13 (115)def. East Perth 14.15 (99) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3641) [9]

Bernie Naylor, playing for the first time since 1941 after returning from Darwin, kicks nine goals as South Fremantle, after their phenomenal recovery in 1945, crush Claremont.

Round 2

Round 2
Saturday, 4 May (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 14.14 (98)def. by West Perth 15.13 (103) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4549) [10]
Saturday, 4 May (2:45 pm) East Perth 8.9 (57)def. by Swan Districts 10.6 (66) Perth Oval (crowd: 3354) [11]
Saturday, 4 May (2:45 pm) Perth 21.18 (144)def. Claremont 15.7 (97) WACA (crowd: 1403) [12]
Saturday, 4 May (2:45 pm) Subiaco 9.9 (63)def. by East Fremantle 11.18 (84) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4033) [13]

Round 3

Round 3
Saturday, 11 May (2:45 pm) West Perth 12.25 (97)def. Swan Districts 11.8 (74) Leederville Oval [15]
Saturday, 11 May (2:45 pm) East Perth 9.6 (60)def. by South Fremantle 19.12 (126) Perth Oval (crowd: 4208) [16]
Saturday, 11 May (2:45 pm) Subiaco 10.15 (75)def. by Perth 12.8 (80) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 2802) [17]
Saturday, 11 May (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 13.23 (101)def. Claremont 10.8 (68) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2604) [18]

Claremont, who had not won since Round 8 of 1945, surprised by leading an inaccurate East Fremantle for three quarters before the exhausted Tigers collapse.

Round 4

Round 4
Saturday, 18 May (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 17.16 (118)def. Swan Districts 10.7 (67) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4419) [19]
Saturday, 18 May (2:45 pm) East Perth 12.7 (79)drew with West Perth 11.13 (79) Perth Oval (crowd: 4996) [20]
Saturday, 18 May (2:45 pm) Claremont 7.10 (52)def. by Subiaco 12.25 (97) Subiaco Oval [21]
Saturday, 18 May (2:45 pm) Perth 7.12 (54)def. by East Fremantle 13.21 (99) WACA (crowd: 2912) [22]

Round 5

Round 5
Saturday, 25 May (2:45 pm) West Perth 20.11 (131)def. Subiaco 8.4 (52) Leederville Oval (crowd: 4625) [23]
Saturday, 25 May (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 6.5 (41)def. by Perth 13.10 (88) Bassendean Oval [24]
Saturday, 25 May (2:45 pm) Claremont 10.9 (69)def. by East Perth 11.13 (79) Subiaco Oval [25]
Saturday, 25 May (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 14.16 (100)def. South Fremantle 8.13 (61) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 10123) [26]

In front of the biggest recorded home-and-away attendance in WANFL history to that point [27] – though soon to be broken [28] – East Fremantle confirm that they will be even more potent than in 1945 with a superb display against their port rivals.

Round 6 (Foundation Day)

Round 6
Saturday, 1 June (2:45 pm) Subiaco 13.10 (88)def. South Fremantle 6.12 (48) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3988) [29]
Saturday, 1 June (2:45 pm) East Perth 21.15 (141)def. Perth 14.8 (92) Perth Oval (crowd: 5084) [30]
Saturday, 1 June (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 10.18 (78)def. by Claremont 14.18 (102) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1746) [31]
Monday, 3 June (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 15.9 (99)def. West Perth 10.15 (75) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 16494) [32]
  • Following the removal of government bans on weekday sport, [33] the WANFL plays on Foundation Day for the first time since 1941.
  • A record WANFL home-and-away attendance [28] sees East Fremantle prove its strength in a most “deliberate” manner as it overcomes a nine-point half-time deficit for another convincing win.
  • Claremont end their longest losing streak until 1958 and still their second-longest on record [34] with a strong third-quarter burst.

Round 7 (King’s Birthday)

Round 7
Saturday, 8 June (2:45 pm) Perth 9.11 (65)def. South Fremantle 7.16 (58) WACA (crowd: 3213) [35]
Saturday, 8 June (2:45 pm) West Perth 21.18 (144)def. Claremont 16.8 (104) Leederville Oval (crowd: 3337) [36]
Saturday, 8 June (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 23.21 (159)def. Swan Districts 9.14 (68) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1052) [37]
Monday, 10 June (2:45 pm) Subiaco 9.12 (66)def. by East Perth 17.12 (114) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 10121) [38]

The resignation of coach Neil Lewington for business reasons [39] seems to disturb South Fremantle as Perth outscore them into the wind in the final quarter.

Round 8

Round 8
Saturday, 15 June (2:45 pm) Subiaco 11.9 (75)def. Swan Districts 9.6 (60) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1779) [40]
Saturday, 15 June (2:45 pm) West Perth 9.16 (70)def. by Perth 15.13 (103) Leederville Oval (crowd: 3186) [41]
Saturday, 15 June (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 17.13 (115)def. Claremont 13.13 (91) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3458) [42]
Saturday, 15 June (2:45 pm) East Perth 11.9 (75)def. by East Fremantle 15.15 (105) Perth Oval (crowd: 8609) [43]

A number of spectators hooted at field umpire Ryan after East Fremantle win its eighteenth consecutive WANFL victory, and in the crush a woman was knocked hard and collapsed, having to be driven by ambulance to Perth Hospital. [44]

Round 9

Round 9
Saturday, 22 June (2:45 pm) West Perth 13.16 (94)def. South Fremantle 14.2 (86) Leederville Oval (crowd: 6002) [45]
Saturday, 22 June (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 12.8 (80)def. by East Perth 15.10 (100) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1955) [46]
Saturday, 22 June (2:45 pm) Claremont 12.5 (77)def. by Perth 12.15 (87) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 2570) [47]
Saturday, 22 June (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 16.17 (113)def. Subiaco 7.9 (51) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2944) [48]

West Perth kick 8.5 (53) to one goal in the first quarter but stop to a walk afterwards and feel relieved as the siren sounds. South Fremantle’s score remains their most accurate in senior WA(N)FL football. [49]

Round 10

Round 10
Saturday, 29 June (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 18.11 (119)drew with West Perth 17.17 (119) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2014) [50]
Saturday, 29 June (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 15.14 (104)def. East Perth 13.15 (93) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5590) [51]
Saturday, 29 June (2:45 pm) Perth 5.10 (40)def. by Subiaco 6.14 (50) WACA (crowd: 3834) [52]
Saturday, 29 June (2:45 pm) Claremont 10.9 (69)def. by East Fremantle 27.14 (176) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 2253) [53]

Swans’ surprising tie with West Perth is the highest-scoring draw in WA(N)FL history and the last senior WANFL draw until the penultimate round of 1957. [54] [note 3]

Round 11

Round 11
Saturday, 6 July (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 18.14 (122)def. Swan Districts 12.15 (87) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3001) [55]
Saturday, 6 July (2:45 pm) West Perth 13.10 (88)def. East Perth 7.10 (52) Leederville Oval (crowd: 5902) [56]
Saturday, 6 July (2:45 pm) Claremont 8.9 (57)def. by Subiaco 10.17 (77) Subiaco Oval [57]
Saturday, 6 July (2:45 pm) Perth 8.6 (54)def. by East Fremantle 11.17 (83) WACA (crowd: 1652) [58]

During one of Perth’s wettest months on record, [59] East Fremantle show their usual brilliant teamwork on a waterlogged surface to push Perth to fifth.

Round 12

Round 12
Saturday, 13 July (2:45 pm) Subiaco 6.26 (62)def. West Perth 7.7 (49) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3399) [60]
Saturday, 13 July (2:45 pm) Perth 6.11 (47)def. Swan Districts 3.5 (23) WACA (crowd: 1372) [61]
Saturday, 13 July (2:45 pm) East Perth 17.17 (119)def. Claremont 4.7 (31) Perth Oval [62]
Saturday, 13 July (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 17.16 (118)def. South Fremantle 10.9 (69) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5564) [63]

The rainiest spell in the recorded climatic history of Perth [64] [65] produces extremely heavy grounds which results in:

  1. Swan Districts kicking their lowest score until 1964 and still third-lowest on record and equal lowest against Perth. [66]
  2. The aggregate score of just 9.16 (70) remains the lowest for any Swan Districts game. [67]
  3. Subiaco record the biggest win by a team scoring fewer goals in WA(N)FL history as they defend magnificently into the breeze against their powerful opponents during the final quarter.

Round 13

Round 13
Saturday, 20 July (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 15.7 (97)def. by Subiaco 15.16 (106) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3433) [68]
Saturday, 20 July (2:45 pm) Perth 8.8 (56)def. by East Perth 8.12 (60) WACA (crowd: 2498) [69]
Saturday, 20 July (2:45 pm) Claremont 13.17 (95)def. Swan Districts 8.17 (65) Leederville Oval (crowd: 823) [70]
Saturday, 20 July (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 15.15 (105)def. West Perth 8.13 (61) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4809) [71]

Despite the return of “Scranno” Jenkins after a serious knee injury, South Fremantle fall to sixth as Fred Williams seals a close match after a bad kick-in.

Round 14

Round 14
Saturday, 27 July (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 14.18 (102)def. Perth 11.14 (80) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3946) [72]
Saturday, 27 July (2:45 pm) East Perth 7.14 (56)def. Subiaco 5.8 (38) Perth Oval (crowd: 7211) [73]
Saturday, 27 July (2:45 pm) Claremont 8.8 (56)def. by West Perth 12.12 (84) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 2337) [74]
Saturday, 27 July (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 10.13 (73)def. by East Fremantle 15.14 (104) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1269) [75]

Round 15

Round 15
Monday, 6 May (2:45 pm) Perth 11.6 (72)def. by West Perth 18.20 (128) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3091) [76]
Saturday, 3 August (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 9.8 (62)def. Subiaco 6.14 (50) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1677) [77]
Saturday, 3 August (2:45 pm) Claremont 9.9 (63)def. by South Fremantle 21.11 (137) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 2509) [78]
Saturday, 3 August (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 25.19 (169)def. East Perth 9.8 (62) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5285) [79]

In very wet and slippery conditions, [80] Old Easts produce what was regarded as the best display of their twenty-five straight victories with brilliant handball and backing up, resulting in East Perth losing its place in the four to South Fremantle with a tough draw to come.

Round 16

Round 16
Saturday, 10 August (2:45 pm) Subiaco 7.12 (54)def. East Perth 7.8 (50) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5065) [81]
Saturday, 10 August (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 13.12 (90)def. Claremont 10.13 (73) Bassendean Oval [82]
Saturday, 10 August (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 12.16 (88)def. by East Fremantle 16.14 (110) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6500) [83]
Wednesday, 28 August (2:45 pm) Perth 20.11 (131)def. West Perth 10.15 (75) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3800) [84]
  • Bernie Naylor kicks his hundredth goal as South, despite inaccurate kicking, manage to compete with the unbeaten blue and whites despite never being in the match after conceding eight goals into the wind in heavy rain. [80]
  • Subiaco consolidate their place in the four as captain Fred Williams produces a brilliant goal in difficult conditions for Neil Althorpe in the last minute.
  • Ron Tucker kicks eleven goals in a match played on a Wednesday afternoon due to the Redleg and Cardinal tours earlier in August, [5] and Perth move to third with two matches remaining.

Round 17

Round 17
Saturday, 24 August (2:45 pm) West Perth 19.26 (140)def. South Fremantle 16.6 (102) Leederville Oval (crowd: 7376) [85]
Saturday, 24 August (2:45 pm) East Perth 12.8 (80)def. by Swan Districts 15.17 (107) Perth Oval (crowd: 3112) [86]
Saturday, 24 August (2:45 pm) Perth 16.19 (115)def. Claremont 9.19 (73) WACA (crowd: 1382) [87]
Saturday, 24 August (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 10.19 (79)def. Subiaco 7.14 (56) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2739) [88]

Despite a protest against H. Townsend, who owing to Old Easts’ bad run with injuries started the league game after playing for the colts, [2] East Fremantle – if below their best – kick 5.5 (35) to 1.2 (8) in the final quarter for their twenty-seventh straight victory, during which apart from the initial game no opponent had got closer than sixteen points.

Round 18

Round 18
Saturday, 31 August (2:45 pm) West Perth 12.16 (88)def. Swan Districts 4.4 (28) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2692) [89]
Saturday, 31 August (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 12.11 (83)def. East Perth 6.11 (47) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3267) [90]
Saturday, 31 August (2:45 pm) Subiaco 7.5 (47)def. Perth 5.9 (39) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5627) [91]
Saturday, 31 August (2:45 pm) Claremont 8.16 (64)def. by East Fremantle 11.9 (75) WACA (crowd: 669) [92]
  • Subiaco seal their first senior finals berth since 1936 with a fine comeback in very windy and chilly conditions after scoring only 1.3 (9) until half-time
  • Despite Johnny Compton kicking 4.10 (34), Claremont extend Old Easts all game but cannot capitalise often enough to break their winning streak.

Round 19

Round 19
Saturday, 7 September (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 11.16 (82)def. by South Fremantle 14.19 (103) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2883) [93]
Saturday, 7 September (2:45 pm) East Perth 10.6 (66)def. by West Perth 19.22 (136) Perth Oval (crowd: 2883) [94]
Saturday, 7 September (2:45 pm) Subiaco 6.19 (55)def. by Claremont 10.8 (68) Subiaco Oval [95]
Saturday, 7 September (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 20.19 (139)def. Perth 15.9 (99) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3732) [96]
  • Perth fail in the virtually impossible task of beating East Fremantle to stay in the four, as Old Easts recover the form they showed before the interstate match to never be seriously challenged.
  • South Fremantle, despite Naylor kicking six behinds from nine shots, get over a persistent Swan Districts to take the Redlegs’ place.

Ladder

1946 ladder
PosTeamPldWLDPFPAPPPts
1 East Fremantle (P)19190021331309162.976
2 West Perth 19125218881567120.552
3 South Fremantle 19109018791654113.640
4 Subiaco 1910901243132993.540
5 Perth 1991001525156597.436
6 East Perth 1971111489166489.530
7 Swan Districts 1941411320175875.118
8 Claremont 1931601369200068.512
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, 14 September (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 14.13 (97)def. by Subiaco 16.4 (100) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 12,514) [97]

An unexpected move of skipper Fred Williams to full-forward results in an upset win for the Maroons, who kick a surprising 9.0 (54) with the wind in the first quarter and hold off the red and whites in the last.

Second semi-final

Second semi-final
Saturday, 21 September (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 9.21 (75)def. West Perth 10.11 (71) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 17,369) [98]

East Fremantle maintain their perfect record with a goal soccered by Green with twenty seconds remaining after a hectic finish that had seen Old Easts kick 1.13 (19) since half-time.

Preliminary final

Preliminary final
Saturday, 28 September (2:45 pm) West Perth 12.14 (86)def. Subiaco 5.7 (37) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 15,426) [99]

In a disappointing spectacle after the thrilling semi-finals, Subiaco’s lack of teamwork means it never has a chance.

Grand Final

1946 WANFL Grand Final
Saturday, 5 October
(2:45 pm)		 East Fremantle def. West Perth Subiaco Oval (crowd: 21,000) [100]
1.4 (10)
6.7 (43)
7.12 (54)
 11.13 (79)		Q1
Q2
Q3
 Final		4.2 (26)
6.5 (41)
7.8 (50)
 10.13 (73)		Umpires: F.V. Ryan
Simpson Medal: John Loughridge (West Perth)
Prince 4, French 3, McDonald 3, GreenGoalsPola 4, Schofield 2, Kingsbury 2, Hutchinson, Larcombe
Alan Ebbs, Jack Clark, Doig, Gabrielson, F. Clarke, McDonald, JeffreysBestLoughridge (best on ground), Pola, Kingsbury, Harman, Clamp, Fleming
Ken Ebbs (ankle)Injuries

In a brilliant match, East Fremantle’s steadiness in a crisis during the final quarter gives it a record undefeated season as West Perth fail to get the equalising goal at the finish. [101]

Collingwood Tour Match

East Fremantle v Collingwood
Tuesday, 15 October
(2:45 pm)		 East Fremantle def. by Collingwood Subiaco Oval (crowd: 16,100) [3]
2.1 (13)
3.8 (26)
8.10 (58)
 9.10 (64)		Q1
Q2
Q3
 Final		5.6 (36)
6.10 (46)
10.13 (73)
 11.16 (82)		Umpires: F.V. Ryan
Sheedy 2.4, French 1.3, Green 1.2, Scorer 1.0, Alan Ebbs 1.0, Soltoggio 1.0, Prince 1.0, J. Clark 1.0Goals Pimm 4.2, Richards 3.1, Fitzgerald 1.1, Rose 1.1, Ryan 1.0, Holten 1.0, Kyne 0.4, Mann 0.1, Lambert 0.1, Newman 0.1
C. Doig, Beccaria, Mellowship, Briggs, J. Clark, Sheedy, French, Prince, GreenBestRichards, Rose, Burns, Murphy, Lambert, Holten, Utting, Kyne

Despite not being happy with the rule interpretations of local umpire Ryan, Collingwood manage to keep ahead of the unbeaten WANFL premiers all game – yet are still impressed by the quality of Old Easts’ play.

Notes

  1. ↑ A few significant players such as Ray Scott, Fred Buttsworth and Tim Barker remained in the forces until 1947, whilst some others such as Ray Schofield returned while the season was ongoing.
  2. ↑ No other senior WANFL team until 2018 when Subiaco did it had ever achieved even a perfect home-and-away season, though East Perth in the under-age competition of 1944 equalled the feat of East Fremantle in 1946. Since 1901, the only other clubs with one loss in a home-and-away season have been Claremont in 1987 and Subiaco in 2008, 2017 (when they lost the Grand Final) and 2019.
  3. ↑ The intervening 948-game gap constitutes the longest non-occurrence of draws in any major Australian Rules competition.

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  3. In the second round, East Fremantle broke their own 21-year-old record for the highest score in league history.
  4. East Perth drew three games in one season, a feat equalled in major Australian Rules Leagues only by VFA club Moorabbin in 1958 and West Perth in 1960. The Royals could easily have drawn a fourth game but for crowd acclamation preventing umpires from hearing the bell against Subiaco on Foundation Day. No senior Australian Rules team at any level is known to have tied four matches in a season, but Geelong’s Under-19s did so in 1971.
  5. Swan Districts, with Ted Holdsworth kicking at least six goals in each of the first ten games, reached their first finals series in only their fourth WANFL season. Holdsworth was to reach his 100 goals in two fewer games than George Doig took in his 152-goal 1934 season, but concussion and a broken hand eliminated the prospect of a new record.

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 1971 WANFL season was the 87th season of the various incarnations of the Western Australian National Football League, and the forty-first under that moniker.

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 1970 WANFL season was the 86th season of the Western Australian National Football League. After four years of dominance by the three Perth clubs, 1970 saw 1969 wooden spooners South Fremantle, aided by a tough pre-season training program under coach “Hassa” Mann and the arrival of Len Clark and John O‘Reilly from the VFL, rise to take their first premiership since the 1947–1954 dynasty. The Bulldogs upset Perth in two finals in wet conditions, while 1969 premiers West Perth fell to sixth with only ten victories: indeed this was the first season since 1955 with East Perth that legendary ruckman “Polly” Farmer had played for a team that missed the finals. The Cardinals were affected by the loss of John Wynne to Norwood, backup ruckmen Brian Sampson and Neil Evans to retirement and Greg Astbury to a major stomach problem, plus a dispute over Bill Valli, whose clearance to Collingwood was refused by the WANFL and the club's severe lack of depth in its reserves. Of the lower sides from previous seasons, in addition to South Fremantle's surprise flag Claremont showed major improvement due to such young players as Moss, winning more games than in any season since 1965, and would have done much better but for long-term injuries to rover Bruce Duperouzel and centre half-forward Lindsay Carroll in the second half of the season, when they fell out of the four after looking like a second semi-final berth.

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 1945 WANFL season was the 61st season of the various incarnations of the Western Australian National Football League.

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. ↑ See Barker, Anthony J. Behind the Play: A History of Football in Western Australia. pp. 87–131, 163. ISBN   0975242709.
  2. 1 2 "Subiaco Protests". The Daily News . 26 August 1946. p. 2.
  3. 1 2 "Collingwood Wins – Early Lead Held: Perfect Handball Displayed". The West Australian. 16 October 1946. p. 5.
  4. ↑ See East, Alan, ed. (2009). 75 Years of Black and White. Osborne Park, Western Australia: Alan East. p. 213.
  5. 1 2 (Follower) (29 July 1946). "League Football – East Perth Now Fourth". The West Australian. p. 4.
  6. ↑ "A Strong Finish: Subiaco Improves". The West Australian. 29 April 1946. p. 4.
  7. ↑ "Teamwork Tells: West Perth Superior". The West Australian. 29 April 1946. p. 4.
  8. ↑ "A Balanced Side: South Fremantle's Efficiency". The West Australian. 29 April 1946. p. 4.
  9. ↑ "Pace and System – Heady Play by East Fremantle". The West Australian. 29 April 1946. p. 4.
  10. ↑ "A Great Recovery: West Perth Brilliant". The West Australian. 6 May 1946. p. 4.
  11. ↑ "Creditable Form: Swan Districts Improves". The West Australian. 6 May 1946. p. 4.
  12. ↑ "A Strong Rally: Perth Beats Claremont". The West Australian. 6 May 1946. p. 4.
  13. ↑ "Subiaco Defeated: E. Fremantle Forwards Alert". The West Australian. 6 May 1946. p. 4.
  14. ↑ (Follower) (6 May 1946). "Football Surprises – West Perth Win at Fremantle". The West Australian. p. 4.
  15. ↑ "A 23-point Win: West Perth Kicks Poorly". The West Australian. 13 May 1946. p. 4.
  16. ↑ "An Easy Victory: South Fremantle Strong". The West Australian. 13 May 1946. p. 4.
  17. ↑ "A Keen Game – Perth Beats Subiaco". The West Australian. 13 May 1946. p. 4.
  18. ↑ "Strong Rucking – East Fremantle Hard-Pressed". The West Australian. 13 May 1946. p. 4.
  19. ↑ "Second Half Win: S. Fremantle in Form". The West Australian. 20 May 1946. p. 5.
  20. ↑ "Honours Even: An Exciting Finish". The West Australian. 20 May 1946. p. 5.
  21. ↑ "Claremoent Fails: Subiaco's Superiority". The West Australian. 20 May 1946. p. 5.
  22. ↑ "Still Unbeaten: E. Fremantle Fast". The West Australian. 20 May 1946. p. 5.
  23. ↑ "A Runaway Win: West Perth Too Strong". The West Australian. 27 May 1946. p. 5.
  24. ↑ "Perth's Victory: Seven Goals to Tucker". The West Australian. 27 May 1946. p. 5.
  25. ↑ "An Even Tussle – East Perth Steady". The West Australian. 27 May 1946. p. 5.
  26. ↑ "Good Teamwork: East Fremantle's Success". The West Australian. 27 May 1946. p. 5.
  27. ↑ "League Football: East Fremantle Impresses – Record Crowd". The West Australian. 27 May 1946. p. 5.
  28. 1 2 "West Australian Football League: Biggest Home-and-Away Crowds". Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  29. ↑ "Form Reversal – Subiaco Improves". The West Australian. 3 June 1946. p. 4.
  30. ↑ "High Scoring: East Perth Superior". The West Australian. 3 June 1946. p. 4.
  31. ↑ "First Victory: Claremont's Third Quarter Burst". The West Australian. 3 June 1946. p. 4.
  32. ↑ "Record Football Crowd – Proof of Strength". The West Australian. 4 June 1946. p. 3.
  33. ↑ "Midweek Racing – Onus on States". The West Australian. 2 August 1945. p. 2.
  34. ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: Claremont – Consecutive Games Lost
  35. ↑ "Perth's Victory: Recovery Against Wind". The West Australian. 10 June 1946. p. 4.
  36. ↑ "A Late Burst: West Perth Scores Heavily". The West Australian. 10 June 1946. p. 4.
  37. ↑ "91-Point Win: East Fremantle's Skill". The West Australian. 10 June 1946. p. 4.
  38. ↑ (Follower) (11 June 1946). "League Football – East Perth's Win: Subiaco Forwards Fail". The West Australian. p. 3.
  39. ↑ "Two Resignations: Coach and Captain – South Fremantle Decisions". The West Australian. 10 June 1946. p. 4.
  40. ↑ "Captain's Effort – Williams Inspires Subiaco". The West Australian. 17 June 1946. p. 4.
  41. ↑ "Convincing Form – Perth Beats West Perth". The West Australian. 17 June 1946. p. 4.
  42. ↑ "A Good Display: S. Fremantle's Forwards Superior". The West Australian. 17 June 1946. p. 4.
  43. ↑ "A Fine Recovery: East Fremantle Proves Its Strength". The West Australian. 17 June 1946. p. 4.
  44. ↑ "An Ugly Scene: Crowd Menaces Umpire". The West Australian. 17 June 1946. p. 4.
  45. ↑ "Hard and Fast – West Perth's Close Call". The West Australian. 24 June 1946. p. 4.
  46. ↑ "A Keen Effort: Swan Districts Beaten". The West Australian. 24 June 1946. p. 4.
  47. ↑ "Perth startled – Claremont Fights Hard". The West Australian. 24 June 1946. p. 4.
  48. ↑ "Decisive Win: Subiaco Fails at Fremantle". The West Australian. 24 June 1946. p. 4.
  49. ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: South Fremantle – Most Accurate Scores For
  50. ↑ "An Exciting Tie: Swan Districts' Fine Effort". The West Australian. 1 July 1946. p. 4.
  51. ↑ "Fast and Even: S. Fremantle Grasps Opportunities". The West Australian. 1 July 1946. p. 4.
  52. ↑ "Low Scoring: Subiaco Finishes Well". The West Australian. 1 July 1946. p. 4.
  53. ↑ "Forwards's Feat: East Fremantle's Big Tally". The West Australian. 1 July 1946. p. 4.
  54. ↑ WAFL Footy Facts – Draws Archived 2014-05-13 at the Wayback Machine
  55. ↑ "A Good Recovery: Ten Goals in Second Quarter". The West Australian. 8 July 1946. p. 4.
  56. ↑ "Direct Methods: West Perth's Success". The West Australian. 8 July 1946. p. 4.
  57. ↑ "Subiaco's Win: Forward Play Improves". The West Australian. 8 July 1946. p. 4.
  58. ↑ "Versatile Players – E. Fremantle too Strong for Perth". The West Australian. 8 July 1946. p. 4.
  59. ↑ "Perth Regional Office (009034) Monthly Rainfall". Australian Bureau of Meteorology.
  60. ↑ "Goals Scarce: Subiaco Finishes Well". The West Australian. 15 July 1946. p. 3.
  61. ↑ "Perth's Success: Strength in Heavy Going". The West Australian. 15 July 1946. p. 3.
  62. ↑ "An Easy Victory: East Perth Shows Pace". The West Australian. 15 July 1946. p. 3.
  63. ↑ "Another "Derby" – Decisive Win for East Fremantle". The West Australian. 15 July 1946. p. 3.
  64. ↑ See "IOCI Report" (PDF). Indian Ocean Climate Initiative. for details
  65. ↑ Flannery, Tim. The Weather Makers: The History and Future Impact of Climate Change. p. 131. ISBN   0802142923.
  66. ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: Swan Districts – Lowest Scores For
  67. ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: Swan Districts – Lowest Combined Scores
  68. ↑ "A Great Recovery – Subiaco Determined". The West Australian. 22 July 1946. p. 4.
  69. ↑ "Four-Point Win – East Perth's Sound Defence". The West Australian. 22 July 1946. p. 4.
  70. ↑ "Second Victory: Claremont's Good Form". The West Australian. 22 July 1946. p. 4.
  71. ↑ "Clever Teamwork: East Fremantle Outplays West Perth". The West Australian. 22 July 1946. p. 4.
  72. ↑ "Key Strength: S. Fremantle Untroubled". The West Australian. 29 July 1946. p. 4.
  73. ↑ "Low Scoring – East Perth Finishes On". The West Australian. 29 July 1946. p. 4.
  74. ↑ "West Perth Wins: New Forward's Success". The West Australian. 29 July 1946. p. 4.
  75. ↑ "A Rugged Game – Swan Districts Keen". The West Australian. 29 July 1946. p. 4.
  76. ↑ "League Football – West Perth Strong". The West Australian. 7 May 1946. p. 3.
  77. ↑ "Well-Earned Win – Swan Districts in Form". The West Australian. 5 August 1946. p. 4.
  78. ↑ "Food Centre Line: S. Fremantle Strong". The West Australian. 5 August 1946. p. 4.
  79. ↑ "No Weak Link: E. Fremantle Brilliant". The West Australian. 5 August 1946. p. 4.
  80. 1 2 Perth Regional Office (009034) August 1946 rainfall
  81. ↑ "Stirring Finish – Subiaco Scrapes Home". The West Australian. 12 August 1946. p. 4.
  82. ↑ "Stamina Tells: Bassendean Game Keen". The West Australian. 12 August 1946. p. 4.
  83. ↑ "Naylor's Century: S. Fremantle Die Hard". The West Australian. 12 August 1946. p. 4.
  84. ↑ "McIntosh Strong: Perth Kicking Superior". The West Australian. 29 August 1946. p. 5.
  85. ↑ "Easy Victory: West Perth Improves". The West Australian. 26 August 1946. p. 5.
  86. ↑ "Extra Speed – Swan Districts Strong". The West Australian. 26 August 1946. p. 5.
  87. ↑ "Perth in Form: Nine Goals to Tucker". The West Australian. 26 August 1946. p. 5.
  88. ↑ "A Close Call: East Fremantle Worried". The West Australian. 26 August 1946. p. 5.
  89. ↑ "West Perth Wins – Clamp in a New Role". The West Australian. 2 September 1946. p. 5.
  90. ↑ "A Strong Finish: S. Fremantle's Success". The West Australian. 2 September 1946. p. 5.
  91. ↑ "A Keen Struggle: Subiaco Wears Down Perth". The West Australian. 2 September 1946. p. 5.
  92. ↑ "Leader Extended: Claremont Shoots Poorly". The West Australian. 2 September 1946. p. 5.
  93. ↑ "A Stout Finish –". The West Australian. 9 September 1946. p. 5.
  94. ↑ "A Dull Match – West Perth Untroubled". The West Australian. 9 September 1946. p. 5.
  95. ↑ "Subiaco Beaten: Claremont's Fine Effort". The West Australian. 9 September 1946. p. 5.
  96. ↑ "Perth Fades Out: East Fremantle Strong". The West Australian. 9 September 1946. p. 5.
  97. ↑ (Follower) (16 September 1946). "Good Kicking: Subiaco's Narrow Victory". The West Australian. p. 5.
  98. ↑ "Last-Minute Win: East Fremantle Pressed". The West Australian. 23 September 1946. p. 5.
  99. ↑ (Follower) (30 September 1946). "Football Final – Subiaco Outclassed". The West Australian. p. 5.
  100. ↑ (Follower) (7 October 1946). "Stirring Football – East Fremantle's Triumph". The West Australian. p. 5.
  101. ↑ "The Play: Brilliant Start by West Perth". The West Australian. 7 October 1946. p. 5.
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