1947 WANFL season

Last updated

1947 WAFL season
Teams8
Premiers South Fremantle
3rd premiership
Minor premiers South Fremantle
3rd minor premiership
Sandover Medallist Clive Lewington (South Fremantle)
Bernie Naylor Medallist Bernie Naylor (South Fremantle)
Matches played80
←  1946
1948  →

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 [1] dominated by the two Fremantle clubs, West Perth and Perth, who made the league for the following nine seasons a de facto hierarchy [2] led by South Fremantle and West Perth, who respectively won 128 and 121 of their 159 home-and-away matches between 1947 and 1954. [3] Zones with vastly different populations [4] and large unzoned areas [note 1] allowed these more successful and financially secure clubs to monopolise the leading player talent.

Contents

The red and whites won their first premiership for thirty seasons – ironically under the leadership of former Cardinal captain-coach Ross Hutchinson who transferred for this season. Perth, in the doldrums with only three finals appearances and three seasons with more wins than losses since 1918, began thirty years of prominence during which they won six premierships. In contrast, Subiaco, after two promising postwar seasons were beset by poor recruiting and conflicts over coaching, [5] so that they lost their first eleven games and fell from third to last. The Maroons were not to again win more than five matches in a season until 1956, nor finish above any rival except Swan Districts until 1957. During the nine seasons beginning with this year Subiaco would win just 32 games out of 179, or a winning rate of 17.88 percent. East Fremantle, after their record undefeated season in 1946, fell to fourth place. Old Easts toured Sydney and Canberra in August during the Carnival, defeating a Canberra team by 77 points at Manuka Oval on 9 August, [6] and a New South Wales state team by 23 points on 10 August. [7]

For the first time the WANFL allowed payments to players in the form of a "Provident Fund" accessed after each player's retirement and totalling 15 shillings per match – increased to 30 shillings in 1956. [8]

Home-and-away season

Round 1

Round 1
Saturday, 26 April (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 13.12 (90)def. by South Fremantle 13.13 (91) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2225) [9]
Saturday, 26 April (2:45 pm) West Perth 16.14 (110)def. East Perth 7.14 (56) Leederville Oval (crowd: 5647) [10]
Saturday, 26 April (2:45 pm) Claremont 12.11 (83)def. Subiaco 7.13 (55) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 2684) [11]
Saturday, 26 April (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 12.16 (88)def. Perth 9.13 (67) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3394) [12]

Round 2 (Labour Day)

Round 2
Saturday, 3 May (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 21.17 (143)def. West Perth 5.12 (42) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6134) [13]
Saturday, 3 May (2:45 pm) East Perth 12.16 (88)def. Swan Districts 6.6 (42) Perth Oval (crowd: 3948) [14]
Saturday, 3 May (2:45 pm) Claremont 8.7 (55)def. by Perth 12.11 (83) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3231) [15]
Monday, 5 May (2:45 pm) Subiaco 8.9 (57)def. by East Fremantle 15.5 (95) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5794) [16]

South Fremantle’s brilliant win over West Perth stakes their claim to challenge Old Easts and remained their biggest victory over the Cardinals until 1979. [17]

Round 3

Round 3
Saturday, 10 May (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 13.11 (89)def. by West Perth 14.17 (101) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2967) [18]
Saturday, 10 May (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 16.20 (116)def. East Perth 10.21 (81) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5247) [19]
Saturday, 10 May (2:45 pm) Perth 17.16 (118)def. Subiaco 9.5 (59) WACA (crowd: 3607) [20]
Saturday, 10 May (2:45 pm) Claremont 9.13 (67)def. by East Fremantle 11.14 (80) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 2755) [21]

Round 4

Round 4
Saturday, 17 May (2:45 pm) Subiaco 9.6 (60)def. by West Perth 10.20 (80) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3293) [22]
Saturday, 17 May (2:45 pm) Perth 14.14 (98)def. Swan Districts 11.7 (73) WACA (crowd: 2557) [23]
Saturday, 17 May (2:45 pm) East Perth 11.19 (85)def. Claremont 10.10 (70) Perth Oval (crowd: 2760) [24]
Saturday, 17 May (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 13.12 (90)def. by South Fremantle 13.16 (94) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 16517) [25]

A WANFL record home-and-away crowd [26] [note 2] who paid £973 [27] saw South Fremantle inflict East’s first defeat since 21 July 1945, ending a WANFL record run of thirty-five straight victories.

Round 5

Round 5
Saturday, 24 May (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 10.10 (70)def. Subiaco 9.10 (64) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2193) [28]
Saturday, 24 May (2:45 pm) West Perth 15.9 (99)def. Perth 8.14 (62) Leederville Oval (crowd: 8211) [29]
Saturday, 24 May (2:45 pm) Claremont 9.5 (59)def. by South Fremantle 17.21 (123) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3476) [30]
Saturday, 24 May (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 19.12 (126)def. East Perth 8.12 (60) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4164) [31]

Round 6 (Foundation Day)

Round 6
Saturday, 31 May (2:45 pm) Perth 5.6 (36)def. by East Perth 6.9 (45) WACA (crowd: 4548) [32]
Saturday, 31 May (2:45 pm) Claremont 6.10 (46)def. by Swan Districts 9.5 (59) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 2684) [33]
Monday, 2 June (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 17.12 (114)def. Subiaco 8.7 (55) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4138) [34]
Monday, 2 June (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 9.17 (71)def. by West Perth 13.12 (90) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 15048) [35]

Round 7

Round 7
Saturday, 7 June (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 12.17 (89)def. Perth 9.11 (65) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3804) [36]
Saturday, 7 June (2:45 pm) East Perth 9.16 (70)def. Subiaco 6.9 (45) Perth Oval (crowd: 2727) [37]
Saturday, 7 June (2:45 pm) Claremont 11.18 (84)def. West Perth 5.13 (43) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3399) [38]
Saturday, 7 June (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 11.13 (79)def. East Fremantle 11.10 (76) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2012) [39]

East Perth lodged a protest against Subiaco for playing Bill Ralph, [note 3] who had resided in East Perth’s district before moving to Goomalling, [40] but the protest has no effect because the Maroons lose their eighth consecutive match.

Round 8

Round 8
Saturday, 14 June (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 11.11 (77)def. Swan Districts 8.11 (59) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4964) [41]
Saturday, 14 June (2:45 pm) East Perth 7.11 (53)def. by West Perth 12.6 (78) Perth Oval (crowd: 5368) [42]
Saturday, 14 June (2:45 pm) Subiaco 8.8 (56)def. by Claremont 11.14 (80) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 2499) [43]
Saturday, 14 June (2:45 pm) Perth 8.16 (64)def. East Fremantle 8.9 (57) WACA (crowd: 2402) [44]

Round 9

Round 9
Saturday, 21 June (2:45 pm) West Perth 16.13 (109)def. by South Fremantle 18.11 (119) Leederville Oval (crowd: 14784) [45]
Saturday, 21 June (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 11.5 (71)def. East Perth 10.9 (69) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2711) [46]
Saturday, 21 June (2:45 pm) Perth 11.16 (82)def. Claremont 12.6 (78) WACA (crowd: 2624) [47]
Saturday, 21 June (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 12.11 (83)def. Subiaco 9.13 (67) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2099) [48]

Ten goals by Naylor allows South Fremantle to retain their undefeated record in a brilliant match in front of another huge crowd after West Perth looked like winning during the last quarter.

Round 10

Round 10
Saturday, 28 June (2:45 pm) West Perth 14.19 (103)def. Swan Districts 5.9 (39) Leederville Oval (crowd: 5320) [49]
Saturday, 28 June (2:45 pm) East Perth 9.16 (70)def. South Fremantle 9.15 (69) Perth Oval (crowd: 4217) [50]
Saturday, 28 June (2:45 pm) Subiaco 7.5 (47)def. by Perth 9.14 (68) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1981) [51]
Saturday, 28 June (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 26.23 (179)def. Claremont 11.4 (70) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3618) [52]

East Perth end a long South Fremantle winning run in a thrilling game where the Royals held the ascendancy before a late red and white rally give them the lead – only for Matson to kick the winning goal.

Round 11

Round 11
Saturday, 5 July (2:45 pm) West Perth 9.9 (63)def. Subiaco 7.14 (56) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2977) [53]
Saturday, 5 July (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 3.5 (23)def. by Perth 17.19 (121) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2780) [54]
Saturday, 5 July (2:45 pm) Claremont 7.5 (47)def. by East Perth 20.16 (136) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3401) [55]
Saturday, 5 July (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 9.10 (64)def. by South Fremantle 12.13 (85) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 15263) [56]

In equalling their record low score against Perth from the previous season, Swan Districts kick the lowest score at Bassendean Oval until 1964 and still the second-lowest ever there. [57]

Round 12

Round 12
Saturday, 12 July (2:45 pm) Subiaco 17.20 (122)def. Swan Districts 6.4 (40) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1801) [58]
Saturday, 12 July (2:45 pm) Perth 6.8 (44)def. by West Perth 6.11 (47) WACA (crowd: 3343) [59]
Saturday, 12 July (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 14.14 (98)def. Claremont 6.9 (45) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2363) [60]
Saturday, 12 July (2:45 pm) East Perth 4.14 (38)def. by East Fremantle 7.10 (52) Perth Oval (crowd: 5665) [61]

On an extremely muddy W.A.C.A. ground, West Perth produce a fine comeback win to move effectively two wins clear in second position.

Round 13

Round 13
Saturday, 19 July (2:45 pm) Subiaco 10.8 (68)def. South Fremantle 9.6 (60) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 2097) [62]
Saturday, 19 July (2:45 pm) Perth 9.11 (65)def. East Perth 9.6 (60) WACA (crowd: 3088) [63]
Saturday, 19 July (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 6.9 (45)def. by Claremont 7.7 (49) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 836) [64]
Saturday, 19 July (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 11.15 (81)def. West Perth 10.14 (74) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3260) [65]

In a round of thrilling matches in "wretched" weather with 41.4 millimetres (1.63 in) of rain [66] and deep mud, Perth and East Fremantle manage thrilling victories to be two games play 20 percent clear in fourth with six rounds to play.

Round 14

Round 14
Saturday, 26 July (2:45 pm) Perth 5.12 (42)def. by South Fremantle 9.5 (59) WACA (crowd: 5298) [67]
Saturday, 26 July (2:45 pm) Subiaco 9.17 (71)def. East Perth 7.15 (57) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4647) [68]
Saturday, 26 July (2:45 pm) West Perth 16.20 (116)def. Claremont 13.6 (84) Leederville Oval (crowd: 3232) [69]
Saturday, 26 July (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 16.12 (108)def. Swan Districts 8.10 (58) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1764) [70]

Round 15

Round 15
Saturday, 19 April (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 22.15 (147)def. Subiaco 10.5 (65) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5085) [71]
Saturday, 16 August (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 15.9 (99)def. West Perth 12.17 (89) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8477) [72]
Saturday, 16 August (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 11.11 (77)def. by East Perth 15.12 (102) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1586) [73]
Saturday, 16 August (2:45 pm) Perth 12.13 (85)def. by Claremont 15.12 (102) WACA (crowd: 3734) [74]
  • The East Fremantle versus Subiaco match was put forward to the week before Round 1 to permit Old Easts to tour New South Wales.
  • WANFL matches were suspended for two weeks for the 1947 Hobart Carnival. [75]

Round 16

Round 16
Saturday, 23 August (2:45 pm) West Perth 22.16 (148)def. Swan Districts 12.8 (80) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2648) [76]
Saturday, 23 August (2:45 pm) East Perth 11.20 (86)def. by South Fremantle 14.16 (100) Perth Oval (crowd: 7184) [77]
Saturday, 23 August (2:45 pm) Subiaco 11.16 (82)def. by Perth 11.20 (86) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3852) [78]
Saturday, 23 August (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 15.18 (108)def. Claremont 11.12 (78) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3014) [79]

Perth gain a critical win after Subiaco – in their first match for four weeks after three straight wins – kick 6.6 (42) to 1.2 (8) in the last quarter and pound the Redleg backs who nonetheless manage to hold.

Round 17

Round 17
Saturday, 30 August (2:45 pm) West Perth 16.16 (112)def. Subiaco 12.10 (82) Leederville Oval (crowd: 4408) [80]
Saturday, 30 August (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 9.14 (68)def. by Perth 20.15 (135) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1198) [81]
Saturday, 30 August (2:45 pm) East Perth 17.14 (116)def. Claremont 13.11 (89) Perth Oval (crowd: 3013) [82]
Saturday, 30 August (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 19.14 (128)def. South Fremantle 14.13 (97) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11411) [83]

East Fremantle score a critical win after it was close at three-quarter time to remain second, 18 percent ahead of West Perth.

Round 18

Round 18
Saturday, 6 September (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 25.15 (165)def. Perth 13.16 (94) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5443) [84]
Saturday, 6 September (2:45 pm) Subiaco 10.14 (74)def. by East Perth 19.12 (126) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3625) [85]
Saturday, 6 September (2:45 pm) West Perth 16.17 (113)def. Claremont 9.12 (66) Leederville Oval (crowd: 3779) [86]
Saturday, 6 September (2:45 pm) Swan Districts 13.12 (90)def. by East Fremantle 21.13 (139) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 748) [87]

Perth, who had coped successfully with the loss of Merv McIntosh during the Hobart Carnival with a swollen hand [88] are in danger of losing their seemingly secure finals berth as a depleted South Fremantle runs over them in the first half. Naylor kicks fourteen goals and South Fremantle’s centreline and rovers are breathtaking.

Round 19

Round 19
Saturday, 13 September (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 13.16 (94)def. Subiaco 5.11 (41) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1276) [89]
Saturday, 13 September (2:45 pm) East Perth 7.9 (51)def. Perth 7.6 (48) Perth Oval (crowd: 3918) [90]
Saturday, 13 September (2:45 pm) Claremont 12.13 (85)def. Swan Districts 9.15 (69) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 535) [91]
Saturday, 13 September (2:45 pm) West Perth 11.10 (76)def. East Fremantle 8.6 (54) Leederville Oval (crowd: 4580) [92]
  • On a very wet afternoon, [93] East Perth’s late rally fails to given them the five-goal margin needed to make the four. [94]
  • Six goals from Ray Scott ensures West Perth take the double chance in a high-standard game where Old Easts fade out after an impressive start.

Ladder

1947 ladder
PosTeamPldWLDPFPAPPPts
1 South Fremantle (P)19163018921377137.464
2 West Perth 19145016931422119.156
3 East Fremantle 19136018261376132.752
4 Perth 19109014631347108.640
5 East Perth 19109014491386104.540
6 Claremont 1961301337173177.224
7 Swan Districts 1941501221182267.016
8 Subiaco 1931601226164674.512
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, 20 September (2:45 pm) East Fremantle 10.18 (78)def. by Perth 14.10 (94) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 15,808) [95]

Old Easts’ inaccuracy gives the less experienced Redlegs, led by McIntosh and former St. Kilda defender Marcel Hilsz, an upset win as they dominate after quarter-time.

Second semi-final

Second semi-final
Saturday, 27 September (2:45 pm) South Fremantle 20.8 (128)def. West Perth 13.9 (87) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 23,847) [96]

Preliminary final

 
Saturday, 4 October (2:45 pm) West Perth 16.12 (108)def. Perth 13.10 (88) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 21,168) [97]

West Perth recover from a slow start to end Perth’s brave finals challenge, taking decisive control ten minutes into the last quarter.

Grand Final

1947 WANFL Grand Final
Saturday, 11 October (2:45 pm) South Fremantle def. West Perth Subiaco Oval (crowd: 27,112) [98]
1.1 (7)
8.2 (50)
8.4 (52)
 13.8 (86)		Q1
Q2
Q3
 Final		3.9 (27)
4.10 (34)
9.15 (69)
 9.17 (71)		Umpires: D. Cronin
Simpson Medal: Erik Eriksson (South Fremantle)
Naylor 4, Marsh 3, Murray 3, Hutchinson 2, CarbonGoalsScott 2, Bridges, Larcombe, Clamp, Lamb, Buttsworth, Kingsbury, Lind
Eriksson (best on ground), Renfrey, Marsh, Reilly, Jenkins, F. Price, GrahamBestLamb, Harman, Porter, Larcombe, Loughridge, Bridges, Kingsbury
Injuries Buttsworth (limp)
Harman (cramp)

In a match marred by the collapse of the wall onto Roberts Road under pressure from the crowd [99] South Fremantle take advantage of the Cardinals’ poor kicking in very windy conditions to claim their first premiership since 1917 – and begin a WANFL dynasty.

Notes

  1. ↑ Pressure from some WANFL board members to eliminate zoning existed as late as 1955.
  2. ↑ The crowd was originally listed as 17,538.
  3. ↑ Father of 1980s Claremont, Carlton and Glenelg spearhead Warren.

Related Research Articles

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 1975 WANFL season was the 91st season of senior Australian rules football in Perth and the forty-fifth as the “Western Australian National Football League”. The season saw West Perth, after unexpectedly falling to last in 1974, rise under former Fitzroy coach Graham Campbell to a remarkable premiership win over South Fremantle by a record 104 points in front of what was then the biggest WANFL crowd on record and has since been only exceeded by the 1979 Grand Final. The Bulldogs, apart from Claremont the least successful WANFL club between 1957 and 1974, rose with arrival of Aboriginal stars Stephen Michael and Maurice Rioli to their first finals appearance in five years and began their greatest era since their golden days of the middle 1950s. With East Perth, revitalised after injuries affected their 1974 campaign, and the inconsistent but at times incomparable Swan Districts, they comprised a top four that remained unchanged for the final fourteen rounds.

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 1937 WANFL season was the 53rd season of the Western Australian National Football League. The season saw numerous notable highlights, including:

  1. Five players[a] kicked 100 goals, a number equalled in the major leagues of VFL/AFL, VFA/VFL, or SANFL, only in the 1939 VFA season.[b]
  2. Frank "Scranno" Jenkins won the Sandover Medal in his debut season of senior football with a record high under the 3-2-1 voting system of 34 votes.
  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 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[a] 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 1946 WANFL season was the 62nd season of senior football in Perth, Western Australia.

References

  1. ↑ Barker, Anthony J. Behind the Play: A History of Football in Western Australia. p. 90. ISBN   0975242709.
  2. ↑ See "Big Merv's Match". Australian Football.
  3. ↑ Atkinson, Brian. It’s a Grand Old Flag: a History and Comprehensive Statistical Analysis of the West Perth Football Club 1885-2007. p. 103. ISBN   9781921361395.
  4. ↑ Barker; Behind the Play, pp. 98-99
  5. ↑ Spillman, Ken (2001). Diehards — the Story of the Subiaco Football Club 1946-2000. pp. 11–12. ISBN   0-9578185-0-5.
  6. ↑ "Fremantle too Strong for Canberra Team". The Canberra Times . 11 August 1947. p. 4.
  7. ↑ "East Fremantle Defeats Sydney". The West Australian . 11 August 1947. p. 5.
  8. ↑ Barker, Behind the Play|page=100
  9. ↑ "Won by a Point: Bassendean Match Keen". The West Australian. 28 April 1947. p. 9.
  10. ↑ "Sure in Attack: West Perth Wins Well". The West Australian. 28 April 1947. p. 9.
  11. ↑ "Good Tactics: Claremont Heartened". The West Australian. 28 April 1947. p. 9.
  12. ↑ "Perth's Hard Try – E. Fremantle Extended". The West Australian. 28 April 1947. p. 9.
  13. ↑ "A Runaway Win: West Perth Outclassed". The West Australian. 5 May 1947. p. 3.
  14. ↑ "Vigorous Team: East Perth's Success". The West Australian. 5 May 1947. p. 3.
  15. ↑ "Perth's Victory – McIntosh Outstanding". The West Australian. 5 May 1947. p. 3.
  16. ↑ (Follower) (6 May 1947). "Accurate Kicking – East Fremantle Wins; Subiaco Strong in First Half". The West Australian. p. 2.
  17. ↑ South Fremantle: Biggest Wins
  18. ↑ "Exciting Finish: West Perth Hard-Pressed". The West Australian. 12 May 1947. p. 5.
  19. ↑ "A Hard Tussle – South Fremantle Unbeaten". The West Australian. 12 May 1947. p. 5.
  20. ↑ "Perth Strong – Ten Goals to Tucker". The West Australian. 12 May 1947. p. 5.
  21. ↑ "Close Scoring – Good Claremont Effort". The West Australian. 12 May 1947. p. 5.
  22. ↑ "Poor Kicking – West Perth Extended". The West Australian. 19 May 1947. p. 5.
  23. ↑ "Perth Wins Again: Stout Finishing Effort". The West Australian. 19 May 1947. p. 5.
  24. ↑ "Backs in Form – East Perth Successful". The West Australian. 19 May 1947. p. 5.
  25. ↑ "Strenuous Match – South Fremantle Superior". The West Australian. 19 May 1947. p. 5.
  26. ↑ West Australian Football League: Highest Home-and-Away Crowds
  27. ↑ "End of Winning Run: Stirring Defeat of East Fremantle". The West Australian. 19 May 1947. p. 5.
  28. ↑ "Fighting Finish: Only One Goal to Spare". The West Australian. 26 May 1947. p. 5.
  29. ↑ "Perth's Setback: West Perth too Strong". The West Australian. 26 May 1947. p. 5.
  30. ↑ "Ruck Weakness: Claremont Loses to Leader". The West Australian. 26 May 1947. p. 5.
  31. ↑ "A Sudden Change: East Fremantle's Rally". The West Australian. 26 May 1947. p. 5.
  32. ↑ "Won in First Half: Swan Districts Begins Well". The West Australian. 2 June 1947. p. 5.
  33. ↑ "Sound Defence – East Perth's Victory". The West Australian. 2 June 1947. p. 5.
  34. ↑ "One-Sided Match: S. Fremantle's Forwards Good". The West Australian. 3 June 1947. p. 4.
  35. ↑ "Pace and Marking – West Perth Superiority". The West Australian. 3 June 1947. p. 4.
  36. ↑ "Perth Fades Out: S. Fremantle's Close Call". The West Australian. 9 June 1947. p. 5.
  37. ↑ "East Perth Wins: Too Strong for Subiaco". The West Australian. 9 June 1947. p. 5.
  38. ↑ "Improved Form: Claremont's Fine Display". The West Australian. 9 June 1947. p. 5.
  39. ↑ "A Spirited Finish – Swan Districts' Victory". The West Australian. 9 June 1947. p. 5.
  40. ↑ "A Protest Lodged". The West Australian. 9 June 1947. p. 5.
  41. ↑ "Against the Wind – East Fremantle's Valuable Goals' ; The West Australian". 16 June 1947. p. 5.
  42. ↑ "Good Forwards – West Perth Untroubled' ; The West Australian". 16 June 1947. p. 5.
  43. ↑ "Claremont's Win: Subiaco Fades Out Again' ; The West Australian". 16 June 1947. p. 5.
  44. ↑ "Last-term Tussle – Perth Defends Strongly' ; The West Australian". 16 June 1947. p. 5.
  45. ↑ (Follower) (23 June 1947). "Close Finishes – Naylor's Ten Goals Give Leaders Victory". The West Australian. p. 5.
  46. ↑ "A Rugged Match – Swan Districts Hard-Pressed". The West Australian. 23 June 1947. p. 5.
  47. ↑ "Determined Rally: Perth Defeats Claremont". The West Australian. 23 June 1947. p. 5.
  48. ↑ "Weak Forwards – Subiaco Fail at Fremantle". The West Australian. 23 June 1947. p. 5.
  49. ↑ "An Easy Victory: Swan Districts Outclassed". The West Australian. 30 June 1947. p. 5.
  50. ↑ "Exciting Finish — South Fremantle Defeated". The West Australian. 30 June 1947. p. 5.
  51. ↑ "Perth Extended: Subiaco Leads in Last Term". The West Australian. 30 June 1947. p. 5.
  52. ↑ "Return to Form: East Fremantle Impressive". The West Australian. 30 June 1947. p. 5.
  53. ↑ "A Close Finish: Subiaco Extends West Perth". The West Australian. 7 July 1947. p. 5.
  54. ↑ "Perth Efficient: Swan Districts Outclassed". The West Australian. 7 July 1947. p. 5.
  55. ↑ "One-Sided Match: East Perth Score Heavily". The West Australian. 7 July 1947. p. 5.
  56. ↑ "Early Speed: South Fremantle Impresses". The West Australian. 7 July 1947. p. 5.
  57. ↑ Bassendean Oval: Lowest Scores
  58. ↑ "Ruck Strength: Subiaco's First Victory". The West Australian. 14 July 1947. p. 5.
  59. ↑ "Three-Point Win: West Perth's Fine Recovery". The West Australian. 14 July 1947. p. 5.
  60. ↑ "Claremont Fades: South Fremantle too Strong". The West Australian. 14 July 1947. p. 5.
  61. ↑ "Early Success – East Fremantle Gain Lead". The West Australian. 14 July 1947. p. 5.
  62. ↑ "Subiaco Strong: South Fremantle Beaten". The West Australian. 21 July 1947. p. 5.
  63. ↑ "Heavy Going – Perth Beats East Perth". The West Australian. 21 July 1947. p. 5.
  64. ↑ "Lower Teams: Claremont's FOurth Victory". The West Australian. 21 July 1947. p. 5.
  65. ↑ "Surer Forwards: East Fremantle's Success". The West Australian. 21 July 1947. p. 5.
  66. ↑ Bureau of Meteorology; Perth Regional Office (009034) July 1947 rainfall
  67. ↑ "Good Recovery – South Fremantle's Success". The West Australian. 28 July 1947. p. 5.
  68. ↑ "Strong Finish – Fine Effort by Subiaco". The West Australian. 28 July 1947. p. 5.
  69. ↑ "Last-Term Rally – West Perth Beats Claremont". The West Australian. 28 July 1947. p. 5.
  70. ↑ "Decisive Victory – East Fremantle Efficient". The West Australian. 28 July 1947. p. 5.
  71. ↑ "League Football – All-Round Superiority: East Fremantle Starts Well". The West Australian. 21 April 1947. p. 5.
  72. ↑ "Costly Mistakes – West Perth Forwards Fail". The West Australian. 18 August 1947. p. 5.
  73. ↑ "Weakened Teams – East Perth Successful". The West Australian. 18 August 1947. p. 5.
  74. ↑ "Fast Pace Early – Claremont in Form". The West Australian. 18 August 1947. p. 5.
  75. ↑ See "Position Unchanged – Perth and East Perth Defeated". The West Australian. 28 July 1947. p. 5.
  76. ↑ "Easy Victory: West Perth Scores Heavily". The West Australian. 25 August 1947. p. 5.
  77. ↑ "Serious Loss: East Perth's Inaccuracy". The West Australian. 25 August 1947. p. 5.
  78. ↑ "Sudden Change: Subiaco Narrowly Beaten". The West Australian. 25 August 1947. p. 5.
  79. ↑ "Strong Finish: East Fremantle Rallies". The West Australian. 25 August 1947. p. 5.
  80. ↑ "Thirty Points to Spare: West Perth Untroubled". The West Australian. 1 September 1947. p. 5.
  81. ↑ "Easy Victory: Tucker's 12 Goals for Perth". The West Australian. 1 September 1947. p. 5.
  82. ↑ "Forwards Improve: East Perth Beats Claremont". The West Australian. 1 September 1947. p. 5.
  83. ↑ "Good Kicking: Six Goals to G. Prince". The West Australian. 1 September 1947. p. 5.
  84. ↑ "Perth Outclassed: South Fremantle's Speed". The West Australian. 8 September 1947. p. 5.
  85. ↑ "Useful Margin of Points: East Perth Beats Subiaco". The West Australian. 8 September 1947. p. 5.
  86. ↑ "West Perth Wins: S. Heal in Sparkling Form". The West Australian. 8 September 1947. p. 5.
  87. ↑ "Bassendean Game: J.Green's Half-Forward Play". The West Australian. 8 September 1947. p. 5.
  88. ↑ (Follower) (8 September 1947). "Perth in Danger: East Perth May Scrape into Four". The West Australian. p. 5.
  89. ↑ "Subiaco Fades – Strong First Half". The West Australian. 15 September 1947. p. 5.
  90. ↑ "Three-Point Win – East Perth's Late Rally". The West Australian. 15 September 1947. p. 5.
  91. ↑ "Sixth Success: Claremont's Final Effort". The West Australian. 15 September 1947. p. 5.
  92. ↑ "Decisive Victory – West Perth's Good Form". The West Australian. 15 September 1947. p. 5.
  93. ↑ Australian Bureau of Meteorology; Perth Regional Office (009034) September 1947 rainfall
  94. ↑ "First Semi-Final: East Fremantle to Meet Perth". The West Australian. 15 September 1947. p. 5.
  95. ↑ "Perth's Triumph: East Fremantle Defeated in Semi-Final". The West Australian. 22 September 1947. p. 5.
  96. ↑ (Follower) (29 September 1947). "Pace and Teamwork: South Fremantle Outplays West Perth". The West Australian. p. 5.
  97. ↑ (Follower) (6 October 1947). "West Perth Reaches Grand final: Another Tilt at South Fremantle". The West Australian. p. 5.
  98. ↑ (Follower) (13 October 1947). "After Thirty Years: Football Title to South Fremantle". The West Australian. p. 5.
  99. ↑ "Wall at Oval Collapses: Cars Crushed by Falling Stone". The West Australian. 13 October 1947. p. 7.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.