1969 WANFL season

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1969 WAFL season
Teams8
Premiers West Perth
13th premiership
Minor premiers East Perth
12th minor premiership
Sandover Medallist Mal Brown (East Perth)
Bernie Naylor Medallist Austin Robertson, Jr. (Subiaco)
Attendance
Matches played88
Total attendance878,901 (9,988 per match)
←  1968
1970  →

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 [1] including Graham Moss, Russell Reynolds and Bruce Duperouzel, [2] 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, [3] early-season injuries to key players Iseger and Page [4] 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.

Contents

The league's popularity, aided by the driest football season in Perth since 1940, [5] and a new $500,000 grandstand at Subiaco Oval, [6] reached a high not to be surpassed. East Perth attracted an average of over twelve thousand spectators to each home match, [7] including an all-time record WANFL home-and-away attendance against West Perth on the Saturday before Foundation Day.

Home-and-away season

Round 1 (Easter weekend)

Round 1
Saturday, 5 April (2:15 pm) Perth 18.20 (128)def. South Fremantle 11.14 (80) Lathlain Park (crowd: 13060) [8]
Saturday, 5 April (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 15.13 (103)def. East Fremantle 14.17 (101) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 9540) [9]
Monday, 7 April (2:15 pm) East Perth 21.23 (149)def. Subiaco 11.9 (75) Perth Oval (crowd: 17838)
Monday, 7 April (2:15 pm) Claremont 13.13 (91)drew with West Perth 13.13 (91) Claremont Oval (crowd: 11236)
  • A devastating 10.5 (65) to 1.2 (8) last quarter, with rovers Doncon and Verstegen getting the ball from the centre every time, demolishes Subiaco after a fairly even three quarters and shows the Royals’ eagerness to avenge their last three Grand Final defeats. [10]
  • Claremont's John Lewis ties a fluctuating match – highlighted by a brilliant third quarter from John Parkinson – with the last kick of the day. [11]
  • This was the first-ever draw at Claremont Oval in its fortieth season as a WA(N)FL venue, [12] and only one draw against Subiaco in 1987 has occurred since.

Round 2

Round 2
Saturday, 12 April (2:15 pm) Perth 23.22 (160)def. Swan Districts 10.11 (71) Lathlain Park (crowd: 10088)
Saturday, 12 April (2:15 pm) West Perth 12.13 (85)def. by East Perth 12.22 (94) Leederville Oval (crowd: 17414)
Saturday, 12 April (2:15 pm) Subiaco 15.13 (103)def. Claremont 13.13 (91) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 10093) [13]
Saturday, 12 April (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 16.17 (113)def. South Fremantle 13.16 (94) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11285) [14]

East Perth's ability to dominate Farmer ensures they defeat the depleted Cardinals more easily than the scoreboard implies – West Perth were flattered by eight final-quarter goals. [15]

Round 3

Round 3
Saturday, 19 April (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 8.15 (63)def. by West Perth 28.21 (189) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 8555)
Saturday, 19 April (2:15 pm) Subiaco 17.15 (117)def. South Fremantle 13.11 (89) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7654)
Saturday, 19 April (2:15 pm) East Perth 14.16 (100)def. Perth 11.13 (79) Perth Oval (crowd: 20466)
Saturday, 19 April (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 19.12 (126)def. Claremont 16.16 (112) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9411) [16]
  • East Perth end Perth's longest-ever winning streak at fourteen and gain some revenge for their past three Grand Final defeats. [17]
  • West Perth's 126-point win remains the biggest achieved by a visiting club at Bassendean Oval, breaking South Fremantle's 112 points in 1952. [18] Laurie Richards scored 12.7 (79) and John Wynne produces the first of many dominating performances at centre half-forward. [19]

Round 4

Round 4
Saturday, 26 April (2:15 pm) West Perth 14.22 (106)def. Perth 13.16 (94) Leederville Oval (crowd: 16884)
Saturday, 26 April (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 15.18 (108)def. by East Perth 17.14 (116) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 8261)
Saturday, 26 April (2:15 pm) Claremont 16.14 (110)def. by South Fremantle 23.19 (157) Claremont Oval (crowd: 9001) [20]
Saturday, 26 April (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 6.15 (51)def. by Subiaco 12.15 (87) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 10194)
  • Poor kicking denies Swan Districts a win – with newcomers Darryl Balchin and Neil Taylor overcoming their woeful 1968 knock ruck weakness – and leaves severe doubts about the undefeated Royals. [21]
  • Perth's weakness around the ground – they take only 53 marks to 77 – leaves it unable to counter West and Barry Cable playing as a defensive man rather than a “stormtrooper”. [4]

Round 5

Round 5
Saturday, 3 May (2:15 pm) Subiaco 8.10 (58)def. by West Perth 11.16 (82) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 14612)
Saturday, 3 May (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 19.19 (133)def. Swan Districts 11.18 (84) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 10388)
Saturday, 3 May (2:15 pm) East Perth 14.11 (95)def. Claremont 11.19 (85) Perth Oval (crowd: 10757)
Saturday, 3 May (2:15 pm) Perth 24.17 (161)def. East Fremantle 16.10 (106) Lathlain Park (crowd: 8758) [22]
  • David Dyson's superb display in holding Robertson to one goal [b] and Bill Valli's fine roving ensures Subiaco's hoodoo against the three top WANFL clubs is maintained in a dour match. [23]
  • East Perth are again poor against a weak team, as their half-forward line consistently breaks down to create doubts about their ability to erase three grand final losses. [24]

Round 6

Round 6
Saturday, 10 May (2:15 pm) West Perth 15.14 (104)def. South Fremantle 9.9 (63) Leederville Oval (crowd: 13964)
Saturday, 10 May (2:15 pm) Perth 12.17 (89)def. by Subiaco 14.11 (95) Lathlain Park (crowd: 9633)
Saturday, 10 May (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 17.12 (114)def. Claremont 11.17 (83) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 6385)
Saturday, 10 May (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 12.12 (84)def. by East Perth 16.15 (111) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8315) [25]
  • Subiaco respond to criticism after their West Perth defeat by countering Perth's long-kicking game with Bunton's short-passing skill, producing their first win against a “Perth” club since 1967. [26]
  • Winless Claremont captain-coach Dennis Marshall says he must start a rebuilding program after Swan Districts pass their 1968 win tally against a “selfish” Tiger team, where the youngsters teach lessons to Claremont's elders. [2]

Round 7

Round 7
Saturday, 17 May (2:15 pm) Subiaco 8.13 (61)def. by Swan Districts 9.10 (64) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6410)
Saturday, 17 May (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 12.8 (80)def. by East Perth 14.20 (104) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9678)
Saturday, 17 May (2:15 pm) Claremont 12.14 (86)def. by Perth 15.19 (109) Claremont Oval (crowd: 5358) [3]
Saturday, 17 May (2:15 pm) West Perth 14.13 (97)def. East Fremantle 11.14 (80) Leederville Oval (crowd: 7458) [27]

Subiaco's desire to play dry-weather football on the first wet day of the season costs them dearly against the Swans, as they break down at half-forward until the second half and do not hang on after taking the lead. [28]

Round 8

Round 8
Saturday, 24 May (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 11.9 (75)def. by Perth 17.17 (119) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 10439) [29]
Saturday, 24 May (2:15 pm) Subiaco 15.13 (103)def. by East Perth 15.18 (108) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 14052)
Saturday, 24 May (2:15 pm) West Perth 18.18 (126)def. Claremont 7.8 (50) Leederville Oval (crowd: 10665) [30]
Saturday, 24 May (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 21.21 (147)def. Swan Districts 7.16 (58) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8051)
  • Subiaco fail to take the game from the unbeaten Royals in the final minutes after scoring the only four goals of the last quarter. [31]
  • East Fremantle kick their highest score since 1966 to stand a game from fourth as “Whale” Roberts monopolises the ruck, nullifying Swans’ main strength in Walker. [32] After Bill Holmes score 1.6 (12) in the first half, East Fremantle score 13.9 (87) to 3.6 (24).

Round 9 (Foundation Day)

Round 9
Saturday, 31 May (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 7.17 (59)def. by Perth 18.12 (120) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 7711)
Saturday, 31 May (2:15 pm) East Perth 12.11 (83)def. by West Perth 16.15 (111) Perth Oval (crowd: 26760)
Monday, 2 June (2:15 pm) Claremont 13.9 (87)def. by Subiaco 27.18 (180) Claremont Oval (crowd: 9392)
Monday, 2 June (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 15.17 (107)def. East Fremantle 13.17 (95) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 16548) [33]
  • The Perth Oval crowd between the two fierce rivals is the biggest WANFL home-and-away crowd ever, beating the 1949 South Fremantle v West Perth record by almost two thousand. [34] The huge crowd causes much congestion with 100 yards (90 m) queues at the gates.
  • West Perth end the Royals’ unbeaten run by holding them scoreless in the last quarter, as John Wynne shows himself the WANFL's best centre half-forward again by kicking two goals and controlling play against a Royal side minus injury-plagued number one rover Doncon. [35]
  • Subiaco kicked its highest open-age score until 1984 when it kicked 32.12 (204) against Perth, [36] and still its highest against Claremont. [37] The Maroons had seventy more kicks, fifty-nine more marks and an amazing seventy-seven effective handballs to just sixteen. [38]

Round 10

Round 10
Saturday, 7 June (2:15 pm) West Perth 15.13 (103)def. Swan Districts 10.10 (70) Leederville Oval (crowd: 6271)
Saturday, 7 June (2:15 pm) Perth 8.19 (67)def. East Perth 6.8 (44) Lathlain Park (crowd: 9700)
Saturday, 14 June (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 10.12 (72)def. by Subiaco 11.15 (81) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8459) [39]
Saturday, 14 June (2:15 pm) Claremont 14.11 (95)def. by East Fremantle 15.18 (108) Claremont Oval (crowd: 5185) [1]
  • Perth easily win an uninspiring match between two depleted teams – it was said most spectators were eagerly listening on the radio to the Adelaide Carnival! [40]
  • East Fremantle keep Claremont winless with a comeback from 38 points down at half-time, scoring 10.13 (73) to 3.4 (22) owing to the dominance of Fred Lewis in his first match for over a year at centre half-forward. It is the biggest comeback in the second half ever at Claremont Oval. [12]

Round 11

Round 11
Saturday, 21 June (2:15 pm) Perth 18.8 (116)def. West Perth 9.20 (74) Lathlain Park (crowd: 14940)
Saturday, 21 June (2:15 pm) East Perth 21.23 (149)def. Swan Districts 12.13 (85) Perth Oval (crowd: 7879)
Saturday, 21 June (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 14.18 (102)def. by Claremont 17.11 (113) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6617)
Saturday, 21 June (2:15 pm) Subiaco 19.14 (128)def. East Fremantle 17.16 (118) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7921)
  • Against the eventual premiers, Perth beat Claremont's 1940 record for the biggest win with fewer scoring shots. [41] After West Perth score six behinds from seven shots in the first ten minutes of the last quarter, Perth score 8.1 (49) to two behinds in the final twenty minutes. [42]
  • Claremont, after its worst start to a season since 1958 and third-worst winless start in its history, finally win its first match since 17 August 1968 against a South Fremantle team that cannot match the determination of the inexperienced Tigers. [43]
  • In a match affected at a critical stage by a dog entering the playing field when Robertson was shooting for goal, Subiaco held off Old Easts to have the finalists virtually sealed with ten rounds remaining. [44]
  • The dog followed play for two minutes in the last quarter, in the process spreadeagling Bunton of Subiaco and Allen Prosser of East Fremantle. [45] The field umpire was criticised for not halting play since it was clear there was much distraction with the game close. [46]

Round 12

Round 12
Saturday, 28 June (2:15 pm) West Perth 14.13 (97)def. Subiaco 8.20 (68) Leederville Oval (crowd: 11097)
Saturday, 28 June (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 13.22 (100)def. by South Fremantle 17.8 (110) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 4439) [47]
Saturday, 28 June (2:15 pm) Claremont 9.12 (66)def. by East Perth 14.19 (103) Claremont Oval (crowd: 6666)
Saturday, 28 June (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 11.16 (82)def. by Perth 19.10 (124) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7047)
  • Subiaco's short game and Robertson's weakness in “one-out” contests means the Maroons are cut to ribbons after a goalless first quarter, as West Perth's speed yields 11.7 (73) to 3.10 (28) in the second and third stanzas. [48]
  • The switching of centre-half-forward Ian Miller and full-forward Richard Peel drives Perth to a brilliant final quarter of 11.3 (69) with Miller scoring five as Perth's disposal to him reaches remarkable levels of precision. [49]

Round 13

Round 13
Saturday, 5 July (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 9.12 (66)def. by West Perth 15.12 (102) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8302)
Saturday, 5 July (2:15 pm) Subiaco 16.6 (102)def. Perth 12.14 (86) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 10362) [50]
Saturday, 5 July (2:15 pm) Claremont 12.15 (87)def. by Swan Districts 16.18 (114) Claremont Oval (crowd: 5701)
Saturday, 5 July (2:15 pm) East Perth 20.8 (128)def. East Fremantle 12.18 (90) Perth Oval (crowd: 9398)

Bill Walker, despite suffering a bad back injury early in the match, constantly brings the ball into the open to have Swans running over Claremont after the Tigers obtained a four-goal quarter-time lead. [51]

Round 14

Round 14
Saturday, 12 July (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 21.10 (136)def. Subiaco 10.13 (73) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 7435)
Saturday, 12 July (2:15 pm) East Perth 16.15 (111)def. South Fremantle 12.7 (79) Perth Oval (crowd: 8277)
Saturday, 12 July (2:15 pm) Perth 24.22 (166)def. Claremont 12.10 (82) Lathlain Park (crowd: 6121) [52]
Saturday, 12 July (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 11.11 (77)def. West Perth 11.8 (74) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7655)
  • East Fremantle come from six goals behind at half-time for a surprise victory over the powerful Cardinals – Eric Sarich's complete reorganisation blots out the centreline dominance of Whinnen that had previous strangled Old Easts’ forwards. [53]
  • Ruck-rover Tony Nesbit and centreman Peter Manning show brilliant form to deal a shattering blow to Subiaco's chances of playing in their first open-age second semi-final since 1935. [c] Despite their weak ruck, Swans’ drop kicking to Nesbit is deadly accurate and he consistently found Manning playing on and moving forward. [54]

Round 15

Round 15
Saturday, 19 July (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 14.10 (94)def. by Perth 20.16 (136) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5405) [55]
Saturday, 19 July (2:15 pm) East Perth 22.10 (142)def. Subiaco 16.12 (108) Perth Oval (crowd: 7822) [56]
Saturday, 19 July (2:15 pm) Claremont 9.12 (66)def. by West Perth 15.10 (100) Claremont Oval (crowd: 5240)
Saturday, 19 July (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 17.25 (127)def. East Fremantle 12.18 (90) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 9576)

Swan Districts move to fifth by kicking 7.9 (51) to 2.4 (16) into a fading wind in the final quarter, as Old Easts’ backline degenerates into a “shamble”. [57]

Round 16

Round 16
Saturday, 26 July (2:15 pm) Perth 14.20 (104)def. Swan Districts 12.6 (78) Lathlain Park (crowd: 8568)
Saturday, 26 July (2:15 pm) West Perth 10.10 (70)drew with East Perth 9.16 (70) Leederville Oval (crowd: 11424)
Saturday, 26 July (2:15 pm) Subiaco 11.9 (75)def. Claremont 8.20 (68) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3779)
Saturday, 26 July (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 9.15 (69)def. South Fremantle 7.10 (52) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4899)
  • The draw with West Perth, on one of only two wet Saturdays all year, [58] was East Perth's last until the third round of 1993, a 518-game gap that became the most by any WA(N)FL team until beaten by East Fremantle in 2014. [59] It also produced the last season until 2009 with multiple drawn matches. [60]
  • In a match where only 1.4 (10) was scored into a violent wind, East Perth's determination allows it to hold the Cardinals for the thrilling final eight minutes after Farmer had led them to equalise earlier in the final quarter. [61]
  • By positioning Cable on a half-back flank as an extra defender, Perth score 2.4 (16) to 2.0 (12) into an almost hurricane-force wind to take second position, as Cable's eleven last-quarter possessions are all moved precisely to running teammates. [62]
  • Subiaco full-back Peter Easkins’ constant strong marking in the goalmouth forces Claremont into errors and wide play on its forward line in a strong crosswind and means the Tigers fail to capitalise upon a dominant midfield. [63]

Round 17

Round 17
Saturday, 2 August (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 9.10 (64)def. by West Perth 14.19 (103) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 6341) [64]
Saturday, 2 August (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 11.12 (78)def. by Subiaco 15.12 (102) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4758)
Saturday, 2 August (2:15 pm) East Perth 8.12 (60)def. by Perth 12.12 (84) Perth Oval (crowd: 13053)
Saturday, 2 August (2:15 pm) Claremont 14.16 (100)def. East Fremantle 8.19 (67) Claremont Oval (crowd: 3840) [65]

Perth again shows themselves the best-equipped WANFL team for wars of attrition as they overcome East Perth in a hard, tough games after the Royals came within ten points midway through the last quarter. [66]

Round 18

Round 18
Saturday, 9 August (2:15 pm) West Perth 14.16 (100)def. by Perth 16.6 (102) Leederville Oval (crowd: 19117)
Saturday, 9 August (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 9.10 (64)def. by East Perth 24.18 (162) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 7280) [67]
Saturday, 9 August (2:15 pm) Claremont 17.18 (120)def. South Fremantle 10.10 (70) Claremont Oval (crowd: 5025) [68]
Saturday, 9 August (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 17.16 (118)def. Subiaco 17.6 (108) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5955) [69]

Minus Atwell, Graham Jenzen and Greg Brehaut, Perth's fanaticism has them snatch the match from West Perth after being thirty-one points down at half-time – giving the Demons the box seat for four consecutive premierships. [70]

Round 19

Round 19
Saturday, 16 August (2:15 pm) Subiaco 16.6 (102)def. West Perth 12.14 (86) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 11746)
Saturday, 16 August (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 17.14 (116)def. Swan Districts 14.25 (109) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4535) [71]
Saturday, 16 August (2:15 pm) East Perth 16.16 (112)def. Claremont 10.8 (68) Perth Oval (crowd: 8635)
Saturday, 16 August (2:15 pm) Perth 12.14 (86)def. by East Fremantle 18.17 (125) Lathlain Park (crowd: 7201) [72]
  • Subiaco's elimination of needless short play and Robertson's eleven goals has the Maroons surprisingly winning the expected first semi-final preview. [73]
  • East Fremantle gain revenge for the 1967 Lathlain Park debacle and record their first win over Perth since 1966, breaking a record sequence of eight losses. [74]

Round 20

Round 20
Saturday, 23 August (2:15 pm) West Perth 19.27 (141)def. South Fremantle 4.6 (30) Leederville Oval (crowd: 7000) [75]
Saturday, 23 August (2:15 pm) Perth 18.18 (126)def. Subiaco 10.7 (67) Lathlain Park (crowd: 12004)
Saturday, 23 August (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 14.9 (93)def. by Claremont 17.11 (113) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 4576) [76]
Saturday, 23 August (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 10.14 (74)def. by East Perth 16.11 (107) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8811)

Perth's hardness at the ball allows them to score 9.6 (60) to 1.2 (8) in a brilliant last quarter after an even struggle – in the process keeping ahead of West Perth's despite the latter's huge win over an inept South Fremantle. [77]

Round 21

Round 21
Saturday, 30 August (2:15 pm) Subiaco 18.15 (123)def. Swan Districts 10.15 (75) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6642) [78]
Saturday, 30 August (2:15 pm) East Perth 30.11 (191)def. South Fremantle 9.10 (64) Perth Oval (crowd: 7006)
Saturday, 30 August (2:15 pm) Claremont 16.15 (111)def. Perth 10.11 (71) Claremont Oval (crowd: 6773)
Saturday, 30 August (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 10.6 (66)def. by West Perth 12.19 (91) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8200) [79]
  • Claremont win their fourth match out of five to avoid the wooden spoon and deprive Perth of the double chance. Their young ruck division of Moss, McIntosh (in his last match before shifting to St. Kilda) “Boomer” Harvey and Reynolds crushes the Demons at ball-ups and around the ground. [80]
  • South Fremantle suffer their fourth wooden spoon of the 1960s as they lose consecutive matches by over 100 points for the only time in open-age football, [81] as the injury-plagued Keith Doncon returns from a severe back injury to kick five goals, whilst Grand Dorrington scores 9.0 (54) and Phil Tierney on a half-forward flank 6.5 (41). [82]

Ladder

1969 ladder
PosTeamPldWLDPFPAPPPts
1 East Perth 21173123391729135.370
2 West Perth (P)21145221321573135.560
3 Perth 21156023271797129.560
4 Subiaco 21129020162012100.248
5 East Fremantle 2181301987215092.432
6 Swan Districts 2161501839244375.324
7 Claremont 2151511884228282.622
8 South Fremantle 2151601811234977.120
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, 6 September (2:15 pm) Perth 13.17 (95)def. Subiaco 12.15 (87) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 32,574) [83]

After Subiaco led 5.2 (32) to 1.3 (9) into the wind with Robert Kitchin compensating for Ramshaw's eclipse of Robertson, Cable and Graham Jenzen lead Perth to a fine win as the Maroons’ excessive handball in defence costs them dearly. [84]

Second semi-final

Second semi-final
Saturday, 13 September (2:15 pm) East Perth 7.15 (57)def. by West Perth 12.11 (83) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 35,740) [85]

West Perth's unexpected physical strength jolts and undisciplined East Perth team, who made the error of kicking into the wind after winning the toss.

  • The use of former ruckman Bryan Pleitner on a wing exposed East Perth's lack of size there, and Keith Doncon again suffered a season-ending injury, this time a major knee strain during the second quarter. [86]

Preliminary final

Preliminary final
Saturday, 20 September (2:15 pm) East Perth 19.8 (122)def. Perth 9.22 (76) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 29,590)
  • East Perth break Perth's Round 11 record for the biggest win with fewer scoring shots and derail Perth's dream of four successive premierships. [41]
  • The Royals’ policy of using seven ruckmen and rotating all in the forward line exploits the Demons’ ruck weakness and ensures East Perth a fourth chance at the premiership [87]

Grand Final

1969 WANFL Grand Final
Saturday, 27 September West Perth def. East Perth Subiaco Oval (crowd: 51,385) [88]
6.12 (48)
10.14 (74)
18.19 (127)
21.21 (147)		Q1
Q2
Q3
Final		2.2 (14)
4.5 (29)
4.6 (30)
10.14 (74)		Umpires: Ray Montgomery
Simpson Medal: Bill Dempsey (West Perth)
Richards 7, Smeath 6, Miller 2, Wynne 2, Watling, Baker, Knell, ValliGoalsDorrington 3, Bygraves 3, Smith, Tierney, Verstegen
Dempsey, Knell, Watling, Whinnen, Farmer, Richards, SmeathBestBygraves, Gillespie, Brown, Smith, Graham, Haines, Chadwick, Gillespie

Under the captain-coaching of former Royal “Polly” Farmer, West Perth win their first premiership since 1960 in brilliant fashion, setting records for highest Grand Final score and biggest win, which they broke in 1975.

Notes

a Four consecutive premiership in the WA(N)FL was last achieved by East Fremantle between 1928 and 1931, and the sole previous occurrences were by Old Easts between 1908 and 1911 and East Perth (five consecutive) between 1919 and 1923. No WANFL/WAFL/Westar Rules club since 1970 has achieved four consecutive premierships.
b Austin Robertson junior was held goalless on only five occasions in his 269 games in the WANFL and VFL (in 1966 with South Melbourne), which occurred in 1962, 1963, 1965 and twice during his final 1974 season. He had not been held to one goal since his goalless Round 15, 1965 game with South Fremantle.
c Subiaco did play in the 1943 second-semi when league football was restricted to players under nineteen years of age as of 1 October.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Perth Football Club</span> Australian rules football club in the WAFL

The East Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Royals, is an Australian rules football club based in Leederville, Western Australia, current playing in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) and WAFL Women's (WAFLW). Formed in 1902 as the Union Football Club, the club entered the WAFL in 1906, changing its name to East Perth. It won its first premiership in 1919, part of a streak of five consecutive premierships. Overall, the club has won 17 premierships, most recently in 2002. The club is currently based at Leederville Oval, which it shares with the Subiaco Football Club, having previously played home games at Wellington Square and Perth Oval from 1910 to 1999.

The 1986 WAFL season was the 102nd season of the various incarnations of the West Australian Football League. It was the last season before the introduction of the West Coast Eagles in the VFL which would relegate the WAFL to a second-level league from 1987, and already all WAFL clubs were in severe financial difficulties as attendances were stagnant at best since 1970 and the financial power of wealthy VFL clubs drew most top players away and left below-market transfer fees as WAFL clubs' inadequate main income source.

The 1987 WAFL season was the 103rd season of the West Australian Football League in its various iterations. This season saw a Western Australia-based team, West Coast, that was one of two interstate teams to make their debut in the Victorian Football League (VFL), which had profound effects on the WAFL competition. The Eagles took away thirty-five of the competition's best players, severely reducing attendances and club revenue, the latter of which was further affected by the payment of the Eagles’ licence fee to the VFL. The WAFL budgeted for a 30 percent decline in attendances, but the observed decline was over fifty percent, and they were also hit by Channel Seven telecasting the Round 17 Hawthorn versus Footscray match, breaching agreements to not telecast non-Eagles VFL matches to Perth.

The 1985 WAFL season was the 101st season of the West Australian Football League and its various incarnations. The season opened on 30 March and concluded on 21 September with the 1985 WAFL Grand Final contested between East Fremantle and Subiaco.

The 1984 WAFL season was the 100th season of the West Australian Football League and its various incarnations. The season opened on 31 March and concluded on 22 September with the 1984 WAFL Grand Final contested between East Fremantle and Swan Districts.

The 1983 WAFL season was the 99th season of the West Australian Football League in its various incarnations. The season opened on 31 March and concluded on 17 September with the 1983 WAFL Grand Final contested between Claremont and Swan Districts.

The 1982 WAFL season was the 98th season of the West Australian Football League and its various incarnations. The season opened on 27 March 1982 and concluded on 18 September 1982 with the 1982 WAFL Grand Final contested between Claremont and Swan Districts. Under the coaching of John Todd, Swans won the 1982, 1983 and 1984 premierships before the financial lure of the VFL deprived it one by one of the stars of this period. The black and whites’ win was marred a little, however, by their decision to play a virtual reserve grade lineup against Richmond in an Escort Cup quarter-final after the game was postponed twice[a] and the VFL Tigers refused to play the match at Subiaco Oval on a Monday afternoon – Richmond won 33.16 (214) to 4.4 (28) and Swan Districts were suspended from the competition until 1985, despite the WAFL approving of their decision after Todd argued it was normal practice among VFL clubs to play reserves players in the Escort Cup.

The 1981 WAFL season was the 97th season of the West Australian Football League in its various incarnations. The season opened on 11 April and concluded on 3 October with the 1981 WAFL Grand Final between Claremont and South Fremantle. It was the last WAFL season to begin in April and end in October; from 1982 the league shifted the schedule of the season forward by a week and in later years by another.

The 1980 WAFL season was the 96th season of the West Australian Football League in its various incarnations.

The 1979 WANFL season was the 95th season of the West Australian National Football League in its various incarnations, and the last of forty-nine under that moniker.

The 1978 WANFL season was the 94th season of the Western Australian National Football League in its various incarnations, and the second-last under that moniker.

The 1976 WANFL season was the 92nd season of the Western Australian National Football League in its various incarnations.

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 1974 WAFL season was the 90th season of the various incarnations of senior football in Perth and the forty-fourth as the "Western Australian National Football League". It continued the fluctuating fortunes of clubs that had been part and parcel of the league since 1970, with East Perth, the most consistent player in the competition for eight years, missing finals participation for the only time in seventeen seasons between 1966 and 1982 due largely to injuries to key defenders Gary Malarkey, who missed the second half of the season, and Ken McAullay who did not play at all. West Perth fell from runners-up to their worst season since 1939, largely owing to the loss of 1973 leading goalkicker Phil Smith which left a gaping hole in their attack.

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 1972 WANFL season was the 88th season of the various incarnations of the Western Australian National Football League. It saw East Perth, after five Grand Final losses in six seasons and a frustrating seven since their last premiership in 1959, break the drought against a Claremont team that had achieved its first minor premiership since Johnny Leonard’s days, despite kicking into the wind after winning the toss.

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 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 1968 WANFL season was the 84th season of senior football in Perth, Western Australia. It saw Perth, after having won only two premierships in its first sixty-six seasons, win its third consecutive flag under captain-coach Mal Atwell and champion rover Barry Cable – all three Grand Finals having been won against East Perth with Cable taking the Simpson Medal.

The 1967 WANFL season was the 83rd season of the various incarnations of the Western Australian National Football League. Its most salient feature was the decline of East Fremantle, the league's most successful club, to its worst season since its inaugural 1898 season. Old Easts – having during the first two-thirds of the century never won fewer than ten matches in a season – won only seven and finished second-last after looking set for a still-worse record during the first fifteen rounds. Their appointed captain-coach Bert Thornley resigned after twelve matches due to the club's bad form and his desire to play for Carlton in 1968. The blue and whites suffered severely from a bad run of injuries and form lapses amongst senior players like Sorrell, Spriggs, Rogers and Casserly, plus a serious weakness in attack due to the loss of Bob Johnson. Despite regaining Austin Robertson and acquiring Johnson, Subiaco continued their disastrous form of late 1966 for their worst season since 1953, as the loss of Slater and injuries to Brian Sarre left them decrepit in the ruck and defence.

References

  1. 1 2 Todd, John; ‘Lewis Makes Bright Return’; The West Australian , 16 June 1969, p. 32
  2. 1 2 Casellas, Ken; ‘Marshall Aims to Rebuild’; The West Australian, 12 May 1969, p. 40
  3. 1 2 Todd, John; ‘Hard Work Dulls Cable’; The West Australian, 19 May 1969, p. 32
  4. 1 2 Casellas, Ken; ‘Perth Must Take Stock’ The West Australian, 28 April 1969, p. 36
  5. ↑ Perth Regional Office (009034) annual rainfall
  6. ↑ See Farmer, Barry; ‘Scalping Not Considered by the League’; The West Australian, 1 July 1969, p. 21
  7. ↑ East, Alan (editor); The Royals: 100 Years of Tradition – A History of the East Perth Football Club; pp. 145-150
  8. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘South's Loss Poses Selection Problems’; The West Australian, 7 April 1969, p. 16
  9. ↑ Todd, John; ‘Triumph for Walker’; The West Australian, 7 April 1969, p. 16
  10. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘74 pt. Win to East Perth’; The West Australian, 8 April 1969, p. 40
  11. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Lewis Kicks Point in Last Second’; The West Australian, 8 April 1969, p. 40
  12. 1 2 "WAFL Footy Facts: Claremont Oval". Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  13. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Subiaco Not Impressive in Beating Claremont’; The West Australian, 14 April 1969, p. 37
  14. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘South Fail to Curb Turner’; The West Australian, 14 April 1969, p. 37
  15. ↑ Todd, John; ‘East Perth Ruckmen Dominate Hit-Outs’; The West Australian, 14 April 1969, p. 37
  16. ↑ Todd, John; ‘Port Team Impressive’; The West Australian, 21 April 1969, p. 33
  17. ↑ "WAFL Footy Facts: Perth – Consecutive Games Won". Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  18. ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: Bassendean Oval Archived September 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  19. ↑ Molloy, Frank; ‘Richards and Wynne Shine’; The West Australian, 21 April 1969, p. 33
  20. ↑ Molloy, Frank; ‘Miller Inspires South's ’ The West Australian, 28 April 1969, p. 36
  21. ↑ Todd, John; ‘League Leaders Show Signs of Complacency’ The West Australian, 28 April 1969, p. 36
  22. ↑ Molloy, Frank; ‘Roving Pair Live up to Reputation’; The West Australian, 5 May 1969, p. 20
  23. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Valli stars in New Role’; The West Australian, 5 May 1969, p. 20
  24. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Garnaut Fails in Key Position’; The West Australian, 5 May 1969, p. 20
  25. ↑ Molloy, Frank; ‘Selectors Should Include Chadwick’; The West Australian, 12 May 1969, p. 40
  26. ↑ Todd, John; ‘Win Proves Big Boost to Subiaco's Morale’; The West Australian, 12 May 1969, p. 40
  27. ↑ Molloy, Frank; ‘Rain Upsets Richards’; The West Australian, 19 May 1969, p. 32
  28. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Swans’ Attack Shows Spirit’; The West Australian, 19 May 1969, p. 32
  29. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Perth Weak in Attack’; The West Australian, 26 May 1969, p. 21
  30. ↑ Molloy, Frank; ‘West Perth Control Ruck, Roving Duels’; The West Australian, 26 May 1969, p. 21
  31. ↑ Todd, John; ‘Complacency in East Perth’; The West Australian, 26 May 1969, p. 21
  32. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Big Score by Port Team’; The West Australian, 26 May 1969, p. 21
  33. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘South Rally to Win after Bad Start’; The West Australian, 3 June 1969, p. 23
  34. ↑ "West Australian Football League: Biggest Home-and-Away Attendances". Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  35. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Wynne Enhances Claims for State Selection’; The West Australian, 2 June 1969, p. 14
  36. ↑ Subiaco: Highest Scores
  37. ↑ "WAFL Footy Facts: Claremont v Subiaco". Archived from the original on 1 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  38. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Subiaco Crush Claremont’; The West Australian, 3 June 1969, p. 23
  39. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Bunton Roves Throughout’; The West Australian, 16 June 1969, p. 32
  40. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Bennett, Rovers Inspire Perth’; The West Australian, 9 June 1969, p. 29
  41. 1 2 "WAFL Footy Facts: Biggest Wins with Less Scoring Shots". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  42. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Bennett in New Role, Lifts Perth’; The West Australian, 23 June 1969, p. 28
  43. ↑ Todd, John; ‘Young Players Show Courage’; The West Australian, 23 June 1969, p. 28
  44. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Subiaco Survive Crisis and Consolidate Place’; The West Australian, 23 June 1969, p. 28
  45. ↑ ‘Subiaco's Late Goal Burst KO's Old East’; The Sunday Times , 22 June 1969, p. 52
  46. ↑ ‘Stricter Action Needed on Dogs’; The West Australian, 23 June 1969, p. 28
  47. ↑ Molloy, Frank; ‘South Ruckmen Hold Balance of Power’; The West Australian, 30 June 1969, p. 33
  48. ↑ Todd, John; ‘West Perth Expose Flaws’; The West Australian, 30 June 1969, p. 33
  49. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Miller-Peel Switch enlivens Perth in Attack’; The West Australian, 30 June 1969, p. 33
  50. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Subiaco Gain New Status and Grand Final Contender’; The West Australian, 7 July 1969, p. 23
  51. ↑ Todd, John; ‘Walker Makes Light of Injury, Inspires Swans’; The West Australian, 7 July 1969, p. 23
  52. ↑ Molloy, Frank; ‘Bennett Gives Solid Display at Centre’; The West Australian, 14 July 1969, p. 20
  53. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘East Fremantle Rally Finds West Perth off Balance’; The West Australian, 14 July 1969, p. 20
  54. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Subiaco Fail to Curb Manning and Nesbit’; The West Australian, 14 July 1969, p. 20
  55. ↑ Molloy, Frank; ‘Dalton Regains Best Form’; The West Australian, 21 July 1969, p. 16
  56. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Bandy Shows Improvement’; The West Australian, 21 July 1969, p. 16
  57. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Swans Attack Brilliantly in Final-Term Burst’; The West Australian, 21 July 1969, p. 16
  58. ↑ Perth Regional Office (009034) July 1969 rainfall
  59. ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: Most Consecutive Games Between Successive Draws Archived April 15, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  60. ↑ WAFL Footy Facts – Draws Archived 2014-05-13 at the Wayback Machine
  61. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Farmer Inspires His Team in Hectic Last Term’; The West Australian, 28 July 1969, p. 20
  62. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Cable Keeps Swans at Bay’; The West Australian, 28 July 1969, p. 20
  63. ↑ Molloy, Frank; ‘Easkins Holds Defence Firm’; The West Australian, 28 July 1969, p. 20
  64. ↑ Todd, John; ‘West Perth Ruckmen Pave Way to Victory’; The West Australian, 4 August 1969, p. 34
  65. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Carroll Lifts Side's Attack’; The West Australian, 4 August 1969, p. 34
  66. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Atwell's Moves Help Perth Outplay East Perth’; The West Australian, 4 August 1969, p. 34
  67. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Garnaut Adds Punch to Forward Line’; The West Australian, 11 August 1969, p. 33
  68. ↑ Farmer, Barry; ‘Claremont Attack Combines Skilfully’; The West Australian, 11 August 1969, p. 33
  69. ↑ Todd, John; ‘Subiaco Fail; Hopes Slump’; The West Australian, 11 August 1969, p. 33
  70. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Perth Spirit Turns Defeat into Victory’; The West Australian, 11 August 1969, p. 33
  71. ↑ Farmer, Barry; ‘South Youth Policy Pays Dividends’; The West Australian, 18 August 1969, p. 28
  72. ↑ Todd, John; ‘East Fremantle Ruck and Rovers Dominate’; The West Australian, 18 August 1969, p. 28
  73. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Control on Centreline Helps Subiaco to Triumph’; The West Australian, 18 August 1969, p. 28
  74. ↑ "WAFL Footy Facts: East Fremantle – Longest Losing Streaks v Each Opponent". Archived from the original on 1 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  75. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Wynne Makes Light of Injury’; The West Australian, 25 August 1969, p. 20
  76. ↑ Farmer, Barry; ‘Claremont Hold Off Belated Challenge’; The West Australian, 25 August 1969, p. 20
  77. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Perth Overwhelm Subiaco in Show of Strength’; The West Australian, 25 August 1969, p. 20
  78. ↑ Todd, John; ‘Subiaco Play Impressively’; The West Australian, 1 September 1969, p. 35
  79. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Whinnen Hits Peak Form’; The West Australian, 1 September 1969, p. 35
  80. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Claremont Crush Perth, Leave Problems for Atwell’; The West Australian, 1 September 1969, p. 35
  81. ↑ "WAFL Footy Facts: Consecutive Losses by 100 or More Points". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  82. ↑ Farmer, Barry; ‘Doncon Makes Sound Return’; The West Australian, 1 September 1969, p. 35
  83. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Cable, at Brilliant Best, Lifts Perth in Semi-Final’; The West Australian, 8 September 1969, p. 28
  84. ↑ Todd, John; ‘Subiaco Err in Using Handball in Defence’; The West Australian, 8 September 1969, p. 28
  85. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘West Perth's Fiery Opening Rocks East Perth’; The West Australian, 15 September 1969, p. 28
  86. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Doncon Out, East Perth Pick 22 Players for Final’; The West Australian, 19 September 1969, p. 36
  87. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘East Perth Crush Perth in Grand Final Rehearsal’; The West Australian, 22 September 1969, p. 35
  88. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Farmer's Skill Seen in Team Victory’; The West Australian, 29 September 1969, p. 31
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