1972 WANFL season

Last updated

1972 WAFL season
Teams8
Premiers East Perth
13th premiership
Minor premiers Claremont
4th minor premiership
Sandover Medallist Ian Miller (Perth)
Bernie Naylor Medallist Austin Robertson, Jr. (Subiaco)
Matches played88
←  1971
1973  →

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. [1]

Contents

The two clubs established their supremacy from early in the season, and the battle for the last place in the four was won by reigning premiers West Perth despite losing eight of their last ten matches.

1971 preliminary finalists East Fremantle, equal favourites for the premiership with Claremont in the pre-season [2] were affected by form lapses and controversial behaviour by coach Alan Joyce, who in June refused to allow Old Easts players selected in the state team to train there rather than at East Fremantle Oval. [3] A game behind the Cardinals after eleven matches, the blue and whites could themselves win only thrice, [4] whilst South Fremantle in a rebuilding phase under Mal Atwell and without key players Hassa Mann, Graham Scott and Len Clark [5] lost nine on end but did uncover players like Bruce Monteath who would help them become a WA(N)FL power between 1975 and 1983.

An unfancied but revitalised Perth under captain-coach Barry Cable were the Tigers’ and Royals’ nearest rival but could not win any of seven matches against them, whilst Subiaco, fancied before the season and showing an innovative "Think Subi" campaign [6] but affected by off-field disputes involving the sacking of returning veteran Cam Blakemore, [7] [8] were last or second-last for eight rounds before a five-game winning streak had them theoretically in contention for the four with two rounds to play.

Home-and-away season

Round 1 (Easter weekend)

Round 1
Saturday, 1 April East Perth 23.26 (164)def. Swan Districts 11.13 (79) Perth Oval (crowd: 10431)
Saturday, 1 April Perth 11.14 (80)def. by Claremont 17.16 (118) Lathlain Park (crowd: 11160)
Monday, 3 April South Fremantle 10.12 (72)def. by West Perth 11.11 (77) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11580)
Monday, 3 April Subiaco 9.20 (74)def. by East Fremantle 17.9 (111) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 10898)
  • The benefit of a tough game against Verdun Howell’s former club is seen in a win that already has Claremont viewed the "team to beat" for the 1972 premiership – Perth, in contrast, had only played intra-club practice matches and appeared soft. [9]
  • Subiaco’s lack of class at centre half-forward and centre half-back leaves its attack inefficient, and allows big 1971 improver East Fremantle a comfortable victory – Old Easts were 61 points ahead at three-quarter time with only one more scoring shot. [10]
  • West Perth gain a lucky last-minute victory over an opponent not expected to trouble them [5] as Colin Beard’s kick-in during the last seconds is taken away and kicked to unmarked Essendon recruit Ian Anderson who goals. [11]

Round 2

Round 2
Saturday, 8 April West Perth 16.11 (107)def. Subiaco 14.13 (97) Leederville Oval (crowd: 10231)
Saturday, 8 April Swan Districts 6.18 (54)def. by Perth 21.14 (140) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 7341) [12]
Saturday, 8 April Claremont 12.22 (94)def. East Perth 8.10 (58) Claremont Oval (crowd: 14466)
Saturday, 8 April East Fremantle 6.21 (57)def. by South Fremantle 10.10 (70) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 13780)
  • South Fremantle produce the first real upset of 1972 against an inaccurate Old Easts who consistently fumble the ball in attack. [13]
  • With an unfit Austin Robertson out of the game, West Perth, with an overweight Phil Smith kicking only two, are still able to hold off the Lions, who enter a crisis after the game. [6]

Round 3

Round 3
Saturday, 15 April Subiaco 15.11 (101)def. South Fremantle 11.14 (80) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 9456)
Saturday, 15 April Perth 11.19 (85)def. by East Perth 17.13 (115) Lathlain Park (crowd: 10365) [14]
Saturday, 15 April Claremont 20.13 (133)def. Swan Districts 14.14 (98) Claremont Oval (crowd: 7141)
Saturday, 15 April West Perth 12.9 (81)def. by East Fremantle 13.21 (99) Leederville Oval (crowd: 11522)
  • Champion fast bowler Dennis Lillee, himself an East Perth supporter, made the toss at Lathlain after being invited by the Demons.
  • Old Easts’ finesse and fitness ensure they inflict the reigning premiers’ first defeat (after two unimpressive victories) as the blue and whites’ immaculate short game proves decisive. [15]

Round 4

Round 4
Saturday, 22 April Swan Districts 12.11 (83)def. by West Perth 22.12 (144) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 7492)
Saturday, 22 April South Fremantle 13.19 (97)def. by Perth 17.20 (122) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9157)
Saturday, 22 April East Perth 19.15 (129)def. Subiaco 15.9 (99) Perth Oval (crowd: 10432)
Saturday, 22 April East Fremantle 11.10 (76)def. by Claremont 14.11 (95) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 13223)
  • A devastating second quarter burst ensures Claremont eliminate the challenge of Old Easts to confirm their early flag favoritism and stay undefeated. [16]
  • Tactical blunders by new Swan Districts coach Jack Ensor ensure the winless Swans fade badly after being only ten points down at half-time. Ensor foolishly places his resting ruckman on the boundary and uses top half-forward Mark Foxon as a spare man in defence. [17]

Round 5

Round 5
Saturday, 29 April Subiaco 17.11 (113)def. by Swan Districts 19.18 (132) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5522)
Saturday, 29 April West Perth 11.13 (79)def. by East Perth 15.13 (103) Leederville Oval (crowd: 15185)
Saturday, 29 April Claremont 14.16 (100)def. South Fremantle 13.14 (92) Claremont Oval (crowd: 10031)
Saturday, 29 April East Fremantle 13.16 (94)def. Perth 13.12 (90) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9080)
  • An unorthodox shift of wingmen and half-backs gives Claremont a comeback victory after South Fremantle surprised them to be three goals up through almost all of the first half. [18]
  • East Fremantle wilt completely after being forty-two points up at half-time and become lucky to hold on as Perth’s tall men expose their lack of a specialist knock ruckman. [2]

Round 6

Round 6
Saturday, 6 May South Fremantle 11.13 (79)def. by East Perth 15.20 (110) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11084)
Saturday, 6 May Perth 9.11 (65)def. by Subiaco 11.12 (78) Lathlain Park (crowd: 7417)
Saturday, 6 May West Perth 14.14 (98)def. Claremont 10.18 (78) Leederville Oval (crowd: 14491) [19]
Saturday, 6 May Swan Districts 14.15 (99)def. by East Fremantle 20.17 (137) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 6967)
  • Mal Brown’s ability to ward off a painful injury proves decisive as South Fremantle again fade – this time after an impressive third-quarter revival. [20]
  • A calf injury to Barry Cable, who had been in scintillating form, seemed to cause a reaction among the Perth players and Subiaco ran over them as Fitzpatrick completely dominated around the ground and in the ruck. [21]

Round 7

Round 7
Saturday, 13 May South Fremantle 10.14 (74)def. Swan Districts 8.11 (59) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5083)
Saturday, 13 May Perth 10.19 (79)def. West Perth 6.7 (43) Lathlain Park (crowd: 6682)
Saturday, 13 May Subiaco 14.19 (103)def. by Claremont 16.24 (120) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7507) [22]
Saturday, 13 May East Perth 14.9 (93)def. by East Fremantle 16.19 (115) Perth Oval (crowd: 8254) [23]

Perth overcome a wayward start (nine unbroken behinds in the first quarter) in slippery conditions [24] to show they are back as a force after a poor 1971. Rookie Geoff Watt silences Mel Whinnen and the Cardinals fail completely in attack. [25]

Round 8

Round 8
Saturday, 20 May West Perth 31.19 (205)def. South Fremantle 11.10 (76) Leederville Oval (crowd: 10210) [26]
Saturday, 20 May Swan Districts 14.13 (97)def. East Perth 13.5 (83) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 7352)
Saturday, 20 May Claremont 17.13 (115)def. Perth 9.21 (75) Claremont Oval (crowd: 11191)
Saturday, 20 May East Fremantle 15.14 (104)def. by Subiaco 19.14 (128) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8251) [27]
  • West Perth equal their highest score of 30.25 (205) against Swan Districts in 1952, [28] and beat by 62 points. their previous record in open-age competition against that team of 20.23 (143). It was the highest by any WANFL team since East Perth kicked one goal more against Claremont in 1958. [29]
  • The Cardinals’ 19.14 (128) remains their highest-ever second-half score, [30] as South Fremantle, with only sixteen fit players, completely crumbled in defence. Phil Smith shows he is back in form with eight goals.
  • A change in leaping style by ruckman Bob Beecroft allows Swan Districts to cause a major upset as rovers Derek King and veteran Bill Walker become impossible to stop. [31]
  • Subiaco’s goal of reducing reliance of Austin Robertson pays off as the club kick twelve goals in the first three quarters without "Ocker" scoring one – though he scores five in the final stanza and had missed several earlier – to gain an unexpected win.

Round 9

Round 9
Saturday, 27 May Subiaco 6.12 (48)def. by West Perth 11.16 (82) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 11143) [32]
Saturday, 27 May Perth 19.14 (128)def. Swan Districts 8.8 (56) Lathlain Park (crowd: 8582)
Saturday, 27 May East Perth 23.18 (156)def. Claremont 8.9 (57) Perth Oval (crowd: 14739)
Saturday, 27 May South Fremantle 24.7 (151)def. East Fremantle 14.10 (94) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9379)
  • East Perth make league leaders Claremont look "stricken by sleeping sickness" as returning ruckman Bradley Smith hands a hiding to young Tiger Graham Moss and the Royals have over 100 more possessions. [33]
  • Barry Cable’s courage in playing with a badly injured left ankle allows Perth’s rovers to decimate Swan Districts in a tricky wind, by which many of the young Swans were baffled. [34]
  • In an ill-tempered match South Fremantle show the imperative of attitude and determination, as they rebound from the West Perth debacle with a brilliant 14.3 (87) to 5.4 (34) first half helped by several freakish goals that luckily went through. [35]

Round 10 (Foundation Day)

Round 10
Saturday, 3 June Swan Districts 14.8 (92)def. by Claremont 16.17 (113) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 7984)
Saturday, 3 June East Fremantle 11.11 (77)def. West Perth 10.9 (69) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11312) [3]
Monday, 5 June South Fremantle 20.10 (130)def. Subiaco 16.18 (114) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11761) [36]
Monday, 5 June East Perth 17.15 (117)def. Perth 15.13 (103) Perth Oval (crowd: 14666)

Round 11

Round 11
Saturday, 10 June West Perth 18.9 (117)def. Swan Districts 16.7 (103) Leederville Oval (crowd: 8320) [37]
Saturday, 10 June Perth 19.8 (122)def. South Fremantle 11.17 (83) Lathlain Park (crowd: 10854)
Saturday, 10 June Subiaco 14.12 (96)def. by East Perth 25.13 (163) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8288)
Saturday, 10 June Claremont 24.23 (167)def. East Fremantle 12.18 (90) Claremont Oval (crowd: 10717) [38]
  • East Perth, with rookie Archie Duda kicking ten goals in place of state spearhead Phil Tierney, exploit the loose play of Subiaco for a crushing win. [39]
  • Claremont’s onslaught of 11.5 (71) was the best first-quarter score in the WANFL since 1958 and at the time the second-best on record. [40]
  • The 1972 Perth Carnival meant no WANFL matches were scheduled for the following two weekends.

Round 12

Round 12
Saturday, 1 July Swan Districts 14.14 (98)def. Subiaco 12.17 (89) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 3224) [41]
Saturday, 1 July East Perth 15.15 (105)def. West Perth 4.9 (33) Perth Oval (crowd: 8206)
Saturday, 1 July South Fremantle 11.18 (84)def. by Claremont 16.14 (110) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6163)
Saturday, 1 July Perth 13.14 (92)def. East Fremantle 11.10 (76) Lathlain Park (crowd: 5559)
  • West Perth kick their lowest score against the Royals since the 1923 semi-final when they scored only 4.7 (31). [42]
  • East Perth’s incomparably greater team spirit compensated so well for deficiencies in their following division that West Perth kicked only 1.4 (10) after half-time whilst Tierney and Duda were able to combine well together in the rain. [43]
  • Perth take Old Easts’ place in the four via a display of spirit and skill compared by critics with their last quarter in the 1966 Grand Final. East Fremantle had taken the lead with the wind early in the last quarter before a melée seemed to put the blue and whites off their game. [44]

Round 13

Round 13
Saturday, 8 July East Perth 19.16 (130)def. South Fremantle 10.9 (69) Perth Oval (crowd: 5860)
Saturday, 8 July Subiaco 11.14 (80)def. by Perth 18.17 (125) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4720)
Saturday, 8 July Claremont 15.16 (106)def. West Perth 8.8 (56) Claremont Oval (crowd: 7811)
Saturday, 8 July East Fremantle 9.10 (64)def. by Swan Districts 10.10 (70) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4785)
  • An unusual policy of playing seven "followers" [a] allows Claremont to completely control the rucks on a violently windy afternoon. Graham Moss, Peter Hines and John Evans shared ten goals resting in attack.
  • In blustery conditions, Swan Districts move away from a third straight wooden spoon by exposing East Fremantle’s lack of spirit during a scrambly match where marks were rarities and 62 free kicks awarded. [45]
  • Veteran Frank Pyke shows that five seasons away from the WANFL has not affected his skill as he combines with Cable to leave Subiaco a clear last. [46]

Round 14

Round 14
Saturday, 15 July Swan Districts 21.19 (145)def. South Fremantle 12.16 (88) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 6861) [47]
Saturday, 15 July West Perth 12.12 (84)def. by Perth 16.11 (107) Leederville Oval (crowd: 10318) [48]
Saturday, 15 July Claremont 17.8 (110)def. Subiaco 10.12 (72) Claremont Oval (crowd: 7067)
Saturday, 15 July East Fremantle 12.14 (86)def. by East Perth 17.18 (120) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8420)

Round 15

Round 15
Saturday, 22 July South Fremantle 7.10 (52)def. by West Perth 12.6 (78) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4920)
Saturday, 22 July East Perth 15.8 (98)def. Swan Districts 11.8 (74) Perth Oval (crowd: 9564)
Saturday, 22 July Perth 16.20 (116)def. by Claremont 18.14 (122) Lathlain Park (crowd: 11411)
Saturday, 22 July Subiaco 17.15 (117)def. East Fremantle 16.12 (108) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4349)
  • A depleted Claremont with only eighteen fit players holds out Perth into the wind in torrential last-quarter rain. [43] 198 centimetres (6 ft 6 in) tall Keith Whyatt boots five from centre half forward. Perth played magnificently, but were handicapped by the conditions, though Ian Miller failed to get the distance with a kick on the siren that could have drawn the game. [49]
  • Astute positional changes by captain-coach Peter Steward after half-time allow West Perth to hold South Fremantle to 0.1 (1) kicking with a strong wind during a crucial third quarter, whilst the Cardinals kicked 4.4 (28) themselves after being 17 points down at the long interval. [49]
  • The heavy rain halts perennial wooden spooners Swan Districts’ charge to threaten fourth: Swans fail to goal during eight minutes of attack in the final-quarter gloom, when goals could have seen them overwhelm East Perth. Mal Brown takes an amazing seventeen marks in totally unsuitable conditions. [50]

Round 16

Round 16
Saturday, 29 July West Perth 13.12 (90)def. by Subiaco 15.8 (98) Leederville Oval (crowd: 6789) [51]
Saturday, 29 July Swan Districts 12.17 (89)def. by Perth 16.15 (111) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 8187)
Saturday, 29 July Claremont 17.17 (119)def. East Perth 10.13 (73) Claremont Oval (crowd: 15576)
Saturday, 29 July East Fremantle 22.17 (149)def. South Fremantle 14.19 (103) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6823)
  • Claremont settle a score from their ninth-round thrashing with a superb win where Bruce Duperouzel and Bob Greenwood show East Perth’s lack of class rovers – even when the two are injured the Royals cannot take advantage. [52]
  • East Fremantle, in an angry mood after criticism of their earlier play, score 14.5 (89) to 2.8 (20) in 45 minutes to stand a game and 9.47 percent from fourth place after their recent losses seemed to have settled the finalists. [53]

Round 17

Round 17
Saturday, 5 August Subiaco 23.13 (151)def. South Fremantle 12.9 (81) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4018) [54]
Saturday, 5 August Perth 12.16 (88)def. by East Perth 14.11 (95) Lathlain Park (crowd: 10833) [55]
Saturday, 5 August Claremont 15.9 (99)def. Swan Districts 6.9 (45) Claremont Oval (crowd: 7299)
Saturday, 5 August West Perth 9.14 (68)def. by East Fremantle 19.10 (124) Leederville Oval (crowd: 8736)

The return of controversial coach Joyce to the playing field at full-forward revitalises East Fremantle’s attack and leaves them merely 1.87 percent shy of fourth position, whilst centre half-back Eddie Donnes decimates West Perth’s forward line. [56]

Round 18

Round 18
Saturday, 12 August Swan Districts 10.14 (74)def. West Perth 8.12 (60) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 6442) [57]
Saturday, 12 August South Fremantle 14.27 (111)def. by Perth 19.10 (124) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4723) [58]
Saturday, 12 August East Perth 12.8 (80)def. by Subiaco 11.23 (89) Perth Oval (crowd: 8174)
Saturday, 12 August East Fremantle 12.12 (84)def. by Claremont 19.20 (134) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11018)
  • Perth become the third WANFL club, after South Fremantle and Swan Districts, to win a match with twelve fewer scoring shots. [59]
  • Subiaco, at the bottom for a number of weeks before the seventeenth round, gain a surprising chance of fourth position by beating a slow-paced East Perth team. The Royals were flattered by the Maroons’ goalfront inaccuracy. [60]
  • Claremont kick 6.5 (41) to nothing in the final twenty minutes after an Old East comeback has them nine points down. Wingman Vern Orr is electrifying and partner Tony Bovell less spectacular but equally effective.

Round 19

Round 19
Saturday, 19 August Subiaco 11.22 (88)def. Swan Districts 7.20 (62) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5353) [61]
Saturday, 19 August West Perth 8.8 (56)def. by East Perth 16.8 (104) Leederville Oval (crowd: 6051)
Saturday, 19 August Claremont 16.23 (119)def. South Fremantle 9.7 (61) Claremont Oval (crowd: 5345)
Saturday, 19 August East Fremantle 13.8 (86)def. Perth 10.16 (76) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6167)
  • The return of ruck-rover John Hayes and return to form of Hans Verstegen allows East Perth to shut out a disappointing West Perth attack and return East Fremantle to the four for the first time since 10 June. [62]
  • With Bob Becu making a fine debut and Perth’s attack extremely wasteful, East Fremantle take the box seat for a first semi-final berth despite a strong final quarter Demon comeback. [63]

Round 20

Round 20
Saturday, 26 August South Fremantle 19.27 (141)def. East Perth 16.10 (106) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4413) [64]
Saturday, 26 August Perth 15.16 (106)def. Subiaco 13.22 (100) Lathlain Park (crowd: 8169)
Saturday, 26 August West Perth 13.11 (89)def. Claremont 8.14 (62) Leederville Oval (crowd: 7420)
Saturday, 26 August Swan Districts 16.20 (116)def. East Fremantle 8.11 (59) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 5413) [65]
  • A rejuvenated West Perth, led by youngsters John Rainoldi, Terry Taylor, Ian Logan and Gary Smit, plays with the "exuberance" of Claremont to regain their place in the four. Between the seven-minute mark of the second quarter and the twenty-minute mark of the last the brilliant Cardinals score 9.5 (59) to 0.7 (7). [66]
  • Subiaco’s charge ends when they trail 4.15 (39) to 13.9 (87) late in the third quarter before young rovers Keith Watt and Chris Simpson reveal a lack of concentration amongst Demon players and nearly steal the game. [67]

Round 21

Round 21
Saturday, 2 September South Fremantle 23.17 (155)def. Swan Districts 10.9 (69) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5324) [68]
Saturday, 2 September Perth 14.8 (92)def. West Perth 13.6 (84) Lathlain Park (crowd: 9567) [69]
Saturday, 2 September Subiaco 17.15 (117)def. by Claremont 18.16 (124) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8334)
Saturday, 2 September East Perth 23.16 (154)def. East Fremantle 12.5 (77) Perth Oval (crowd: 8873)
  • East Perth reveal their big-man power to dominate an East Fremantle team with a first semi-final berth to play for. Verstegen has 33 kicks on his twenty-third birthday, and East Fremantle’s play was described as "insipid". [70]
  • Key Tiger rover Bruce Duperouzel proves his fitness as Claremont wade off a strong challenge from a Subiaco team behind by forty or so points for most of the afternoon. [71]

Ladder

1972 ladder
PosTeamPldWLDPFPAPPPts
1 Claremont 21183022951815126.472
2 East Perth (P)21156023561815129.860
3 Perth 21129021261897112.148
4 West Perth 2191201800183997.936
5 East Fremantle 2191201967216790.836
6 Subiaco 2181302052220793.032
7 Swan Districts 2171401794225779.528
8 South Fremantle 2161501949234283.224
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, 9 September Perth 12.18 (90)def. West Perth 11.9 (75) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 23,057)

Perth overcomes a slow start – not goalling in the initial forty minutes – and West Perth’s greater pace to win well thanks to the Cardinals’ wasteful use of their greater possession. [72]

Second semi-final

Second semi-final
Saturday, 16 September Claremont 11.3 (69)def. by East Perth 12.14 (86) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 24,119)

East Perth’s ability to counter Claremont’s anticipated roving superiority ensures they come home for a surprise win in showery [73] and windy conditions. [74] Dick Michalczyk at centre-half-back dominates the Claremont attack and shows the move of Ken McAullay to a flank was justified. [75]

Preliminary final

Preliminary final
Saturday, 23 September Claremont 15.15 (105)def. Perth 10.14 (74) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 23,556)

Claremont respond to coach Howell’s overhaul due to their outplaying of the Demons’ ruck division. [76]

Grand Final

1972 WANFL Grand Final
Saturday, 30 September East Perth def. Claremont Subiaco Oval (crowd: 46,055) [77]
1.3 (9)
5.8 (38)
8.12 (60)
9.17 (71)		Q1
Q2
Q3
Final		3.4 (22)
3.5 (23)
8.5 (53)
8.8 (56)		Umpires: John Fuhrmann
Simpson Medal: Ken McAullay (East Perth)
Bygraves 4, Verstegen, Whittle, Daniel, Brown, ArmanascoGoalsCrisp 2, Carroll 2, Orr, Greenwood, Evans, Hines
Verstegen, McAullay, Gillespie, Brown, Bygraves, Michalczyk BestLewis, Griffiths, Parkinson, Crisp, Moss, Hines, Orr

Controversy over the possible replacement of Brown by Kevin Murray is overcome in a dour win in strong winds and rain [78] based around solid teamwork and the strikepower of Gary Bygraves.

Notes

a This policy was made illegal in 1973 when a ‘centre diamond’ (later the current centre square) was introduced, within with no team could place more than four players during a centre bounce.

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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 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 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 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 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. ↑ East, Alan (editor); The Royals: 100 Years of Football Tradition - A History of the East Perth Football Club; ISBN   9781886101111; pp. 108-109
  2. 1 2 Casellas, Ken; ‘E. Fremantle Wilt Under Late Rally’; The West Australian , 1 May 1972, p. 47
  3. 1 2 Christian, Geoff; ‘Joyce Gets Vote of Confidence’; The West Australian, 5 June 1972, p. 35
  4. ↑ Lee, Jack; Celebrating 100 Years of Tradition: East Fremantle Football Club 1898-1997; pp. 344-346. ISBN   0646358812
  5. 1 2 Casellas, Ken, ‘West Perth Should Beat South Today’; The West Australian , 3 April 1972, p. 31
  6. 1 2 Casellas, Ken; ‘Subiaco Look to Robertson’; The West Australian, 10 April 1972, p. 51
  7. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Blakemore Sacked – To Put It Plainly’; The West Australian, 6 June 1972, p. 36
  8. ↑ Spillman, Ken; Diehards: The Story of the Subiaco Football Club 1946-2000, pp. 148-150 ISBN   0957818505
  9. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Claremont’s Tough Build-Up Brings Good Start’; The West Australian, 3 April 1972, p. 31
  10. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Now, "Think Again, Subi"’; The West Australian, 4 April 1972, pp. 56, 55
  11. ↑ Brakey, Dale; ‘West Perth Triumph after the Siren’; The West Australian, 4 April 1972, pp. 56, 55
  12. ↑ Brakey, Dale; ‘Cable, Cousins Lead Perth to Big Win’; The West Australian, 10 April 1972, p. 51
  13. ↑ de Mori, Giro; ‘Souths Show Courage’; The West Australian, 10 April 1972, p. 51
  14. ↑ Brakey, Dale; ‘Duda and Malarkey Impress’; The West Australian, 17 April 1972
  15. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘East Fremantle Run over West Perth’; The West Australian, 17 April 1972, p. 59
  16. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Claremont’s Big Guns Blast East Fremantle’; The West Australian, 24 April 1972, p. 43
  17. ↑ de Mori, Gino; ‘West Perth Show Class’; The West Australian, 24 April 1972, p. 48
  18. ↑ Brakey, Dale; ‘Marshall Lifts Claremont’; The West Australian, 1 May 1972, p. 47
  19. ↑ Brakey, Dale; ‘West Perth‘s Key Players Take Charge’; The West Australian, 8 May 1972, p. 51
  20. ↑ Casellas; Ken; ‘Brown Ignores Pain, Shows the Way’; The West Australian, 8 May 1972, p. 51
  21. ↑ de Mori, Gino; ‘Do Perth Rely too Much on Cable?’; The West Australian, 8 May 1972, p. 51
  22. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Claremont Lack a Spearhead’; The West Australian, 15 May 1972, p. 23
  23. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Impressive win by East Fremantle’; The West Australian, 15 May 1972, p. 23
  24. ↑ Perth Regional Office (009034) May 1972 rainfall
  25. ↑ de Mori, Gino; ‘Perth Gain Fresh Hope’; The West Australian, 15 May 1972, p. 23
  26. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘West Perth Tally Equals Club Record’; The West Australian, 22 May 1972, p. 23
  27. ↑ Brakey, Dale; ‘Change in Policy Pays Off’; The West Australian, 22 May 1972, p. 23
  28. ↑ West Perth: Highest Scores
  29. ↑ "WAFL Footy Facts: Overall Records". Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  30. ↑ "WAFL Footy Facts: Most Points in Second Half". Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  31. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Swans Rock East Perth’; The West Australian, 22 May 1972, p. 23
  32. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘West Perth Expose Flaws in Subiaco Attitude’; The West Australian, 29 May 1972, p. 47
  33. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘East Perth Prove Their Versatility’; The West Australian, 29 May 1972, p. 47
  34. ↑ Brakey, Dale; ‘Cable Shows Courage’; The West Australian, 29 May 1972, p. 47
  35. ↑ Lee, Jack; ‘South Make Amends’; The West Australian, 29 May 1972, p. 47
  36. ↑ Brakey, Dale; ‘South Retain Hope; Carson Lifts Attack’; The West Australian, 6 June 1972, p. 43
  37. ↑ de Mori, Gino; ‘West Perth Patchy’; The West Australian, 12 June 1972, p. 39
  38. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Claremont Ruckmen Take Charge’; The West Australian, 12 June 1972, p. 39
  39. ↑ Brakey, Dale; ‘East Perth Give Superb Display’; The West Australian, 12 June 1972, p. 39
  40. ↑ "WAFL Footy Facts: Most Points in First Quarter". Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  41. ↑ Brakey, Dale; ‘Swans Show Fight’; The West Australian, 3 July 1972, p. 43
  42. ↑ West Perth: Lowest Scores
  43. 1 2 Perth Regional Office (009034) July 1972 rainfall
  44. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘East Fremantle Crumple – Perth in Four’; The West Australian, 3 July 1972, p. 43
  45. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Swans Work Hard for Win’; The West Australian, 10 July 1972, p. 39
  46. ↑ de Mori, Gino; ‘Pyke’s Form No Flash in the Pan’; The West Australian, 10 July 1972, p. 39
  47. ↑ de Mori, Gino; ‘Swans’ Rise Continues’; The West Australian, 17 July 1972, p. 43
  48. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Enforced Switches Help to Lift Perth’; The West Australian, 17 July 1972, p. 43
  49. 1 2 Christian, Geoff; ‘Claremont’s Reserves Rise to Task’; The West Australian, 24 July 1972, p. 39
  50. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Swans Waste Chances in Final Term’; The West Australian, 24 July 1972, p. 39
  51. ↑ de Mori, Gino; ‘West Perth Need to Buck Up’; The West Australian, 31 July 1972, p. 43
  52. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Claremont Settle Another Score – at a Price’; The West Australian, 31 July 1972, p. 43
  53. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘East Fremantle Are Angry Now’; The West Australian, 31 July 1972, p. 43
  54. ↑ Brakey, Dale; ‘Forward Talent Helps Subiaco’; The West Australian, 7 August 1972, p. 39
  55. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Match Raises Two Doubts’; The West Australian, 7 August 1972, p. 39
  56. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘East Fremantle Cut West Perth to Size’; The West Australian, 7 August 1972, p. 39
  57. ↑ de Mori, Gino; ‘Steward Has Secret Plan’; The West Australian, 14 August 1972, p. 43
  58. ↑ Brakey, Dale; ‘Perth Must Play Four Quarters’; The West Australian, 14 August 1972, p. 43
  59. ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: Wins with Fewer Scoring Shots Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  60. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Subiaco Deserved to Win by More’; The West Australian, 14 August 1972, p. 43
  61. ↑ Brakey, Dale; ‘Subiaco Seize Chance’; The West Australian, 21 August 1972, p. 39
  62. ↑ de Mori, Gino; ‘East Perth Find Pace’; The West Australian, 21 August 1972, p. 39
  63. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘East Fremantle in the Box Seat Now’; The West Australian, 21 August 1972, p. 39
  64. ↑ de Mori, Gino; ‘Surprise at Centre’; The West Australian, 28 August 1972, p. 43
  65. ↑ Brakey, Dale; ‘Easts Go Out with a Jolt’; The West Australian, 28 August 1972, p. 43
  66. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘West Perth Do It Claremont’s Way’; The West Australian, 28 August 1972, p. 43
  67. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘A Case of Too Much, Too Late’; The West Australian, 28 August 1972, p. 43
  68. ↑ de Mori, Gino; ‘South Ruckmen Take Control’; The West Australian, 4 September 1972, p. 55
  69. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Perth’s Drab Win Casts Little Light on Rematch’; The West Australian, 4 September 1972, p. 55
  70. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘East Perth’s Power Tells’; The West Australian, 4 September 1972, p. 55
  71. ↑ Brakey, Dale; ‘Duperouzel Proves Fitness’; The West Australian, 4 September 1972, p. 55
  72. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Perth Must Overcome Slow Start’; The West Australian, 11 September 1972, pp. 40, 39
  73. ↑ Perth Regional Office (009034) September 1972 rainfall
  74. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘East Perth Deserved to Win by More’; The West Australian, 18 September 1972, p. 59
  75. ↑ Brakey, Dale; ‘Mihalczyk Enjoys the Responsibility’; The West Australian, 18 September 1972, p. 59
  76. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Yes, Claremont Deserve a Second Chance’; The West Australian, 25 September 1972; pp. 59-60
  77. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘How the Grand Final Was Won and Lost’; The West Australian, 2 October 1972, p. 39
  78. ↑ Perth Regional Office (009034) October 1972 rainfall
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