1976 WANFL season

Last updated

1976 WAFL season
Teams8
Premiers Perth
6th premiership
Minor premiers East Perth
14th minor premiership
Sandover Medallist Peter Spencer (East Perth)
Bernie Naylor Medallist Norm Uncle (Claremont)
Matches played88
←  1975
1977  →

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

Contents

After a half-decade in which the fortunes of all WANFL clubs, with the exception of East Perth, fluctuated severely, 1975 and 1976 saw a return to more stability, with Perth establishing themselves along with East Perth and South Fremantle as the top three of the league. Claremont, six games clear on the bottom in 1975, began with seven wins from ten matches but won only once more, whilst 1975 premiers West Perth had a disastrous start with injuries but recovered in June and July to clearly re-establish themselves as one of the top bracket.

Under coach Ken Armstrong, the Demons won their first premiership since Mal Atwell's great team from 1968 – remarkably not one 1968 premiership player appeared eight years later. [1] At the other end of the ladder, 1950s cellar dwellers Subiaco and Swan Districts returned to that position, with the Lions winning only two of their first nineteen games as they lost with no adequate replacements all but twelve of their 1973 senior players to either the VFL, retirement or, with Mick Malone, [2] cricket commitments. [3]

The scoring in 1976 increased to a record average score of 108.05 points per team per game beating the previous record of 101.21 from 1970, a figure to be exceeded in each of the next eleven seasons. From the eighth home-and-away round the WANFL followed the VFL in introducing a second field umpire, a move instantly regarded as a success. [4] Another innovation, in this case five years ahead of the VFL, was playing two games on Sunday afternoons for the first time. Although rated a success, it was not repeated until 1982.

Home-and-away season

Round 1

Round 1
Saturday, 3 April South Fremantle 18.19 (127)def. Swan Districts 13.15 (93) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 13197)
Saturday, 3 April West Perth 11.12 (78)def. by East Perth 25.13 (163) Leederville Oval (crowd: 15996)
Saturday, 3 April Perth 12.15 (87)def. by Claremont 14.6 (90) Lathlain Park (crowd: 10106)
Saturday, 3 April Subiaco 10.14 (74)def. by East Fremantle 17.17 (119) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8433)
  • 1975 premiers West Perth's depleted side offers no answer to the Royal midfield whilst 17-year-old full-back Geoff Hendriks conceded nine goals to Archie Duda, [5] who missed 1975 with cartilage problems. [6]
  • With Norm Uncle kicking seven goals and contrasting with inaccuracy by the Demons, 1975 wooden spooners Claremont win a thriller otherwise dominated by several Victorian imports. [7]

Round 2

Round 2
Saturday, 10 April Swan Districts 17.15 (117)def. West Perth 17.13 (115) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 10118)
Saturday, 10 April East Perth 13.16 (94)def. South Fremantle 12.16 (88) Perth Oval (crowd: 15710)
Saturday, 10 April Claremont 21.15 (141)def. Subiaco 8.5 (53) Claremont Oval (crowd: 8187)
Saturday, 10 April East Fremantle 19.15 (129)def. Perth 15.12 (102) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8588)
  • Subiaco, unable to retain any of their early-1970s stars, [3] are demolished after half-time when Claremont move future Collingwood defender Kevin Worthington to centre-half-forward and score 13.10 (88) to 2.1 (13). [8]
  • Victorian recruits Stuart Magee and Gordon Casey compensate for the loss of several stars from 1975 as Swans hold on after being thirty-two points ahead at half-time in a 1975 second semi-final replay. [9]

Round 3 (Easter weekend)

Round 3
Saturday, 17 April West Perth 15.10 (100)def. by South Fremantle 21.19 (145) Leederville Oval (crowd: 16014)
Saturday, 17 April Perth 16.19 (115)def. Subiaco 10.17 (77) Lathlain Park (crowd: 7208)
Monday, 19 April East Perth 27.16 (178)def. Swan Districts 13.12 (90) Perth Oval (crowd: 17149) [10]
Monday, 19 April East Fremantle 16.10 (106)def. by Claremont 16.11 (107) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 13060)
  • South Fremantle take revenge for their humiliating 1975 Grand Final defeat with a nine-goal burst in fifteen minutes of the third quarter after the Cardinals took the lead. [11]
  • Claremont equal their 1975 win tally after an amazing comeback from 6.6 (42) to 13.5 (83) down early in the third quarter. East Fremantle fail to goal in the final forty-five minutes. [12]

Round 4

Round 4
Monday, 26 April Subiaco 12.14 (86)def. by West Perth 18.16 (124) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7028)
Monday, 26 April South Fremantle 14.16 (100)def. by Perth 17.15 (117) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11010)
Monday, 26 April Claremont 16.19 (115)def. East Perth 15.7 (97) Claremont Oval (crowd: 14967)
Monday, 26 April Swan Districts 15.14 (104)def. by East Fremantle 19.16 (130) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 9740)
  • Owing to an interstate game, this WANFL round was played on the Monday following Anzac Day.
  • Claremont's size, strength and stamina allows the Tigers to outlast East Perth and exceed their 1975 win tally in a month. [13]
  • With the return of 1973 leading goalkicker Phil Smith after playing 1974 at Woodville and missing 1975 due to injury, [14] West Perth easily win the battle of the only winless clubs.

Round 5

Round 5
Saturday, 1 May South Fremantle 29.22 (196)def. Subiaco 7.6 (48) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6578)
Saturday, 1 May Perth 11.10 (76)def. West Perth 10.14 (74) Lathlain Park (crowd: 8587)
Saturday, 1 May Claremont 16.16 (112)def. by Swan Districts 17.11 (113) Claremont Oval (crowd: 9776)
Saturday, 1 May East Perth 13.11 (89)def. East Fremantle 12.12 (84) Perth Oval (crowd: 10175)

Subiaco record the biggest loss in the WANFL since they themselves lost to South Fremantle in 1953, [15] despite Ray Bauskis kicking 6.10 (46). [16]

Round 6

Round 6
Saturday, 8 May Swan Districts 21.10 (136)def. Perth 13.9 (87) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 11360)
Saturday, 8 May Subiaco 9.10 (64)def. by East Perth 15.19 (109) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6792)
Saturday, 8 May East Fremantle 18.13 (121)def. by South Fremantle 21.10 (136) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 14976)
Sunday, 9 May West Perth 13.12 (90)def. by Claremont 15.20 (110) Leederville Oval (crowd: 12047)

Round 7

Round 7
Saturday, 15 May Subiaco 11.11 (77)def. by Swan Districts 12.14 (86) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5833)
Saturday, 15 May Perth 17.18 (120)def. East Perth 16.7 (103) Lathlain Park (crowd: 8176)
Saturday, 15 May South Fremantle 24.22 (166)def. Claremont 10.8 (68) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 13096)
Saturday, 15 May West Perth 19.10 (124)def. East Fremantle 16.12 (108) Leederville Oval (crowd: 6513)

Claremont's bubble bursts as – minus Mal Brown and Barry Price – on a partially soft ground they cannot match South Fremantle's skilled and speedy following division in which Eddie Bauskis is dominant. [17]

Round 8

Round 8
Saturday, 22 May Swan Districts 18.10 (118)def. by South Fremantle 25.21 (171) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 11870)
Saturday, 22 May East Perth 20.13 (133)def. West Perth 15.15 (105) Perth Oval (crowd: 12092)
Saturday, 22 May Claremont 15.9 (99)def. by Perth 21.12 (138) Claremont Oval (crowd: 8585)
Saturday, 22 May East Fremantle 19.21 (135)def. Subiaco 9.8 (62) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5880)

Perth kick twenty of the last 26 goals after being down 1.2 (8) to 9.5 (59) as flag stars-to-be Wiley and Rosbender come to dominate. The last quarter Perth took thirty marks to ten and had 72 kicks to the Tigers’ 46. [18]

Round 9

Round 9
Saturday, 29 May West Perth 20.22 (142)def. Swan Districts 11.15 (81) Leederville Oval (crowd: 6770)
Saturday, 29 May South Fremantle 16.14 (110)def. by East Perth 27.14 (176) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 10385)
Saturday, 29 May Subiaco 9.12 (66)def. by Claremont 19.12 (126) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4875)
Saturday, 29 May Perth 27.12 (174)def. East Fremantle 11.21 (87) Lathlain Park (crowd: 6089)
  • The return to form of Bill Valli, discarded at the end of 1975, awakens West Perth, second last on the ladder, after Phil smith injures a knee again. [19]
  • With their win over a disappointing East Fremantle, Perth move two games clear inside the four despite having several key players in the reserves. Injury-plagued Chester McKean dominated the ruck. [20]

Round 10

Round 10
Saturday, 5 June South Fremantle 21.10 (136)def. West Perth 15.14 (104) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 10127)
Saturday, 5 June Swan Districts 20.9 (129)def. East Perth 23.15 (153) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 10680)
Saturday, 5 June Subiaco 16.8 (104)def. Perth 14.12 (96) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5565)
Saturday, 5 June Claremont 24.13 (157)def. East Fremantle 8.21 (69) Claremont Oval (crowd: 7682)
  • Despite losing the last three quarters and being without full-forward Gary Fathers, Subiaco win their first game for 1976 against the eventual premiers. [21]
  • With Norm Uncle kicking eight and veterans Bennett and Hayes back in form, Claremont suggest they will be a strong double chance candidate despite not displace South Fremantle from second. [22]

Round 11

Round 11
Sunday, 13 June East Perth 27.18 (180)def. Claremont 11.13 (79) Perth Oval (crowd: 16785)
Saturday, 19 June West Perth 14.17 (101)def. Subiaco 4.6 (30) Leederville Oval (crowd: 5346)
Saturday, 19 June Perth 20.14 (134)def. South Fremantle 12.15 (87) Lathlain Park (crowd: 8418)
Saturday, 19 June East Fremantle 24.11 (155)def. Swan Districts 16.19 (115) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5900)
  • Owing to National Football League matches against VFL and SANFL clubs, there were no WANFL games on Saturday 12 June
  • In front of Claremont's second biggest home-and-away crowd to that point, [23] East Perth, boosted by the move of full-back John Daniel to attack, crush the Tigers and stamp themselves as strong premiership favourites.
  • On the first wet day of the season [24] and despite West Perth “still disappointing” apart from seven-goal full-forward Northcott, [25] Subiaco are the last WA(N)FL team goalless in the second and third quarters until East Fremantle against Claremont in the second last round of 1981.
  • Perth blanket Brian Ciccosto and Maurice Rioli to kick 10.4 (64) to 0.5 (5) during the third quarter and stand only percentage behind the Bulldogs in the quest for second position. [26]

Round 12

Round 12
Saturday, 26 June Subiaco 11.11 (77)def. by South Fremantle 13.12 (90) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5519)
Saturday, 26 June West Perth 20.13 (133)def. Perth 9.13 (67) Leederville Oval (crowd: 8674)
Saturday, 26 June Swan Districts 24.13 (157)def. Claremont 21.13 (139) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 8015)
Saturday, 26 June East Fremantle 22.17 (149)def. East Perth 17.10 (112) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8487)
  • Ian Logan and veterans Whinnen and Dempsey return to their 1975 form to lift West Perth to sixth and suggest they still can defend their premiership. [27]
  • During the third quarter, Perth players were robbed of cash, watches and jewellery by a thief. [28]
  • Claremont equal the 1970 record for the highest losing score in WANFL history [29] in a shootout dominated by full-forwards Mark Olsen with nine goals and Norm Uncle with ten, including five in as many minutes during the third quarter. [30]

Round 13

Round 13
Saturday, 3 July Perth 22.19 (151)def. Swan Districts 9.9 (63) Lathlain Park (crowd: 9564)
Saturday, 3 July East Perth 25.22 (172)def. Subiaco 9.5 (59) Perth Oval (crowd: 6825)
Saturday, 3 July Claremont 13.12 (90)def. by West Perth 22.15 (147) Claremont Oval (crowd: 8865)
Saturday, 3 July South Fremantle 18.16 (124)def. East Fremantle 10.12 (72) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 12817)
  • Unexpected moves, notable Maurice Rioli to a back pocket, allow South of overcome being jumped by Old Easts for an easy derby win to keep second position. [31]
  • With the decline of early-season stars Barry Price (centre) and Greg Bennet (rover), Claremont look certain to lose their finals place as West Perth retain their 1975 form. [32]

Round 14

Round 14
Saturday, 10 July Swan Districts 15.24 (114)def. Subiaco 11.7 (73) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 5354)
Saturday, 10 July Perth 15.15 (105)def. East Perth 10.9 (69) Perth Oval (crowd: 12313)
Saturday, 10 July Claremont 11.11 (77)def. by South Fremantle 12.20 (92) Claremont Oval (crowd: 8837)
Saturday, 10 July East Fremantle 9.7 (61)def. by West Perth 9.11 (65) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8370)
  • On a windy day, Perth thrash the Royals – flattered by the score – with a superb display in defence led by young full-back Brian Cook. [33]
  • Mel Whinnen's dominance and East Fremantle's repeated use of the “dead” side on a windswept ground ensure the Cardinals enter the four for the first time in 1976 – in the process blacking East Fremantle's only chance to do so. [34]
  • A magnificent goal by Swans’ Garry Sidebottom after the black and whites looked like kicking themselves out of the contest at 5.16 (46) pushed Swan Districts to an easy win over the cellar-dwelling Lions. [35]

Round 15

Round 15
Saturday, 17 July South Fremantle 19.21 (135)def. Swan Districts 9.16 (70) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9670)
Saturday, 17 July West Perth 17.14 (116)def. by East Perth 23.11 (149) Leederville Oval (crowd: 13826)
Saturday, 17 July Perth 27.7 (169)def. Claremont 20.13 (133) Lathlain Park (crowd: 7292)
Saturday, 17 July Subiaco 20.22 (142)def. East Fremantle 12.13 (85) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4237)
  • Perth's direct play and the roving of Wiley (seven goals) ensures they defeat an improved Claremont in a high-scoring game that was close for over a half. [36]
  • Given an incentive of $3,000 to win three games in the third series, Subiaco, with rovers Vin Catoggio (in his third WANFL game), Graeme Schultz (ex-Essendon) and Neil Randall dominant, thrash finals hopeful East Fremantle despite spearhead Fathers kicking 3.6 (24). [37]
  • Swan Districts do not goal until the 14-minute mark of the third quarter, becoming the last WA(N)FL team goalless at half-time until West Perth at Claremont Oval in the sixteenth round of 1989, as future Collingwood star Stan Magro dominates the packs. [38]

Round 16

Round 16
Saturday, 24 July Swan Districts 17.17 (119)def. by West Perth 25.11 (161) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 7013)
Saturday, 24 July East Perth 19.12 (126)def. South Fremantle 15.8 (98) Perth Oval (crowd: 13286)
Saturday, 24 July Claremont 19.15 (129)def. Subiaco 12.13 (85) Claremont Oval (crowd: 5090)
Saturday, 24 July East Fremantle 25.17 (167)def. Perth 14.14 (98) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5819)
  • West Perth's impressive win over Swan Districts goes a long way towards sealing the four – the loser of the game between Claremont and East Fremantle became sure to drop out of the running. [39]
  • In Tom Grljusich's 300th game of senior football, the Bulldogs struggle gamely after being outscored with the wind in the opening quarter, despite a superb lone hand in a depleted ruck by Stephen Michael. [40]

Round 17

Round 17
Saturday, 31 July West Perth 18.17 (125)def. South Fremantle 15.16 (106) Leederville Oval (crowd: 12660)
Saturday, 31 July East Perth 24.23 (167)def. Swan Districts 11.13 (79) Perth Oval (crowd: 7567)
Saturday, 31 July Perth 20.19 (139)def. Subiaco 11.12 (78) Lathlain Park (crowd: 5438)
Saturday, 31 July East Fremantle 24.21 (165)def. Claremont 14.7 (91) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8475)
  • Without Mel Whinnen, West Perth nonetheless produce an impressive win led by the revitalised Bill Valli to give a look ominously similar to that before their devastating displays in the 1975 finals. [41]
  • East Fremantle show what “might have been” as they exploit superbly Claremont's roving weakness and end the Tigers’ finals hopes. [42]

Round 18

Round 18
Saturday, 7 August Subiaco 7.11 (53)def. by West Perth 23.24 (162) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4525)
Saturday, 7 August South Fremantle 13.17 (95)def. by Perth 21.15 (141) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8072)
Saturday, 7 August Claremont 10.12 (72)def. by East Perth 18.12 (120) Claremont Oval (crowd: 5285)
Saturday, 7 August Swan Districts 6.17 (53)def. by East Fremantle 25.18 (168) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 4220)

Perth take second position with a convincing win over an injury-depleted South Fremantle, as Robert Wiley finally confirms himself Western Australia's best rover since Cable with six goals and superb work on the ball. [43]

Round 19

Round 19
Saturday, 14 August South Fremantle 8.21 (69)def. Subiaco 9.6 (60) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4098)
Saturday, 14 August Perth 15.15 (105)def. West Perth 7.7 (49) Lathlain Park (crowd: 7209)
Saturday, 14 August Claremont 6.14 (50)def. by Swan Districts 6.16 (52) Claremont Oval (crowd: 3142)
Saturday, 14 August East Perth 16.18 (114)def. East Fremantle 9.12 (66) Perth Oval (crowd: 5616)
  • On Perth's wettest football day since the infamous “Swim Through Perth” of May 1956, [44] Perth produce a vintage display, holding West Perth to 1.7 (13) in the final three quarters whilst Murray Couper – given a roving commission – kicks 6.4 (40) himself. [45]
  • Subiaco's stubborn backline and a five-goal burst in ten minutes nearly steals the game from an inaccurate South Fremantle – looking to get several key players into full fitness for the finals. [46]
  • Claremont lose despite dominating the play as Victorian recruit Gordon Casey plays his best game for Swans and Tiger defender Kim Craig kicks a rare misdirected pass for the first of two winning behinds. [47]

Round 20

Round 20
Saturday, 21 August Swan Districts 10.13 (73)def. by Perth 19.12 (126) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 6973)
Saturday, 21 August Subiaco 20.11 (131)def. East Perth 17.10 (112) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5642)
Saturday, 21 August West Perth 20.21 (141)def. Claremont 13.18 (96) Leederville Oval (crowd: 7816)
Saturday, 21 August East Fremantle 12.15 (87)def. by South Fremantle 29.15 (189) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 12703)
  • Claremont coach Mal Brown illegally brought back John Colreavy when Jeff Murray was injured in a collision with Norm Uncle, which led to the introduction of the interchange rule despite a West Perth protest. [48]
  • In Colin Williams’ record 252nd match for the club, Subiaco win an amazing match with a record 19.3 (117) kicked in the third quarter [49] before Subiaco's defence holds East Perth goalless in the last and overpowers the top-of-the-ladder Royals. Subiaco runner Darryl Foster was reported for abusive language. [50]

Round 21

Round 21
Saturday, 28 August Subiaco 16.13 (109)def. Swan Districts 13.13 (91) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3817)
Saturday, 28 August Perth 10.7 (67)def. by East Perth 11.14 (80) Lathlain Park (crowd: 9568)
Saturday, 28 August South Fremantle 15.26 (116)def. Claremont 7.12 (54) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5962)
Saturday, 28 August West Perth 13.12 (90)def. East Fremantle 8.14 (62) Leederville Oval (crowd: 4828)

A brilliant display by Sandover Medallist Spencer in wet conditions silences Perth's on-ball brigade to place the Demons in an uncomfortable position against West Perth in the first semi. [51]

Ladder

1976 ladder
PosTeamPldWLDPFPAPPPts
1 East Perth 21165026962004134.564
2 South Fremantle 21147025762062124.956
3 Perth (P)21147024142026119.256
4 West Perth 21129023462093112.148
5 East Fremantle 21912023252322100.136
6 Claremont 2181302135240988.632
7 Swan Districts 2171402053272675.328
8 Subiaco 2141701608251164.016
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, 4 September Perth 20.18 (138)def. West Perth 13.4 (82) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 23,091)

Young ruckmen Dean Herbert and Wim Rosbender revitalised Perth to a remarkable comeback from 34 points down halfway through the third quarter to kick 16.7 (103) to 2.1 (13) for the remainder of the match. [52]

Second semi-final

Second semi-final
Saturday, 11 September East Perth 20.18 (138)def. South Fremantle 15.15 (105) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 31,147)

East Perth win well despite playing the last three quarters with sixteen fit players, [53] which leads to angry criticism by Bulldog coach Colin Beard about his team's last two finals efforts. [54]

Preliminary final

Preliminary final
Saturday, 18 September South Fremantle 10.21 (81)def. by Perth 20.19 (139) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 23,137)

A decision to give Perth first use of the wind backfires as an inaccurate South Fremantle are never in the match and coach Beard said he was ready to give up despite the club's confidence in him. [55]

Grand Final

1976 WANFL Grand Final
Saturday, 25 September East Perth def. by Perth Subiaco Oval (crowd: 45,823)
2.0 (12)
4.2 (26)
9.3 (57)
11.3 (69)		Q1
Q2
Q3
Final		3.5 (23)
6.10 (46)
10.12 (72)
13.14 (92)		Umpires: Ross Capes, Ron Powell
Simpson Medal: Mal Day (Perth)
Duda 4, Quatermaine 3, Levetzke, Hamilton, Daniel, VerstegenGoalsCouper 4, Gibellini 3, Mitsopoulos 2, Hargrave, Farrant, Herbert, Wiley
Smith, Hamilton, Webster, McGinnty, Quartermaine, Spencer, WebsterBestDay, Gibellini, Herbert, Rosbender, Watt, Wiley, Will, Couper

In a dour game in windy conditions, Perth via a superb defence [56] comfortably account for a Royal team only kept in the game by accuracy.

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

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 (2004); From Redlegs to Demons: A History of the Perth Football Club; pp. 122-148
  2. ↑ ‘Malone Decides to Hang Up His Boots’; The West Australian , 26 April 1976, p. 58
  3. 1 2 Spillman, Ken; Diehards: The Story of the Subiaco Football Club 1946-2000; pp. 178-185 ISBN   0-9578185-0-5
  4. ↑ ‘Thumbs Up for Two Umpires’; The West Australian, 24 May 1976, p. 46
  5. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘East Perth the Masters’; The West Australian, 5 April 1976, p. 55
  6. ↑ ‘Duda's Knee Goes Again’; The West Australian, 20 April 1976, p. 55
  7. ↑ East, Alan; ‘Claremont Put Value into Their Dollars’; The West Australian, 5 April 1976, p. 55
  8. ↑ Hopkins, Colin; ‘Worthington a Success Story, Too’; The West Australian, 12 April 1976, p. 78
  9. ↑ East, Alan; ‘It Pays to Dig Deep at Swans’; The West Australian, 12 April 1976, p. 56
  10. ↑ East, Alan; ‘East Perth Warp It All Up with One Burst’; The West Australian, 20 April 1976, pp. 79
  11. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘South Explode to Victory in 15 Minutes’; The West Australian, 19 April 1976, p. 51
  12. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Claremont Grab Victory in Last Gasp’; The West Australian, 20 April 1976, pp. 56, 55
  13. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Claremont stand All Alone on Top’; The West Australian, 27 April 1976, pp. 76, 74
  14. ↑ ‘Smith's Back’; The West Australian, 26 April 1976, p. 58
  15. ↑ Subiaco: Biggest Losses
  16. ↑ East, Alan; ‘South Are Supreme, Subiaco Pitiful’; The West Australian, 3 May 1976,p. 54
  17. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘A Day to Remember for South Fans’; The West Australian, 17 May 1976, p. 66
  18. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Perth show How to Win a Game’; The West Australian, 24 May 1976, p. 47
  19. ↑ Wright, Frank; ‘Valli Comes in from the Cold’; The West Australian, 31 May 1976, p. 78
  20. ↑ Hopkins, Colin; ‘East Fremantle on the Skids’; The West Australian, 31 May 1976, p. 77
  21. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Subiaco Put Dent in Perth's Confidence’; The West Australian, 7 June 1976, p. 47
  22. ↑ Wright, Frank; ‘Claremoent Shatter East F‘Tle’; The West Australian, 7 June 1976, p. 46
  23. ↑ Claremont – Biggest Home-and-Away Crowds
  24. ↑ Perth Regional Office (009034) June 1976 rainfall
  25. ↑ East, Alan; ‘West Perth Still Have Long Way to Go’; The West Australian, 21 June 1976, p. 51
  26. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Beware of Perth is the Warning’; The West Australian, 21 June 1976, p. 51
  27. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘More like the West Perth of 1975’; The West Australian, 28 June 1976, p. 63
  28. ↑ ‘Perth Were Robbed’; The West Australian, 28 June 1976, p. 62
  29. ↑ See West Australian Football League: Highest Match Aggregate Scores Archived 25 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  30. ↑ Wright, Frank; ‘Olsen Was the Key for Swans’; The West Australian, 28 June 1976, p. 62
  31. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘South Are Back in Business’; The West Australian, 5 July 1976, p. 59
  32. ↑ Hopkins, Colin; ‘Brown Has Few Tricks Left to Play’; The West Australian, 5 July 1976, p. 59
  33. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Perth Leave East Perth Standing – and Wondering’; The West Australian, 12 July 1976, p. 63
  34. ↑ Hopkins, Colin; ‘East Fremantle Can Blame Themselves’; The West Australian, 12 July 1976, p. 62
  35. ↑ Wright, Frank; ‘It Took One Long Goal’; The West Australian, 12 July 1976, p. 63
  36. ↑ East, Alan; ‘Fewer Kicks, More Value the Story with Perth’; The West Australian, 19 July 1976, p. 78
  37. ↑ Hopkins, Colin; ‘Subiaco Given $3000 Spur’; The West Australian, 19 July 1976, p. 78
  38. ↑ Wright, Frank; ‘Magro the Key to South's Teamwork’; The West Australian, 19 July 1976, p. 79
  39. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘West Perth the Foes This Week’; The West Australian, 26 July 1976, pp. 66, 68
  40. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘East Perth Steal March on South’; The West Australian, 26 July 1976, p. 67
  41. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘West Perth Are Dangers Again’; The West Australian, 2 August 1976, p. 58
  42. ↑ Hopkins, Colin; ‘East Fremantle Put It All Together’; The West Australian, 2 August 1976, p. 58
  43. ↑ Hopkins, Colin; ‘South Flaws Soon Exposed by Perth’; The West Australian, 9 August 1976, p. 79
  44. ↑ Perth Regional Office (009034) August 1976 rainfall
  45. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Perth Are Just Cherry-Ripe for the Finals’; The West Australian, 16 August 1976, p. 51
  46. ↑ Hopkins, Colin; ‘South Can Take Heart’; The West Australian, 16 August 1976, p. 50
  47. ↑ Wright, Frank; ‘Casey Clicks in the Wet’; The West Australian, 16 August 1976, p. 51
  48. ↑ ‘West Perth to Protest on On-Off Player’; The West Australian, 23 August 1976, p. 72
  49. ↑ "WAFL Footy Facts: Most Combined Points in Third Quarter". Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  50. ↑ ‘Three on Charges’; The West Australian, 23 August 1976, p. 47
  51. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘East Perth Take the Steam out of Perth’; The West Australian, 30 August 1976, p. 75
  52. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Herbert, Rosbender Were the Unsung Heroes’; The West Australian, 6 September 1976, p. 71
  53. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Two Mottoes Tell the Story of East Perth’; The West Australian, 13 September 1976, p. 55
  54. ↑ Hopkins, Colin; ‘Beard Throws It Back to His Players’; The West Australian, 20 September 1976, p. 56
  55. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘It Was All Over By Quarter-Time’; The West Australian, 20 September 1976, p. 70
  56. ↑ ‘Perth's Defence Didn't Give One Centimetre’; in The West Australian; 27 September 1976; p. 75
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