| 1977 WAFL season | |
|---|---|
| Teams | 8 |
| Premiers | Perth 7th premiership |
| Minor premiers | Perth 6th minor premiership |
| Sandover Medallist | Brian Peake (East Fremantle) |
| Bernie Naylor Medallist | Ray Bauskis (South Fremantle) |
| Matches played | 88 |
The 1977 WANFL season was the 93rd season of the Western Australian National Football League in its various incarnations. It followed on from the previous season's high scoring to set another record for the highest average score in WANFL history [1] at 109.57 points per team per game, which was to be broken substantially in the following few years due to the introduction of the interchange rule allowing for a faster game with less exhausted players. 1977 was in fact that last WA(N)FL season with no score of over 200 points until 1988.
The season saw Perth win their second consecutive premiership with a resounding win and record WA(N)FL Grand Final score over East Fremantle who were in the finals for the first time since their last premiership in 1974. It was the fifth premiership in twelve seasons for the Demons, and their last as of 2022: Perth have not played in a Grand Final since 1978, and did even not qualify for the finals between 1997 and 2020.
To counter the uneven quality of inter-league matches between the WANFL and the VFL due to recruiting of top interstate players by Victoria, a State of Origin match was held in Perth the week following the Grand Final. Western Australia showed its quality as a developer of Australian Rules talent with a crushing 94-point win over the best players bred in Victoria, and until the advent of the national competition and the West Coast Eagles State of Origin football, this proved very popular with Western Australian and South Australian crowds and television in Victoria. However, after that it declined to the point of being abandoned after 1999.
| Round 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 26 March | Swan Districts 25.13 (163) | def. | South Fremantle 18.18 (126) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 10280) | |
| Saturday, 26 March | East Perth 12.13 (85) | def. by | West Perth 15.14 (104) | Perth Oval (crowd: 12682) | |
| Monday, 28 March | Claremont 8.12 (60) | def. by | Perth 12.15 (87) | Claremont Oval (crowd: not disclosed) | |
| Monday, 28 March | East Fremantle 21.17 (143) | def. | Subiaco 13.12 (90) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: not disclosed) | |
| |||||
| Round 2 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 2 April | West Perth 15.22 (112) | def. | Swan Districts 14.10 (94) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 11560) | |
| Saturday, 2 April | South Fremantle 14.13 (97) | def. by | East Perth 15.14 (104) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9485) | |
| Saturday, 2 April | Subiaco 13.13 (91) | def. by | Claremont 14.12 (96) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7347) | |
| Saturday, 2 April | Perth 13.11 (89) | def. by | East Fremantle 20.17 (137) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 10128) | |
| |||||
| Round 3 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 9 April | Subiaco 15.12 (102) | def. by | Perth 19.17 (131) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8973) | |
| Saturday, 9 April | Claremont 18.11 (119) | def. by | East Fremantle 27.14 (176) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 10050) | |
| Monday, 11 April | South Fremantle 16.11 (107) | def. | West Perth 15.14 (104) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 12601) | |
| Monday, 11 April | Swan Districts 16.11 (107) | def. by | East Perth 22.12 (144) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: not disclosed) | |
| |||||
| Round 4 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 16 April | West Perth 18.21 (129) | def. | Subiaco 12.9 (81) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 9418) | |
| Saturday, 16 April | Perth 30.18 (198) | def. | South Fremantle 13.7 (85) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 10402) | |
| Saturday, 16 April | East Perth 21.15 (141) | def. | Claremont 11.14 (80) | Perth Oval (crowd: 9507) | |
| Saturday, 16 April | East Fremantle 20.21 (141) | def. | Swan Districts 11.14 (80) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9017) | |
A record third quarter of 15.3 (93) [8] sees Perth kick their highest-ever WA(N)FL score, beating their previous record from 1968 against Swan Districts. [9] The Demon rovers create a “shuttle service” to nine-goal full-forward Couper. South were without Campbell and Mal Brown. | |||||
| Round 5 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 23 April | Subiaco 9.12 (66) | def. by | South Fremantle 24.22 (166) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6907) | |
| Saturday, 23 April | West Perth 9.15 (69) | def. | Perth 8.18 (66) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 12019) | |
| Saturday, 23 April | Swan Districts 24.14 (158) | def. | Claremont 17.9 (111) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 7058) | |
| Saturday, 23 April | East Fremantle 12.22 (94) | def. | East Perth 12.16 (88) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 12723) | |
| |||||
| Round 6 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 30 April | Perth 27.16 (178) | def. | Swan Districts 15.6 (96) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 8988) | |
| Saturday, 30 April | East Perth 11.8 (74) | def. by | Subiaco 12.6 (78) | Perth Oval (crowd: 6546) | |
| Saturday, 30 April | Claremont 8.12 (60) | def. by | West Perth 24.17 (161) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 7766) | |
| Saturday, 30 April | South Fremantle 12.16 (88) | def. by | East Fremantle 19.18 (132) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 15738) | |
Subiaco, after being wooden spooners in 1976 and losing their first five by large margins, has coach Brian Douge allow the players to select their own side and let them off training – this unorthodox move wins the Lions their first game and sets them on their best run between 1975 and 1984. [12] | |||||
| Round 7 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 7 May | Swan Districts 10.10 (70) | def. by | Subiaco 18.9 (117) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 6695) | |
| Saturday, 7 May | East Perth 13.9 (87) | def. by | Perth 17.13 (115) | Perth Oval (crowd: 11213) | |
| Saturday, 7 May | Claremont 14.9 (93) | def. by | South Fremantle 16.20 (116) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 6715) | |
| Saturday, 7 May | East Fremantle 11.20 (86) | def. by | West Perth 21.8 (134) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 14948) | |
West Perth’s win against East Fremantle was the biggest in the WAFL with fewer scoring shots until the same round of 1994 [13] beating a record from the 1969 Preliminary Final. | |||||
| Round 8 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 14 May | South Fremantle 25.21 (171) | def. | Swan Districts 7.7 (49) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6697) | |
| Saturday, 14 May | West Perth 14.15 (99) | def. by | East Perth 23.13 (151) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 11859) | |
| Saturday, 14 May | Perth 23.15 (153) | def. | Claremont 11.16 (82) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 5782) | |
| Saturday, 14 May | Subiaco 14.13 (97) | def. by | East Fremantle 17.12 (114) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7943) | |
South Fremantle in a tricky wind kick 1.12 (18) before kicking ten goals straight and crushing Swan Districts [14] | |||||
| Round 9 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 21 May | Swan Districts 10.12 (72) | def. by | West Perth 17.15 (117) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 6250) | |
| Saturday, 21 May | East Perth 12.12 (84) | def. by | South Fremantle 19.18 (132) | Perth Oval (crowd: 9412) | |
| Saturday, 21 May | Claremont 13.12 (90) | def. by | Subiaco 17.12 (114) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 4860) | |
| Saturday, 21 May | East Fremantle 9.14 (68) | def. by | Perth 11.12 (78) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8642) | |
On the one wet day of the season, South Fremantle kick an exceptional 10.3 (63) with the wind, with future star Stephen Michael dominating the ruck [15] | |||||
| Round 10 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 28 May | West Perth 26.13 (169) | def. | South Fremantle 20.17 (137) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 14270) | |
| Saturday, 28 May | East Perth 22.17 (149) | def. | Swan Districts 13.5 (83) | Perth Oval (crowd: 7038) | |
| Saturday, 28 May | Perth 17.15 (117) | def. | Subiaco 11.12 (78) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 9106) | |
| Saturday, 28 May | East Fremantle 13.9 (87) | def. by | Claremont 12.17 (89) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6619) | |
| |||||
| Round 11 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 4 June | Claremont 11.12 (78) | def. by | East Perth 15.16 (106) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 9026) | |
| Saturday, 4 June | Swan Districts 14.14 (98) | def. by | East Fremantle 20.27 (147) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 7340) | |
| Monday, 6 June | Subiaco 17.13 (115) | def. | West Perth 14.7 (91) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 12311) | |
| Monday, 6 June | South Fremantle 19.17 (131) | def. | Perth 18.12 (120) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11687) | |
| Round 12 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 11 June | South Fremantle 16.16 (112) | def. by | Subiaco 19.14 (128) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8923) | |
| Saturday, 11 June | Perth 29.18 (192) | def. | West Perth 12.8 (80) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 8198) | |
| Saturday, 11 June | Claremont 13.25 (103) | def. | Swan Districts 10.8 (68) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 5044) | |
| Saturday, 11 June | East Perth 19.13 (127) | def. | East Fremantle 14.16 (100) | Perth Oval (crowd: 9041) | |
Star Perth rover Robert Wiley has an amazing match with 10 goals, four behinds and forty-two possessions, [19] as the Demons kick their second highest score on record. [9] | |||||
| Round 13 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 18 June | Swan Districts 9.9 (63) | def. by | Perth 18.15 (123) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 4897) | |
| Saturday, 18 June | Subiaco 12.11 (83) | def. by | East Perth 17.15 (117) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 12757) | |
| Saturday, 18 June | West Perth 16.12 (108) | def. | Claremont 17.18 (120) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 7113) | |
| Saturday, 18 June | East Fremantle 11.17 (83) | def. by | South Fremantle 11.19 (85) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11940) | |
Don Haddow kicks winner with last kick of day on best-afield Doug Green, in a manner compared at the time with the 1964 Grand Final. [20] | |||||
| Round 14 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 2 July | Subiaco 14.13 (97) | def. | Swan Districts 12.12 (84) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6976) | |
| Saturday, 2 July | Perth 29.12 (186) | def. | East Perth 11.8 (74) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 10490) | |
| Saturday, 2 July | South Fremantle 24.16 (160) | def. | Claremont 13.14 (92) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7857) | |
| Saturday, 2 July | West Perth 19.12 (126) | def. | East Fremantle 16.12 (108) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 8472) | |
| Round 15 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 9 July | Swan Districts 12.10 (82) | def. by | South Fremantle 21.16 (142) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 5488) | |
| Saturday, 9 July | East Perth 20.9 (129) | def. | West Perth 13.11 (89) | Perth Oval (crowd: 12491) | |
| Saturday, 9 July | Claremont 9.18 (72) | def. by | Perth 26.14 (170) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 5202) | |
| Saturday, 9 July | East Fremantle 21.25 (151) | def. | Subiaco 13.11 (89) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8090) | |
| |||||
| Round 16 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 16 July | West Perth 29.23 (197) | def. | Swan Districts 16.12 (108) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 6109) | |
| Saturday, 16 July | South Fremantle 12.10 (82) | def. by | East Perth 17.17 (119) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11517) | |
| Saturday, 16 July | Subiaco 16.17 (113) | def. | Claremont 15.9 (99) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4406) | |
| Saturday, 16 July | Perth 17.17 (119) | def. by | East Fremantle 20.12 (132) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 11420) | |
| Round 17 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 23 July | South Fremantle 11.13 (79) | def. by | West Perth 15.20 (110) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11478) | |
| Saturday, 23 July | Swan Districts 12.9 (81) | def. by | East Perth 23.11 (149) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 5698) | |
| Saturday, 23 July | Subiaco 11.9 (75) | def. by | Perth 23.11 (149) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5867) | |
| Saturday, 23 July | Claremont 9.14 (68) | def. by | East Fremantle 16.13 (109) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 5750) | |
Archie Duda kicked ten in comeback from knee trouble to move to 99 goals for the Royals. | |||||
| Round 18 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 6 August | West Perth 25.17 (167) | def. | Subiaco 18.5 (113) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 7816) | |
| Saturday, 6 August | Perth 15.14 (104) | def. | South Fremantle 15.9 (99) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 9109) | |
| Saturday, 6 August | East Perth 20.15 (135) | def. by | Claremont 23.9 (147) | Perth Oval (crowd: 6618) | |
| Saturday, 6 August | East Fremantle 27.17 (179) | def. | Swan Districts 18.9 (117) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5127) | |
| |||||
| Round 19 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 13 August | Subiaco 10.9 (69) | def. by | South Fremantle 23.15 (153) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4317) | |
| Saturday, 13 August | West Perth 23.16 (154) | def. | Perth 14.15 (99) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 11380) | |
| Saturday, 13 August | Swan Districts 13.16 (94) | def. by | Claremont 19.13 (127) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 4102) | |
| Saturday, 13 August | East Fremantle 16.16 (112) | def. | East Perth 17.9 (111) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9012) | |
Old Easts wipe off a 44-point deficit in fifteen minutes of the third quarter and hang on to win a thriller [23] | |||||
| Round 20 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 20 August | Perth 17.18 (120) | def. | Swan Districts 12.12 (84) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 4132) | |
| Saturday, 20 August | East Perth 15.15 (105) | def. | Subiaco 8.4 (52) | Perth Oval (crowd: 6145) | |
| Saturday, 20 August | Claremont 10.6 (66) | def. by | West Perth 22.13 (145) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 6840) | |
| Saturday, 20 August | South Fremantle 15.17 (107) | def. | East Fremantle 14.13 (97) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 12984) | |
Ross Glendinning’s brilliant defence allows East Perth to hold Subiaco to 2.0 (12) in first half. [24] | |||||
| Round 21 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 27 August | Swan Districts 16.17 (113) | def. | Subiaco 7.11 (53) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 3048) | |
| Saturday, 27 August | East Perth 26.19 (175) | def. | Perth 9.7 (61) | Perth Oval (crowd: 11695) | |
| Saturday, 27 August | Claremont 11.17 (83) | def. by | South Fremantle 13.17 (95) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 6375) | |
| Saturday, 27 August | East Fremantle 23.12 (150) | def. | West Perth 10.18 (78) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11740) | |
| |||||
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Perth (P) | 21 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 2655 | 2003 | 132.6 | 60 |
| 2 | East Fremantle | 21 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 2546 | 2077 | 122.6 | 56 |
| 3 | West Perth | 21 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 2543 | 2218 | 114.7 | 56 |
| 4 | East Perth | 21 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 2454 | 2060 | 119.1 | 52 |
| 5 | South Fremantle | 21 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 2470 | 2249 | 109.8 | 48 |
| 6 | Subiaco | 21 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 1901 | 2471 | 76.9 | 28 |
| 7 | Claremont | 21 | 6 | 15 | 0 | 1935 | 2587 | 74.8 | 24 |
| 8 | Swan Districts | 21 | 3 | 18 | 0 | 1964 | 2803 | 70.1 | 12 |
| First semi-final | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 3 September | West Perth 14.13 (97) | def. | East Perth 10.5 (65) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 26,186) | |
A superbly skilled and precise defensive effort on a perfect football day by the Cardinals sees East Perth on 0.1 (1) fifteen seconds before half-time, and they never have hope of winning. [27] | |||||
| Second semi-final | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 10 September | Perth 23.16 (154) | def. | East Fremantle 15.10 (100) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 23,019) | |
With Peake and Wiley both absent, Perth rebound dramatically from their last round debacle with Murray Couper kicking eight. | |||||
| Preliminary final | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 17 September | East Fremantle 17.15 (117) | def. | West Perth 15.11 (101) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 23,193) | |
| 1977 WANFL Grand Final | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 24 September | Perth | def. | East Fremantle | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 44,381) | |
| 4.4 (28) 12.7 (79) 19.10 (124) 26.13 (169) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 2.3 (15) 6.4 (40) 10.9 (69) 14.12 (96) | Umpires: Ross Capes, Ron Powell Simpson Medal: Wim Rosbender (Perth) | ||
| Couper 6, Farrant 4, Mitsopoulos 3, Wiley 3, Hargrave 3, Currie 2, Johnson 2, Gibellini, Hill, Rosbender | Goals | Judge 4, Turco 3, Durnthaler 3, Peake, Jez, Reid, Ryan | |||
| Currie, Inman, Rosbender, Watt, Johnson, Hargrave, Day | Best | Reid, Neesham, Becu, Peake, Durnthaler, Diver | |||
Perth’s brilliant fleet of small men, with Wiley back for the first time in nine weeks, and a fast-running defence, completely outplays Old Easts to kick the highest ever WA(N)FL Grand Final score. | |||||
| Western Australia vs Victoria | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 10 October | Western Australia | def. | Victoria | Subiaco Oval | “This Makes It a New Ball Game” [28] |
| 6.5 (41) 9.9 (63) 17.9 (111) 23.13 (151) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 0.0 (0) 3.4 (22) 4.6 (30) 8.9 (57) | Simpson Medal: Barry Cable | ||
| Max Richardson 6, Alexander 3, Monteath 2, Moss 2, Magro 2, Young 2, Sidebottom 2, Reid, Cable, Sewell, Featherby | Goals | Moore 4, Hendrie 2, Schimmelbusch, Picken | |||
This was the first State of Origin game, and saw Western Australia inflict a crushing reversal on Victoria, who had previously been able to utilise countless players born and bred interstate. In the absence of Leigh Matthews and Kevin Bartlett, the Victorian roving division was slaughtered by Cable, Monteath and Max Richardson who kicked six straight. [29] | |||||
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 1932 WANFL season was the 48th season of the Western Australian National Football League. The premiership was won by West Perth for the first time since 1905. The Cardinals’ win ended both a run of four consecutive premierships by East Fremantle, which won its fifth of seven successive minor premierships but lost both finals it played to be eliminated in the preliminary final, and West Perth's longest premiership drought in its history. West Perth's win was highlighted by the success of champion full forward Ted Tyson, who headed the goalkicking with eighty-four goals including a record eight in the Grand Final[a]. Tyson went on to kick an unprecedented 1,203 goals during a twelve-season career with the Cardinals, but their rise from winning only six matches in 1931 was due to the development of second-year defender Max Tetley, the discovery of a third pre-war Cardinal stalwart in Norm McDiarmid,[b] brother of star ruckman Jack, plus further outstanding youngsters Jim Morgan and Bob Dalziell.
The 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 1935 WANFL season was the 51st season of the Western Australian National Football League. The season saw West Perth win the premiership under the coaching of Johnny Leonard; it was the only time in West Perth's history that it won consecutive premierships, preceding a brief but exceptionally steep decline that saw the Cardinals four years later suffer the equal longest losing streak in WA(N)FL history.
The 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 1937 WANFL season was the 53rd season of the Western Australian National Football League. The season saw numerous notable highlights, including:
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.