1981 WAFL season

Last updated

1981 WAFL season
TeamsEight
Premiers Claremont
5th premiership
Minor premiers Claremont
6th minor premiership
Sandover Medallist Stephen Michael (South Fremantle)
Bernie Naylor Medallist Warren Ralph (Claremont)
Matches played88
Highest18,106
  1980
1982  

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.

Contents

The 1981 WAFL season is famous because of its prodigious scoring, chiefly by premiers Claremont and runners-up South Fremantle. The Claremont trio of Warren Ralph, and brothers Jimmy and Phil Krakouer broke numerous records related to scoring in single matches and seasons. (It was to be the Krakouer brothers' last season at Claremont, before a move to North Melbourne, where they introduced an attacking style of football to the VFL.) During 1981, the 1979 record score by Swan Districts was broken twice, with the last round record by South Fremantle still remaining as the highest score in senior WAFL history. The average score of 123 points per team per game is the highest in WAFL history and as much as ten points higher than the VFL/AFL maximum during 1982, whilst tailender Perth set the unenviable record of conceding 157 points per match, [1] allowing under 100 only on a very wet day against East Perth.

Home-and-away season

Round 1

Round 1
Saturday, 11 April Swan Districts 21.21 (147)def. West Perth 10.12 (72) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 12467)
Saturday, 11 April East Perth 25.10 (160)def. Perth 14.10 (94) Perth Oval (crowd: 7626)
Saturday, 11 April Claremont 22.22 (154)def. South Fremantle 18.18 (126) Claremont Oval (crowd: 10105)
Saturday, 11 April East Fremantle 21.16 (142)def. Subiaco 18.12 (120) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7010)
  • Impressive commitment and skilful coaching by Moss dispel the expectation South Fremantle would be invincible in 1981. [2]
  • Bill Valli, who played no pre-season football, takes Subiaco from 55 points down at quarter-time to four points down with ten minutes to go. [3]

Round 2

Round 2
Saturday, 18 April West Perth 23.16 (154)def. East Perth 14.14 (98) Leederville Oval (crowd: 13053)
Saturday, 18 April South Fremantle 22.21 (153)def. East Fremantle 20.14 (134) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 14827)
Monday, 20 April Perth 13.9 (87)def. by Swan Districts 38.21 (249) Lathlain Park (crowd: 10859) [4]
Monday, 20 April Subiaco 22.21 (153)def. Claremont 18.15 (123) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 9167)
  • Swan Districts just fail to equal their 1979 record score, but equal the record for most scoring shots. [5] It did beat Perth's previous biggest loss in the 1959 First Semi-Final by 33 points [6]
  • The dominance of Buckenara and Neil Taylor ensures Subiaco run over Claremont into the breeze in the last quarter. [7]

Round 3

Round 3
Saturday, 25 April Swan Districts 22.17 (149)def. Subiaco 17.11 (113) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 11070)
Saturday, 25 April East Perth 21.9 (135)def. South Fremantle 17.14 (116) Perth Oval (crowd: 10426)
Saturday, 25 April Claremont 29.17 (191)def. Perth 12.23 (95) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5997)
Saturday, 25 April East Fremantle 19.25 (139)def. West Perth 8.17 (65) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8923)

East Fremantle’s unusual policy of playing four roving forwards gives Old Easts an open forward line that completely outplays the Cardinals, as shown by a match total of ninety-three effective handballs to West Perth's fifty. [8]

Round 4

Round 4
Saturday, 2 May Subiaco 18.16 (124)def. West Perth 17.18 (120) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8451)
Saturday, 2 May Perth 17.13 (115)def. by South Fremantle 26.28 (184) Lathlain Park (crowd: 6053)
Saturday, 2 May Claremont 20.26 (146)def. East Perth 17.11 (113) Claremont Oval (crowd: 10347)
Saturday, 2 May Swan Districts 28.17 (185)def. East Fremantle 12.6 (78) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 12020)

Six third quarter goals by Demon flanker Doug Simms brings the match to life despite the Demons being thrashed for the fourth successive week and finishing with a percentage of 49.87. [9]

Round 5

Round 5
Saturday, 9 May South Fremantle 17.19 (121)def. Swan Districts 16.16 (112) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 16120)
Saturday, 9 May East Perth 23.23 (161)def. Subiaco 10.11 (71) Perth Oval (crowd: 8562)
Saturday, 9 May Claremont 26.24 (180)def. West Perth 13.9 (87) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8871)
Saturday, 9 May East Fremantle 20.21 (141)def. Perth 13.20 (98) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5023)

Round 6

Round 6
Saturday, 16 May Subiaco 13.19 (97)def. by South Fremantle 17.13 (115) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7930)
Saturday, 16 May West Perth 18.15 (123)def. Perth 17.9 (111) Leederville Oval (crowd: 7006)
Saturday, 16 May Swan Districts 27.14 (176)def. East Perth 17.13 (115) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 14107)
Saturday, 16 May East Fremantle 14.12 (96)def. by Claremont 19.12 (126) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8851)

East Perth’s gamble to rely on bold attacking play fails as Swan Districts win the toss with a stiff easterly and later dominate the final quarter against this breeze. [10]

Round 7

Round 7
Saturday, 23 May Perth 22.16 (148)def. Subiaco 17.12 (114) Lathlain Park (crowd: 5018)
Saturday, 23 May Claremont 24.12 (156)def. Swan Districts 16.14 (110) Claremont Oval (crowd: 16154)
Saturday, 23 May East Perth 24.12 (156)def. East Fremantle 17.10 (112) Perth Oval (crowd: 9808)
Sunday, 24 May West Perth 17.14 (116)def. by South Fremantle 18.18 (126) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 11180)
  • Perth put on 12.6 (78) to 1.2 (8) in 29 minutes around half-time to defeat Subiaco for the fourteenth straight meeting after the Lions led by 22 points with the wind. Alan Johnson dominates in the centre and Subiaco’s weakness in key forward positions is too great a handicap. [11]
  • The WAFL’s first Sunday match since 1976, despite a first wet football day, [12] proves a great success, with Stephen Michael’s superb ruckwork winning a tight game for the Bulldogs. [13]

Round 8

Round 8
Saturday, 30 May Swan Districts 31.14 (200)def. Perth 10.13 (73) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 5125)
Saturday, 30 May Claremont 25.11 (161)def. Subiaco 19.12 (126) Claremont Oval (crowd: 5552)
Monday, 1 June East Perth 20.18 (138)def. by West Perth 22.10 (142) Perth Oval (crowd: 13564)
Monday, 1 June East Fremantle 13.15 (93)def. by South Fremantle 27.17 (179) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 15212)

Led by Les Fong in this 150th match, West Perth, despite a serious knee injury to John Duckworth, come back from 32 points down during the third quarter to win a thriller over their rivals. [14]

Round 9

Round 9
Saturday, 6 June West Perth 5.10 (40)def. by Swan Districts 18.17 (125) Leederville Oval (crowd: 7534)
Saturday, 6 June Perth 10.14 (74)def. by East Perth 13.8 (86) Lathlain Park (crowd: 4038)
Saturday, 6 June South Fremantle 16.19 (115)def. Claremont 13.17 (95) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9920)
Saturday, 6 June Subiaco 14.13 (97)def. East Fremantle 14.5 (89) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4122)
  • The absence of Les Fong and Cory Bewick from the forward line allows Swans defender Craig Holden to dominate West Perth’s attack. Backed up by a magnificent effort in atrocious conditions upfield (led by Neesham and Blackaby) Swans hold West Perth to the lowest score of the season. [15]
  • Maurice Rioli’s wet-weather skill and a better-suited forward line for the wet conditions – with Hardie and Monteath kicking four goals each – allows South Fremantle to come from ten points down early in the last quarter to a twenty-point win. [16]

Round 10

Round 10
Saturday, 13 June Subiaco 15.7 (97)def. by Swan Districts 14.18 (102) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8236)
Saturday, 13 June South Fremantle 22.15 (147)def. East Perth 11.11 (77) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11908)
Saturday, 13 June Perth 10.14 (74)def. by Claremont 23.18 (156) Lathlain Park (crowd: 5563)
Saturday, 13 June West Perth 37.17 (239)def. East Fremantle 9.7 (61) Leederville Oval (crowd: 7716)
  • Gary Buckenara kicks six magnificent goals but a poor second quarter denies Subiaco an upset despite scoring the first six goals of the match. [17]
  • After a wet-weather debacle the previous week, West Perth’s attack led by former Footscray full-forward Phil Bradmore, achieves a club record score [18] and winning margin [19] (equalled and broken in 1987).
  • At one point, West Perth kicked 16.6 (102) without East Fremantle scoring. [20]

Round 11

Round 11
Saturday, 27 June West Perth 9.13 (67)def. Subiaco 9.11 (65) Leederville Oval (crowd: 7930)
Saturday, 27 June South Fremantle 30.18 (198)def. Perth 10.13 (73) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4487)
Saturday, 27 June East Perth 13.14 (92)def. by Claremont 21.17 (143) Perth Oval (crowd: 7595)
Saturday, 27 June East Fremantle 10.13 (73)def. by Swan Districts 13.13 (91) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4452)
  • In heavy rain, Perth at one point lead South Fremantle 8.5 (53) to 7.6 (48) before the Bulldogs kick 23.12 (150) to 2.6 (18) for the rest of the game. [21]
  • In tough conditions, aided by two superb “wrong-foot” kicks from Jager and Menaglio, West Perth come back from 26 points down to win a thriller. [22]

Round 12

Round 12
Saturday, 4 July Swan Districts 19.20 (134)def. South Fremantle 13.8 (86) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 14600)
Saturday, 4 July Subiaco 26.14 (170)def. East Perth 12.8 (80) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7148)
Saturday, 4 July Claremont 30.19 (199)def. West Perth 20.9 (129) Claremont Oval (crowd: 8922)
Saturday, 4 July Perth 23.24 (162)def. East Fremantle 21.9 (135) Lathlain Park (crowd: 4091)

With young Laurie Keene kicking nine goals, Subiaco make a charge for fourth place against the struggling Royals, for whom no one does much in attack against Mitch Fussell’s speed. [23]

Round 13

Round 13
Saturday, 11 July South Fremantle 23.20 (158)def. Subiaco 10.17 (77) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6375)
Saturday, 11 July West Perth 26.23 (179)def. Perth 13.17 (95) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3500) [24]
Saturday, 11 July East Perth 14.13 (97)def. by Swan Districts 17.9 (111) Perth Oval (crowd: 6500)
Saturday, 11 July Claremont 30.17 (197)def. East Fremantle 14.11 (95) Claremont Oval (crowd: 5183)

Subiaco lose full-back Fussell with a compound left leg fracture and this loss combined with their on-field loss to South Fremantle ends the Lions hopes of a finals berth. [25]

Round 14

Round 14
Saturday, 18 July West Perth 23.8 (146)def. South Fremantle 19.19 (133) Leederville Oval (crowd: 8205)
Saturday, 18 July Subiaco 22.17 (149)def. Perth 14.8 (92) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4289)
Saturday, 18 July Swan Districts 16.16 (112)def. by Claremont 17.12 (114) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 14019)
Saturday, 18 July East Fremantle 9.17 (71)def. by East Perth 12.11 (83) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4211)
  • In another superb pressure match, Claremont claim top position by kicking 3.1 (19) to 2.5 (17) against the win after scores were level early in the final quarter. [26]
  • A brilliant 10 goals without a miss in the last quarter in “unsettled” weather gives West Perth a superb triumph and allows them to hold fourth place. [27]
  • In a lacklustre game in changeable weather, East Perth come from behind to stay in the battle for fourth position and tailender East Fremantle are luck a $2000 bet was turned down. [28]

Round 15

Round 15
Saturday, 25 July West Perth 10.10 (70)def. by Swan Districts 25.22 (172) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 12169)
Saturday, 25 July East Perth 20.16 (136)def. Perth 17.8 (110) Perth Oval (crowd: 4765)
Saturday, 25 July Claremont 23.22 (160)def. South Fremantle 14.25 (109) Claremont Oval (crowd: 12670)
Saturday, 25 July East Fremantle 14.9 (93)def. by Subiaco 18.19 (127) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3987)

West Perth suffer another big loss to Swan Districts and again fall out of the four. The Cardinals do not goal between the five-minute mark of the opening quarter and the twenty-minute mark of the second as Swans’ waves of speed move down the field to produce eleven of their own. [29]

Round 16

Round 16
Saturday, 1 August Perth 13.15 (93)def. by Swan Districts 18.20 (128) Lathlain Park (crowd: N/A)
Saturday, 1 August West Perth 15.9 (99)def. by East Perth 25.10 (160) Leederville Oval (crowd: 11980)
Saturday, 1 August Subiaco 12.10 (82)def. by Claremont 28.13 (181) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8348)
Saturday, 1 August South Fremantle 24.22 (166)def. East Fremantle 19.5 (119) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6510)

An unfashionable but brilliant centreline and the move of John Hayes to full-forward where he kicks 7.1 (43) allows East Perth to beat finals rival West Perth and move a game plus percentage clear inside the four. [30]

Round 17

Round 17
Saturday, 8 August Swan Districts 30.17 (197)def. Subiaco 10.14 (74) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 9237)
Saturday, 8 August East Perth 20.11 (131)def. South Fremantle 16.22 (118) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 11022)
Saturday, 8 August Claremont 39.20 (254)def. Perth 12.9 (81) Claremont Oval (crowd: 5820)
Saturday, 8 August East Fremantle 21.17 (143)def. West Perth 16.11 (107) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5175)
  • East Perth’s Grant Campbell gives a classic display to lead his team to a 40-point lead at quarter-time before Bulldog ruckman Michael is equally brilliant in a belated charge. [31]
  • Swan Districts kick 26.13 (169) to 7.7 (49) after quarter-time as the refusal of Subiaco’s Neil Taylor to man Phil Narkle allows the latter and his brother to create havoc as Subiaco coach Ken Armstrong makes the mistake of using Douge in the centre. [32]
  • Claremont kick their highest score, [33] and the highest in the WAFL to that point, to thrash the Demons who kick only 3.5 (23) after half-time. [34]

Round 18

Round 18
Saturday, 15 August Subiaco 25.13 (163)def. West Perth 9.15 (69) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4858)
Saturday, 15 August Perth 18.13 (121)def. South Fremantle 15.13 (103) Lathlain Park (crowd: 4897)
Saturday, 15 August Claremont 23.24 (162)def. East Perth 8.13 (61) Claremont Oval (crowd: 10172)
Saturday, 15 August Swan Districts 24.24 (168)def. East Fremantle 8.15 (63) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 6123)
  • The brilliance of the Krakouer brothers slightly weakens East Perth’s hold on fourth position as the Royals score only 3.12 (30) to 20.18 (138) after quarter-time despite Ralph kicking only a single goal. [35]
  • Without champion Buckenara and arguable “rookie of the year” Ray Reeves, Subiaco settle West Perth’s fate for 1981 as they seize the game at the start with Bill Valli returning with great effect. [36]

Round 19

Round 19
Saturday, 22 August South Fremantle 21.22 (148)def. Swan Districts 16.17 (113) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 12142)
Saturday, 22 August East Perth 19.14 (128)def. Subiaco 16.7 (103) Perth Oval (crowd: 10220)
Saturday, 22 August West Perth 12.9 (81)def. by Claremont 35.15 (225) Leederville Oval (crowd: 7145)
Saturday, 22 August East Fremantle 20.19 (139)def. Perth 17.18 (120) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3218)
  • Four opening goals in as many minutes stuns Swans, who suffer their sixth loss in eight matches against South since the start of 1980. Ruckman Michael and half-back Simon Outhwaite dominate for the Bulldogs. [37]
  • With their win, East Fremantle makes sure Perth would finish bottom of the WA(N)FL ladder for the first time since 1935.
  • East Perth seal the four with a skilful burst after the seventeen-minute mark of the last quarter, in the process showing the lack of class and anticipation in Subiaco’s key forwards. [38]
  • Claremont became the only WAFL team to win three consecutive games by over 100 points. [39]

Round 20

Round 20
Saturday, 29 August Subiaco 18.12 (120)def. South Fremantle 10.23 (83) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7814)
Saturday, 29 August West Perth 16.19 (115)def. Perth 16.15 (111) Leederville Oval (crowd: 4827)
Saturday, 29 August Swan Districts 18.14 (122)def. East Perth 14.17 (101) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 12728)
Saturday, 29 August East Fremantle 7.16 (58)def. by Claremont 10.21 (81) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7935)

East Fremantle kick only 1.9 (15) in dry (but windy) conditions after quarter-time, not goalling in the second or third quarters — a first in the WA(N)FL since Subiaco in Round 11 of 1976. Their wasteful short-kicking game allows the Tigers to recover from Old Easts’ ferocious tackling in the first quarter. [40]

Round 21

Round 21
Saturday, 5 September South Fremantle 40.18 (258)def. West Perth 12.6 (78) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6157)
Saturday, 5 September Perth 18.16 (124)def. by Subiaco 26.15 (171) Lathlain Park (crowd: 4984)
Saturday, 5 September Claremont 22.16 (148)def. Swan Districts 20.13 (133) Claremont Oval (crowd: 18106)
Saturday, 5 September East Perth 17.15 (117)def. East Fremantle 12.10 (82) Perth Oval (crowd: 5660)
  • South Fremantle set a still-standing record for the highest score in the WAFL, beating Claremont’s record from Round 17. [34] The Bulldogs become the first team to lead by 100 points at half-time in open-age WA(N)FL football. [41]
  • Despite the early loss of Phil Krakouer and a 35-point deficit midway through the third quarter, Claremont overcome a strong Swan Districts defence for a twelfth stright victory in front of a record Claremont Oval crowd via brilliant running and handball. [42]

Ladder

1981 ladder
PosTeamPldWLDPFPAPPPts
1 Claremont (P)21192033522128157.576
2 Swan Districts 21165030362019150.464
3 South Fremantle 21138029422400122.652
4 East Perth 21111002425252396.144
5 Subiaco 2191202413258293.536
6 West Perth 2181302298297377.332
7 East Fremantle 2151602156283776.020
8 Perth 2131802151331165.012
Source: WAFL Footy Facts
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals series

First semi-final

First semi-final
Saturday, 12 September South Fremantle 19.14 (128)def. East Perth 13.10 (88) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 32,860)

Despite a heavy knock, Bruce Monteath kicks 6.2 (38) of 6.4 (40) to avoid a potential upset by the Royals. He had no recollection of equalling the WA(N)FL record of nine goals in a final. [43]

Second semi-final

Second semi-final
Saturday, 19 September Claremont 14.24 (108)def. Swan Districts 12.9 (81) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 33,478)

A wayward Claremont win with surprising ease owing to Swan Districts’ roving weakness in windy conditions combined with the overlooked power of Claremont’s defence. [44]

Preliminary final

Preliminary final
Sunday, 27 September Swan Districts 15.15 (105)def. by South Fremantle 28.10 (178) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 33,940)

South Fremantle gain the opportunity to defend their 1980 premiership with a brilliant twenty-goal second half after being sixteen points behind late in the second quarter. Rover Noel Carter rivals his last-round eleven-goal display and Monteath is again superb – this time at centre half-forward. [45]

Grand Final

1981 WAFL Grand Final
Saturday, 3 October Claremont def. South Fremantle Subiaco Oval (crowd: 50,517)
4.5 (29)
7.7 (49)
11.13 (79)
 16.15 (111)
Q1
Q2
Q3
 Final
1.3 (9)
7.15 (57)
10.20 (80)
 12.24 (96)
Umpires: Ross Capes, Ron Powell
Simpson Medal: Gary Shaw (Claremont)
Maurice Rioli (South Fremantle)
Malaxos 5, Blackwell 3, Ralph 3, Daniels, Jimmy Krakouer, Panizza, Shaw, WatsonGoals Monteath 4, Carter 3, McKay, Hardie, Rioli, Randall, Vasoli
Moss, Phil Krakouer, Shaw, Pearce, Morton, Blackwell, Malaxos, HarperBestRioli, Barrett, Monteath, Carter, Vasoli, Michael

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

The 1971 WANFL season was the 87th season of the various incarnations of the Western Australian National Football League, and the forty-first under that moniker.

The 1970 WANFL season was the 86th season of the Western Australian National Football League. After four years of dominance by the three Perth clubs, 1970 saw 1969 wooden spooners South Fremantle, aided by a tough pre-season training program under coach “Hassa” Mann and the arrival of Len Clark and John O‘Reilly from the VFL, rise to take their first premiership since the 1947–1954 dynasty. The Bulldogs upset Perth in two finals in wet conditions, while 1969 premiers West Perth fell to sixth with only ten victories: indeed this was the first season since 1955 with East Perth that legendary ruckman “Polly” Farmer had played for a team that missed the finals. The Cardinals were affected by the loss of John Wynne to Norwood, backup ruckmen Brian Sampson and Neil Evans to retirement and Greg Astbury to a major stomach problem, plus a dispute over Bill Valli, whose clearance to Collingwood was refused by the WANFL and the club's severe lack of depth in its reserves. Of the lower sides from previous seasons, in addition to South Fremantle's surprise flag Claremont showed major improvement due to such young players as Moss, winning more games than in any season since 1965, and would have done much better but for long-term injuries to rover Bruce Duperouzel and centre half-forward Lindsay Carroll in the second half of the season, when they fell out of the four after looking like a second semi-final berth.

The 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. "WAFL Footy Facts: High Average Against". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  2. Casellas, Ken; ‘Claremont Plan Thwarts South’; The West Australian , 13 April 1981, p, 80
  3. Sheterline, John; ‘Valli Sparks Revival’; The West Australian, 13 April 1981, p, 81
  4. Young, Doug; ‘Swans Dump Perth by 162 Points’; The West Australian, 21 April 1981, pp. 111-112
  5. Swan Districts: Most Scoring Shots
  6. Perth: Biggest Losses
  7. Christian, Geoff; ‘Subiaco Finish All Over Claremont’; The West Australian, 21 April 1981, pp. 111-112
  8. Casellas, Ken; ‘Roving Sewell Foils Defence’; The West Australian, 27 April 1981, p. 68
  9. Sheterline, John; ‘Doug Simms Stands Out in Attack’; The West Australian, 4 May 1981, p. 100
  10. Sheterline, John; ‘East Perth Gamble Backfires’; The West Australian, 18 May 1981, p. 69
  11. Casellas, Ken; ‘Perth Maintains Their Hoodoo’; The West Australian, 25 May 1981, p. 65
  12. Perth Regional Office (009034) May 1981 rainfall
  13. Christian, Geoff; ‘Michael Again the Master as South Win By 10 Points’; The West Australian, 25 May 1981, p. 72
  14. Christian, Geoff; ‘West Perth Stage Superb Fightback’; The West Australian; 2 June 1981, pp. 95, 100
  15. Casellas, Ken; ‘Holden Excels as Attacking Backman’; The West Australian, 8 June 1981, p. 81
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  17. Sheterline, John; ‘Buckenara at His Best’; The West Australian, 15 June 1981, p. 72
  18. Australian Football: West Perth Highest Scores
  19. Australian Football: West Perth Biggest Wins
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  21. Casellas, Ken; ‘Monteath Move Pays Dividends’; The West Australian, 29 June 1981, p. 71
  22. Christian, Geoff; ‘Left-Foot Side Kick Sinks Subiaco’; The West Australian, 29 June 1981, p. 70
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  24. Banks, Ron; ‘West Perth Get an Armchair Ride’; The West Australian, 13 June 1981, p. 97
  25. Christian, Geoff; ‘Plenty Hangs on Big Clash at Bassendean’; The West Australian, 13 July 1981, pp. 96, 104
  26. Christian Geoff; ‘Claremont Show True Grit’; The West Australian, 20 July 1981, p. 68
  27. Young, Doug; ‘West Perth Were All Smiles at the Finish’; The West Australian, 20 July 1981, p. 69
  28. Sheterline, John; ‘East F‘tle Lucky Not to Lose $2000’; The West Australian, 20 July 1981, p. 69
  29. Young, Doug; ‘West Perth Rot Sets in Early’; The West Australian, 27 July 1981, p. 55
  30. Christian, Geoff; ‘East Perth Centreline Sets Up Chances’; The West Australian, 3 August 1981, p. 64
  31. Christian, Geoff; ‘Campbell, Michael Turn It on for Fans’; The West Australian, 10 August 1981, p. 77
  32. Sheterline, John; ‘Blackaby shows His True Worth’; The West Australian, 10 August 1981, p. 77
  33. Claremont: Highest Scores
  34. 1 2 Highest Scores
  35. Christian, Geoff; ‘Krakouers Ignite the Flame’; The West Australian, 17 August 1981, p. 89
  36. Young, Doug; ‘Subiaco Are Not a Spent Force’; The West Australian, 17 August 1981, p. 88
  37. Young, Doug; ‘South’s Slick Start Stuns Swans’; The West Australian, 24 August 1981, p. 73
  38. Christian, Geoff; ‘East Perth’s Skill Tells in the Crisis’; The West Australian, 24 August 1981, p. 73
  39. "WAFL Footy Facts: Streaks". Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
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  41. "WAFL Footy Facts: Largest Margins at Half-Time". Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  42. Christian, Geoff; ‘Claremont Show Great Character’; The West Australian, 7 September 1981, p. 97
  43. Sheterline, John; ‘Monteath’s Goals Were Only a Blur’; The West Australian, 14 September 1981, p. 70
  44. Christian, Geoff; ‘24 Carat Gold (and Blue): Too Many Guns in Claremont Arsenal’; The West Australian, 21 September 1981; pp. 75, 80
  45. Christian, Geoff; ‘South Are on Target – Now for Claremont in the Grand Final’; The West Australian, 28 September 1981, pp. 76, 80