1982 WAFL season | |
---|---|
Teams | 8 |
Premiers | Swan Districts 4th premiership |
Minor premiers | Claremont 8th minor premiership |
Sandover Medallist | Phil Narkle (Swan Districts) |
Bernie Naylor Medallist | Warren Ralph (Claremont) |
Matches played | 88 |
Highest | 18,556 |
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. [1] 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, [2] [3] 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. [4]
Although 1982 did not equal the numerous high-scoring records set the previous season, scoring continued high with an average score of 117.86 points per team per game, and featured the highest losing score in League history and the most scoring shots by a losing team in any major Australian Rules competition.
The WAFL also showed concern from the start of the season about declining attendances – a problem that was to lead to radical changes to the structure of Australian Rules in subsequent years. Employment opportunities created by the mining boom in the Pilbara had caused several WAFL players to play in the De Grey league without a clearance during 1981, and the league announced players who did this would be suspended from the WAFL for two full seasons, though none actually were despite Ian Williams playing a practice match on 3 April for Port Hedland Panthers. [5]
Subiaco, depleted by their inability to afford to retain star State of Origin on-baller Gary Buckenara and the absence of league-quality key forwards, [6] set an unwanted record of losing their first sixteen matches, beating by one game their own record from 1902 and that of West Perth in 1939 for the worst start to a season in Western Australian League football. The Lions ultimately became the first one-win WAFL team since Swan Districts in 1968 – their only win was like the 1968 Swans against East Fremantle. [b] Under new president Rod Brown and coach Dennis Cometti West Perth, despite considerable injury problems early in the season, were the one major improver, rising to third and kicking a record finals score in their first major round match for four seasons, in the process becoming the most-watched team in the league and stimulating crowds in a tough season financially. [7]
Round 1 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 27 March | Subiaco 13.11 (89) | def. by | West Perth 15.21 (111) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8457) | |
Saturday, 27 March | South Fremantle 24.25 (169) | def. | Perth 12.12 (84) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8260) | |
Saturday, 27 March | Claremont 20.9 (129) | def. | East Perth 16.20 (116) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 10276) | |
Saturday, 27 March | Swan Districts 20.28 (148) | def. by | East Fremantle 23.17 (155) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 9338) | [8] |
|
Round 2 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 3 April | West Perth 30.15 (195) | def. | South Fremantle 11.16 (82) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 12063) | |
Saturday, 3 April | Perth 16.10 (106) | def. | Subiaco 13.17 (95) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 6127) | [11] |
Saturday, 3 April | East Fremantle 15.10 (100) | def. by | Claremont 23.13 (151) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7987) | |
Sunday, 4 April | East Perth 17.9 (111) | def. by | Swan Districts 20.25 (145) | Perth Oval (crowd: 11921) | [12] |
|
Round 3 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 10 April | Swan Districts 25.18 (168) | def. | West Perth 13.13 (91) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 14678) | |
Saturday, 10 April | Perth 9.8 (62) | def. by | East Perth 17.9 (111) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 7520) | |
Monday, 12 April | South Fremantle 20.19 (139) | def. | Claremont 17.9 (111) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 12750) | [15] |
Monday, 12 April | Subiaco 14.26 (110) | def. by | East Fremantle 23.15 (153) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7027) | |
|
Round 4 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 17 April | Perth 20.14 (134) | def. by | Swan Districts 26.14 (170) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 5625) | |
Saturday, 17 April | East Perth 26.15 (171) | def. | West Perth 24.7 (151) | Perth Oval (crowd: 12276) | |
Saturday, 17 April | Claremont 21.18 (144) | def. | Subiaco 10.16 (76) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 6074) | |
Saturday, 17 April | East Fremantle 11.11 (77) | def. by | South Fremantle 24.28 (172) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 13125) | |
|
Round 5 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 24 April | Swan Districts 26.18 (174) | def. | Subiaco 15.15 (105) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 6030) | |
Saturday, 24 April | East Perth 18.15 (123) | def. | South Fremantle 16.11 (107) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 11657) | |
Saturday, 24 April | Claremont 27.24 (186) | def. | Perth 10.8 (68) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 6189) | |
Saturday, 24 April | West Perth 21.10 (136) | def. by | East Fremantle 22.16 (148) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 11020) | [21] |
|
Round 6 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 1 May | Subiaco 18.10 (118) | def. by | South Fremantle 18.13 (121) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5656) | [24] |
Saturday, 1 May | Perth 18.10 (118) | def. by | West Perth 25.12 (162) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 5927) | |
Saturday, 1 May | Swan Districts 16.12 (108) | def. | Claremont 12.16 (88) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 14270) | |
Saturday, 1 May | East Fremantle 17.9 (111) | def. by | East Perth 19.13 (127) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7281) | |
|
Round 7 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 8 May | South Fremantle 12.7 (79) | def. by | Swan Districts 28.16 (184) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 14123) | |
Saturday, 8 May | East Perth 14.13 (97) | def. | Subiaco 13.15 (93) | Perth Oval (crowd: 6110) | |
Saturday, 8 May | West Perth 16.13 (109) | def. by | Claremont 14.15 (99) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 8567) | |
Sunday, 9 May | Perth 18.14 (122) | def. by | East Fremantle 24.18 (162) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4055) | |
|
Round 8 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 15 May | West Perth 15.14 (104) | def. | Subiaco 12.13 (85) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 7088) | |
Saturday, 15 May | Perth 13.15 (93) | def. by | South Fremantle 14.19 (103) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 4620) | |
Saturday, 15 May | East Perth 11.11 (77) | def. by | Claremont 13.19 (97) | Perth Oval (crowd: 10985) | |
Saturday, 15 May | East Fremantle 13.15 (93) | def. by | Swan Districts 19.21 (135) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7437) | |
|
Round 9 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 22 May | South Fremantle 17.17 (119) | def. | West Perth 15.14 (104) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 10980) | [32] |
Saturday, 22 May | Swan Districts 22.16 (148) | def. | East Perth 16.15 (111) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 14928) | |
Saturday, 22 May | Subiaco 19.15 (129) | def. by | Perth 23.17 (155) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4690) | |
Saturday, 22 May | Claremont 24.22 (166) | def. | East Fremantle 19.8 (122) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 7417) | |
|
Round 10 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 29 May | West Perth 20.21 (141) | def. | Swan Districts 11.13 (79) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 10327) | [35] |
Saturday, 29 May | East Perth 20.13 (133) | def. | Perth 12.11 (83) | Perth Oval (crowd: 7050) | |
Saturday, 29 May | Claremont 21.16 (142) | def. by | South Fremantle 21.19 (145) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 10665) | |
Saturday, 29 May | East Fremantle 17.10 (112) | def. | Subiaco 13.14 (92) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4241) | [36] |
|
Round 11 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 5 June | Swan Districts 19.14 (128) | def. | Perth 14.14 (98) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 7167) | [39] |
Saturday, 5 June | West Perth 14.20 (104) | def. | East Perth 13.10 (88) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 15872) | |
Monday, 7 June | Subiaco 8.17 (65) | def. by | Claremont 14.11 (95) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5100) | |
Monday, 7 June | South Fremantle 13.16 (94) | def. by | East Fremantle 16.11 (107) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 10600) | |
|
Round 12 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 12 June | Subiaco 13.16 (94) | def. by | Swan Districts 25.17 (167) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4574) | |
Saturday, 12 June | East Perth 19.21 (135) | def. | South Fremantle 14.12 (96) | Perth Oval (crowd: 7093) | |
Saturday, 12 June | Perth 19.15 (129) | def. by | Claremont 32.18 (210) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 4176) | |
Saturday, 12 June | East Fremantle 14.14 (98) | def. by | West Perth 21.15 (141) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6401) | |
|
Round 13 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 19 June | South Fremantle 24.30 (174) | def. | Subiaco 11.9 (75) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4570) | [46] |
Saturday, 19 June | Perth 14.11 (95) | def. by | West Perth 18.18 (126) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 5298) | |
Saturday, 19 June | Claremont 18.16 (124) | def. | Swan Districts 17.12 (114) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 12951) | |
Saturday, 19 June | East Perth 19.13 (127) | def. | East Fremantle 9.16 (70) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7967) | |
|
Round 14 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 26 June | Swan Districts 25.15 (165) | def. | South Fremantle 15.14 (104) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 10151) | |
Saturday, 26 June | Subiaco 11.13 (79) | def. by | East Perth 13.14 (92) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5074) | [50] |
Saturday, 26 June | East Fremantle 20.16 (136) | def. | Perth 14.13 (97) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3616) | |
Sunday, 27 June | West Perth 15.11 (101) | def. by | Claremont 16.24 (120) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 18556) | |
|
Round 15 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 3 July | Subiaco 13.18 (96) | def. by | West Perth 14.15 (99) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3873) | |
Saturday, 3 July | South Fremantle 25.15 (165) | def. | Perth 9.11 (65) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3150) | |
Saturday, 3 July | Claremont 11.21 (87) | def. by | East Perth 14.6 (90) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 6798) | |
Saturday, 3 July | Swan Districts 25.19 (169) | def. | East Fremantle 8.12 (60) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 3873) | [53] |
|
Round 16 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 10 July | West Perth 13.16 (94) | def. | South Fremantle 10.15 (75) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 11814) | |
Saturday, 10 July | East Perth 12.9 (81) | def. by | Swan Districts 15.11 (101) | Perth Oval (crowd: 13908) | |
Saturday, 10 July | Perth 20.11 (131) | def. | Subiaco 11.19 (85) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 3565) | |
Saturday, 10 July | East Fremantle 19.8 (122) | def. by | Claremont 22.19 (151) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5351) | [56] |
|
Round 17 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 24 July | Perth 22.11 (143) | def. by | East Perth 24.13 (157) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 4250) | |
Saturday, 24 July | South Fremantle 14.17 (101) | def. | Claremont 21.19 (145) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9300) | [60] |
Saturday, 24 July | Subiaco 15.20 (110) | def. | East Fremantle 11.10 (76) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3350) | |
Sunday, 25 July | West Perth 20.20 (140) | def. | Swan Districts 9.20 (74) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 15695) | |
|
Round 18 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 31 July | Perth 16.17 (113) | def. by | Swan Districts 25.16 (166) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4456) | |
Saturday, 31 July | East Perth 14.18 (102) | def. by | West Perth 18.8 (116) | Perth Oval (crowd: 14794) | |
Saturday, 31 July | Claremont 28.23 (191) | def. | Subiaco 20.15 (135) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 5251) | [63] |
Saturday, 31 July | East Fremantle 11.14 (80) | def. by | South Fremantle 21.12 (138) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6449) | |
|
Round 19 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 7 August | Swan Districts 18.25 (133) | def. | Subiaco 9.4 (58) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 3058) | |
Saturday, 7 August | South Fremantle 20.20 (140) | def. | East Perth 14.10 (94) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8230) | |
Saturday, 7 August | Perth 13.10 (88) | def. by | Claremont 28.13 (181) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3427) | [66] |
Saturday, 7 August | West Perth 21.18 (144) | def. | East Fremantle 7.4 (46) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 3972) | [67] |
|
Round 20 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 14 August | Subiaco 19.11 (125) | def. by | South Fremantle 19.15 (129) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5362) | |
Saturday, 14 August | West Perth 15.23 (113) | def. | Perth 9.14 (68) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 5256) | |
Saturday, 14 August | Swan Districts 15.16 (106) | def. by | Claremont 22.12 (144) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 14840) | [71] |
Saturday, 14 August | East Fremantle 10.16 (76) | def. by | East Perth 20.16 (136) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4585) | [72] |
A high-standard, vigorous match – featuring much unnecessary aggression despite there being no reports as seen by 83 free kicks being given – sees Subiaco lose by under a goal for the fourth time in 1982 and leaves South lamenting the failure to boost its percentage. [73] |
Round 21 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 21 August | South Fremantle 15.10 (100) | def. by | Swan Districts 23.15 (153) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11500) | [74] |
Saturday, 21 August | East Perth 25.15 (165) | def. | Subiaco 12.16 (88) | Perth Oval (crowd: 6710) | |
Saturday, 21 August | Claremont 21.14 (140) | def. | West Perth 11.16 (82) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 17395) | |
Saturday, 21 August | Perth 18.14 (122) | def. by | East Fremantle 19.11 (125) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 2805) | |
|
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Claremont | 21 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 2901 | 2193 | 132.3 | 64 |
2 | Swan Districts (P) | 21 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 2935 | 2224 | 132.0 | 64 |
3 | West Perth | 21 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 2564 | 2160 | 118.7 | 60 |
4 | East Perth | 21 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 2444 | 2226 | 109.8 | 52 |
5 | South Fremantle | 21 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 2552 | 2469 | 103.4 | 48 |
6 | East Fremantle | 21 | 8 | 13 | 0 | 2229 | 2788 | 79.9 | 32 |
7 | Perth | 21 | 3 | 18 | 0 | 2174 | 3012 | 72.2 | 12 |
8 | Subiaco | 21 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 2002 | 2729 | 73.4 | 4 |
First semi-final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 28 August | West Perth 27.18 (180) | def. | East Perth 16.16 (112) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 28,513) | [78] |
|
Second semi-final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 4 September | Claremont 12.10 (82) | def. by | Swan Districts 14.26 (110) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 30,857) | |
Swan Districts shed their reputation for brittleness under pressure as they out-compete and outwit a hesitant Tiger outfit saved from a thrashing only by inaccuracy. [81] |
Preliminary final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 11 September | Claremont 18.23 (131) | def. | West Perth 13.15 (93) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 30,760) | |
Claremont withstand a Les Fong-led comeback that had West Perth only eight points behind early in the last quarter by kicking seven of the final eight goals. [82] |
1982 WAFL Grand Final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 18 September | Swan Districts | def. | Claremont | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 50,883) | [83] |
5.5 (35) 10.8 (68) 14.15 (99) 18.19 (127) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 2.3 (15) 4.9 (33) 4.10 (34) 11.12 (78) | Umpires: Darryl Gillies, Bob Phillips Simpson Medal: Graham Melrose (Swan Districts) | ||
Baker 3, Boucher 2, Fitzgerald 2, Holmes 2, Richardson 2, Sidebottom 2, Phil Narkle 2, Shine, Solin, Rance | Goals | Goulding 3, Kanther 2, Ralph 2, Jamieson, Malaxos, Harper, Moss | |||
Baker, Sidebottom, Melrose, Mullooly, Phil Narkle, Richardson, Keith Narkle, Boucher | Best | Goulding, Pearce, Betts, Panizza, Moss, Daniels | |||
In the battle of two up-and-coming champion teams, Swan Districts destroy the powerful Tiger attack, holding it to its lowest score since 1980. The scoreboard flattered Claremont who kicked several late goals, and Ralph was goalless until late in the last quarter. [84] |
a The match was originally scheduled to be played on 1 June, but was postponed to 16 June and then 23 June, despite a request from Swan Districts to play in Perth on the afternoon (prime television time in Melbourne) of Monday, 21 June.
b Other open-age WA(N)FL teams between 1918 and 1996 with only one win during a season were Perth in 1923, Claremont-Cottesloe in 1926 and 1927, West Perth in 1939 and Swan Districts in 1951.
The 1986 WAFL season was the 102nd season of the various incarnations of the West Australian Football League. It was the last season before the introduction of the West Coast Eagles in the VFL which would relegate the WAFL to a second-level league from 1987, and already all WAFL clubs were in severe financial difficulties as attendances were stagnant at best since 1970 and the financial power of wealthy VFL clubs drew most top players away and left below-market transfer fees as WAFL clubs' inadequate main income source.
The 1987 WAFL season was the 103rd season of the West Australian Football League in its various iterations. This season saw a Western Australia-based team, West Coast, that was one of two interstate teams to make their debut in the Victorian Football League (VFL), which had profound effects on the WAFL competition. The Eagles took away thirty-five of the competition's best players, severely reducing attendances and club revenue, the latter of which was further affected by the payment of the Eagles’ licence fee to the VFL. The WAFL budgeted for a 30 percent decline in attendances, but the observed decline was over fifty percent, and they were also hit by Channel Seven telecasting the Round 17 Hawthorn versus Footscray match, breaching agreements to not telecast non-Eagles VFL matches to Perth.
The 1985 WAFL season was the 101st season of the West Australian Football League and its various incarnations. The season opened on 30 March and concluded on 21 September with the 1985 WAFL Grand Final contested between East Fremantle and Subiaco.
The 1984 WAFL season was the 100th season of the West Australian Football League and its various incarnations. The season opened on 31 March and concluded on 22 September with the 1984 WAFL Grand Final contested between East Fremantle and Swan Districts.
The 1983 WAFL season was the 99th season of the West Australian Football League in its various incarnations. The season opened on 31 March and concluded on 17 September with the 1983 WAFL Grand Final contested between Claremont and Swan Districts.
The 1981 WAFL season was the 97th season of the West Australian Football League in its various incarnations. The season opened on 11 April and concluded on 3 October with the 1981 WAFL Grand Final between Claremont and South Fremantle. It was the last WAFL season to begin in April and end in October; from 1982 the league shifted the schedule of the season forward by a week and in later years by another.
The 1980 WAFL season was the 96th season of the West Australian Football League in its various incarnations.
The 1979 WANFL season was the 95th season of the West Australian National Football League in its various incarnations, and the last of forty-nine under that moniker.
The 1996 WAFL season was the 112th season of the West Australian Football League in its various incarnations.
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 1994 WAFL season was the 110th season of the West Australian Football League in its various incarnations.
The 1976 WANFL season was the 92nd season of the Western Australian National Football League in its various incarnations.
The 1975 WANFL season was the 91st season of senior Australian rules football in Perth and the forty-fifth as the “Western Australian National Football League”. The season saw West Perth, after unexpectedly falling to last in 1974, rise under former Fitzroy coach Graham Campbell to a remarkable premiership win over South Fremantle by a record 104 points in front of what was then the biggest WANFL crowd on record and has since been only exceeded by the 1979 Grand Final. The Bulldogs, apart from Claremont the least successful WANFL club between 1957 and 1974, rose with arrival of Aboriginal stars Stephen Michael and Maurice Rioli to their first finals appearance in five years and began their greatest era since their golden days of the middle 1950s. With East Perth, revitalised after injuries affected their 1974 campaign, and the inconsistent but at times incomparable Swan Districts, they comprised a top four that remained unchanged for the final fourteen rounds.
The 1974 WAFL season was the 90th season of the various incarnations of senior football in Perth and the forty-fourth as the "Western Australian National Football League". It continued the fluctuating fortunes of clubs that had been part and parcel of the league since 1970, with East Perth, the most consistent player in the competition for eight years, missing finals participation for the only time in seventeen seasons between 1966 and 1982 due largely to injuries to key defenders Gary Malarkey, who missed the second half of the season, and Ken McAullay who did not play at all. West Perth fell from runners-up to their worst season since 1939, largely owing to the loss of 1973 leading goalkicker Phil Smith which left a gaping hole in their attack.
The 1973 WANFL season was the 89th season of the Western Australian National Football League. It is most famous for Subiaco breaking the longest premiership drought in the history of the competition, winning for the first time since 1924 after having been a chopping block for most of the middle third of the century. Under the coaching of former St Kilda champion Ross Smith, the Lions, as they became christened in July, bounced back from two disappointing seasons to lose only two of their final sixteen home-and-away games for their first minor premiership since 1935, then in a low-scoring Grand Final comfortably defeated a much more hardened West Perth team.
The 1972 WANFL season was the 88th season of the various incarnations of the Western Australian National Football League. It saw East Perth, after five Grand Final losses in six seasons and a frustrating seven since their last premiership in 1959, break the drought against a Claremont team that had achieved its first minor premiership since Johnny Leonard’s days, despite kicking into the wind after winning the toss.
The 1971 WANFL season was the 87th season of the various incarnations of the Western Australian National Football League, and the forty-first under that moniker.
The 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.