1984 WAFL season

Last updated

1984 WAFL season
Teams8
Premiers Swan Districts
6th premiership
Minor premiers Swan Districts
4th minor premiership
Sandover Medallist Peter Spencer (East Perth)
Michael Mitchell (Claremont)
Steve Malaxos (Claremont)
Bernie Naylor Medallist Brett Hutton (Swan Districts)
←  1983
1985  →

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.

Contents

It saw Swan Districts record their sixth WAFL premiership, and its third in a row, after a slow start that had it win only half its games in the first fourteen rounds. East Fremantle returned to the Grand Final after four disappointing seasons with only 28 wins from 85 games. After an unsuccessful decade, Subiaco recalled former coach Haydn Bunton, Jr., and despite not improving their position in the seniors, were generally considered to have made major improvement with five more victories and a young reserves side winning the club's first premiership in any grade since their 1974 colts win. [1] South Fremantle, who began with a number of spectacular performances fell away from second place with five losses in their final six games. Claremont lost three-time century goalkicker Warren Ralph to Carlton, [2] and suffered severely from lacking a target in attack, [3] especially as recruit Bruce Monteath suffered severely from injuries. [4] The Tigers were last for five weeks early in the season and second from bottom before a winning streak of five games pushed them to third.

Off the field, the WAFL refused requests to allow telecasts of VFL matches in rural WA by the Golden West network. [5]

Home-and-away season

Round 1

Round 1|
Saturday, 31 March West Perth 15.11 (101)def. by Perth 18.18 (126) Leederville Oval (crowd: 7989)
Saturday, 31 March South Fremantle 24.12 (156)def. Claremont 18.15 (123) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 10870)
Saturday, 31 March East Fremantle 11.19 (85)def. by Subiaco 21.16 (142) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6723)
Sunday, 1 April East Perth 19.13 (127)def. Swan Districts 16.17 (113) Bunbury (crowd: 6573)
  • The WAFL plays its first game outside metropolitan Perth at Bunbury, and the move is regarded as a genuine success. [6] Ultimately matches in country centres would become a regular part of WAFL scheduling.
  • East Perth, with a makeshift ruck due to the absence of 1983 Sandover winner John Ironmonger, record a surprise win led by future Collingwood star Michael Christian who dominates in defence. [7]

Round 2

Round 2|
Saturday, 7 April East Perth 31.19 (205)def. West Perth 17.13 (115) Perth Oval (crowd: 9150)
Saturday, 7 April Perth 15.14 (104)def. by Subiaco 22.8 (140) Lathlain Park (crowd: 7375)
Saturday, 7 April Claremont 13.16 (94)def. by Swan Districts 18.14 (122) Claremont Oval (crowd: 8177)
Saturday, 7 April East Fremantle 17.13 (115)def. South Fremantle 15.17 (107) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 10953)

East Perth kicked their highest score against West Perth (equalled in 2007), [8] as the Falcons have no answer to their running play. John Scott kicked eleven goals. [9]

Round 3

Round 3|
Saturday, 14 April West Perth 17.11 (113)def. Subiaco 15.19 (109) Leederville Oval (crowd: 7020)
Saturday, 14 April Swan Districts 13.19 (97)def. by South Fremantle 20.12 (132) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 12233)
Saturday, 14 April Perth 25.18 (168)def. East Perth 13.9 (87) Lathlain Park (crowd: 9873)
Saturday, 14 April Claremont 15.13 (103)def. by East Fremantle 16.11 (107) Claremont Oval (crowd: 6565)

Former Claremont assistant coach Murray Ward helps orchestrate a win over his former club by rotating the centre half-forward position and putting Paul Harding, normally a ruckman, in attack. [3]

Round 4 (Easter weekend)

Round 4|
Saturday, 21 April Subiaco 8.4 (52)def. by Claremont 16.17 (113) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 9167)
Saturday, 21 April East Fremantle 21.21 (147)def. West Perth 16.16 (112) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7376)
Monday, 23 April Swan Districts 23.27 (165)def. Perth 11.13 (79) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 12989)
Monday, 23 April East Perth 9.9 (63)def. by South Fremantle 33.23 (221) Perth Oval (crowd: 13836)
  • In slippery conditions on the Saturday, Claremont’s individual skill allows them to win their first game against the suddenly fashionable Lions, who played only one WA State player against seven by Claremont. [10]
  • East Perth suffered the heaviest loss in its history, 158 points; this beat by 46 points the previous biggest losses in 1977 and 1929. [11] During the last quarter, South Fremantle kicked 13.5 (83).
  • Don Holmes kicks nine goals as Swans overwhelm the initially promising Demons.

Round 5

Round 5|
Saturday, 28 April South Fremantle 15.29 (119)def. Perth 18.8 (116) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8478)
Saturday, 28 April Subiaco 17.21 (123)def. East Perth 13.23 (101) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6314)
Saturday, 28 April West Perth 15.19 (109)def. Claremont 12.21 (93) Leederville Oval (crowd: 6820)
Saturday, 28 April Swan Districts 13.13 (91)def. East Fremantle 12.14 (86) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 11430)
  • Subiaco score 12.5 (77) for their highest second quarter score on record, [12] but their decline after half-time sees a return to their poor form of previous seasons. [13]
  • South Fremantle’s win is the only occurrence in WA(N)FL history where the winning team has scored three fewer goals than the losing team. [14]
  • In a thrilling Grand Final preview, East Fremantle come back from 21 points down before Ed Blackaby kicks the winner for Swans. [15]

Round 6

Round 6|
Saturday, 5 May Subiaco 15.5 (95)def. by Swan Districts 16.9 (105) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7942)
Saturday, 5 May West Perth 15.15 (105)drew with South Fremantle 16.9 (105) Leederville Oval (crowd: 7790)
Saturday, 5 May Claremont 6.12 (48)def. by East Perth 12.15 (87) Claremont Oval (crowd: 5738)
Saturday, 5 May East Fremantle 15.22 (112)def. Perth 15.13 (103) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6843)

The draw at Leederville Oval was the first in 888 WA(N)FL games since Round 3 of 1974. [16] This result ended the second longest non-occurrence of draws in a major Australian Rules competition. [17] [18]

Round 7

Round 7|
Saturday, 12 May Swan Districts 17.15 (117)def. by West Perth 18.15 (123) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 10270)
Saturday, 12 May South Fremantle 14.24 (108)def. Subiaco 11.14 (80) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8097)
Saturday, 12 May Perth 10.19 (79)def. by Claremont 16.14 (110) Lathlain Park (crowd: 6380)
Saturday, 12 May East Perth 23.15 (153)def. East Fremantle 14.18 (102) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8657)

Round 8

Round 8|
Saturday, 19 May West Perth 16.16 (112)def. Perth 11.13 (79) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6953)
Saturday, 19 May East Perth 14.8 (92)def. by Swan Districts 21.20 (146) Perth Oval (crowd: 6930)
Saturday, 19 May Claremont 13.13 (91)def. South Fremantle 9.12 (66) Claremont Oval (crowd: 5433)
Saturday, 19 May East Fremantle 24.16 (160)def. Subiaco 10.10 (70) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4885)
  • East Fremantle produce an awesome display in wet weather to crush the improving Lions, with captain-coach Ron Alexander, the oldest WAFL player at the time, showing exceptional on-field direction and driving his team in the trying conditions. [19]
  • Steve Malaxos, in his first game as captain, produces an exceptional effort for the Tigers to beat the top-placed Bulldogs and move from bottom place. [20]

Round 9

Round 9|
Saturday, 26 May Subiaco 25.15 (165)def. West Perth 15.14 (104) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7890)
Saturday, 26 May Swan Districts 14.11 (95)def. South Fremantle 12.15 (87) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 8635)
Saturday, 26 May East Perth 13.15 (93)def. Perth 12.15 (87) Perth Oval (crowd: 4932)
Saturday, 26 May East Fremantle 11.6 (72)def. by Claremont 12.14 (86) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7075)

Swan Districts take top spot with a superb win in slippery conditions. Midfielder Brad Shine shows amazing courage to play after a gash in his eye. [21]

Round 10 (Foundation Day)

Round 10|
Saturday, 2 June Subiaco 32.12 (204)def. Perth 15.12 (102) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7092)
Saturday, 2 June Swan Districts 12.12 (84)def. by Claremont 12.13 (85) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 11100)
Monday, 4 June West Perth 11.22 (88)def. East Perth 10.10 (70) Leederville Oval (crowd: 14011)
Monday, 4 June South Fremantle 24.27 (171)def. East Fremantle 15.14 (104) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 17932)
  • Claremont record a fighting win to enter the top four after being last four rounds beforehand. [22]
  • Subiaco kick their highest score in senior football to that point, beating 27.18 (180) in Round 9 of 1969 against Claremont. [23] Clint Brown kicks nine and moves to the head of the goalkicking, and Frankston recruit Stephen Sells kicks six.

Round 11

Round 11|
Saturday, 16 June Perth 16.12 (108)def. Swan Districts 12.13 (85) Lathlain Park (crowd: 6947)
Saturday, 16 June South Fremantle 18.10 (118)def. by East Perth 18.18 (126) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7983)
Saturday, 16 June Claremont 13.17 (95)def. by Subiaco 17.15 (117) Claremont Oval (crowd: 9161)
Saturday, 16 June West Perth 14.15 (99)def. by East Fremantle 23.13 (151) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 9451)
  • Perth record their first win against Swan Districts since 1978, breaking a sequence of seventeen straight losses. [24]
  • Subiaco kick eleven of the last twelve goals to come back for 42 points behind during the second quarter and move to a clear third and on course for a first finals berth since 1974. [25]

Round 12

Round 12|
Saturday, 23 June Perth 19.13 (127)def. South Fremantle 16.24 (120) Lathlain Park (crowd: 7272)
Saturday, 23 June East Perth 17.15 (117)def. Subiaco 15.15 (105) Perth Oval (crowd: 10438)
Saturday, 23 June West Perth 21.20 (146)def. Claremont 9.14 (68) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8552)
Saturday, 23 June East Fremantle 23.12 (150)def. Swan Districts 16.18 (114) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8404)
  • Perth led by sixty-nine points just after half-time before South Fremantle, with Warren Mosconi shutting out Robert Wiley, staged a remarkable comeback that failed only due to poor kicking for goal. [26]
  • East Fremantle’s win leaves the reigning premiers in sixth place, having lost more games than in all of 1983.

Round 13

Round 13|
Saturday, 30 June Swan Districts 22.19 (151)def. Subiaco 6.10 (46) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 7100)
Saturday, 30 June West Perth 16.12 (108)def. by South Fremantle 20.17 (137) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 10496)
Saturday, 30 June East Perth 12.10 (82)def. by Claremont 19.15 (129) Perth Oval (crowd: 6990)
Saturday, 30 June Perth 11.13 (79)def. by East Fremantle 19.17 (131) Lathlain Park (crowd: 7352)
  • The return of injury prone ruckman/forward Peter Sartori drives Swans to a thrashing of Subiaco on a bleakly windy and wet day. [27]
  • With former East Perth ruckman Paul Arnold playing on with a fractured thumb, Jon Dorotich dominates in the unfamiliar role of ruckman as South return to form. [28]

Round 14

Round 14|
Saturday, 7 July West Perth 18.11 (119)def. Swan Districts 11.19 (85) Leederville Oval (crowd: 7146)
Saturday, 7 July Subiaco 10.17 (77)def. by South Fremantle 15.15 (105) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6780)
Saturday, 7 July Claremont 13.17 (95)def. Perth 6.16 (52) Claremont Oval (crowd: 4197)
Saturday, 7 July East Fremantle 10.15 (75)def. East Perth 8.8 (56) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6465)

Round 15

Round 15|
Saturday, 14 July West Perth 17.19 (121)def. Perth 10.13 (73) Leederville Oval (crowd: 5968)
Saturday, 14 July Swan Districts 22.18 (150)def. East Perth 18.10 (118) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 7100)
Saturday, 14 July South Fremantle 23.26 (164)def. Claremont 13.8 (86) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8280)
Saturday, 14 July Subiaco 16.13 (109)def. by East Fremantle 22.11 (143) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5521)
  • South Fremantle’s intense pressure, along with teenage half-forward Nicky Winmar kicking seven goals and Stephen Mount 6.8 (44) from 22 kicks, allows them to crush Claremont and stay in second place. [29]
  • Ron Alexander, normally a ruckman, kicks 9.0 at full-forward to continue Subiaco’s fall from likely finalists mid-season.

Round 16

Round 16|
Saturday, 21 July East Perth 19.15 (129)def. West Perth 18.17 (125) Perth Oval (crowd: 8505)
Saturday, 21 July Perth 16.16 (112)def. by Subiaco 20.15 (135) Lathlain Park (crowd: 3707)
Saturday, 21 July Claremont 13.15 (93)def. by Swan Districts 25.15 (165) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7944)
Saturday, 21 July East Fremantle 23.5 (143)def. South Fremantle 16.16 (112) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 17433)

Round 17

Round 17|
Saturday, 28 July West Perth 15.12 (102)def. by Subiaco 18.17 (125) Leederville Oval (crowd: 7009)
Saturday, 28 July South Fremantle 17.19 (121)def. by Swan Districts 21.15 (141) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11918)
Saturday, 28 July Perth 24.18 (162)def. East Perth 14.16 (100) Lathlain Park (crowd: 5477)
Saturday, 28 July Claremont 19.18 (132)def. East Fremantle 15.17 (107) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6246)
  • The use of veterans Barry Beecroft (mostly a ruckman for the reserves) and Bruce Monteath (earlier injured) in the key forward positions finally provide Claremont’s attack with its former potency as the Tigers down the ladder leaders more convincingly than the score suggests. [30]
  • Stephen Sells’ seven goals, including four brilliant second-quarter snaps, ensures Subiaco stay ahead of the Falcons in the battle for fourth place. [31]

Round 18

Round 18|
Saturday, 4 August Perth 13.8 (86)def. by Swan Districts 21.16 (142) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6293)
Saturday, 4 August East Perth 22.7 (139)def. South Fremantle 16.16 (112) Perth Oval (crowd: 6177)
Saturday, 4 August Claremont 15.18 (108)def. Subiaco 15.10 (100) Claremont Oval (crowd: 6675)
Saturday, 4 August East Fremantle 24.9 (153)def. West Perth 16.14 (110) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6456)
  • As coach Mal Brown announced he will be stepping down because his hard training methods are failing, [32] one-time flag favourites South Fremantle are reminded that talent is no substitute for strength and persistence. [33]
  • The return of utility Wayne Cormack from a holiday in Europe is a vital reinforcement for East Fremantle as they strive to seal their place in the top two. [34]

Round 19

Round 19|
Saturday, 11 August South Fremantle 24.19 (163)def. Perth 8.10 (58) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5050)
Saturday, 11 August Subiaco 19.10 (124)def. by East Perth 21.11 (137) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6699)
Saturday, 11 August Claremont 11.18 (84)def. West Perth 9.20 (74) Claremont Oval (crowd: 6855)
Saturday, 11 August Swan Districts 23.15 (153)def. East Fremantle 17.14 (116) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 10103)

Gerard Neesham’s skill with hand and foot plus the blistering pace of wingmen Keith Narkle and Shane Renfree give Swan Districts top place and favoritism for a hat-trick of flags with odds of 5-to-4. [35]

Round 20

Round 20|
Saturday, 18 August Subiaco 17.21 (123)def. by Swan Districts 22.10 (142) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6416)
Saturday, 18 August West Perth 15.16 (106)def. South Fremantle 13.16 (94) Leederville Oval (crowd: 6079)
Saturday, 18 August Claremont 15.11 (101)def. East Perth 13.16 (94) Claremont Oval (crowd: 8070)
Saturday, 18 August East Fremantle 16.14 (110)def. Perth 8.9 (57) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3896)

Claremont’s win seals a sixth successive finals appearance and leaves East Perth needing to rely on South Fremantle losing to gain a place, whilst Swan Districts’ brilliant third quarter in slippery conditions secures the double chance. [36]

Round 21

Round 21|
Saturday, 25 August Swan Districts 19.15 (129)def. West Perth 15.7 (97) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 9182)
Saturday, 25 August South Fremantle 9.13 (67)def. by Subiaco 18.11 (119) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7325)
Saturday, 25 August Perth 21.17 (143)def. by Claremont 31.17 (203) Lathlain Park (crowd: 5104)
Saturday, 25 August East Perth 20.10 (130)def. East Fremantle 15.16 (106) Perth Oval (crowd: 8028)
  • South Fremantle’s second-quarter capitulation kicking 0.1 (1) to Subiaco’s 8.2 (50) – with the club under a crisis due to internal dissent, coach Brown’s resignation and Benny Vigona refusing to play in defence – allows East Perth to take the last place in the four with its win. [37]
  • Perth and Claremont scored an aggregate of 346 points. As of 2013, this is the third highest aggregate score in WA(N)FL history. [38] The second quarter aggregate of 18.4 (112) is the second highest on record and the highest before 1990. [39]

Ladder

1984 ladder
PosTeamPldWLDPFPAPPPts
1 Swan Districts (P)21147025922177119.156
2 East Fremantle 21138024752289108.152
3 Claremont 2112902140217898.348
4 East Perth 21111002306251891.644
5 South Fremantle 211010125852219116.542
6 West Perth 2191112289244493.738
7 Subiaco 2191202360237499.436
8 Perth 2151602100264879.320
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, 1 September Claremont 23.10 (148)def. East Perth 18.18 (126) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 20,000)

Claremont continue their improved attacking form to run away from the Royals at the finish. Steve Malaxos dominates in the centre and Daniels kicks 7.5 (47). [40]

Second semi-final

Second semi-final
Saturday, 8 September Swan Districts 10.16 (76)def. by East Fremantle 15.12 (102) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 20,000)

A five-minute burst of as many goals early in the second quarter – in which they total 8.6 (54) – ensures East Fremantle of victory over the Swans, who were handicapped by the loss of several key backmen. [41]

Preliminary final

Preliminary final
Saturday, 15 September Claremont 14.9 (93)def. by Swan Districts 16.18 (114) Subiaco Oval

Swan Districts achieve a solid win after being 30 points down ten minutes into the second quarter as Todd’s reorganisation of the team pays off. [42]

Grand Final

1984 WAFL Grand Final
Saturday, 22 September East Fremantle def. by Swan Districts Subiaco Oval (crowd: 41,831) [43]
0.3 (3)
9.8 (62)
13.8 (86)
15.12 (102)		Q1
Q2
Q3
Final		10.7 (67)
11.8 (74)
16.12 (108)
20.18 (138)		Umpires: David Johnson, Mike Ball
Simpson Medal: Barry Kimberley (Swan Districts)
Taylor 4, Bennett 4, Kickett 3, Waterson 2, Wilson, WakeGoalsHolmes 5, Shine 5, Hutton 5, Marshall 2, Sartori, Langsford, Neesham
Green, Ellis, Wrensted, Forman, Wilson, Rankin, BrowningBestShine, Kimberley, Johns, Neesham, Holmes, Solin, Rance, Fogarty

Swan Districts under John Todd completed their second premiership hat-trick, despite having only eleven of their 1983 team due to losses to the VFL and retirement.

Related Research Articles

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 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 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 1989 WAFL season was the 105th season of senior football in Perth. It saw Claremont continue its dominance of the competition with a third successive minor premiership under Gerard Neesham, despite having lost most of their top players of previous seasons to the VFL, and their 1988 conquerors Subiaco fall to third last with a mere six wins – their worst performance since the dark days of 1983 when the club had not played in the finals for nine years and had been wooden spooners four times in eight seasons. Coach Bunton had to promote many young players and knew 1989 was to be a year of rebuilding, though only a second Colts premiership under Eddie Pitter showed Subiaco did possess much resilience.

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 1990 WASFL season was the 106th season of senior Australian rules football in Perth, Western Australia. It saw the league, already realising that the damage from the admission to the VFL of West Coast would be permanent rather than temporary as was hoped in 1986, rebrand itself as the Western Australia State Football League, but the move was unsuccessful and reversed after a single season. The refusal of WASFL clubs to permit an Eagles reserves team in the WASFL and the WAFC's refusal to accept one in the AFL's reserve grade competition led to further problems when Claremont said they would not play West Coast discards in the league team and produced a short-lived draft for such players, whilst at the same time Claremont rejected a proposed draft for the numerous young footballers who came from Perth's private schools but when not boarding lived in rural areas.

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 1992 WAFL season was the 108th season of senior football in Perth, Western Australia. It is most notable for the end of the Claremont dynasty of the previous five seasons, which was pre-season an expected result of losing all but nine of the premiership side to the AFL draft or in two cases retirement. The Tigers, whose guernsey reverted from the gold sash to the CFC monogram, which they wore during their miraculous premiership success in 1964, fell from first with only two losses to avoiding the wooden spoon only by percentage, in the process using fifty-two players in the league team. East Fremantle won their first premiership for seven years after a very disappointing 1991, whilst East Perth, who had been stragglers for the preceding half-decade, made a remarkable rush from fifth position to narrowly miss their first Grand Final since winning the 1978 premiership.

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 1993 WAFL season was the 109th of the various incarnations of the West Australian Football League. It saw an extraordinarily even competition amongst all the teams except Perth, with only three and a half games separating first and seventh and the smallest dispersion of winning percentages in the WAFL since 1921. West Perth's 13 wins and a percentage marginally under 100 is the fewest wins and lowest percentage to take top position in a major Australian Rules league: indeed no team had headed the ladder with a percentage nearly so low at any stage of a season except Hawthorn during May of 1969 and Perth during June and July 1963.

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.

References

  1. ↑ Devaney, John; Full Points Footy’s WA Football Companion; p. 278. ISBN   9780955689710
  2. ↑ Warren Ralph: Blueseum
  3. 1 2 Wainwright, Robert; ‘Ward Turns the Table on Tigers’; in The West Australian, 16 April 1984; p. 72
  4. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Chips Are Down for the Tigers’; in The West Australian , 9 April 1984, p. 76
  5. ↑ ‘League Says No to VFL TV’; in The West Australian, 9 July 1984, p. 96
  6. ↑ ‘Thumbs Up at Bunbury’; in The West Australian, 2 April 1984; p. 87
  7. ↑ Christina, Geoff; ‘Royals Turn Up Trumps’; in The West Australian, 2 April 1984; pp. 85, 87
  8. ↑ "WAFL Footy Facts: East Perth v Each Opponent". Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  9. ↑ Marsh, David; ‘Thoroughly Modern Royals’; in The West Australian, 9 April 1984, p. 76
  10. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Individuals Get Tigers Moving at Last’; in The West Australian, 23 April 1984, p. 80
  11. ↑ East Perth: Biggest losses
  12. ↑ "WAFL Footy Facts: Most Points in Second Quarter (One Team)". Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  13. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Subiaco Have a Lot to Learn’; in The West Australian, 30 April 1984, p. 75
  14. ↑ "WAFL Footy Facts: Wins With Less Goals". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  15. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Sharks in the Mood’; in The West Australian, 30 April 1984, p. 76
  16. ↑ See Christian Geoff; ‘Wiley Has a Knee Injury’; in The West Australian, 7 May 1984, p. 84
  17. ↑ See Newman, Alan; ‘Drawn Game’; in ‘Port Club’s Pennant Hopes Rise’; from The West Australian, 9 September 1957, p. 21
  18. ↑ WAFL Footy Facts – Draws Archived 2014-05-13 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ↑ Wainwright, Robert; ‘Alexander Answers His Critics in Style’; in The West Australian, 21 May 1984, p. 81
  20. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Malaxos Relished Challenge’; in The West Australian, 21 May 1984, p. 80
  21. ↑ Christian Geoff; ‘Swans Resist Brave South Challenge’; in The West Australian, 28 May 1984, p. 66
  22. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Claremont’s Win a Triumph for Moss’; in The West Australian; 4 June 1984, p. 78
  23. ↑ Subiaco: Highest Scores
  24. ↑ "WAFL Footy Facts: Perth Streaks". Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  25. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Subiaco Turn On Their Full Power’; in The West Australian, 18 June 1984, p. 80
  26. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Michael Faces Moment of Truth’; in The West Australian; 25 June 1984, p. 68
  27. ↑ Wainwright, Robert; ‘Sartori Returns with a Flourish’; in The West Australian, 2 July 1984, p. 79
  28. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Dorotich Makes Mark as a Ruckman’ in The West Australian, 2 July 1984, p. 79
  29. ↑ Marsh, Dave; ‘South Give Their Fans a Winning Treat’; in The West Australian; 16 July 1984, p. 80
  30. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Claremont Keep Hopes Alive’; The West Australian, 30 July 1984, p. 69
  31. ↑ Wainwright, Robert; ‘Opportunity Knocks for Subiaco’; The West Australian, 30 July 1984, p. 69
  32. ↑ Marsh, David; ‘Baffled Brown Hands Over Reins’; The West Australian, 6 August 1984, p. 80
  33. ↑ Marsh, David; ‘Royals Have Perfect Blend’; The West Australian, 6 August 1984, p. 74
  34. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Cormack Slips Back into Gear for Sharks’; The West Australian, 6 August 1984, p. 74
  35. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Swans Fly to the Top’; The West Australian, 13 August 1984, p. 94
  36. ↑ Marsh, David; ‘Royals Up Against It’; The West Australian, 20 August 1984, p. 76
  37. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Claremont Face Poser’; The West Australian, 27 August 1984, p. 76
  38. ↑ "WAFL Footy Facts: Highest Combined Scores". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  39. ↑ "WAFL Footy Facts: Most Combined Points Second Quarter". Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  40. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Tigers Are Waiting to Pounce’; The West Australian, 3 September 1984, pp. 85, 88
  41. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Swans Are in Need of Repairs’; The West Australian, 10 September 1984, pp. 80, 84
  42. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Swans Ready for Another Tilt at Sharks’; The West Australian, 17 September 1984, p. 92
  43. ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘What a Success – And a Bonus’; The West Australian, 24 September 1984, p. 104
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.