1990 WASFL season

Last updated

1990 WAFL season
Teams8
Premiers Swan Districts
7th premiership
Minor premiers Claremont
9th minor premiership
Sandover Medallist Mick Grasso (Swan Districts)
Bernie Naylor Medallist Glen Bartlett (East Perth)
Matches played88
←  1989 (WAFL)
1991 (WAFL) →

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, [1] 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 [2] 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, [3] 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. [4]

Contents

In anticipation of an AFL move planned in 1995 but not executed until 2000, [5] the WASFL abolished the 50:50 sharing of gate revenue to allow the home team to keep all gate receipts. This helped some clubs like South Fremantle and Swan Districts, but along with the diversion of their former $250,000 league dividend to pay for the Eagles’ licence had a severe effect off-field for struggling Perth, who announced in June they had to raise $100,000 to avoid folding at the end of the season. [6]

The WASFL during the pre-season made a number of moves designed to resurrect its flagging appeal, including a television campaign aimed at the younger generation and a sponsorship deal with Pepsi. [7] The league also adopted sponsorship naming for the first time and called itself the ‘Pepsi Cup’ for three seasons. To avoid conflict with television broadcasts of West Coast games, the WASFL played finals on Sunday for the first time, and the experiment was accepted despite attendances considered "poor". [8]

On the playing field, 1990 saw the Gerard Neesham-coached Claremont become the first team since South Fremantle between 1950 and 1953 to record four consecutive minor premierships, only to be beaten for the fourth time in five encounters by a Swan Districts team boosted by the return of John Todd who had coached the Swans to a hat-trick of premierships in the middle 1980s. East Perth, after five years with only twenty-four victories from 105 matches and being lucky to not suffer four wooden spoons, returned to their former home of Perth Oval, cleaned out many of their established senior players [9] and rose to fifth in a season with such a pronounced gap between the finalists and also-rans that the four was mathematically sealed with three rounds to go. [10] On the other hand, West Perth, after the previous season making only its third finals series since 1978, lost their entire ruck and most of their goal-to-goal line [11] and plummeted to its first wooden spoon since 1974 and only its second since 1939. A controversy over the clearance of Stephen Walsey (whose application was rejected by WASFL commissioner Brian Sierakowski but transferred after a fee was negotiated), [12] Angelo del Borello and Frank del Casale from East Perth did not help the Falcons, [9] but they did win only their second – and last as of 2014 – Colts premiership. [13]

Home-and-away season

Round 1

Round 1
Saturday, 31 March Perth 13.16 (94)def. by Swan Districts 12.25 (97) Lathlain Park (crowd: 3410)
Saturday, 31 March East Perth 11.13 (79)def. by Subiaco 28.16 (184) Perth Oval (crowd: 3410)
Saturday, 31 March Claremont 14.11 (95)def. South Fremantle 13.10 (88) Claremont Oval (crowd: 4280)
Saturday, 31 March East Fremantle 23.17 (155)def. West Perth 10.9 (69) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3103) [14]
  • East Perth’s return to Perth Oval with a banner proclaiming "Be It Ever So Humble — There’s No Place Like Home" flops after the loss of Claremont recruit Peter Melesso at quarter-time: Subiaco kick 25 goals to six afterwards. [15]
  • The 14-point total of the margins at each break at Lathlain Park is the smallest at that ground [16] and has been equalled in the WA(S)FL only once since. [17] Perth’s more frequent errors and failure to get a goal in five minutes of continuous attack before the siren cost it a win. [18]

Round 2

Round 2
Saturday, 7 April Subiaco 9.8 (62)def. by Claremont 17.17 (119) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4150)
Saturday, 7 April Swan Districts 18.24 (132)def. East Fremantle 16.13 (109) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 3556)
Saturday, 7 April West Perth 14.16 (100)def. by East Perth 19.10 (124) Leederville Oval (crowd: 3137) [19]
Saturday, 7 April South Fremantle 14.13 (97)def. Perth 5.15 (45) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4825) [20]
  • East Perth, with new recruits Craig McGrath, Melesso and Northern Territorian Noel Long [a] in the team, rebound from their opening thrashing via greater directness than the Falcons, for their first victory in twelve matches. [b]
  • Teenage centre half forward Peter Mann shows up Subiaco’s severe forward weaknesses – with veteran Laurie Keene especially out of form – to give Claremont an easy victory and question the merits of Subiaco’s big opening win. [21]

Round 3 (Easter weekend)

Round 3
Saturday, 14 April Swan Districts 22.23 (155)def. West Perth 14.5 (89) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 4200)
Saturday, 14 April East Fremantle 12.18 (90)def. by South Fremantle 17.9 (111) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8200)
Monday, 16 April East Perth 16.7 (103)def. Claremont 12.16 (88) Perth Oval (crowd: 4088) [22]
Monday, 16 April Perth 15.10 (100)def. by Subiaco 22.18 (150) Lathlain Park (crowd: 3840)
  • South Fremantle’s depth – the envy of other WASFL clubs – gives it a convincing victory over an East Fremantle team affected by the controversial sacking of veteran champion Brian Peake. [23]
  • West Perth coach George Michalczyk says his leading players were not match fit after Swan Districts overwhelm the Falcons for a loss that John Todd sees as redeeming the black and whites last-round displacement from the four in 1989. [11]

Round 4

Round 4
Saturday, 21 April South Fremantle 13.13 (91)def. by Swan Districts 18.15 (123) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5886)
Saturday, 21 April East Perth 12.16 (88)def. by Perth 17.16 (118) Perth Oval (crowd: 3351) [24]
Saturday, 21 April Subiaco 13.12 (90)def. by East Fremantle 16.14 (110) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3547)
Saturday, 21 April Claremont 30.21 (201)def. West Perth 6.6 (42) Claremont Oval (crowd: 3275) [25]
  • The sight of Phil Narkle, Joe Ahmat and Don Langsford in their best form after injury and stints elsewhere reveals Swan Districts under Todd as back to their early-1980s best – on top and the sole undefeated team after four rounds. [26]
  • Claremont record their biggest win over the Falcons, [27] beating 102 points from 1964, and West Perth’s second-biggest loss on record. [28] Todd Ridley kicked ten goals against a depleted West Perth team that constantly played from behind.
  • West Perth’s 0.3 (3) is the lowest WANFL/WAFL/WASFL second-half score since Swan Districts kicked 0.2 (2) – ironically against West Perth – in Round 5 of 1965.

Round 5

Round 5
Saturday, 28 April Subiaco 22.13 (145)def. Swan Districts 20.10 (130) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4393)
Saturday, 28 April Perth 9.9 (63)def. by Claremont 23.22 (160) Lathlain Park (crowd: 3568) [29]
Saturday, 28 April West Perth 8.17 (65)def. by South Fremantle 19.16 (130) Leederville Oval (crowd: 3044)
Saturday, 28 April East Fremantle 14.19 (103)def. East Perth 13.14 (92) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3249) [30]
  • Ansett pilot and former VAFA player Jeremy Schmidt [c] provides spectacular high marking and combines with six goals each from Wayne Golding and fringe Eagle Andrew MacNish (soon to suffer a severe arm injury) to completely revitalise the Subiaco attack for a comeback win. [31]
  • A brilliant run and goal from halfback by Falcon fan favourite "Terror" Dayman fails to revive the Falcons and South Fremantle’s defence proved impossible to break by other means and brothers Maurice and Willie Rioli plus David Hart pick up possessions too easily. [32]

Round 6

Round 6
Saturday, 5 May Swan Districts 22.24 (156)def. East Perth 8.8 (56) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 4557)
Saturday, 5 May Perth 15.16 (106)def. by West Perth 17.20 (122) WACA (crowd: 2600) [33]
Saturday, 5 May Claremont 13.14 (92)def. by East Fremantle 18.11 (119) Claremont Oval (crowd: 4346)
Saturday, 5 May South Fremantle 12.14 (86)def. Subiaco 11.15 (81) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4760) [34]
  • East Fremantle show they have put the Peake sacking behind them with a fine win based upon hard attack upon the ball, which Claremont fail to counter with their skill. [35]
  • Len Gandini – who began on the bench in a tactical ploy by Todd – has 26 kicks in three quarters as Swans record their biggest win over East Perth, beating 77 points from 1964. [36]

Round 7

Round 7
Saturday, 12 May West Perth 16.12 (108)def. Subiaco 15.14 (104) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2859) [37]
Saturday, 12 May Swan Districts 14.14 (98)def. Claremont 12.11 (83) WACA (crowd: 5354)
Saturday, 12 May East Fremantle 21.11 (137)def. Perth 10.9 (69) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2907) [38]
Saturday, 12 May East Perth 19.16 (130)def. South Fremantle 11.13 (79) Perth Oval (crowd: 2136)
  • Swan Districts gain its first victory over Claremont since 1986 (they drew in 1988) as Steve Bazzo completely shields ex-Swan and West Coast discard Joe Cormack and Claremont’s on-ball prowess is broken down for the second consecutive round. [39]
  • South Fremantle’s insipid performance leads coach Stan Magro to blast his players as the hot-and-cold Royals play with infinitely more desire and Melesso shuts down rookie sensation Glen Jakovich. [40]

Round 8

Round 8
Saturday, 19 May Swan Districts 25.19 (169)def. Perth 8.6 (54) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 3314)
Saturday, 19 May Subiaco 10.14 (74)def. East Perth 7.15 (57) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3370)
Saturday, 19 May South Fremantle 11.9 (75)def. by Claremont 11.19 (85) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5136) [41]
Saturday, 19 May West Perth 15.14 (104)def. East Fremantle 14.12 (96) Leederville Oval (crowd: 3203)
  • Ex-Swan Districts star and rookie Perth coach Tom Mullooly is openly critical of his players’ commitment after the black and whites overwhelm his team, saying that on match days they have unlearned what he teaches them despite training very well. [42]
  • Burracoppin farmer Graham Kerse shows West Perth have overcome the difficult loss of centreman Menaglio from 1989, as his skill allows West Perth to overpower East Fremantle after a poor start. [43]

Round 9

Round 9
Saturday, 26 May Claremont 19.12 (126)def. Subiaco 9.8 (62) Claremont Oval (crowd: 2783) [44]
Saturday, 26 May East Perth 16.11 (107)def. West Perth 5.15 (45) Perth Oval (crowd: 3050)
Saturday, 26 May Perth 10.15 (75)def. South Fremantle 7.8 (50) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1970)
Saturday, 26 May East Fremantle 8.14 (62)def. by Swan Districts 15.14 (104) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3000)
  • A frightening collision with Stephen Hooper leaves West Perth’s sole ruckman Basil Zempalis out of the game with a collapsed lung, and the Falcons’ chances disappear as Hooper – suspended for four matches at the following tribunal meeting – takes complete control in the ruck and allows the Royal centreline total control. [45]
  • Perth kick 7.6 (48) with a strong wind in the first quarter before the revitalised Brian Peake has eleven kicks in the second quarter to restrict South Fremantle to three behinds with the wind in a heavy rain shower that prevents the Bulldogs coming back. [46]

Round 10 (Foundation Day)

Round 10
Saturday, 2 June Claremont 29.10 (184)def. East Perth 13.12 (90) Claremont Oval (crowd: 3592) [47]
Saturday, 2 June West Perth 17.17 (119)def. Swan Districts 11.12 (78) Leederville Oval (crowd: 4691)
Monday, 4 June South Fremantle 12.13 (85)def. East Fremantle 11.6 (72) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11536) [48]
Monday, 4 June Subiaco 12.14 (86)def. Perth 9.18 (72) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3620)
  • Angular ruckman Stephen Walsey, playing for the first time after a clearance dispute with East Perth, easily beats Travis Edmonds and Shane Strempel to secure an upset victory for the Falcons. [12]
  • The 114-point second quarter aggregate, with Claremont kicking 12.4 and East Perth 6.2, is an all-time WAFL/WANFL/WASFL/Westar record for a second quarter. [49] East Perth discard Nathan Brooks shows superb skill in delivering the ball, whilst Joe Cormack roves superbly for seven goals.

Round 11

Round 11
Friday, 8 June (6:45 pm) East Fremantle 18.17 (125)def. Subiaco 13.15 (93) WACA (crowd: 2150)
Saturday, 9 June West Perth 10.7 (67)def. by Claremont 27.17 (179) Leederville Oval (crowd: 3084)
Saturday, 9 June Perth 12.13 (85)def. East Perth 11.16 (82) Lathlain Park (crowd: 2158) [50]
Saturday, 9 June Swan Districts 17.7 (109)def. by South Fremantle 18.9 (117) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 3611)
  • Five days after a bruising local derby, South Fremantle – down to eighteen fit men due to injuries – produce a superb display of stamina to get over a Swan Districts team rebounding from their loss to West Perth. [51]
  • Claremont virtually end hopes of a Falcon revival with a second crushing win, marred only by a six-goal Falcon burst late in the second quarter. With this win, Claremont had won their last four encounters by an average of 112 points. [52]

Round 12

Round 12
Saturday, 16 June Claremont 16.15 (111)def. Perth 11.11 (77) Claremont Oval (crowd: 2948)
Saturday, 16 June East Perth 10.10 (70)def. by East Fremantle 21.11 (137) Perth Oval (crowd: 2787) [53]
Saturday, 16 June South Fremantle 18.9 (117)def. West Perth 12.16 (88) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3906)
Saturday, 16 June Swan Districts 18.21 (129)def. Subiaco 12.13 (85) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 3924)
  • Veteran forward Brett Hutton fires the Swans into action before cracking his ribs, turning a dour battled that sharply contrasted with the clubs’ Round 5 shootout into an easy win. [54]
  • Maurice and Willie Rioli show their 1989 skills for the first time to put the Bulldogs two wins clear inside the four – though South Fremantle’s defence wins the most praise. [55]

Round 13

Round 13
Saturday, 23 June Subiaco 10.13 (73)def. by South Fremantle 12.11 (83) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3029)
Saturday, 23 June East Perth 13.6 (84)def. by Swan Districts 13.17 (95) WACA (crowd: 2592)
Saturday, 23 June West Perth 18.7 (115)def. by Perth 23.12 (150) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2500)
Saturday, 23 June East Fremantle 8.19 (67)def. by Claremont 14.15 (99) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3651) [56]
  • South Fremantle make an amazing comeback from 0.5 (5) to 7.9 (51) behind in time-on of the second quarter, shattering the Lions as 1986 Teal Cup star Richard Graham finally fulfils his promise. [57]
  • Perth take a first step towards solving their severe financial plight when they prove too good for West Perth after an even first half. Falcon coach Michalczyk orders a 6:00 a.m. Wednesday training run as a response to this collapse. [58]

Round 14

Round 14
Saturday, 30 June Subiaco 5.12 (42)def. by West Perth 16.15 (111) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 2574)
Saturday, 30 June South Fremantle 12.19 (91)def. East Perth 12.11 (83) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3026)
Saturday, 30 June Perth 14.24 (108)def. East Fremantle 10.9 (69) Lathlain Park (crowd: 2401)
Saturday, 30 June Swan Districts 12.6 (78)def. Claremont 9.21 (75) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 4786)
  • Swan Districts become the first club to win for a second time with the record deficit of twelve fewer scoring shots. [59] Their post-game celebration of a dour, close-checking win is compared by critics to that occurring in the concurrent soccer World Cup. [60]
  • Perth’s severe off-field trouble again appears to rally the club as 1987 Sandover Medallist Mark Watson returns to that season’s form with almost 40 possessions. [61]
  • West Perth move off the bottom by humiliating a depleted Subiaco, with full-forwards Matt Cullen, whom Subiaco rudely said they did not want, leading a powerful goal-to-goal line with five majors. [62]

Round 15

Round 15
Saturday, 14 July Perth 10.12 (72)def. by Swan Districts 13.15 (93) Lathlain Park (crowd: 2938)
Saturday, 14 July East Perth 17.16 (118)def. Subiaco 11.10 (76) Perth Oval (crowd: 2913) [63]
Saturday, 14 July Claremont 6.18 (54)def. by South Fremantle 11.17 (83) Claremont Oval (crowd: 3362)
Saturday, 14 July East Fremantle 17.10 (112)def. West Perth 10.11 (71) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2000) [64]
  • South’s physical, low-to-the-ground play in the rain sees them never in danger against an inaccurate Tiger outfit who miss thirteen shots before their first goal 29 minutes into the second quarter. At half-forward, Maurice Rioli shows himself still one of the best wet-weather footballers in the business, whilst Craig Edwards is outstanding in the ruck. [65]
  • The agile Shane Strempel – at one point the WASFL’s leading goalkicker – proves the crucial stumbling block for Perth, whose defeat already has the four looking sealed with six rounds to be contested. [66]

Round 16

Round 16
Saturday, 21 July South Fremantle 18.11 (119)def. Perth 13.7 (85) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2113)
Saturday, 21 July West Perth 7.10 (52)def. by East Perth 21.20 (146) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2100)
Saturday, 21 July Subiaco 10.11 (71)def. by Claremont 15.19 (109) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 2069) [67]
Saturday, 21 July Swan Districts 9.16 (70)def. by East Fremantle 14.9 (93) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2172)
  • South Fremantle produce another notable comeback, kicking 13.5 (83) to 3.3 (21) in tough conditions after half-time, as 1989 Sandover Medallist Edwards dominates the Demon rucks. [68]
  • Ron Wilcox’ policy of playing Clinton Browning at the end favoured by the wind throughout the match is a winner: the former Eagle and future Simpson Medallist beats a different opponent each quarter, brings the ball to his smaller men, and shows the Sharks will not "make up the numbers" in the finals. [69]
  • Stephen Hooper dominates his rematch with the Falcons as conclusively as in the ninth round, leaving West Perth powerless to avoid their second consecutive thrashing from their traditional rivals. [70]

Round 17

Round 17
Saturday, 28 July Swan Districts 10.10 (70)def. by West Perth 14.13 (97) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2778)
Saturday, 28 July Perth 12.11 (83)def. Subiaco 9.11 (65) Lathlain Park (crowd: 2070) [71]
Saturday, 28 July East Perth 7.11 (53)def. by Claremont 23.14 (152) Perth Oval (crowd: 2217)
Sunday, 29 July East Fremantle 18.20 (128)def. South Fremantle 10.14 (74) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 10148) [72]
  • Claremont’s small men, led by Evans and Cormack, seal the four by crushing the improving Royals via immaculate passing of such skill that the Tigers seldom experience pressure. John Hutton backed them up with six goals. [73]
  • Swan Districts’ forwards and defenders line up at the wrong end upon the opening bounce (possibly as a ploy by Todd) and the Swans never get in touch after two early Falcon goals – leading Todd to say West Perth always lift themselves for the black and whites. [74]

Round 18

Round 18
Saturday, 4 August South Fremantle 16.20 (116)def. Swan Districts 13.12 (90) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3139)
Saturday, 4 August East Perth 18.14 (122)def. Perth 15.14 (104) Perth Oval (crowd: 1736) [10]
Saturday, 4 August Claremont 20.11 (131)def. West Perth 12.10 (82) Claremont Oval (crowd: 2307) [75]
Saturday, 4 August Subiaco 13.13 (91)def. by East Fremantle 23.13 (151) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 2300) [76]

After nagging injuries earlier in 1990, Scott Watters shows his best form for South Fremantle, and the Bulldogs move to within percentage of the double chance with the easiest draw of the three contenders. [77]

Round 19

Round 19
Saturday, 11 August Subiaco 14.12 (96)def. by Swan Districts 16.15 (111) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 2219) [78]
Saturday, 11 August West Perth 13.11 (89)def. by South Fremantle 25.10 (160) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2246)
Saturday, 11 August East Fremantle 12.16 (88)def. East Perth 11.11 (77) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2537) [79]
Saturday, 11 August Perth 11.12 (78)def. by Claremont 16.20 (116) Lathlain Park (crowd: 3055)

Brian Peake becomes the second West Australian to reach 400 senior games, [d] and has eleven possessions in the centre in the first quarter to inspire Perth to a superb display, before Claremont predictably overwhelm the Demons as Peake’s influence dwindles. [80]

Round 20

Round 20
Saturday, 18 August South Fremantle 18.13 (121)def. Subiaco 11.9 (75) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2415) [81]
Saturday, 18 August Perth 15.11 (101)def. West Perth 13.13 (91) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1658) [82]
Saturday, 18 August Swan Districts 6.15 (51)def. by East Perth 14.13 (97) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2655)
Saturday, 18 August Claremont 12.11 (83)def. East Fremantle 9.15 (69) Claremont Oval (crowd: 2966)
  • Claremont produce a brilliant last quarter into a strong wind to seal their second semi-final berth. Veteran Peter Thorns scores three goals of Claremont’s total of 6.3 (39) to 0.5 (5), whilst East Fremantle forwards Clinton Browning and Andrew Lockyer combine for 1.7 (13). [83]
  • Swans’ lack of desire recalls their 1989 collapse – after a good first quarter into the gale they relax and allow East Perth complete control and give South Fremantle second position. [84]
  • West Perth score nine goals in the first quarter, but Perth come back to move out of the wooden spoon danger zone in a match marred by the report of Perth defender Gavin Whittington for manhandling the shirt of umpire Sam Kronja. Whittington received four weeks for the change, [85] which was a first in the WA(S)FL for many years. [82]

Round 21

Round 21
Saturday, 25 August West Perth 15.10 (100)def. by Subiaco 21.10 (136) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2209) [86]
Saturday, 25 August East Perth 17.13 (115)def. South Fremantle 12.16 (88) Perth Oval (crowd: 3527) [87]
Saturday, 25 August East Fremantle 18.14 (122)def. Perth 4.14 (38) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2866) [88]
Saturday, 25 August Claremont 17.12 (114)def. by Swan Districts 17.19 (121) Claremont Oval (crowd: 3991)
  • In a match directly determining the wooden spoon owing to the Lions’ large percentage advantage, Subiaco are never headed and end a ten-match losing streak.
  • Swan District recapture the double chance with two goals in the last minute after dominating the earlier part of the quarter for 4.10 (34). Brett Hutton – earlier beaten at full-back by namesake John – and Todd Menegola prove matchwinners. [89]

Ladder

1990 ladder
PosTeamPldWLDPFPAPPPts
1 Claremont 21156024561648149.060
2 Swan Districts (P)21147022591948116.056
3 South Fremantle 21147020611850111.456
4 East Fremantle 21138022141822121.552
5 East Perth 2191201973215091.836
6 Perth 2171401777226178.628
7 Subiaco 2161501941222887.124
8 West Perth 2161501826260070.224
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
Sunday, 2 September South Fremantle 22.15 (147)def. East Fremantle 19.14 (128) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 15,799)

Stan Magro’s gamble in playing four not-fully-fit players pays off, as Stevan Jackson and Glen Jakovich dominate the key forward positions and Peter Matera adds four more majors as the Sharks cannot counter the Bulldogs’ dominance of the central corridor. [90]

Second semi-final

Second semi-final
Sunday, 9 September Claremont 10.14 (74)def. Swan Districts 9.13 (67) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 12,720)

In warm but slippery conditions, Gerard Neesham’s coaching skill and the long kicking of fringe Eagle Don Pyke has Swans virtually paralysed until the last fifteen minutes when four late goals flatter the black and whites. [91]

Preliminary final

Preliminary final
Sunday, 16 September Swan Districts 19.15 (129)def. South Fremantle 15.12 (102) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 14,241)

Ken Bell keeps rookie ruckman Travis Edmonds in the reserves, [e] and his triumph over formidable South pair Edwards and Nalder ensures a Grand Final berth. [92]

Grand Final

1990 WASFL Grand Final
Sunday, 23 September Claremont def. by Swan Districts Subiaco Oval (crowd: 26,541) [93]
4.8 (32)
7.8 (50)
8.9 (57)
10.17 (77)		Q1
Q2
Q3
Final		4.1 (25)
11.3 (69)
16.5 (101)
16.7 (103)		Umpires: Phillip O'Reilly, Grant Vernon
Simpson Medal: Greg Walker (Swan Districts)
Evans 2, Mitchell, Thorne, Cormack, Guard, David O‘Connell, Rowland, Fitzgerald, MannGoals Strempel 4, Andy Holmes 3, Walker 2, Ogg 2, Hodyl, Hutton, Passeri, Menegola, Retzlaff
Hann, Rowland, Evans, Guard, Panizera, Higgins, MannBestGow, Walker, Strempel, Narkle, Perry, Retzlaff, Eaton, Passeri
Peter Higgins for striking Andy HolmesReports

John Todd and semi-retired veterans Don Holmes, Don Langsford, Brett Hutton and Phil Narkle defeat Claremont for a third time in the Grand Final, two years after Swans were wooden spooners. The Simpson Medal goes to the son of Swans’ greatest player and then-president, Bill Walker.

Notes

a Brother of Essendon champion Michael Long.
b The sequence was the Royals’ longest losing sequence since their record of fifteen straight losses in 1929.
c Schmidt had actually trialled for Essendon in practice matches before the 1986 VFL season but his commitments made it impossible for him to sign a contract.
d Barry Cable was the first, in the nineteenth round of 1979. Both figures include games played for VFL clubs (North Melbourne and Geelong)
e Swans’ reserves lost to South Fremantle by two points in that grade's preliminary final.

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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 1998 Westar Rules season was the second season of ‘Westar Rules’ and the 114th season of the various incarnations of senior football in Perth. The season opened on 29 March and concluded on 20 September with the 1998 Westar Rules Grand Final contested between East Fremantle and West 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 1997 Westar Rules season was the 113th season of senior football in Perth, Western Australia. It featured a number of dramatic changes to a competition whose popularity had been dramatically reduced by the drain of players to the Eagles and Dockers of the AFL. The competition's name was changed from the prosaic ‘West Australian Football League’ to ‘Westar Rules’ in an attempt to update the local competition for a more sophisticated audience. However, this change became regarded as unsuccessful and was reversed as per recommendations of the “Fong Report” after four seasons. West Perth also changed their name to Joondalup to recognise their location in Perth's growing northwestern suburbs, but changed back after the ninth round.

The 1996 WAFL season was the 112th season of the West Australian Football League in its various incarnations.

The 1995 WAFL season was the 111th season of the West Australian Football League in its various incarnations. Already depleted in strength by the rise of the West Coast Eagles, the WAFL suffered a further blow to its popularity and standard when the AFL, to counter the Eagles’ dominance of the early 1990s with a champion defence and vast player depth, introduced the Fremantle Dockers as a second Western Australian club.

The 1999 Westar Rules season was the 115th season of the various incarnations of the West Australian Football League and the third as “Westar Rules”. It is most notable for the first winless season in open-age Western Australian football since Midland Junction in their final 1917 season lost all twelve of their games, although South Fremantle in the under-19 1944 competition lost all nineteen of their games. Peel Thunder, who at the completion of the season had won only two of their first sixty Westar Rules matches, achieved the equal second-longest winless season in a major Australian Rules league behind SANFL club Sturt in 1995.[a] Although beforehand most critics thought the Thunder would improve on what they did in their first two seasons, late in the season none of the major Westar Rules writers gave them a chance to win even against second-last East Perth at Rushton Park.

The 1994 WAFL season was the 110th season of the West Australian Football League in its various incarnations.

The 1988 WAFL season was the 104th season of the West Australian Football League in its various incarnations.

The 2000 Westar Rules season was the fourth season of ‘Westar Rules’ and the 116th season of the various incarnations of senior football in Perth. It was the last season before the competition's name was changed back to the traditional ‘WAFL’ as it was clear the public had not been attracted by the change. Owing to the Sydney Olympics, Westar Rules shortened the 2000 season from twenty to eighteen matches per club, and retained this eighteen-match season in 2001 and 2002 before going back to the current twenty-match season.

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 2001 WAFL season was the 117th season of the various incarnations of the West Australian Football League. Following the off-season “Fong Report” by WAFC President Neale Fong which was written as a response to the problems then faced on-and off-field by AFL and domestic football in Western Australia, the league reverted to calling itself the ‘WAFL’ because it was acknowledged ‘Westar Rules’ was painfully contrived and did not reflect the history or traditions of the local game.

The 2002 WAFL season was the 118th season of the West Australian Football League. It saw East Perth, despite the end of the first host club scheme that was thought to have unfairly favoured the Royals, win their third successive premiership for the first hat-trick in the WA(N)FL since Swan Districts between 1982 and 1984. The Swans themselves had a disastrous season as chronic financial troubles, which had plagued the club for almost a decade were combined with disastrous results on the field. The black and whites were within two points of a winless season in the seniors and did little better in the lower grades.

The 1991 WAFL season was the 107th season of the various incarnations of the West Australian Football League. With the West Coast Eagles still pushing attendances down and club finances into the red, the league made further experiments. Following on from the VFL and SANFL it introduced a ‘final five’ to replace the final four in use since 1905, but this did not produce the hoped-for financial benefits and was abandoned after four seasons. A more enduring result of this chance was a ‘double-header’ system of playing finals, whereby the two senior semi-finals were played at Subiaco Oval on the same day, with the first game starting just before noon and the second at the traditional time for playing finals. As a consequence of the double-headers, reserves finals were played at Fremantle Oval and colts at Bassendean.

The 2003 WAFL season was the 119th season of the various incarnations of the West Australian Football League. For this season the WAFL reverted briefly to playing its semi-finals as a “double-header”, a policy abandoned for good at the end of the 2005 season, and also reverted to a twenty-game home-and-away season with three byes which has continued to this day.

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 2005 WAFL season was the 121st season of the various incarnations of the West Australian Football League. It saw reigning premiers Subiaco's third consecutive minor premiership, despite the loss of key forward Brad Smith to the West Coast Eagles and knee surgery. Thirty-year-old reserves spearhead Lachlan Oakley proved a perfect replacement and scored eighty goals in his only full season before moving to Victoria and playing with Parkdale Vultures in the VAFA. The Lions were widely tipped to finish the season undefeated with their perceived depth, discipline and motivation, but after suffering only two defeats in the home-and-away season, the Lions collapsed severely in the finals for South Fremantle to claim their first premiership since 1997. The premiership was a wonderful finalé for Toby McGrath, who retired for an army career after the 2004 season, but returned to WA in February and rejoined the Bulldogs to win both the Sandover and Simpson Medals.

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.

References

  1. ↑ Spillman, Ken; Diehards - the Story of the Subiaco Football Club 1946-2000, p. 251; ISBN   0-9578185-0-5
  2. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Presidents Opposed to Eagles’ Reserves Side’; The West Australian , 28 August 1989, p. 105
  3. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Scheme to Draft Discarded Eagles’; The West Australian, 29 March 1990, p. 124
  4. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Claremont Reject College Draft’; The West Australian, 3 May 1990, p. 114
  5. ↑ Booth, Ross; ‘History of Player Recruitment, Transfer and Payment Rules in the Victorian and Australian Football League’; in ASSH Bulletin No. 26 (June 1997); pp. 13-33
  6. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Demons’ Crisis’; The West Australian, 19 June 1990, p. 112
  7. ↑ ‘Kids Key to WAFC’s New Campaign’; The West Australian, 29 March 1990, p. 122
  8. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Poor Turnout, but Sundays Get Nod’; The West Australian, 3 September 1990, p. 96
  9. 1 2 Lague, Steve and Bevis, Steve; ‘Campbell, Hawkins Cleared’; The West Australian, 27 March 1990, p. 105
  10. 1 2 Lague, Steve; ‘Royals Maintain Influence’; The West Australian, 6 August 1990, p. 99
  11. 1 2 Lague, Steve; ‘Swans Purge Last Season’s Blues’; The West Australian, 16 April 1990, p. 111
  12. 1 2 Stocks, Gary; ‘Walsey Wows ‘Em with a Flying Game’; The West Australian, 4 June 1990, p. 92
  13. ↑ WAFL Colts Ladder Finishes (download)
  14. ↑ Bevis, Stephen; ‘Sharks’ Defence Sets Up Big Win’; The West Australian, 2 April 1990, p. 88
  15. ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Royals’ Return a Flop’; The West Australian, 2 April 1990, p. 89
  16. ↑ See WAFL Footy Facts: Lathlain Park Archived 21 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ↑ See WAFL Footy Facts: East Fremantle Oval Archived 16 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Swans Squeak In’; The West Australian, 2 April 1990, p. 87
  19. ↑ Bevis, Stephen; ‘Royals’ Win Signals New Beginning’; The West Australian, 9 April 1990, p. 107
  20. ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Moves to Success’; The West Australian, 9 April 1990, p. 107
  21. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Cool Mann a Winner for Tigers’; The West Australian, 9 April 1990, p. 108
  22. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Royals Romp to an Upset’; The West Australian, 17 April 1990, p. 110
  23. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘South "Extras" Take Over Centre Stage’; The West Australian, 16 April 1990, p. 112
  24. ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Royals Learn Tough Lesson in Only Five Days’; The West Australian, 23 April 1990, p. 107
  25. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Tigers on the Prowl for Easy Points’; The West Australian, 23 April 1990, p. 107
  26. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Swans Back to Their ‘80s Best’; The West Australian, 23 April 1990, p. 108
  27. ↑ "WAFL Footy Facts: West Perth v Claremont". Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  28. ↑ West Perth: Biggest Losses
  29. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Tigers Make It a One-Horse Race’ The West Australian, 30 April 1990, p. 100
  30. ↑ Denham, Greg; ‘Sharks Shallow on Skills’ The West Australian, 30 April 1990, p. 101
  31. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Schmidt Pilots Subiaco Victory’; The West Australian, 30 April 1990, p. 100
  32. ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Inspirational Play Fails to Life Falcons’ The West Australian, 30 April 1990, p. 100
  33. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Win Takes Pressure off Falcons’ The West Australian, 7 May 1990, p. 116
  34. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Watters’ Reserve Is Bulldogs’ Gain’; The West Australian, 7 May 1990, p. 117
  35. ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Sharks Maul Claremont’; The West Australian, 7 May 1990, p. 118
  36. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Mellow Todd Enjoying Himself Again’; The West Australian, 7 May 1990, p. 116
  37. ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Falcons Sneak Home against Lions’; The West Australian, 14 May 1990, p. 104
  38. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Fallen Eagle on the Mend’; The West Australian, 14 May 1990, p. 105
  39. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Move To Eliminate Cormack a Winner’; The West Australian, 14 May 1990, p. 104
  40. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Bulldogs Get Magro Blast’; The West Australian, 14 May 1990, p. 105
  41. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Tigers Knock Out Battling Bulldogs’; The West Australian, 21 May 1990, p. 88
  42. ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Mullooly Shattered by Demons’ Form’; The West Australian, 21 May 1990, p. 88
  43. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Kerse Controls Falcons’; The West Australian, 21 May 1990, p. 88
  44. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘"Mozzies" Bite into Bunton’s Bags’; The West Australian, 28 May 1990, p. 104
  45. ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Royals Ground Clipped Falcons’; The West Australian, 28 May 1990, p. 103
  46. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Peake and Perth Prove They’re Not Past It’; The West Australian, 28 May 1990, p. 104
  47. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Brooks Superb in Debut for Tigers’; The West Australian, 4 June 1990, p. 93
  48. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Bulldog Spirit’s a Derby Winner’; The West Australian, 5 June 1990, p. 114
  49. ↑ "WAFL Footy Facts: Most Combined Points Second Quarter". Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  50. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Turner’s Devilish Grin Reflects Demons’ Joy’; The West Australian, 11 June 1990, p. 114
  51. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Dogs Fight It Out like Magro’; The West Australian, 11 June 1990, p. 108
  52. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Tigers Drive Out Falcons’; The West Australian, 11 June 1990, p. 114
  53. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Sharks Keep Top Rankin’; The West Australian, 18 June 1990, p. 88
  54. ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Hutton Tames Lions’; The West Australian, 18 June 1990, p. 88
  55. ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Rioli Casts Spell Over Falcons’; The West Australian, 18 June 1990, p. 88
  56. ↑ Denham, Greg; ‘Annear Shows His Value to Tigers’; The West Australian, 25 June 1990, p. 113
  57. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Forgotten Man Leads the Bulldogs’ Revival’; The West Australian, 25 June 1990, p. 112
  58. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Falcons Have Icy Workout Ahead’; The West Australian, 25 June 1990, p. 113
  59. ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: Wins with Fewer Scoring Shots Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  60. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Swans "Hug" Top Spot’; The West Australian, 2 July 1990, p. 98
  61. ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Demons Revive Hopes for Club’; The West Australian, 2 July 1990, p. 98
  62. ↑ Denham, Greg; ‘Last Laugh for Falcons Over Lions’; The West Australian, 2 July 1990, p. 99
  63. ↑ Denham, Greg; ‘Royals’ Healthy Future’; The West Australian, 16 July 1990, p. 89
  64. ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Sharks Discover Reserves of Spirit’; The West Australian, 16 July 1990, p. 88
  65. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Tenacious Bulldogs Savage Tame Tigers’; The West Australian, 16 July 1990, p. 88
  66. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Strempel Inspires Swans to Key Win’; The West Australian, 16 July 1990, p. 88
  67. ↑ Denham, Greg; ‘Claremont Make Amends’; The West Australian, 23 July 1990, p. 84
  68. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Edwards Returns to Winning ‘89 form’; The West Australian, 23 July 1990, p. 84
  69. ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Browning Solves Sharks’ Problems’; The West Australian, 23 July 1990, p. 84
  70. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Falcons Lose Power Battle’; The West Australian, 23 July 1990, p. 84
  71. ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Milestones Marked in Two Ways’; The West Australian, 30 July 1990, p. 89
  72. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Sharks Have Last Laugh on "Jokers"’; The West Australian, 30 July 1990, p. 90
  73. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Tigers’ Little Men Put Bite on Royals’; The West Australian, 30 July 1990, p. 88
  74. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Swans Go Wrong Right at the Start’; The West Australian, 30 July 1990, p. 88
  75. ↑ Wainwright, Robert; ‘Loyal Fans Say It’s Still the Same’; The West Australian, 6 August 1990, p. 99
  76. ↑ Denham, Greg; ‘Sharks’ Coach Jubilant’; The West Australian, 6 August 1990, p. 99
  77. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Eagles Prospects Propels Watters’; The West Australian, 6 August 1990, p. 1000
  78. ↑ Denham, Greg; ‘Swans-Lions Match Gives No Comfort to Malthouse’
  79. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Sharks Make It a Meal’; The West Australian, 13 August 1990, p. 96
  80. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Tigers Beat the Hype’; The West Australian, 13 August 1990, p. 96
  81. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Bulldogs Roll into Second’; The West Australian, 20 August 1990, p. 107
  82. 1 2 Denham, Greg; ‘Serious Charge Mars Whittington’s 100th’; The West Australian, 28 August 1990, p. 106
  83. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Neesham Has Faith’; The West Australian, 20 August 1990, p. 106
  84. ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Swans Repeat History’; The West Australian, 20 August 1990, p. 107
  85. ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Whittington Gets Four Weeks’; The West Australian, 22 August 1990, p. 132
  86. ↑ Tennison, Max; ‘Lions Leave Falcons to Occupy Cellar’; The West Australian, 27 August 1990, p. 99
  87. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Young Royals Topple South’; The West Australian, 27 August 1990, p. 99
  88. ↑ Denham, Greg; ‘Quill Shows Plenty as Sharks Win in a Canter’; The West Australian, 27 August 1990, p. 100
  89. ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Swans Snatch Double Chance’; The West Australian, 27 August 1990, p. 100
  90. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Magro’s Gamble Pays Dividends’; The West Australian, 3 September 1990, p. 94
  91. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Todd Checkmated by Neesham Ploys’; The West Australian, 10 September 1990, p. 98
  92. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Bell Sound Death Knell for Bulldogs’; The West Australian, 17 September 1990, p. 102
  93. ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Old Firm Return to Haunt Tigers Again’; The West Australian; 24 September 1990; p. 98
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