1990 WAFL season | |
---|---|
Teams | 8 |
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 played | 88 |
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]
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]
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] |
|
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] |
|
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) | |
|
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] |
|
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] |
|
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] |
|
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) | |
|
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) | |
|
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) | |
|
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) | |
|
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) | |
|
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) | |
|
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] |
|
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) | |
|
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] |
|
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) | |
|
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] |
|
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 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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) | |
|
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) | |
|
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Claremont | 21 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 2456 | 1648 | 149.0 | 60 |
2 | Swan Districts (P) | 21 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 2259 | 1948 | 116.0 | 56 |
3 | South Fremantle | 21 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 2061 | 1850 | 111.4 | 56 |
4 | East Fremantle | 21 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 2214 | 1822 | 121.5 | 52 |
5 | East Perth | 21 | 9 | 12 | 0 | 1973 | 2150 | 91.8 | 36 |
6 | Perth | 21 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 1777 | 2261 | 78.6 | 28 |
7 | Subiaco | 21 | 6 | 15 | 0 | 1941 | 2228 | 87.1 | 24 |
8 | West Perth | 21 | 6 | 15 | 0 | 1826 | 2600 | 70.2 | 24 |
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 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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] |
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, Mann | Goals | Strempel 4, Andy Holmes 3, Walker 2, Ogg 2, Hodyl, Hutton, Passeri, Menegola, Retzlaff | |||
Hann, Rowland, Evans, Guard, Panizera, Higgins, Mann | Best | Gow, Walker, Strempel, Narkle, Perry, Retzlaff, Eaton, Passeri | |||
Peter Higgins for striking Andy Holmes | Reports | ||||
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. |
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.
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 2006 WAFL season was the 122nd season of the various incarnations of the West Australian Football League. Owing to low crowds making the city's traditional big-match venue, Subiaco Oval, uneconomic due to high overheads, the WAFL followed the AFL since 1991 by scheduling finals at the home ground of the club higher on the ladder.
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 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.