2004 WAFL season

Last updated

2004 WAFL season
Teams9
Premiers Subiaco
8th premiership
Minor premiers Subiaco
9th minor premiership
Sandover Medallist Allistair Pickett (Subiaco)
Bernie Naylor Medallist Brad Smith (Subiaco)
Matches played94
←  2003
2005  →

The 2004 WAFL season was the 120th season of the various incarnations of the West Australian Football League.

Contents

Subiaco, after eleven unsuccessful finals campaigns including six in succession, won its first premiership since Haydn Bunton, Jr. took them to the 1988 flag, whilst Swan Districts, largely clear of their severe financial troubles from the 1990s, played finals for the first time in a decade. During late May and June, perennial tailender Perth looked like playing finals for only the fourth time since 1979, but faltered badly in July and August.

The wooden spoon went to East Fremantle for the first time since their debut season of 1898, with three wins being the Sharks’ worst record since that debut year when they won one match of sixteen (though they also lost seventeen matches in 1968 and 1970). [1] The blue and whites suffered from two narrow losses and a botched resignation by coach Rod Lester-Smith which was unannounced but definite before East Fremantle's Round 13 game against Subiaco. [2] 2003 premiers West Perth, suffering a crippling injury toll, fell to seventh, which remains their lowest position since the great revival under Jeff Gieschen in 1993. [3]

The most notable occurrence during the season was Peel Thunder being recognised with a scoreless match for the first time in any major Australian Rules league since Subiaco failed to score against South Fremantle in August 1906, [4] due to having their score of 10.10 wiped when former Fitzroy and Subiaco rover Peter Bird was ruled to have not been cleared for that opening match. [5] Despite this setback and losing their first eight matches, the Thunder managed to avoid the wooden spoon with five wins being their third-best record in eight seasons and still their equal fifth-best in the WAFL as of 2014. Peel also won the Colts premiership with a major upset against South Fremantle in the Grand Final. [6]

The season was also notable for the Lions moving their home games to the redeveloped Leederville Oval and for the first night games at that ground, both of which were viewed as resounding successes at a time when the WAFL was struggling with its reduced profile.

Home-and-away season

Round 1

Round 1
Friday, 19 March (6:45 pm) South Fremantle 10.8 (68)def. by West Perth 16.8 (104) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2800)
Saturday, 20 March (2:15 pm) Perth 17.12 (114)def. East Fremantle 10.7 (67) Lathlain Park (crowd: 2092)
Saturday, 20 March (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 0.0 (0)def. by Claremont 17.15 (117) Rushton Park (crowd: 1233)
Saturday, 20 March (6:45 pm) East Perth 12.7 (79)def. by Subiaco 16.8 (104) Leederville Oval (crowd: 3470)
Bye
Swan Districts
  • Peel’s score is officially the lowest in the WAFL since 1906, when Subiaco failed to score against South Fremantle.
  • The Thunder actually scored 10.10 (70), [7] but had their score annulled at the WAFL meeting on 13 April because Peter Bird’s clearance from South Bunbury did not apply to this opening game. [5]
  • The first night match at Leederville, between the second- and third-placed clubs of 2003, is viewed a resounding success. [8]

Round 2

Round 2
Saturday, 27 March (2:15 pm) East Perth 15.13 (103)def. Peel Thunder 13.9 (87) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1320)
Saturday, 27 March (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 10.19 (79)def. South Fremantle 8.13 (61) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1593)
Sunday, 28 March (2:15 pm) Claremont 14.8 (92)def. Perth 12.7 (79) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1741)
Sunday, 28 March (2:15 pm) West Perth 9.12 (66)def. by Subiaco 12.10 (82) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2000)
Bye
East Fremantle

Round 3

Round 3
Friday, 2 April (6:45 pm) Subiaco 19.4 (118)def. Swan Districts 11.7 (73) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2153)
Saturday, 3 April (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 14.6 (90)def. by Claremont 22.18 (150) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1290)
Saturday, 3 April (2:15 pm) Perth 10.14 (74)def. by East Perth 13.11 (89) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1765)
Saturday, 3 April (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 10.12 (72)def. by West Perth 13.20 (98) Rushton Park (crowd: 1619)
Bye
South Fremantle

Round 4

Round 4
Saturday, 10 April (2:15 pm) West Perth 14.20 (104)def. Perth 9.9 (63) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1987)
Saturday, 10 April (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 20.10 (130)def. Peel Thunder 13.5 (83) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1871)
Monday, 12 April (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 12.15 (87)def. Subiaco 13.8 (86) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2077)
Monday, 12 April (2:15 pm) East Perth 13.11 (89)def. East Fremantle 13.9 (87) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2367)
Bye
Claremont
  • Swan Districts kick crucial goals during time-on of the second and third quarters to ensure a more-competitive Peel team under Garry Hocking does not approach its first win. [9]
  • Two thrilling games see the Fremantle clubs winless with Peel after four rounds, with Shark Jason Morgan denied an apparently fair goal after he toed the ball through a pack. [10]

Round 5

Round 5
Saturday, 17 April (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 17.6 (108)def. West Perth 15.13 (103) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1328)
Saturday, 17 April (5:40 pm) Peel Thunder 11.14 (80)def. by South Fremantle 23.16 (154) Rushton Park (crowd: 1182)
Sunday, 18 April (2:15 pm) Claremont 12.5 (77)def. East Perth 7.12 (54) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1998)
Sunday, 18 April (2:15 pm) Perth 18.15 (123)def. Swan Districts 11.6 (72) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1690)
Bye
Subiaco

Round 6

Round 6
Friday, 23 April (6:45 pm) Subiaco 20.9 (129)def. Peel Thunder 11.7 (73) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1592)
Saturday, 24 April (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 14.11 (95)def. East Fremantle 12.9 (81) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1922)
Saturday, 24 April (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 18.15 (123)def. Perth 12.10 (82) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1490)
Saturday, 24 April (2:15 pm) West Perth 10.4 (64)def. by Claremont 13.17 (95) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1655)
Bye
East Perth

Subiaco kick fifteen goals without Peel scoring after the winless and crippled Thunder led 6.4 (40) to 2.5 (17) early in the second quarter. [11]

Round 7

Round 7
Friday, 30 April (6:45 pm) East Perth 11.13 (79)def. West Perth 11.12 (78) Leederville Oval (crowd: 3410)
Saturday, 1 May (2:15 pm) Claremont 6.12 (48)def. by Swan Districts 8.10 (58) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1811)
Saturday, 1 May (2:15 pm) Perth 15.6 (96)def. Subiaco 8.10 (58) Cunderdin (crowd: 1678) [12]
Sunday, 2 May (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 13.9 (87)def. by South Fremantle 14.10 (94) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3065)
Bye
Peel Thunder
  • Shane Beros, with fifteen possessions in the last quarter, takes advantage of Swan Districts’ ability to turn the match into a stop-start affair and inflicts Claremont’s first defeat. [13]
  • Three late goals from Haydn North stop the Sharks from achieving a major upset despite another eight goals from Simister – who had now scored twenty in three matches. [14]

Round 8

Round 8
Friday, 7 May (6:45 pm) East Perth 7.11 (53)def. by Subiaco 12.9 (81) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2447)
Saturday, 8 May (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 14.12 (96)def. by Claremont 13.19 (97) Rushton Park (crowd: 1145)
Bye
East Fremantle, Perth, South Fremantle, Swan Districts, West Perth
  • Claremont, unsettled by movements into and out of the AFL, avoid a huge upset only via a late behind from Anthony Jones. Victorian import Cameron Gauci kicks seven for Peel. [15]
  • The result constituted the first time a WAFL/Westar Rules team had won scoring fewer goals since West Perth beat Subiaco in Round 14 of 1998.

Round 9

Round 9
Saturday, 15 May (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 10.8 (68)def. by Swan Districts 14.13 (97) Rushton Park (crowd: 1678)
Saturday, 15 May (2:15 pm) Subiaco 11.6 (72)def. by South Fremantle 10.16 (76) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1337)
Saturday, 15 May (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 7.13 (55)def. by East Perth 10.10 (70) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1347)
Sunday, 16 May (2:15 pm) Perth 12.12 (84)def. West Perth 8.14 (62) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1692)
Bye
Claremont
  • The hospitalisation of coach John Dimmer with a stomach cramp does not disturb South Fremantle and they produce an amazing last-quarter comeback where they go inside fifty metres twenty-five times to Subiaco’s three. [16]
  • A classy first half before persistent rain comes ensures Swans win as expected in a celebration for ninety-one-year-old Lal Mosey, the only survivor of their inaugural 1934 team. [17]
  • East Fremantle coach Rod Lester-Smith’s puzzling decision to move top goalkicker Scott Simister to centre half-forward and utility Jason Morgan to full-forward backfires – a fifteen-minute period in the third quarter of continuous attack that could have won the Sharks the game brings only three behinds. [18]

Round 10

Round 10
Saturday, 22 May (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 13.13 (91)def. South Fremantle 11.15 (81) Katanning (crowd: 1872)
Saturday, 22 May (2:15 pm) West Perth 15.14 (104)def. East Fremantle 9.17 (71) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1224)
Saturday, 22 May (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 10.7 (67)def. by Perth 11.17 (83) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2075)
Sunday, 23 May (2:15 pm) East Perth 14.9 (93)def. by Claremont 14.11 (95) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2297)
Bye
Subiaco

Peel win their first match for 2004 with hard running and strong tackling at the finish after South Fremantle took the lead coming from several goals down throughout most of the second half. [19]

Round 11

Round 11
Saturday, 29 May (2:15 pm) Claremont 14.12 (96)def. West Perth 10.7 (67) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1704)
Sunday, 30 May (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 7.6 (48)def. by Subiaco 17.11 (113) Rushton Park (crowd: 1314)
Sunday, 30 May (2:15 pm) Perth 15.8 (98)def. South Fremantle 10.13 (73) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1894)
Sunday, 30 May (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 8.9 (57)def. by Swan Districts 11.9 (75) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1735) [20]
Bye
East Perth

Perth, despite lacking a ruckman after Nigel Edwards was injured, climb to third with their win over South Fremantle, who held on until late in the last quarter but were only briefly on top during the third. [21]

Round 12

Round 12
Saturday, 5 June (2:15 pm) Subiaco 16.6 (102)def. Perth 12.3 (75) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1495)
Saturday, 5 June (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 11.8 (74)def. Claremont 3.9 (27) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1973)
Monday, 7 June (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 17.11 (113)def. East Fremantle 4.7 (31) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4214)
Monday, 7 June (2:15 pm) West Perth 9.6 (60)def. by East Perth 12.14 (86) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 3922) [22]
Bye
Peel Thunder
  • Claremont kick the lowest score ever by a visiting team at Bassendean Oval, with the previous lowest being 4.6 (30) by Peel the previous season. [23]
  • Despite losing the toss on a very windy afternoon and finishing with nineteen fit men after a physical struggle, Swans’ miserly defence completely blankets the league leader. [24]
  • In front of the biggest crowd of the home-and-away season, East Fremantle show an extraordinary lack of skill and discipline in wet conditions – giving away four frees behind play whilst in possession – and South achieve six consecutive wins over their rivals for the first time since the 1917 Grand Final. [25]

Round 13

Round 13
Saturday, 12 June (2:15 pm) Claremont 11.4 (70)def. South Fremantle 8.6 (54) Denmark (crowd: 2500)
Saturday, 12 June (2:15 pm) Perth 12.18 (90)def. Peel Thunder 8.12 (60) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1148)
Saturday, 12 June (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 11.15 (81)def. by Subiaco 14.13 (97) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1260) [2]
Sunday, 13 June (2:15 pm) East Perth 9.9 (63)def. by Swan Districts 11.12 (78) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2820)
Bye
West Perth

In a violent match won well by Perth after half-time, Peel allege Daniel Haines was struck twice and that their treatment by WAFL umpires is unfair compared to the older clubs. [26]

Round 14

Round 14
Saturday, 26 June (2:15 pm) Subiaco 15.10 (100)def. Claremont 14.7 (91) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2235)
Saturday, 26 June (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 13.12 (90)def. East Perth 11.10 (76) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2130)
Saturday, 26 June (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 18.5 (113)def. East Fremantle 14.6 (90) Rushton Park (crowd: 1707)
Saturday, 26 June (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 23.8 (146)def. West Perth 10.4 (64) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 3185)
Bye
Perth
  • Swans expose West Perth’s extreme lack of height (only one player taller than 188 centimetres) and injury (only seven 2003 premiership players) to celebrate the retitling of Bassendean as ‘Steel Blue Oval’ in superb style. [3]
  • Unsuccessful WAFL state captain Brad Smith confirms his status as the league’s most eminent player with five first-half goals, which leaves Claremont winning the $5000 prize for best club after fourteen rounds by a single point due to the deduction of Peel’s 70 points from the opening round. [27]
  • In his first WAFL game since the third round of 1999, Shaun McManus has 35 possessions despite blistered feet, but despite this and six second-quarter goals from fourth-gamer Andrew Wilkie the once proud Sharks move to the bottom as Peel prove much too consistent. [28]

Round 15

Round 15
Friday, 2 July (6:45 pm) East Perth 8.9 (57)def. by Subiaco 11.9 (75) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1301)
Saturday, 3 July (2:15 pm) Claremont 17.12 (114)def. Peel Thunder 6.10 (46) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1028)
Saturday, 3 July (2:15 pm) West Perth 14.9 (93)def. South Fremantle 11.9 (75) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1109)
Saturday, 3 July (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 11.7 (73)def. by Perth 14.5 (89) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1359)
Bye
Swan Districts
  • East Perth suffer an amazing collapse after kicking 8.6 (54) to 2.2 (14) early in the second quarter, scoring only 0.3 (3) to 9.5 (59) for the rest of the match. [29]
  • West Perth overcome the loss of Helen Logan [a] and after attending her Friday funeral they fought out the match as a "mark of respect". [30]
  • Perth overcome a twenty-day break to move a game clear in the four with an impressive display of accuracy in tough conditions. [31]

Round 16

Round 16
Saturday, 10 July (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 12.10 (82)def. by East Perth 15.7 (97) Rushton Park (crowd: 1208)
Saturday, 10 July (2:15 pm) Subiaco 15.8 (98)def. by West Perth 16.13 (109) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1681)
Saturday, 10 July (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 17.16 (118)def. Swan Districts 9.7 (61) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1603)
Saturday, 10 July (2:15 pm) Perth 4.4 (28)def. by Claremont 28.18 (186) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1536)
Bye
East Fremantle
  • West Perth coach Darren Harris attach the WAFL’s send-off rule after Simon Duckworth was ejected for using abusive language to a goal umpire. Brendon Logan nonetheless leads the Falcons to a fine win over the eventual premiers. [32]
  • Perth kick their lowest score against Claremont, beating 4.9 (33) from 1991. [33] the Demons had key forward Simon Rudd reported and faced a "please explain" over their supporters’ abuse of field umpires. [34]
  • Perth’s reserves – needing players from Sunday League club Kenwick to field a team at all – scored only 0.1 (1) to Claremont’s 18.24 (132), with the sole behind being rushed in the last quarter. [34]

Round 17

Round 17
Saturday, 17 July (2:15 pm) Claremont 15.21 (111)def. East Fremantle 10.8 (68) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1712)
Saturday, 17 July (2:15 pm) Subiaco 16.3 (99)def. Swan Districts 12.5 (77) Port Hedland (crowd: 1434)
Saturday, 17 July (2:15 pm) East Perth 16.13 (109)def. Perth 6.11 (47) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1946)
Saturday, 17 July (2:15 pm) West Perth 9.11 (65)def. by Peel Thunder 10.11 (71) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1414)
Bye
South Fremantle
  • Brandon Hill becomes the first Peel player to reach one hundred WAFL/Westar Rules games and, despite possibly the mark of the year from Troy Longmuir, Peel win at Joondalup for the first time – in the process virtually ending West Perth’s chances to defend their premiership. [35]
  • Despite Troy Wilson kicking 2.9 (21), Perth suffer another embarrassment and Andrew Merrington from centre half-forward scores 5.1 (31) and Demon defender Rob Rushton gives a gift goal by kicking the ball thirty metres backwards to Merrington during the third quarter. [36]

Round 18

Round 18
Saturday, 24 July (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 10.8 (68)def. by Peel Thunder 10.14 (74) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1974)
Sunday, 25 July (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 9.12 (66)def. by Subiaco 14.10 (94) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1657)
Sunday, 25 July (2:15 pm) East Perth 14.13 (97)def. East Fremantle 12.9 (81) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1789)
Sunday, 25 July (2:15 pm) West Perth 19.6 (120)def. Perth 11.10 (76) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1615)
Bye
Claremont
  • East Perth squander a chance for a huge victory and much-needed percentage when they let East Fremantle come back from 1.6 (12) to 7.10 (52) at half-time to only sixteen points down at the finish – leaving the Royals well behinds South Fremantle and Swan districts on percentage. [37]
  • This time Subiaco hang on against South Fremantle to cement their double-chance berth against an opponent lacking key forward Ryan Murphy. [38]
  • Peel record their first win at the newly christened "Steel Blue Oval" and their twenty-fifth as a WAFL/Westar Rules club via the directness of their play and Fremantle squad rover Dylan Smith’s tenacity [39] – thereby making East Fremantle almost certain of a first wooden spoon in 106 years.

Round 19

Round 19
Saturday, 31 July (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 15.13 (103)def. West Perth 12.17 (89) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1243)
Saturday, 31 July (2:15 pm) Perth 13.11 (89)def. Swan Districts 11.18 (84) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1456)
Saturday, 31 July (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 15.9 (99)def. by South Fremantle 20.11 (131) Rushton Park (crowd: 1423)
Saturday, 31 July (2:15 pm) Claremont 11.8 (74)def. by East Perth 12.6 (78) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1771)
Bye
Subiaco
  • Perth rebound from three humiliating losses to be only percentage out of the four as the club’s character shines through despite poor disposal and weak second and third quarters. [40]
  • East Perth move (though with a remaining bye) to third with a surprise win led by last-minute recall Adam Pickering, who collects twenty-six possessions and shuts out John Crabb. [41]
  • Brent Jones’ kicking practice pays off as he kicks a towering 55-metre goal that, along with the move of Leath Teakle onto Longmuir, shouts out the West Perth attack for East Fremantle’s second win of 2004. [42]

Round 20

Round 20
Saturday, 7 August (2:15 pm) West Perth 17.7 (109)def. Claremont 5.12 (42) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1578)
Saturday, 7 August (2:15 pm) Subiaco 23.8 (146)def. Peel Thunder 9.6 (60) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1375)
Saturday, 7 August (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 12.19 (91)def. Perth 7.7 (49) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1488)
Saturday, 7 August (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 23.13 (151)def. East Fremantle 8.11 (59) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2139)
Bye
East Perth
  • After holding East Fremantle to 0.5 (5) with the wind in the opening quarter, Swan Districts kick 22.9 (141) in the final three quarters to seal the wooden spoon and end a worrying four-match slump. [43]
  • West Perth, via exceptionally fierce tackling, kick fifteen unanswered goals until the last minute of the game to show that, though out of the running, they could still shape the four. [44]
  • Perth’s lack of height, with no player above 192 centimetres (6 ft 4 in), is cruelly exposed by South Fremantle, who show with their victory that they could be a danger to Claremont and Subiaco in September. [45]

Round 21

Round 21
Friday, 13 August (6:45 pm) East Perth 11.7 (73)def. by West Perth 11.10 (76) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1944)
Saturday, 14 August (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 11.6 (72)def. by South Fremantle 13.19 (97) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2165)
Saturday, 14 August (2:15 pm) Claremont 27.13 (175)def. Swan Districts 8.7 (55) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1668)
Saturday, 14 August (2:15 pm) Perth 11.11 (77)def. Subiaco 11.8 (74) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1324) [46]
Bye
Peel Thunder
  • Swan Districts are forced into physical training on the Sunday as they produce an insipid last three quarters where – with the advantage of the breeze in two of them – they score 6.5 (41) to Claremont’s 23.9 (147). [47]
  • An unusual incident whereby a kick by Hayden North during time-on in the last quarter struck a seagull does not disturb South Fremantle’s matchwinning burst. [48]

Round 22

Round 22
Saturday, 21 August (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 10.10 (70)def. Claremont 7.17 (59) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2002)
Saturday, 21 August (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 16.7 (103)def. East Perth 10.6 (66) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2888)
Saturday, 21 August (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 12.7 (79)def. Perth 10.11 (71) Rushton Park (crowd: 1378)
Saturday, 21 August (2:15 pm) Subiaco 20.15 (135)def. East Fremantle 12.8 (80) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1036)
Bye
West Perth
  • With Brad Smith clearly headed for the AFL in 2005, [b] Subiaco found a ready-made replacement in former defender Sam Larkins, who combines with Smith for eleven goals as the Lions run away after East Fremantle looked within reach of an upset for a brief period in the third quarter. [49]
  • An amazingly selfless act of courage by Shane Creevey allows Peel to hang on after being 39 points ahead at three-quarter time. Creevey absorbed a very hard bump from Perth forward Simon Rudd and managed to clear the ball. It was Creevey’s fiftieth match and he copped a knee in the side. [50]

Round 23

Round 23
Friday, 27 August (6:45 pm) East Perth 11.13 (79)def. South Fremantle 3.4 (22) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1319)
Saturday, 28 August (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 13.13 (91)def. Peel Thunder 10.7 (67) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1223)
Saturday, 28 August (2:15 pm) West Perth 12.15 (87)def. by Swan Districts 13.10 (88) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1784) [51]
Saturday, 28 August (2:15 pm) Claremont 10.5 (65)def. by Subiaco 15.10 (100) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1673)
Bye
Perth
  • South Fremantle’s score, on a wet night, [52] was their lowest open-age score since kicking 2.7 (19) against East Fremantle in Round 9, 1926, and their lowest against East Perth since kicking 1.0 (6) in Round 2, 1918. [53]
  • Troy Wilson kicks six in the cool, wet and very windy conditions, and the Royals kicked 4.3 (27) into the wind in the third quarter [54] to stay in the running for the finals.
  • Swan Districts had to lose by 17 or more points for the Royals to get in, but won their first victory at Joondalup since 1994 to get into the finals for the first time since that season.
  • Subiaco win the minor premiership and the $5,000 ‘Prestige Loans Award’, [c] but coach Peter German denies any advantage because he believes the win will simply make Claremont study the Lions’ game more intensely. [55]

Ladder

2004 ladder
PosTeamPldWLDPFPAPPPts
1 Subiaco (P)20155019631489131.860
2 Claremont 20137018811383136.052
3 South Fremantle 20128017441562111.748
4 Swan Districts 20128017311643105.448
5 East Perth 20119015901526104.244
6 Perth 20101001587178588.940
7 West Perth 20911017221676102.736
8 Peel Thunder 2051501449208269.620
9 East Fremantle 2031701532205374.612
Source: WAFL Footy Facts
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals

Semi-finals

First semi-final
Sunday, 5 September (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 12.12 (84)def. by Swan Districts 21.8 (134) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6,223)

In their first final since 1994 Swan Districts repel conclusively a third-quarter Bulldog challenge with six straight last quarter goals, three of them from Adam Lange. Swans wingman Craig DeCorsey kicks six goals, five in the first half. [56]

Second semi-final
Sunday, 5 September (5:45 pm) Subiaco 19.14 (128)def. Claremont 9.14 (68) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5,773) [57]

Subiaco dominate Claremont throughout the first three quarters, and Brad Smith becomes the first WAFL/Westar Rules player to kick 100 goals since Jon Dorotich in 1997.

Preliminary final

Preliminary final
Sunday, 12 September (2:15 pm) Claremont 16.12 (108)def. Swan Districts 9.17 (71) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7,508) [58]
  • Claremont show up Swans’ lack of finals experience as the black and whites go from 2.0 (12) to 2.12 (24) between the 10-minute mark of the opening quarter and time on in the third.
  • The final margin flatters Swan Districts who kick the last five goals.
  • Anthony Jones, normally a backman, plays a key role for the Tigers at centre half-forward. [59]

Grand Final

2004 WAFL Grand Final
Sunday, 19 September Subiaco def. Claremont Subiaco Oval (crowd: 21,507) [60]
5.3 (33)
7.6 (48)
10.8 (68)
 15.9 (99)		Q1
Q2
Q3
 Final		2.1 (13)
4.5 (29)
5.6 (36)
 7.9 (51)		Umpires: David Corcoran, Luke Farmer, Mark Fussell
Simpson Medal: Paul Vines (Subiaco)
Smith 5, Larkins 4, Cossom, Vines, Haines, Beattie, Miller, AmbroseGoalsAnthony Jones 3, Crabb, Cunningham, Wira, Crwford
Vines, Larkins, Holmes, Wooden, Cossan, Newick, SmithBestHarding, Brett Jones, Anthony Jones, Kowal, Crwaford
Maloney (thigh)
Beattie (concussion)		InjuriesWira (hamstring)

Sam Larkins provides a perfect antidote to Claremont’s targetting of leading goalkicker Smith, and the Tigers do not take control at any stage, as eight unanswed goals in the second half ensure Subiaco’s first premiership since 1988.

Notes

a Mother of then-current players Brendon and Adam Logan, and wife of former premiership player Ian Logan.
b Smith was drafted by West Coast, but knee injuries meant he never played a single AFL match.
c The ‘Prestige Loans Award’ was given to the club with the best result between Rounds 15 and 23, during which the nine WAFL clubs played each other once.

Related Research Articles

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 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. 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 2013 WAFL season was the 129th season of the various incarnations of the West Australian Football League (WAFL). It saw long-time rivals West Perth and East Perth both play in their first Grand Final for more than a decade after a long series of finals failures in between. Claremont for the second time won four consecutive minor premierships but failed in both their finals.

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 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 2007 WAFL season was the 123rd season of the various incarnations of the West Australian Football League. The season saw Subiaco, confounding the critics who expected them to slip after winning their second premiership in three years, win their second consecutive premiership for the first time in ninety-four seasons, with injury-plagued forward Brad Smith overcoming two reconstructions that wiped out 2005 and 2006 to kick 126 goals for the season, the most in the WAFL since Warren Ralph kicked 128 for Claremont in 1983. Smith also achieved the unique feat for a full-forward of winning the Simpson Medal in the Grand Final.

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 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.

Zane Parsons is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the South Fremantle Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). From Wagin, Parsons played most of his career in the forward line, and was South Fremantle's leading goalkicker in 1998, 2002, and 2003. In 2002, he kicked 65 goals to win the Bernie Naylor Medal as the competition's leading goalkicker, and additionally won South Fremantle's best and fairest award, the W. J. Hughes Medal. Parsons was hampered by injury throughout his career, playing only 74 games in ten seasons at the club, from which he kicked 179 goals. He also represented Western Australia twice in interstate matches.

References

  1. ↑ "WAFL Footy Facts: 1898". Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  2. 1 2 Reid, Russell; ‘Lockyer Calls on Sharks’ Players to Stand Up’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 14 June 2004
  3. 1 2 Lewis, Ross; ‘High-Flying Swans too Strong for Falcons’; The West Australian, 28 June 2004, p. 58
  4. ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: Lowest Scores Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  5. 1 2 Townsend, John; ‘Peel Will Plead Bird Selection Legitimate’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian , 22 March 2004
  6. ↑ WAFL Colts Ladder Positions
  7. ↑ Peel Thunder v Claremont, Round 1, 2004
  8. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘Saturday Night All Right for WAFL’; Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 22 March 2004
  9. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Swans Make Most of Thunder Fade-Out’; The Game, p. 11; in The West Australian, 11 April 2004
  10. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘Shark Scare for Royals in Late Run’; The West Australian, 13 April 2004, p. 58
  11. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘Tardy Lions Too Strong’; The West Australian, 24 April 2004; p. 181
  12. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Demon Ruckmen Come Through Unscathed’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 3 May 2004
  13. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Beros Cops It Sweet’; The Game, p. 10; from The West Australian, 3 May 2004
  14. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘North Ends Sharks’ Bid for Derby Victory’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 3 May 2004
  15. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Unsettled Tigers Flirt with Defeat’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 10 May 2004
  16. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Comeback Win a Tonic for Coach’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 17 May 2004
  17. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘Big Day for Legend as Swans Turn It On’; The Game, p. 10; from The West Australian, 17 May 2004
  18. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘Red Faces in Goal-Square Mishap’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 17 May 2004
  19. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘Thunder Rise to Hocking Challenge’; The Game, p. 10; from The West Australian, 24 May 2004
  20. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Munro Shines While Big Boss Sits on the Hill’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 31 May 2004
  21. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘Demons Climb Another Rung’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 31 May 2004
  22. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Royals Rally to Thwart Falcons’ Fight-Back’; The West Australian, 8 June 2004, p. 64
  23. ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: Bassendean Oval Archived 21 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Swans Toss Tigers after Losing the Toss’; The Game, p. 10; from The West Australian, 7 June 2004
  25. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘Rampaging Bulldogs Blitz Hapless Sharks’; The West Australian, 8 June 2004, p. 64
  26. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Irate Thunder Wants Blow-by-Blow Probe’; The Game, p. 10; from The West Australian, 14 June 2004
  27. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘Smith a Standout as Lions Sink Tigers’; The West Australian, 28 June 2004, p. 59
  28. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘McManus Gives His All for Sharks’; The West Australian, 28 June 2004, p. 59
  29. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘Wasteful Royals Overrun by Lions’; The West Australian, 3 July 2004, p. 163
  30. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘Emotional Falcons Do It Tough on and off the Field’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 5 July 2004
  31. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Demons in Top Four after Long Break’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 5 July 2004
  32. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Harris Hits Out over Send-Off’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 12 July 2004
  33. ↑ Claremont: Lowest Scores Conceded
  34. 1 2 Reid, Russell; ‘Tigers Maul Hapless Perth’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 12 July 2004
  35. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘Win Adds to Big Work for Smith and Peel’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 19 July 2004
  36. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Royals in Best Form of Season’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 19 July 2004
  37. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Royals Squander Chance to Gain Much-Needed Percentage’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 26 July 2004
  38. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Lions Bare Claws for the Double Chance’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 26 July 2004
  39. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Peel Takes Another Step up the Ladder’; The Game, p. 10; from The West Australian, 26 July 2004
  40. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Brave Demons Back on Track’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 2 August 2004
  41. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘A Royal Reply to Late Reprieve’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 2 August 2004
  42. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘Jones on Target as Sharks Find Bite’; The Game, p. 10; from The West Australian, 2 August 2004
  43. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Injured Cassan Inspires Swans to Flay Sharks’; The Game, p. 11, from The West Australian, 9 August 2004
  44. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘West Perth Youngsters Embarrass Tigers’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 9 August 2004
  45. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Big Bulldogs Brush Off Perth’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 9 August 2004
  46. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Davis Can Do for Perth’; The Game, p. 11, from The West Australian, 16 August 2004
  47. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Swans Go to Water as Tigers Earn Their Stripes’; The Game, p. 11, from The West Australian, 16 August 2004
  48. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘North Gulled by a Shot on Goal’; The Game, p. 11, from The West Australian, 16 August 2004
  49. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘Subiaco Attack Looks Safe in Larkins’; The Game, p. 11, from The West Australian, 23 August 2004
  50. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Brave Creevey Helps Peel Hang On’; The Game, p. 11, from The West Australian, 23 August 2004
  51. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Beros, Edmonds Struggle to Be Fit for Finals’; The Game, p. 11, from The West Australian, 30 August 2004
  52. ↑ Perth Metro (Mount Lawley) (009225) August 2004 rainfall
  53. ↑ South Fremantle: Lowest Scores
  54. ↑ ‘Big Win Keeps Royals in the Mix’; The West Australian, 28 August 2004, p. 186
  55. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘German Not Convinced after Grand Rehearsal’; The Game, p. 11, from The West Australian, 30 August 2004
  56. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Swans Kick Away when it Matters’; The Game, p. 11, from The West Australian, 6 September 2004
  57. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Lions Dominate Battle of Cats’; The Game, p. 11, from The West Australian, 6 September 2004
  58. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Claremont Find Finals Edge’; The Game, p. 7, from The West Australian, 13 September 2004
  59. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Jones, Tigers Primed to Come Out Roaring’; The Game, p. 7, from The West Australian, 13 September 2004
  60. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Larkins Takes Lead Role as Lions Charge Home’; The Game, p. 7, from The West Australian, 20 September 2004
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.