1979 WANFL season
The 1979 WANFL season was the 95th season of the West Australian National Football League in its various incarnations, and the last of forty-nine (including three under-age wartime seasons) under that moniker.
The season set many records for high scoring due to the still-ongoing drying of Perth’s climate[1][2] and the new “interchange’ rule. The all-time record aggregate score of 60.18 (378) was set in the third last round between Swan Districts and Subiaco[3] and has never been approached since. East Fremantle[4] and Claremont[5] also set records for highest senior score during the season, the former of which still stands. However, the overall average score of 112.52 points per team per game was not nearly so high as in the following few years under the ‘WAFL’ moniker.
A major highlight of the 1979 season was the all-time record attendance for local West Australian football of 52,781 in the Grand Final,[6] beating narrowly the previous record of 52,322 set in the 1975 decider.[7]
The 1979 season was a critical turning point in the fortunes of many WANFL clubs. Perth, who had been a powerhouse ever since the end of World War II, winning six premierships and playing in the finals during twenty-four of the preceding thirty-two seasons, underwent a long-term decline that has seen the play in the finals since only in 1986, 1991 and 1997, and take the wooden spoon on seven occasions as opposed to none between 1936 and 1980. With the loss of a number of veterans and major coaching problems which culminated in the resignation of newcomer Percy Johnson for former premiership mentor Graham Campbell, West Perth, also a power club of the WANFL during the third-of-a-century before 1979, declined to their worst record since 1939 with only four wins. The Cardinals (latterly the Falcons) were to remain battlers until the middle 1990s when they moved to Arena Joondalup. On the other hand, the 1979 season saw Claremont and Swan Districts begin revivals after years near the bottom of the ladder that would see them dominate the competition during the 1980s.
Home-and-away Season
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
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Round 3 |
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| Saturday, 14 April |
East Perth 29.22 (196) |
def. |
Subiaco 6.11 (47) |
Perth Oval (crowd: 8528) |
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| Saturday, 14 April |
East Fremantle 17.18 (120) |
def. |
South Fremantle 14.19 (103) |
East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 21317) |
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| Monday, 16 April |
Perth 11.8 (74) |
def. by |
Swan Districts 11.12 (78) |
Lathlain Park (crowd: 11046) |
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| Monday, 16 April |
Claremont 19.25 (139) |
def. |
West Perth 5.12 (42) |
Claremont Oval (crowd: 11284) |
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- A record East Fremantle Oval crowd sees Old Easts come from behind as defenders Crouch and Green along with the following division take complete control.[9]
- East Perth record their biggest win in open-age WANFL football, narrowly beating their 147-point win over Claremont[10]
- Perth coach Ken Armstrong complains about the tactics of rival John Todd after Ron Boucher shatters the jaw of key Demon ruckman and former Simpson Medallist Wim Rosbender without any penalty.[11]
- With Phil Krakouer kicking eight goals including Claremont’s first five, and West Perth’s forward line decrepit, the Cardinals enter a severe crisis with a number of injuries.[12]
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Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
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Round 8 |
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| Saturday, 19 May |
Subiaco 18.12 (120) |
def. |
West Perth 13.17 (95) |
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5310) |
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| Saturday, 19 May |
South Fremantle 13.15 (93) |
def. by |
Perth 16.15 (111) |
Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8297) |
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| Saturday, 19 May |
Claremont 18.14 (122) |
def. |
East Perth 9.16 (70) |
Claremont Oval (crowd: 9871) |
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| Saturday, 19 May |
Swan Districts 20.20 (140) |
def. by |
East Fremantle 22.16 (148) |
Bassendean Oval (crowd: 6985) |
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- Claremont confirm East Perth’s popular premiership favouritism as misplaced via a convincing win with Moss continuing to dominate at centre-half forward and former defender Barry Beecroft doing all that was required in the ruck.[18]
- Swan Districts lose despite a 9.10 (64) second quarter and kick their highest losing score until 1982[19]
- The return of defender John Dimmer and Dennis Blair allows a still-understrength Subiaco to drop the aging Cardinals to last position.[20]
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Round 9
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Round 9 |
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| Saturday, 26 May |
West Perth 8.13 (61) |
def. by |
South Fremantle 28.19 (187) |
Leederville Oval (crowd: 8273) |
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| Saturday, 26 May |
East Perth 14.12 (96) |
def. by |
Swan Districts 18.14 (122) |
Perth Oval (crowd: 11870) |
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| Saturday, 26 May |
Perth 22.23 (155) |
def. |
Subiaco 9.7 (61) |
Lathlain Park (crowd: 8072) |
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| Saturday, 26 May |
East Fremantle 17.18 (120) |
def. by |
Claremont 21.14 (140) |
East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 12382) |
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- South Fremantle dominate over an inept Cardinal team setting numerous records:[21]
- West Perth’s worst loss, beating 112 points against Perth from 1977.
- The Cardinals’ biggest loss at Leederville Oval, beating 89 points against Swan Districts on 12 July 1965
- The club sacked its coach the following Monday in favour of old mentor Campbell.
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Round 10 (Foundation Day)
Round 11
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Round 11 |
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| Saturday, 9 June |
South Fremantle 27.22 (184) |
def. |
Subiaco 19.17 (131) |
Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4724) |
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| Saturday, 9 June |
Perth 25.12 (162) |
def. |
West Perth 12.15 (87) |
Lathlain Park (crowd: 8297) |
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| Saturday, 9 June |
Claremont 17.15 (117) |
def. |
Swan Districts 12.17 (89) |
Claremont Oval (crowd: 11575) |
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| Saturday, 9 June |
East Perth 25.8 (158) |
def. |
East Fremantle 18.12 (120) |
Perth Oval (crowd: 10368) |
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- West Perth record their tenth consecutive loss, their worst sequence since their record 27-game streak in 1938 and 1939.[23]
- Despite a confortable win with Ray Bauskis kicking 13-4 (82), South Fremantle coach Mal Brown becomes very upset at a “gutless” final quarter where South kicks only 2.0 (12) to Subiaco’s 7.8 (50).[24]
- An unexpected move of brilliant rover-forward Phil Krakouer to defence shuts out the young Swan Districts centreline after Swans get within eight points of the Tigers. Krakouer has an amazing 32 kicks and eight handballs.[25]
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Round 12
Round 12
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Round 13 |
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| Saturday, 23 June |
Swan Districts 13.20 (98) |
def. by |
West Perth 15.9 (99) |
Bassendean Oval (crowd: 8237) |
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| Saturday, 23 June |
East Perth 16.19 (115) |
def. |
South Fremantle 11.16 (82) |
Perth Oval (crowd: 13876) |
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| Saturday, 23 June |
Claremont 23.11 (149) |
def. |
Subiaco 17.21 (123) |
Claremont Oval (crowd: 5061) |
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| Saturday, 23 June |
East Fremantle 22.14 (146) |
def. |
Perth 16.11 (107) |
East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6692) |
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- Imaginative use of handball by East Perth’s defenders blunts a South Fremantle attack that had averaged 136 points per match and also set up most Royal goals in an impressive victory for the 1978 premiers.[29]
- Rod Alderton, West Perth’s leading goalkicker in 1978, kicks three of seven last-quarter goals in a twenty-minute burst to pip an inaccurate Swan Districts who had led all day but just failed with a late comeback.[30]
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Round 13
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Round 14 |
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| Saturday, 30 June |
South Fremantle 19.22 (136) |
def. |
Swan Districts 18.17 (125) |
Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11106) |
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| Saturday, 30 June |
West Perth 12.11 (83) |
def. by |
East Perth 12.19 (91) |
Leederville Oval (crowd: 12898) |
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| Saturday, 30 June |
Perth 16.14 (110) |
def. by |
Claremont 21.11 (137) |
Lathlain Park (crowd: 8948) |
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| Saturday, 30 June |
Subiaco 17.11 (113) |
def. by |
East Fremantle 17.25 (127) |
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4976) |
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- Although the establish a three-game gap between fourth and fifth, poor defence nearly costs South Fremantle the match, as previously out-of-sorts Simon Beasley kicks nine after being dropped but recalled when Mark Olsen is declared unfit with a calf strain.[31]
- Moss returns to the ruck to drive Claremont form 31 points down at half-time to a superb win, with Jimmy Krakouer superb in support.[32]
- East Perth kick 3.1 to 2.3 into the breeze to deny Cardinals a third straight victory.
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Round 15
Round 16
Round 17
Round 18
Round 19
Round 20
Round 21
Ladder
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| | TEAM | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | PTS |
| 1 | Claremont | 21 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 2645 | 2137 | 123.77% | 64 |
| 2 | South Fremantle | 21 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 2588 | 2140 | 120.93% | 60 |
| 3 | East Fremantle | 21 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 2623 | 2323 | 112.91% | 56 |
| 4 | East Perth | 21 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 2440 | 1953 | 124.94% | 52 |
| 5 | Swan Districts | 21 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 2673 | 2292 | 116.62% | 44 |
| 6 | Perth | 21 | 8 | 13 | 0 | 2130 | 2292 | 92.93% | 32 |
| 7 | West Perth | 21 | 4 | 17 | 0 | 1892 | 2677 | 70.68% | 16 |
| 8 | Subiaco | 21 | 3 | 18 | 0 | 1913 | 3090 | 61.91% | 12 |
| Key: P = Played, W = Won, L = Lost, D = Drawn, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against |
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Finals
First Semi Final
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First Semi Final |
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| Saturday, 1 September |
East Fremantle 19.14 (128) |
def. |
East Perth 18.18 (126) |
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 30,236) |
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East Fremantle coach Bradley Smith makes a number of surprise moves that overhaul his former club in Cable’s last senior match.[45] |
Second Semi Final
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Second Semi Final |
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| Saturday, 8 September |
Claremont 14.19 (103) |
def. by |
South Fremantle 17.21 (123) |
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 32,046) |
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Noel Carter makes an unexpected comeback from injury, and with Michael beating Moss, South Fremantle make a surprising rebound from their Swan Districts loss,[46] leaving Claremont as the team with injury worries.[47] |
Preliminary Final
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Preliminary Final |
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| Saturday, 15 September |
Claremont 15.17 (107) |
def. by |
East Fremantle 19.20 (134) |
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 26,469) |
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- Six goals in the first quarter into the wind ensure East Fremantle make the Grand Final and Claremont become the first minor premier to miss the Grand Final since Perth in 1963.[48]
- Claremont’s attempt to improve its forward line by displacing Old Easts’ Doug Green fails.[49]
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Grand Final
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1979 WANFL Grand Final |
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| Saturday, 22 September |
South Fremantle |
def. by |
East Fremantle |
Subiaco Oval (Crowd: 52,781) |
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4.5 (29)
8.10 (58)
14.14 (98)
16.16 (112) |
Q1
Q2
Q3
Final |
3.5 (23)
10.13 (73)
13.16 (94)
21.19 (145) |
Simpson Medal: Kevin Taylor (East Fremantle)
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| Bauskis 5, Vigona 3, Morley 3, Mountain 2 Rioli, Carter, Haddow |
Goals |
Taylor 7, Turco 4, Thompson 4, Buhagiar 3, Judge, Sims, Sewell |
| Mountain, Michael, Bauskis, Morley, Cavanagh, Rioli |
Best |
Buhagiar, Peake, Taylor, D Green, S Green, Carrott |
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References
- ↑ See Indian Ocean Climate Initiative: Stage 3: Summary for Policymakers
- ↑ Monthly Rainfall for Perth Regional Office; Monthly Rainfall for Perth Metro (Mount Lawley)
- ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: Highest Combined Scores
- ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: East Fremantle Highest Scores
- ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: Claremont Highest scores
- ↑ Devaney, John; Full Points Footy’s WA Football Companion; p. 12. ISBN 978-0-9556897-1-0
- ↑ Devaney; Full Points Footy’s WA Football Companion; pp. 126-129
- ↑ East, Alan; ‘West Perth are Versatile’; The West Australian, 2 April 1979, p. 66
- ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘East F‘tle Are Glomour Team’; The West Australian, 16 April 1979, p. 68
- ↑ East Perth: Biggest Wins
- ↑ Hopkins, Colin; ‘Perth Chief Blasts Swans on Their Tactics’; The West Australian, 17 April 1979, p. 104
- ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Moss, Krakouers Get Claremont Going’; The West Australian, 17 April 1979, p. 102
- ↑ Carew-Reid, Andrew; ‘Swans Turn It On’; The West Australian, 30 April 1979; p. 58
- ↑ Carew-Reid, Andrew; ‘Douge Leads the Way’; The West Australian, 7 May 1979, p. 74
- ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘The Neesham Spirit Rubs Off on Swans’; The West Australian, 7 May 1979, p. 74
- ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Can Moss Afford the Luxury’; The West Australian 14 May 1979, p. 62
- ↑ Carew-Reid, Andrew; ‘East Perth Are Putting It Together’; The West Australian 14 May 1979, p. 62
- ↑ Hopkins, Colin; ‘East Perth Are Overrated’; The West Australian, 21 May 1979, p. 71
- ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: Swan Districts Highest Losing Scores
- ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Subiaco Should Not Be Taken Lightly’; The West Australian, 21 May 1979, p. 71
- ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘West Perth Can’t Get Any Worse’; The West Australian, 28 May 1979, p. 57
- ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Record Crowd Sees South Win Seesaw Derby’; The West Australian, 5 June 1979, p. 104
- ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: West Perth – Consecutive Games Lost
- ↑ Carew-Reid, Andrew; ‘South Let Subiaco In’; The West Australian; 11 June 1979; p. 73
- ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Phil Krakouer Shows a New Side of His Game’; The West Australian, 11 June 1979, p. 73
- ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘South Have That All-Star Quality’; The West Australian, 18 June 1979, p. 62
- ↑ Carew-Reid, Andrew; ‘Campbell Tries an Old Ploy’; The West Australian, 18 June 1979, p. 62
- ↑ Hopkins, Colin; ‘East Perth Revel in the Wet’; The West Australian, 18 June 1979, p. 63
- ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘East Perth Finds an Antidote for South’; The West Australian, 25 June 1979, p. 87
- ↑ Carew-Reid, Andrew; ‘Alderton’s Spur to Victory’; The West Australian; 25 June 1979, p. 86
- ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘South Need to Look at Defence’; The West Australian, 2 July 1979, p. 64
- ↑ Carew-Reid, Andrew; ‘What Would Claremont Do without Moss?’; The West Australian, 2 July 1979, p. 65
- ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Swans Have Their Dream Shattered’; The West Australian, 16 July 1979, p. 70
- ↑ See Club Biography: Claremont
- ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Claremont Capitalise on Errors’; The West Australian, 16 July 1979, p. 70
- ↑ ‘Uncle “Returns” with a Vengeance’; The West Australian, 23 July 1979, p. 83
- ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘East Perth Aim at Another Snatch-Grab’; The West Australian, 6 August 1979, p. 68
- ↑ See Carew-Reid, Andrew; ‘Swans Should Kick Themselves’; The West Australian, 13 August 1979, p. 67
- 1 2 WAFL Footy Facts: Round 19, 1979
- ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘South Save Best for Right Time’; The West Australian, 20 August 1979, p. 82
- ↑ Perth Regional Office August 1979 rainfall
- ↑ Hopkins, Colin; ‘Subiaco Show They Can Be Competitive’; The West Australian; 20 August 1979, p. 82
- ↑ Casellas, Ken; ‘Claremont Not a One-Man Band’; The West Australian, 27 August 1979, p. 86
- ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Brown Must Come Up With Something’; The West Australian, 27 August 1979, p. 80
- ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘East Fremantle Are Well in the Running’; The West Australian; 3 September 1979, p. 92
- ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Michael, Carter the Heroes’; The West Australian, 10 September 1979, p. 76
- ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘Injuries Are Big Worry for Claremont’; The West Australian, 10 September 1979, p. 76
- ↑ Christian, Geoff; ‘East F‘tle Seize the Initiative’; The West Australian, 17 September 1979, p. 74
- ↑ Carew-Reid, Andrew; ‘Claremont Now Look to 1980’; The West Australian, 17 September 1979, p. 76
External links
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