1974 WANFL season
1974 WAFL season | |
---|---|
Teams | 8 |
Premiers | East Fremantle 24th premiership |
Minor premiers | East Fremantle 29th minor premiership |
Sandover Medallist | Graham Melrose (East Fremantle) |
Bernie Naylor Medallist | Max George (Swan Districts) |
Matches played | 88 |
The 1974 WAFL season was the 90th season of the various incarnations of senior football in Perth and the forty-fourth as the "Western Australian National Football League". It continued the fluctuating fortunes of clubs that had been part and parcel of the league since 1970, with East Perth, the most consistent player in the competition for eight years, missing finals participation for the only time in seventeen seasons between 1966 and 1982 due largely to injuries to key defenders Gary Malarkey, who missed the second half of the season, and Ken McAullay who did not play at all.[1] West Perth fell from runners-up (after being flag favourites before the Grand Final) to their worst season since 1939, largely owing to the loss of 1973 leading goalkicker Phil Smith which left a gaping hole in their attack.
On the other hand, Swan Districts, with full-forward Max George and big Bob Beecroft prominent, won the Rodriguez Shield for the second time and played finals for the first time since 1965 after eight bleak years that had seen them a kick away from a winless season six seasons previously, whilst East Fremantle made a similar if less abrupt recovery to win their first premiership for nine years and first minor premiership for a decade.
Home-and-away season
Round 1
Round 1 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 6 April | East Perth 23.15 (153) | def. | South Fremantle 16.11 (107) | Perth Oval (crowd: 10896) | |
Saturday, 6 April | Subiaco 11.12 (78) | def. | Perth 7.21 (63) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 9960) | |
Saturday, 6 April | Claremont 9.12 (66) | def. | Swan Districts 8.11 (59) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 9310) | |
Saturday, 6 April | East Fremantle 9.22 (76) | def. by | West Perth 12.8 (80) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 10237) | |
|
Round 2 (Easter weekend)
Round 2 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 13 April | Swan Districts 9.12 (66) | def. | Subiaco 6.13 (49) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 9850) | |
Saturday, 13 April | South Fremantle 10.13 (73) | def. by | East Fremantle 13.14 (92) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 13378) | |
Monday, 15 April | West Perth 12.15 (87) | def. by | East Perth 13.15 (93) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 16922) | |
Monday, 15 April | Perth 21.13 (139) | def. | Claremont 14.8 (92) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 9841) | |
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Round 3
Round 3 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 20 April | Subiaco 12.13 (85) | def. by | South Fremantle 19.15 (129) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8742) | |
Saturday, 20 April | Perth 10.14 (74) | def. by | East Perth 16.14 (110) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 9825) | |
Saturday, 20 April | West Perth 9.25 (79) | def. | Claremont 9.11 (65) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 11624) | |
Saturday, 20 April | East Fremantle 11.14 (80) | drew with | Swan Districts 11.14 (80) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9733) | |
|
Round 4 (Anzac Day)
Round 4 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thursday, 25 April | Subiaco 14.15 (99) | def. | East Perth 11.11 (77) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 15522) | |
Saturday, 27 April | South Fremantle 19.18 (132) | def. | Swan Districts 14.15 (99) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 10648) | |
Saturday, 27 April | West Perth 11.19 (85) | def. by | Perth 18.10 (118) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 10620) | |
Saturday, 27 April | Claremont 11.12 (78) | def. by | East Fremantle 23.12 (150) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 8902) | |
Peter Featherby produces an amazing 46 kicks and nine handballs to win Subiaco a game it was originally thought they would forfeit as they did not want to play on Anzac Day.[12] |
Round 5
Round 5 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 4 May | Subiaco 10.11 (71) | def. | West Perth 8.15 (63) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7553) | |
Saturday, 4 May | Swan Districts 13.14 (92) | def. | East Perth 8.15 (63) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 7216) | |
Saturday, 4 May | South Fremantle 14.19 (103) | def. | Claremont 6.18 (54) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5447) | |
Saturday, 4 May | Perth 10.8 (68) | def. by | East Fremantle 11.15 (81) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 6896) | |
Round 6
Round 6 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 11 May | West Perth 9.14 (68) | def. by | Swan Districts 14.10 (94) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 8118) | |
Saturday, 11 May | Perth 13.13 (91) | def. by | South Fremantle 22.15 (147) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 7489) | |
Saturday, 11 May | Claremont 7.19 (61) | def. | East Perth 8.10 (58) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 5158) | |
Saturday, 11 May | East Fremantle 10.9 (69) | def. | Subiaco 7.4 (46) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9272) | |
|
Round 7
Round 7 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 18 May | South Fremantle 17.16 (118) | def. | West Perth 13.13 (91) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8508) | |
Saturday, 18 May | Swan Districts 10.11 (71) | def. by | Perth 21.15 (141) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 8020) | |
Saturday, 18 May | Subiaco 6.16 (52) | def. by | Claremont 22.20 (152) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7421) | |
Saturday, 18 May | East Perth 14.17 (101) | def. | East Fremantle 13.19 (97) | Perth Oval (crowd: 8899) | |
With Blethyn kicking eight goals and giving away another three, and their rovers demolishing a Lions team who had Austin Robertson in the reserves after his groin injury, Claremont record the biggest win in the WANFL for two years and their biggest since 1964.[15] |
Round 8
Round 8 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 25 May | Subiaco 12.25 (97) | def. | Swan Districts 8.14 (62) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6978) | |
Saturday, 25 May | East Perth 10.15 (75) | def. by | West Perth 20.9 (129) | Perth Oval (crowd: 6777) | |
Saturday, 25 May | Claremont 11.13 (79) | def. by | Perth 16.19 (115) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 6377) | |
Saturday, 25 May | East Fremantle 6.10 (46) | def. by | South Fremantle 13.17 (95) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 16110) | |
|
Round 9 (Foundation Day)
Round 9 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 1 June | Swan Districts 8.7 (55) | def. by | Claremont 10.18 (78) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 6150) | |
Saturday, 1 June | West Perth 13.15 (93) | def. by | East Fremantle 20.19 (139) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 8492) | |
Monday, 3 June | South Fremantle 12.20 (92) | def. | East Perth 9.18 (72) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 12940) | |
Monday, 3 June | Perth 17.12 (114) | def. | Subiaco 12.10 (82) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 10868) | |
Round 10
Round 10 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 8 June | South Fremantle 10.5 (65) | def. by | Subiaco 23.17 (155) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 112020) | |
Saturday, 8 June | East Perth 15.14 (104) | def. by | Perth 18.14 (122) | Perth Oval (crowd: 100590) | |
Saturday, 8 June | Claremont 14.14 (98) | def. | West Perth 11.5 (71) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 86980) | |
Saturday, 8 June | Swan Districts 19.17 (131) | def. | East Fremantle 15.16 (106) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 8650) | |
The return of captain-coach Smith provides the impetus for the finest team display of the season as Subiaco end South Fremantle’s seven-game winning streak with Mike Fitzpatrick unstoppable and half-forward Neil Randall gaining thirty kicks.[18] |
Round 11
Round 11 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 15 June | Swan Districts 12.16 (88) | def. by | South Fremantle 16.14 (110) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 10250) | |
Saturday, 15 June | Perth 12.13 (85) | def. | West Perth 12.6 (78) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 8088) | |
Saturday, 15 June | Subiaco 11.12 (78) | def. by | East Perth 20.18 (138) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 10212) | |
Saturday, 15 June | East Fremantle 25.13 (163) | def. | Claremont 11.17 (83) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9539) | |
Round 12
Round 12 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 22 June | West Perth 9.14 (68) | def. by | Subiaco 10.10 (70) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 6778) | |
Saturday, 22 June | East Perth 12.15 (87) | def. by | Swan Districts 19.14 (128) | Perth Oval (crowd: 7821) | |
Saturday, 22 June | Claremont 20.7 (127) | def. | South Fremantle 15.17 (107) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 7514) | |
Saturday, 22 June | East Fremantle 16.14 (110) | def. | Perth 9.15 (69) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8220) | |
Round 13
Round 13 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 29 June | Swan Districts 27.13 (175) | def. | West Perth 13.10 (88) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 9350) | |
Saturday, 29 June | South Fremantle 16.11 (107) | def. by | Perth 16.17 (113) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9373) | |
Saturday, 29 June | East Perth 17.11 (113) | def. | Claremont 8.10 (58) | Perth Oval (crowd: 9071) | |
Saturday, 29 June | Subiaco 11.12 (78) | def. by | East Fremantle 16.14 (110) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 9530) | |
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Round 14
Round 14 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 6 July | West Perth 8.4 (52) | def. by | South Fremantle 15.15 (105) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 7701) | |
Saturday, 6 July | Perth 19.13 (127) | def. | Swan Districts 12.19 (91) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 11703) | |
Saturday, 6 July | Claremont 10.11 (71) | def. by | Subiaco 12.8 (80) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 7520) | |
Saturday, 6 July | East Fremantle 11.17 (83) | def. by | East Perth 16.9 (105) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9591) | |
The return of eighteen-year-old prodigy Peter Spencer from a broken jaw gives East Perth ascendancy over the powerful East Fremantle centreline and an unexpected victory to enter the four.[21] |
Round 15
Round 15 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 20 July | East Perth 25.6 (156) | def. | South Fremantle 12.11 (83) | Perth Oval (crowd: 8812) | |
Saturday, 20 July | Subiaco 18.6 (114) | def. | Perth 14.12 (96) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7925) | |
Saturday, 20 July | Claremont 12.10 (82) | def. by | Swan Districts 16.10 (106) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 7218) | |
Saturday, 20 July | East Fremantle 21.12 (138) | def. | West Perth 14.8 (92) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6153) | |
As a percentage, East Perth’s score was their most accurate until 1980.[22] Archie Duda kicked nine goals. |
Round 16
Round 16 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 27 July | Swan Districts 12.15 (87) | def. | Subiaco 12.11 (83) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 10757) | |
Saturday, 27 July | West Perth 13.16 (94) | def. | East Perth 12.15 (87) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 8462) | |
Saturday, 27 July | Perth 18.17 (125) | def. | Claremont 14.8 (92) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 6790) | |
Saturday, 27 July | South Fremantle 20.10 (130) | def. | East Fremantle 13.17 (95) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 13130) | |
|
Round 17
Round 17 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 3 August | Subiaco 6.8 (44) | def. | South Fremantle 5.7 (37) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7156) | |
Saturday, 3 August | Perth 9.13 (67) | def. | East Perth 6.7 (43) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 6769) | |
Saturday, 3 August | West Perth 9.13 (67) | def. by | Claremont 11.10 (76) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 4502) | |
Saturday, 3 August | East Fremantle 20.14 (134) | def. | Swan Districts 14.15 (99) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7329) | |
East Fremantle’s small-man strength wins decisively over a bigger and taller Swan Districts outfit to leave that club needing three wins from four games for a finals berth.[25] |
Round 18
Round 18 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 10 August | South Fremantle 12.12 (84) | def. by | Swan Districts 15.19 (109) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8905) | |
Saturday, 10 August | West Perth 20.13 (133) | def. | Perth 14.13 (97) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 6056) | |
Saturday, 10 August | East Perth 10.15 (75) | def. by | Subiaco 12.16 (88) | Perth Oval (crowd: 11325) | |
Saturday, 10 August | Claremont 13.11 (89) | def. by | East Fremantle 13.16 (94) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 6934) | |
Despite kicking only 3.4 (22) to 9.7 (61) between half-time and time-on in the last quarter, East Fremantle get a critical victory because during the second quarter David Hollins kicks a goal simultaneously with forward Kerry Williams being interfered with off the ball, so Old Easts got another kick and two goals without a centre bounce.[26] |
Round 19
Round 19 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 17 August | Subiaco 12.11 (83) | def. | West Perth 7.11 (53) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7654) | |
Saturday, 17 August | Swan Districts 11.19 (85) | def. | East Perth 6.10 (46) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 8320) | |
Saturday, 17 August | South Fremantle 15.15 (105) | def. | Claremont 10.12 (72) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6255) | |
Saturday, 17 August | Perth 13.5 (83) | def. by | East Fremantle 12.15 (87) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 7841) | |
East Fremantle gain a second successive lucky win, coming back from 23 points down with seven goals, including one where Perth fullback John Quartermaine was disallowed an apparently fair mark.[27] |
Round 20
Round 20 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 24 August | West Perth 13.14 (92) | def. by | Swan Districts 14.13 (97) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 9711) | |
Saturday, 24 August | Perth 16.16 (112) | def. | South Fremantle 13.9 (87) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 11032) | |
Saturday, 24 August | Claremont 14.13 (97) | def. by | East Perth 21.10 (136) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 5092) | |
Saturday, 24 August | East Fremantle 13.12 (90) | def. | Subiaco 11.6 (72) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11814) | |
Round 21
Round 21 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 31 August | South Fremantle 9.20 (74) | def. by | West Perth 14.11 (95) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9558) | |
Saturday, 31 August | Swan Districts 8.10 (58) | def. by | Perth 18.19 (127) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 17520) | |
Saturday, 31 August | Subiaco 13.21 (99) | def. | Claremont 8.8 (56) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6850) | |
Saturday, 31 August | East Perth 20.13 (133) | def. | East Fremantle 18.16 (124) | Perth Oval (crowd: 6701) | |
Mel Whinnen becomes the first to play 300 WANFL matches as his Cardinals drive South Fremantle, at one point the pacesetters, out of the top four. |
Ladder
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | East Fremantle (P) | 21 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 2164 | 1878 | 115.2 | 54 |
2 | Perth | 21 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 2146 | 1929 | 111.2 | 52 |
3 | Subiaco | 21 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 1703 | 1741 | 97.8 | 48 |
4 | Swan Districts | 21 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1932 | 1940 | 99.6 | 46 |
5 | South Fremantle | 21 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 2090 | 2001 | 104.4 | 44 |
6 | East Perth | 21 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 2025 | 1945 | 104.1 | 40 |
7 | Claremont | 21 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 1726 | 2076 | 83.1 | 28 |
8 | West Perth | 21 | 6 | 15 | 0 | 1758 | 2034 | 86.4 | 24 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers
Finals
First semi-final
First semi-final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 7 September | Subiaco 11.10 (76) | def. by | Swan Districts 13.21 (99) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 25,570) | |
This was the last match for record-setting goalkicker Austin Robertson, Jr. and Subiaco’s last final until 1985. |
Second semi-final
Second semi-final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 14 September | East Fremantle 17.15 (117) | def. | Perth 13.16 (94) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 26,079) | |
Preliminary final
Preliminary final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 21 September | Perth 12.12 (84) | def. | Swan Districts 9.15 (69) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 27,426) | |
A strong first half with a 37-point lead is enough to see a jaded and sore Perth team make its first Grand Final for four seasons.[28] |
Grand Final
1974 WANFL Grand Final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 28 September | East Fremantle | def. | Perth | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 40,758) | [29] |
2.5 (17) 7.11 (53) 11.13 (79) |
Q1 Q2 Q3 |
4.3 (27) 7.4 (46) 12.9 (81) |
Simpson Medal: Gary Gibellini (East Fremantle) David Pretty (Perth) (tied) Field umpires: Ross Capes | ||
17.20 (122) | Final | 15.10 (100) | |||
Nicholls 4, Avery 3, Durnthaler 2, Melrose 2, Hollins, McHenry, Reid, Becu, Buhagiar, Peake | Goals | Wiley 6, Doherty 5, Farrant 2, Rosbender, McPhee | |||
Peake, Gibellini, Becu, Ferguson, Hollins, Nicholls, Melrose | Best | Wiley, Pretty, McPhee, Lofts, Doherty, Currie, Inman | |||
East Fremantle win their first flag for nine years after a period in the doldrums, more convincingly than the scores indicated due to inaccuracy and a let-up in the final few minutes.[30] |
References
- ^ Christian, Geoff; "East Perth and Perth in Gear"; The West Australian, 31 March 1975, p. 47
- ^ Christian, Geoff; "No-Fuss Subiaco Shapes Up Well"; The West Australian, 8 April 1974, p. 63
- ^ WAFL Footy Facts: Wins with Fewer Scoring Shots Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Christian, Geoff; "Subiaco Select Rhodes for Tomorrow"; The West Australian, 19 April 1974, p. 56
- ^ "Great Day All Round for Swans"; The West Australian, 15 April 1974, p. 44
- ^ East, Alan; "Perth’s Fitness Tells at Finish"; The West Australian, 16 April 1974, p. 51
- ^ See Christian Geoff; "Wiley Has a Knee Injury"; in The West Australian, 7 May 1984, p. 84
- ^ WAFL Footy Facts – Draws Archived 2014-05-13 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ See Newman, Alan; "Drawn Game"; in "Port Club’s Pennant Hopes Rise"; from The West Australian, 9 September 1957, p. 21
- ^ WAFL Footy Facts: Most Consecutive Games Between Successive Draws Archived 15 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ WAFL Footy Facts: West Perth More Behinds Than Goals Archived 17 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Christian, Geoff; "Featherby Leads Subiaco’s Invasion"; The West Australian, 26 April 1974, p. 52
- ^ Christian, Geoff; "East Fremantle Prove They Are Good"; The West Australian, 13 May 1974, p. 59
- ^ Casellas, Ken; "Claremont Give Tigerish Display"; The West Australian, 13 May 1974, p. 58
- ^ Claremont: Biggest Wins Archived 13 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Christian, Geoff; "South Leave Rivals without Answers"; The West Australian, 27 May 1974, p. 55
- ^ Hopkins, Colin; "Robertson Back to His Best"; The West Australian, 27 May 1974, p. 55
- ^ Christian, Geoff; "Revenge Is Sweet for Subiaco"; The West Australian, 10 June 1974, p. 67
- ^ WAFL Footy Facts: Bassendean Oval Archived 21 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Christian, Geoff; "East Perth say: ‘Don’t Forget Us’"; The West Australian, 1 July 1974, p. 47
- ^ Hopkins, Colin; "Spencer Gives East Perth Inspiration"; The West Australian, 8 July 1974, p. 43
- ^ WAFL Footy Facts: East Perth game records Archived 17 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Christian, Geoff; "This Was the One Swans Needed"; The West Australian, 29 July 1974, p. 55
- ^ Casellas, Ken; "One Who Got Away from East Perth"; The West Australian, 29 July 1974, p. 55
- ^ Christian, Geoff; "All-Weather Talent at East Fremantle"; The West Australian, 5 August 1974, p. 51
- ^ "Bonus Issue"; The West Australian, 12 August 1974, p. 59
- ^ Christian, Geoff; "Escape Act By East Fremantle"; The West Australian,19 August 1974
- ^ Christian, Geoff; "Perth Fade Out Again"; The West Australian; 23 September 1974, p. 52
- ^ Christian, Geoff; "East Fremantle Recipe a Blend of Skill and Strength"; The West Australian; 30 September 1974, p. 59
- ^ Lee, Jack; Celebrating 100 Years of Tradition: East Fremantle Football Club 1898-1997; p. 354