1977 WANFL season
1977 WAFL season | |
---|---|
Teams | 8 |
Premiers | Perth 7th premiership |
Minor premiers | Perth 6th minor premiership |
Sandover Medallist | Brian Peake (East Fremantle) |
Bernie Naylor Medallist | Ray Bauskis (South Fremantle) |
Matches played | 88 |
← 1976 1978 → |
The 1977 WANFL season was the 93rd season of the Western Australian National Football League in its various incarnations. It followed on from the previous season's high scoring to set another record for the highest average score in WANFL history[1] at 109.57 points per team per game, which was to be broken substantially in the following few years due to the introduction of the interchange rule allowing for a faster game with less exhausted players. 1977 was in fact that last WA(N)FL season with no score of over 200 points until 1988.
The season saw Perth win their second consecutive premiership with a resounding win and record WA(N)FL Grand Final score over East Fremantle who were in the finals for the first time since their last premiership in 1974. It was the fifth premiership in twelve seasons for the Demons, and their last as of 2022: Perth have not played in a Grand Final since 1978, and did even not qualify for the finals between 1997 and 2020.
To counter the uneven quality of inter-league matches between the WANFL and the VFL due to recruiting of top interstate players by Victoria, a State of Origin match was held in Perth the week following the Grand Final. Western Australia showed its quality as a developer of Australian Rules talent with a crushing 94-point win over the best players bred in Victoria, and until the advent of the national competition and the West Coast Eagles State of Origin football, this proved very popular with Western Australian and South Australian crowds and television in Victoria. However, after that it declined to the point of being abandoned after 1999.
Home-and-away season
Round 1 (Easter weekend)
Round 1 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 26 March | Swan Districts 25.13 (163) | def. | South Fremantle 18.18 (126) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 10280) | |
Saturday, 26 March | East Perth 12.13 (85) | def. by | West Perth 15.14 (104) | Perth Oval (crowd: 12682) | |
Monday, 28 March | Claremont 8.12 (60) | def. by | Perth 12.15 (87) | Claremont Oval (crowd: not disclosed) | |
Monday, 28 March | East Fremantle 21.17 (143) | def. | Subiaco 13.12 (90) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: not disclosed) | |
|
Round 2
Round 2 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 2 April | West Perth 15.22 (112) | def. | Swan Districts 14.10 (94) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 11560) | |
Saturday, 2 April | South Fremantle 14.13 (97) | def. by | East Perth 15.14 (104) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9485) | |
Saturday, 2 April | Subiaco 13.13 (91) | def. by | Claremont 14.12 (96) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7347) | |
Saturday, 2 April | Perth 13.11 (89) | def. by | East Fremantle 20.17 (137) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 10128) | |
|
Round 3
Round 3 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 9 April | Subiaco 15.12 (102) | def. by | Perth 19.17 (131) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8973) | |
Saturday, 9 April | Claremont 18.11 (119) | def. by | East Fremantle 27.14 (176) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 10050) | |
Monday, 11 April | South Fremantle 16.11 (107) | def. | West Perth 15.14 (104) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 12601) | |
Monday, 11 April | Swan Districts 16.11 (107) | def. by | East Perth 22.12 (144) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: not disclosed) | |
|
Round 4
Round 4 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 16 April | West Perth 18.21 (129) | def. | Subiaco 12.9 (81) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 9418) | |
Saturday, 16 April | Perth 30.18 (198) | def. | South Fremantle 13.7 (85) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 10402) | |
Saturday, 16 April | East Perth 21.15 (141) | def. | Claremont 11.14 (80) | Perth Oval (crowd: 9507) | |
Saturday, 16 April | East Fremantle 20.21 (141) | def. | Swan Districts 11.14 (80) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9017) | |
A record third quarter of 15.3 (93)[8] sees Perth kick their highest-ever WA(N)FL score, beating their previous record from 1968 against Swan Districts.[9] The Demon rovers create a “shuttle service” to nine-goal full-forward Couper. South were without Campbell and Mal Brown. |
Round 5
Round 5 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 23 April | Subiaco 9.12 (66) | def. by | South Fremantle 24.22 (166) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6907) | |
Saturday, 23 April | West Perth 9.15 (69) | def. | Perth 8.18 (66) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 12019) | |
Saturday, 23 April | Swan Districts 24.14 (158) | def. | Claremont 17.9 (111) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 7058) | |
Saturday, 23 April | East Fremantle 12.22 (94) | def. | East Perth 12.16 (88) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 12723) | |
|
Round 6
Round 6 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 30 April | Perth 27.16 (178) | def. | Swan Districts 15.6 (96) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 8988) | |
Saturday, 30 April | East Perth 11.8 (74) | def. by | Subiaco 12.6 (78) | Perth Oval (crowd: 6546) | |
Saturday, 30 April | Claremont 8.12 (60) | def. by | West Perth 24.17 (161) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 7766) | |
Saturday, 30 April | South Fremantle 12.16 (88) | def. by | East Fremantle 19.18 (132) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 15738) | |
Subiaco, after being wooden spooners in 1976 and losing their first five by large margins, has coach Brian Douge allow the players to select their own side and let them off training – this unorthodox move wins the Lions their first game and sets them on their best run between 1975 and 1984.[12] |
Round 7
Round 7 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 7 May | Swan Districts 10.10 (70) | def. by | Subiaco 18.9 (117) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 6695) | |
Saturday, 7 May | East Perth 13.9 (87) | def. by | Perth 17.13 (115) | Perth Oval (crowd: 11213) | |
Saturday, 7 May | Claremont 14.9 (93) | def. by | South Fremantle 16.20 (116) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 6715) | |
Saturday, 7 May | East Fremantle 11.20 (86) | def. by | West Perth 21.8 (134) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 14948) | |
West Perth’s win against East Fremantle was the biggest in the WAFL with fewer scoring shots until the same round of 1994[13] beating a record from the 1969 Preliminary Final. |
Round 8
Round 8 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 14 May | South Fremantle 25.21 (171) | def. | Swan Districts 7.7 (49) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6697) | |
Saturday, 14 May | West Perth 14.15 (99) | def. by | East Perth 23.13 (151) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 11859) | |
Saturday, 14 May | Perth 23.15 (153) | def. | Claremont 11.16 (82) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 5782) | |
Saturday, 14 May | Subiaco 14.13 (97) | def. by | East Fremantle 17.12 (114) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7943) | |
South Fremantle in a tricky wind kick 1.12 (18) before kicking ten goals straight and crushing Swan Districts[14] |
Round 9
Round 9 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 21 May | Swan Districts 10.12 (72) | def. by | West Perth 17.15 (117) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 6250) | |
Saturday, 21 May | East Perth 12.12 (84) | def. by | South Fremantle 19.18 (132) | Perth Oval (crowd: 9412) | |
Saturday, 21 May | Claremont 13.12 (90) | def. by | Subiaco 17.12 (114) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 4860) | |
Saturday, 21 May | East Fremantle 9.14 (68) | def. by | Perth 11.12 (78) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8642) | |
On the one wet day of the season, South Fremantle kick an exceptional 10.3 (63) with the wind, with future star Stephen Michael dominating the ruck[15] |
Round 10
Round 10 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 28 May | West Perth 26.13 (169) | def. | South Fremantle 20.17 (137) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 14270) | |
Saturday, 28 May | East Perth 22.17 (149) | def. | Swan Districts 13.5 (83) | Perth Oval (crowd: 7038) | |
Saturday, 28 May | Perth 17.15 (117) | def. | Subiaco 11.12 (78) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 9106) | |
Saturday, 28 May | East Fremantle 13.9 (87) | def. by | Claremont 12.17 (89) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6619) | |
|
Round 11 (Foundation Day)
Round 11 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 4 June | Claremont 11.12 (78) | def. by | East Perth 15.16 (106) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 9026) | |
Saturday, 4 June | Swan Districts 14.14 (98) | def. by | East Fremantle 20.27 (147) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 7340) | |
Monday, 6 June | Subiaco 17.13 (115) | def. | West Perth 14.7 (91) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 12311) | |
Monday, 6 June | South Fremantle 19.17 (131) | def. | Perth 18.12 (120) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11687) | |
Round 12
Round 12 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 11 June | South Fremantle 16.16 (112) | def. by | Subiaco 19.14 (128) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8923) | |
Saturday, 11 June | Perth 29.18 (192) | def. | West Perth 12.8 (80) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 8198) | |
Saturday, 11 June | Claremont 13.25 (103) | def. | Swan Districts 10.8 (68) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 5044) | |
Saturday, 11 June | East Perth 19.13 (127) | def. | East Fremantle 14.16 (100) | Perth Oval (crowd: 9041) | |
Star Perth rover Robert Wiley has an amazing match with 10 goals, four behinds and forty-two possessions,[19] as the Demons kick their second highest score on record.[9] |
Round 13
Round 13 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 18 June | Swan Districts 9.9 (63) | def. by | Perth 18.15 (123) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 4897) | |
Saturday, 18 June | Subiaco 12.11 (83) | def. by | East Perth 17.15 (117) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 12757) | |
Saturday, 18 June | West Perth 16.12 (108) | def. | Claremont 17.18 (120) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 7113) | |
Saturday, 18 June | East Fremantle 11.17 (83) | def. by | South Fremantle 11.19 (85) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11940) | |
Don Haddow kicks winner with last kick of day on best-afield Doug Green, in a manner compared at the time with the 1964 Grand Final.[20] |
Round 14
Round 14 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 2 July | Subiaco 14.13 (97) | def. | Swan Districts 12.12 (84) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6976) | |
Saturday, 2 July | Perth 29.12 (186) | def. | East Perth 11.8 (74) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 10490) | |
Saturday, 2 July | South Fremantle 24.16 (160) | def. | Claremont 13.14 (92) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7857) | |
Saturday, 2 July | West Perth 19.12 (126) | def. | East Fremantle 16.12 (108) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 8472) | |
Round 15
Round 15 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 9 July | Swan Districts 12.10 (82) | def. by | South Fremantle 21.16 (142) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 5488) | |
Saturday, 9 July | East Perth 20.9 (129) | def. | West Perth 13.11 (89) | Perth Oval (crowd: 12491) | |
Saturday, 9 July | Claremont 9.18 (72) | def. by | Perth 26.14 (170) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 5202) | |
Saturday, 9 July | East Fremantle 21.25 (151) | def. | Subiaco 13.11 (89) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8090) | |
|
Round 16
Round 16 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 16 July | West Perth 29.23 (197) | def. | Swan Districts 16.12 (108) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 6109) | |
Saturday, 16 July | South Fremantle 12.10 (82) | def. by | East Perth 17.17 (119) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11517) | |
Saturday, 16 July | Subiaco 16.17 (113) | def. | Claremont 15.9 (99) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4406) | |
Saturday, 16 July | Perth 17.17 (119) | def. by | East Fremantle 20.12 (132) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 11420) | |
Round 17
Round 17 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 23 July | South Fremantle 11.13 (79) | def. by | West Perth 15.20 (110) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11478) | |
Saturday, 23 July | Swan Districts 12.9 (81) | def. by | East Perth 23.11 (149) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 5698) | |
Saturday, 23 July | Subiaco 11.9 (75) | def. by | Perth 23.11 (149) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5867) | |
Saturday, 23 July | Claremont 9.14 (68) | def. by | East Fremantle 16.13 (109) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 5750) | |
Archie Duda kicked ten in comeback from knee trouble to move to 99 goals for the Royals. |
Round 18
Round 18 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 6 August | West Perth 25.17 (167) | def. | Subiaco 18.5 (113) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 7816) | |
Saturday, 6 August | Perth 15.14 (104) | def. | South Fremantle 15.9 (99) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 9109) | |
Saturday, 6 August | East Perth 20.15 (135) | def. by | Claremont 23.9 (147) | Perth Oval (crowd: 6618) | |
Saturday, 6 August | East Fremantle 27.17 (179) | def. | Swan Districts 18.9 (117) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5127) | |
|
Round 19
Round 19 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 13 August | Subiaco 10.9 (69) | def. by | South Fremantle 23.15 (153) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4317) | |
Saturday, 13 August | West Perth 23.16 (154) | def. | Perth 14.15 (99) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 11380) | |
Saturday, 13 August | Swan Districts 13.16 (94) | def. by | Claremont 19.13 (127) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 4102) | |
Saturday, 13 August | East Fremantle 16.16 (112) | def. | East Perth 17.9 (111) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9012) | |
Old Easts wipe off a 44-point deficit in fifteen minutes of the third quarter and hang on to win a thriller[23] |
Round 20
Round 20 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 20 August | Perth 17.18 (120) | def. | Swan Districts 12.12 (84) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 4132) | |
Saturday, 20 August | East Perth 15.15 (105) | def. | Subiaco 8.4 (52) | Perth Oval (crowd: 6145) | |
Saturday, 20 August | Claremont 10.6 (66) | def. by | West Perth 22.13 (145) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 6840) | |
Saturday, 20 August | South Fremantle 15.17 (107) | def. | East Fremantle 14.13 (97) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 12984) | |
Ross Glendinning’s brilliant defence allows East Perth to hold Subiaco to 2.0 (12) in first half.[24] |
Round 21
Round 21 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 27 August | Swan Districts 16.17 (113) | def. | Subiaco 7.11 (53) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 3048) | |
Saturday, 27 August | East Perth 26.19 (175) | def. | Perth 9.7 (61) | Perth Oval (crowd: 11695) | |
Saturday, 27 August | Claremont 11.17 (83) | def. by | South Fremantle 13.17 (95) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 6375) | |
Saturday, 27 August | East Fremantle 23.12 (150) | def. | West Perth 10.18 (78) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11740) | |
|
Ladder
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Perth (P) | 21 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 2655 | 2003 | 132.6 | 60 |
2 | East Fremantle | 21 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 2546 | 2077 | 122.6 | 56 |
3 | West Perth | 21 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 2543 | 2218 | 114.7 | 56 |
4 | East Perth | 21 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 2454 | 2060 | 119.1 | 52 |
5 | South Fremantle | 21 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 2470 | 2249 | 109.8 | 48 |
6 | Subiaco | 21 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 1901 | 2471 | 76.9 | 28 |
7 | Claremont | 21 | 6 | 15 | 0 | 1935 | 2587 | 74.8 | 24 |
8 | Swan Districts | 21 | 3 | 18 | 0 | 1964 | 2803 | 70.1 | 12 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers
Finals
First semi-final
First semi-final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 3 September | West Perth 14.13 (97) | def. | East Perth 10.5 (65) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 26,186) | |
A superbly skilled and precise defensive effort on a perfect football day by the Cardinals sees East Perth on 0.1 (1) fifteen seconds before half-time, and they never have hope of winning.[27] |
Second semi-final
Second semi-final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 10 September | Perth 23.16 (154) | def. | East Fremantle 15.10 (100) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 23,019) | |
With Peake and Wiley both absent, Perth rebound dramatically from their last round debacle with Murray Couper kicking eight. |
Preliminary final
Preliminary final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 17 September | East Fremantle 17.15 (117) | def. | West Perth 15.11 (101) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 23,193) | |
Grand Final
1977 WANFL Grand Final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 24 September | Perth | def. | East Fremantle | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 44,381) | |
4.4 (28) 12.7 (79) 19.10 (124) | Q1 Q2 Q3 | 2.3 (15) 6.4 (40) 10.9 (69) | Simpson Medal: Wim Rosbender (Perth) Field umpires: Ross Capes, Ron Powell | ||
26.13 (169) | Final | 14.12 (96) | |||
Couper 6, Farrant 4, Mitsopoulos 3, Wiley 3, Hargrave 3, Currie 2, Johnson 2, Gibellini, Hill, Rosbender | Goals | Judge 4, Turco 3, Durnthaler 3, Peake, Jez, Reid, Ryan | |||
Currie, Inman, Rosbender, Watt, Johnson, Hargrave, Day | Best | Reid, Neesham, Becu, Peake, Durnthaler, Diver | |||
Perth’s brilliant fleet of small men, with Wiley back for the first time in nine weeks, and a fast-running defence, completely outplays Old Easts to kick the highest ever WA(N)FL Grand Final score. |
State of Origin match
Western Australia vs Victoria | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 10 October | Western Australia | def. | Victoria | Subiaco Oval | “This Makes It a New Ball Game”[28] |
6.5 (41) 9.9 (63) 17.9 (111) | Q1 Q2 Q3 | 0.0 (0) 3.4 (22) 4.6 (30) | Simpson Medal: Barry Cable | ||
23.13 (151) | Final | 8.9 (57) | |||
Max Richardson 6, Alexander 3, Monteath 2, Moss 2, Magro 2, Young 2, Sidebottom 2, Reid, Cable, Sewell, Featherby | Goals | Moore 4, Hendrie 2, Schimmelbusch, Picken | |||
This was the first State of Origin game, and saw Western Australia inflict a crushing reversal on Victoria, who had previously been able to utilise countless players born and bred interstate. In the absence of Leigh Matthews and Kevin Bartlett, the Victorian roving division was slaughtered by Cable, Monteath and Max Richardson who kicked six straight.[29] |
References
- ^ Poat, Peter, ed. (1977). "Scoring Record". Ross Elliott's West Australian Football Register: 15.
- ^ Hopkins, Colin; ‘Swans Run South into the Ground’; The West Australian, 28 March 1977, p. 71
- ^ East, Alan; ‘12-goal Sewell Seals It for East F‘Tle’; The West Australian, 29 March 1977,pp. 84, 83
- ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘Ruck-Rovers Get Eats F‘Tle Machine Rolling’; The West Australian, 4 April 1977, p. 72
- ^ Wright, Frank; ‘Campbell Is a Saviour’; The West Australian, 4 April 1977, p. 72
- ^ Hopkins, Colin; ‘High-Flyer to Set the Turnstiles Clicking’
- ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘South Welcome Siren – And First Win’; The West Australian, 12 April 1977, p. 88
- ^ "WAFL Footy Facts: Quarters and Halves". Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
- ^ a b Perth: Highest Scores
- ^ Hopkins, Colin; ‘Perth Beaten – But a Problem Solved’; The West Australian 25 April 1977, p. 66
- ^ East, Alan; ‘Casey the Inspiration’; The West Australian; 25 April 1977, p. 66
- ^ East, Alan; ‘Subiaco Take It to East Perth’; The West Australian; 2 May 1977; p. 63
- ^ "WAFL Footy Facts: Biggest Wins with Less Scoring Shots". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
- ^ Wright, Frank; ‘Odds Had to Go the Way of South’; The West Australian; 16 May 1977, p. 86
- ^ Hopkins, Colin; ‘South Defence Is Looking Tougher’; The West Australian; 23 May 1977; p. 54
- ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘West Perth Salvo Sinks South’; The West Australian; 30 May 1977, p. 87
- ^ Hopkins, Colin; ‘100 on a Countback’; The West Australian; 15 August 1977; p. 58
- ^ Hopkins, Colin; ‘Subiaco’s Hopes Shattered’; The West Australian; 30 May 1977, p. 87
- ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘West Perth Get Record Hiding’; The West Australian; 13 June 1977, p. 75
- ^ Wright, Frank; ‘Shades of 1964 at East Fremantle’; The West Australian; 20 June 1977; p. 62
- ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘Bold Move Pays Off Handsomely’; The West Australian; 11 July 1977, p. 75
- ^ Hopkins, Colin; ‘One Bad Quarter Spells End for South’; The West Australian; 7 August 1977
- ^ Hopkins, Colin; ‘East Fremantle Now Have What It Takes’; The West Australian; 15 August 1977; p. 58
- ^ ‘East Perth Need to Liven Up’; The West Australian; 22 August 1977; p. 83
- ^ Hopkins, Colin; ‘Armstrong Will Have His Work Cut Out’; The West Australian; 29 August 1977, p. 83
- ^ See East, Alan; ‘Perth Far too Nimble’; The West Australian; 20 June 1977, p. 62 for details of Swan Districts’ injury troubles
- ^ Hopkins, Colin; ‘West Perth Were Too Systematic’; The West Australian; 5 September 1977
- ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘This Makes It a New Ball Game’; The West Australian; 10 October 1977, p. 64
- ^ Phillips, Steven (10 October 1977). "Vics Get 94-Point Hiding". The Age. p. 32.
External links
- Official WAFL website
- Western Australian National Football League (WANFL), 1977
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