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.
1974 WAFL season | |
---|---|
Teams | 8 |
Premiers | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 24th premiership |
Minor premiers | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 29th minor premiership |
Sandover Medallist | Graham Melrose (‹See Tfd›East Fremantle) |
Bernie Naylor Medallist | Max George (‹See Tfd›Swan Districts) |
Matches played | 88 |
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 | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 23.15 (153) | def. | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 16.11 (107) | Perth Oval (crowd: 10896) | |
Saturday, 6 April | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 11.12 (78) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Perth 7.21 (63) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 9960) | |
Saturday, 6 April | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 9.12 (66) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 8.11 (59) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 9310) | |
Saturday, 6 April | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 9.22 (76) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 12.8 (80) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 10237) | |
|
Round 2 (Easter weekend)
Round 2 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 13 April | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 9.12 (66) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 6.13 (49) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 9850) | |
Saturday, 13 April | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 10.13 (73) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 13.14 (92) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 13378) | |
Monday, 15 April | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 12.15 (87) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 13.15 (93) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 16922) | |
Monday, 15 April | ‹See Tfd›Perth 21.13 (139) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 14.8 (92) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 9841) | |
|
Round 3
Round 3 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 20 April | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 12.13 (85) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 19.15 (129) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8742) | |
Saturday, 20 April | ‹See Tfd›Perth 10.14 (74) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 16.14 (110) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 9825) | |
Saturday, 20 April | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 9.25 (79) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 9.11 (65) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 11624) | |
Saturday, 20 April | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 11.14 (80) | drew with | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 11.14 (80) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9733) | |
|
Round 4 (Anzac Day)
Round 4 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thursday, 25 April | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 14.15 (99) | def. | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 11.11 (77) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 15522) | |
Saturday, 27 April | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 19.18 (132) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 14.15 (99) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 10648) | |
Saturday, 27 April | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 11.19 (85) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Perth 18.10 (118) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 10620) | |
Saturday, 27 April | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 11.12 (78) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›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 | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 10.11 (71) | def. | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 8.15 (63) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7553) | |
Saturday, 4 May | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 13.14 (92) | def. | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 8.15 (63) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 7216) | |
Saturday, 4 May | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 14.19 (103) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 6.18 (54) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5447) | |
Saturday, 4 May | ‹See Tfd›Perth 10.8 (68) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 11.15 (81) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 6896) | |
Round 6
Round 6 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 11 May | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 9.14 (68) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 14.10 (94) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 8118) | |
Saturday, 11 May | ‹See Tfd›Perth 13.13 (91) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 22.15 (147) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 7489) | |
Saturday, 11 May | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 7.19 (61) | def. | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 8.10 (58) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 5158) | |
Saturday, 11 May | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 10.9 (69) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 7.4 (46) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9272) | |
|
Round 7
Round 7 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 18 May | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 17.16 (118) | def. | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 13.13 (91) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8508) | |
Saturday, 18 May | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 10.11 (71) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Perth 21.15 (141) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 8020) | |
Saturday, 18 May | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 6.16 (52) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 22.20 (152) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7421) | |
Saturday, 18 May | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 14.17 (101) | def. | ‹See Tfd›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 | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 12.25 (97) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 8.14 (62) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6978) | |
Saturday, 25 May | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 10.15 (75) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 20.9 (129) | Perth Oval (crowd: 6777) | |
Saturday, 25 May | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 11.13 (79) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Perth 16.19 (115) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 6377) | |
Saturday, 25 May | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 6.10 (46) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 13.17 (95) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 16110) | |
|
Round 9 (Foundation Day)
Round 9 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 1 June | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 8.7 (55) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 10.18 (78) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 6150) | |
Saturday, 1 June | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 13.15 (93) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 20.19 (139) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 8492) | |
Monday, 3 June | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 12.20 (92) | def. | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 9.18 (72) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 12940) | |
Monday, 3 June | ‹See Tfd›Perth 17.12 (114) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 12.10 (82) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 10868) | |
Round 10
Round 10 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 8 June | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 10.5 (65) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 23.17 (155) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 112020) | |
Saturday, 8 June | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 15.14 (104) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Perth 18.14 (122) | Perth Oval (crowd: 100590) | |
Saturday, 8 June | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 14.14 (98) | def. | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 11.5 (71) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 86980) | |
Saturday, 8 June | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 19.17 (131) | def. | ‹See Tfd›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 | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 12.16 (88) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 16.14 (110) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 10250) | |
Saturday, 15 June | ‹See Tfd›Perth 12.13 (85) | def. | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 12.6 (78) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 8088) | |
Saturday, 15 June | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 11.12 (78) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 20.18 (138) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 10212) | |
Saturday, 15 June | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 25.13 (163) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 11.17 (83) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9539) | |
Round 12
Round 12 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 22 June | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 9.14 (68) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 10.10 (70) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 6778) | |
Saturday, 22 June | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 12.15 (87) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 19.14 (128) | Perth Oval (crowd: 7821) | |
Saturday, 22 June | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 20.7 (127) | def. | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 15.17 (107) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 7514) | |
Saturday, 22 June | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 16.14 (110) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Perth 9.15 (69) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8220) | |
Round 13
Round 13 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 29 June | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 27.13 (175) | def. | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 13.10 (88) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 9350) | |
Saturday, 29 June | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 16.11 (107) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Perth 16.17 (113) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9373) | |
Saturday, 29 June | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 17.11 (113) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 8.10 (58) | Perth Oval (crowd: 9071) | |
Saturday, 29 June | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 11.12 (78) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 16.14 (110) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 9530) | |
|
Round 14
Round 14 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 6 July | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 8.4 (52) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 15.15 (105) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 7701) | |
Saturday, 6 July | ‹See Tfd›Perth 19.13 (127) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 12.19 (91) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 11703) | |
Saturday, 6 July | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 10.11 (71) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 12.8 (80) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 7520) | |
Saturday, 6 July | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 11.17 (83) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›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 | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 25.6 (156) | def. | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 12.11 (83) | Perth Oval (crowd: 8812) | |
Saturday, 20 July | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 18.6 (114) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Perth 14.12 (96) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7925) | |
Saturday, 20 July | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 12.10 (82) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 16.10 (106) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 7218) | |
Saturday, 20 July | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 21.12 (138) | def. | ‹See Tfd›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 | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 12.15 (87) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 12.11 (83) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 10757) | |
Saturday, 27 July | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 13.16 (94) | def. | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 12.15 (87) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 8462) | |
Saturday, 27 July | ‹See Tfd›Perth 18.17 (125) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 14.8 (92) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 6790) | |
Saturday, 27 July | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 20.10 (130) | def. | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 13.17 (95) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 13130) | |
|
Round 17
Round 17 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 3 August | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 6.8 (44) | def. | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 5.7 (37) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7156) | |
Saturday, 3 August | ‹See Tfd›Perth 9.13 (67) | def. | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 6.7 (43) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 6769) | |
Saturday, 3 August | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 9.13 (67) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 11.10 (76) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 4502) | |
Saturday, 3 August | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 20.14 (134) | def. | ‹See Tfd›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 | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 12.12 (84) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 15.19 (109) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8905) | |
Saturday, 10 August | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 20.13 (133) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Perth 14.13 (97) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 6056) | |
Saturday, 10 August | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 10.15 (75) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 12.16 (88) | Perth Oval (crowd: 11325) | |
Saturday, 10 August | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 13.11 (89) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›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 | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 12.11 (83) | def. | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 7.11 (53) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7654) | |
Saturday, 17 August | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 11.19 (85) | def. | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 6.10 (46) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 8320) | |
Saturday, 17 August | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 15.15 (105) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 10.12 (72) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6255) | |
Saturday, 17 August | ‹See Tfd›Perth 13.5 (83) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›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 | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 13.14 (92) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 14.13 (97) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 9711) | |
Saturday, 24 August | ‹See Tfd›Perth 16.16 (112) | def. | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 13.9 (87) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 11032) | |
Saturday, 24 August | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 14.13 (97) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 21.10 (136) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 5092) | |
Saturday, 24 August | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 13.12 (90) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 11.6 (72) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11814) | |
Round 21
Round 21 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 31 August | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 9.20 (74) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 14.11 (95) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9558) | |
Saturday, 31 August | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 8.10 (58) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Perth 18.19 (127) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 17520) | |
Saturday, 31 August | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 13.21 (99) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 8.8 (56) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6850) | |
Saturday, 31 August | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 20.13 (133) | def. | ‹See Tfd›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 | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle (P) | 21 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 2164 | 1878 | 115.2 | 54 |
2 | ‹See Tfd›Perth | 21 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 2146 | 1929 | 111.2 | 52 |
3 | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco | 21 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 1703 | 1741 | 97.8 | 48 |
4 | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts | 21 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1932 | 1940 | 99.6 | 46 |
5 | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle | 21 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 2090 | 2001 | 104.4 | 44 |
6 | ‹See Tfd›East Perth | 21 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 2025 | 1945 | 104.1 | 40 |
7 | ‹See Tfd›Claremont | 21 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 1726 | 2076 | 83.1 | 28 |
8 | ‹See Tfd›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 | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 11.10 (76) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›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 | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 17.15 (117) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Perth 13.16 (94) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 26,079) | |
Preliminary final
Preliminary final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 21 September | ‹See Tfd›Perth 12.12 (84) | def. | ‹See Tfd›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 | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle | def. | ‹See Tfd›Perth | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 40,758) | [29] |
2.5 (17) 7.11 (53) 11.13 (79) 17.20 (122) |
Q1 Q2 Q3 Final |
4.3 (27) 7.4 (46) 12.9 (81) 15.10 (100) |
Umpires: Ross Capes Simpson Medal: Gary Gibellini (‹See Tfd›East Fremantle) David Pretty (‹See Tfd›Perth) (tied) | ||
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
External links
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