1926 WAFL season | |
---|---|
Teams | 7 |
Premiers | East Perth 6th premiership |
Minor premiers | East Perth 6th minor premiership |
Sandover Medallist | Johnny Leonard (Subiaco) |
Bernie Naylor Medallist | Bonny Campbell (East Perth) |
Matches played | 66 |
The1926 WAFL season was the 42nd season of senior football in Perth, Western Australia.
Desire had existed upon some stakeholders to expand the competition ever since it contracted to six clubs duringWorld War I,[1] but becausedistricts were not applied to the senior competition until 1925, the leading contenders, former club Midland Junction and established B-grade club Claremont-Cottesloe, were not able to attract or keep top players. Claremont, wearing the blue and gold colours of the local swimming club, were admitted at a meeting on 19 August 1925[2] and made their debut in 1926 but former “B” grade Claremont juniors with established WAFL clubs likeJerry Dolan andPat Rodriguez were permitted to stay with their current clubs. Claremont had an exceedingly inexperienced team and were only able to win one game and that by a single point.[3] Patronisingly called the “babies” in their early years in the WAFL,[4] Claremont were not to finish above second-last in their first ten seasons, and were not helped by being the worst sufferer from the interstate recruiting drives of VFL clubs when theGreat Depression began.[5]
With the return of champion coachPhil Matson after he was widely tipped to take over the reins atRichmond,[6] East Perth won their sixth premiership in eight seasons. West Perth, who had been last in 1924 but had a new grandstand constructed during the season at their eleven-year-old home base of Leederville,[7] rivalled them until September before the Royals showed themselves clearly the best team in the run home. Subiaco, who had developed what many regard as the best team it ever fielded in the previous season,[8] were disappointing until a stirring run from a mathematical chance for the four drives them to the Grand Final only to be thrashed – a scenario repeated by the Maroons in 1933.
Round 1 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 24 April (2:45 pm) | Claremont-Cottesloe 6.10 (46) | def. by | East Perth 16.21 (117) | Claremont Showground | [9] |
Saturday, 24 April (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 7.12 (54) | def. | Perth 6.8 (44) | Fremantle Oval | [10] |
Saturday, 24 April (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 11.7 (73) | def. by | South Fremantle 11.10 (76) | Subiaco Oval | [11] |
Bye West Perth | |||||
Claremont-Cottesloe make their league debut with only one established player in Norm McIntosh (formerlyof Richmond) and are outplayed but viewed as “promising”. |
Round 2 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 1 May (2:45 pm) | Perth 9.11 (65) | def. | East Perth 9.10 (64) | WACA | [12] |
Saturday, 1 May (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 9.10 (64) | def. | East Fremantle 8.10 (58) | Fremantle Oval | [13] |
Saturday, 1 May (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 11.14 (80) | def. by | West Perth 7.14 (56) | Subiaco Oval | [14] |
Bye Claremont-Cottesloe | |||||
Round 3 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 8 May (2:45 pm) | East Perth 7.17 (59) | def. | South Fremantle 5.9 (39) | Perth Oval | [15] |
Saturday, 8 May (2:45 pm) | Claremont-Cottesloe 7.8 (50) | def. by | Subiaco 15.19 (109) | Claremont Showground | [16] |
Saturday, 8 May (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 7.8 (50) | def. by | West Perth 9.4 (58) | Fremantle Oval | [17] |
Bye Perth | |||||
Round 4 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 15 May (2:45 pm) | Claremont-Cottesloe 9.8 (62) | def. by | East Fremantle 22.13 (145) | Claremont Showground | [18] |
Saturday, 15 May (2:45 pm) | Perth 11.6 (72) | def. | Subiaco 8.4 (52) | WACA | [19] |
Saturday, 15 May (2:45 pm) | West Perth 7.9 (51) | def. by | East Perth 8.11 (59) | Leederville Oval | [20] |
Bye South Fremantle | |||||
Despite steady rain in what became a record wet year,[21] East Fremantle kick the highest score in the WAFL since 1917, when Perth kicked 24.21 (165) against defunctMidland Junction.[22] |
Round 5 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 22 May (2:45 pm) | West Perth 18.20 (128) | def. | Claremont-Cottesloe 8.10 (58) | Leederville Oval | [23] |
Saturday, 22 May (2:45 pm) | East Perth 8.14 (62) | def. by | East Fremantle 10.10 (70) | Perth Oval | [24] |
Saturday, 22 May (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 8.12 (60) | def. | Perth 8.9 (57) | Fremantle Oval | [25] |
Bye Subiaco | |||||
After Perth came back from three to four goals down all afternoon, Sol Lawn kicked the winning goal when he received a wild kick to open spaces with ninety seconds remaining.[26] |
Round 6 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 29 May (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 5.13 (43) | def. by | East Fremantle 8.7 (55) | Subiaco Oval | [27] |
Saturday, 29 May (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 11.11 (77) | def. | Claremont-Cottesloe 7.2 (44) | Fremantle Oval | [28] |
Saturday, 29 May (2:45 pm) | Perth 11.11 (77) | def. by | West Perth 13.18 (96) | WACA | [29] |
Bye East Perth | |||||
Round 7 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 5 June (2:45 pm) | Claremont-Cottesloe 6.12 (48) | def. by | Perth 22.17 (149) | Claremont Showground | [30] |
Saturday, 5 June (2:45 pm) | West Perth 11.10 (76) | def. | South Fremantle 11.8 (74) | Leederville Oval | [31] |
Saturday, 5 June (2:45 pm) | East Perth 8.6 (54) | def. | Subiaco 8.5 (53) | Perth Oval | [32] |
Bye East Fremantle | |||||
Perth’s thrashing of Claremont-Cottesloe is the second time in four games the new team concedes the highest score in the WAFL since 1917.[22] |
Round 8 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monday, 7 June (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 12.9 (81) | def. | Subiaco 10.14 (74) | Fremantle Oval | [33] |
Monday, 7 June (2:45 pm) | East Perth 9.20 (74) | def. | Claremont-Cottesloe 7.11 (53) | Perth Oval | [34] |
Monday, 7 June (2:45 pm) | Perth 9.9 (63) | def. | East Fremantle 9.8 (62) | WACA | [35] |
Bye West Perth | |||||
The match between Perth and East Fremantle features a remarkable scoreline with quarter-time margins totalling only 4 points (1, 2, 0 and 1 points). |
Round 9 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 12 June (2:45 pm) | West Perth 13.14 (92) | def. | Subiaco 9.11 (65) | Leederville Oval | [36] |
Saturday, 12 June (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 8.20 (68) | def. | South Fremantle 2.7 (19) | Fremantle Oval | [37] |
Saturday, 12 June (2:45 pm) | East Perth 15.18 (108) | def. | Perth 10.5 (65) | Perth Oval | [38] |
Bye Claremont-Cottesloe | |||||
South Fremantle’s score remains their lowest in open-age competition since scoring only 1.8 (14) against Subiaco in 1918.[39] |
Round 10 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 19 June (2:45 pm) | West Perth 7.14 (56) | def. by | East Fremantle 9.9 (63) | Leederville Oval | [40] |
Saturday, 19 June (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 19.9 (123) | def. | Claremont-Cottesloe 4.9 (33) | Subiaco Oval | [41] |
Saturday, 19 June (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 5.6 (36) | def. by | East Perth 15.15 (105) | Fremantle Oval | [42] |
Bye Perth | |||||
Pat Rodriguez kicks ten goals for Subiaco despite wet conditions, the first time this had been accomplished for the club. |
Round 11 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 26 June (2:45 pm) | East Perth 14.9 (93) | def. | West Perth 11.10 (76) | Perth Oval (crowd: [43]) | |
Saturday, 26 June (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 13.17 (95) | def. | Claremont-Cottesloe 11.6 (72) | Fremantle Oval | [44] |
Saturday, 26 June (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 11.11 (77) | def. | Perth 10.15 (75) | Subiaco Oval | [45] |
Bye South Fremantle | |||||
Subiaco continue their improved form following five consecutive losses to come back and defeat the Redlegs in a stirring match where they withstand the black and reds in the final minute. |
Round 12 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 3 July (2:45 pm) | Claremont-Cottesloe 9.10 (64) | def. by | West Perth 14.18 (102) | Claremont Showground | [46] |
Saturday, 3 July (2:45 pm) | Perth 12.15 (87) | def. | South Fremantle 4.7 (31) | WACA | [47] |
Saturday, 3 July (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 8.19 (67) | def. | East Perth 6.9 (45) | Fremantle Oval | [48] |
Bye Subiaco | |||||
East Fremantle take top position from the Royals with an excellent win despite some exceptionally bad misses from in front and close-in. |
Round 13 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 10 July (2:45 pm) | West Perth 9.11 (65) | def. | Perth 6.10 (46) | Leederville Oval | [49] |
Saturday, 10 July (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 11.7 (73) | def. | Subiaco 9.10 (64) | Fremantle Oval | [50] |
Saturday, 10 July (2:45 pm) | Claremont-Cottesloe 8.17 (65) | def. by | South Fremantle 16.10 (106) | Claremont Showground | [51] |
Bye East Perth | |||||
Round 14 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 17 July (2:45 pm) | Perth 12.16 (88) | def. | Claremont-Cottesloe 8.11 (59) | WACA | [52] |
Saturday, 17 July (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 10.9 (69) | drew with | East Perth 9.15 (69) | Subiaco Oval | [53] |
Saturday, 17 July (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 5.14 (44) | def. by | West Perth 7.11 (53) | Fremantle Oval | [54] |
Bye East Fremantle | |||||
|
Round 15 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 31 July (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 10.17 (77) | def. | East Perth 3.11 (29) | Fremantle Oval | [56] |
Saturday, 31 July (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 11.12 (78) | def. | Claremont-Cottesloe 9.11 (65) | Subiaco Oval | [57] |
Saturday, 31 July (2:45 pm) | West Perth 12.13 (85) | def. | East Fremantle 5.9 (39) | Leederville Oval | [58] |
Bye Perth | |||||
|
Round 16 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 7 August (2:45 pm) | Perth 7.10 (52) | def. by | South Fremantle 12.9 (81) | WACA | [59] |
Saturday, 7 August (2:45 pm) | Claremont-Cottesloe 4.13 (37) | def. by | West Perth 9.19 (73) | Claremont Showground | [60] |
Saturday, 7 August (2:45 pm) | East Perth 10.8 (68) | def. | East Fremantle 8.6 (54) | Subiaco Oval | [61] |
Bye Subiaco | |||||
Round 17 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 14 August (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 7.18 (60) | def. | East Fremantle 6.4 (40) | Subiaco Oval | [62] |
Saturday, 14 August (2:45 pm) | West Perth 12.16 (88) | def. | Perth 12.7 (79) | Leederville Oval | [63] |
Saturday, 14 August (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 7.10 (52) | def. by | Claremont-Cottesloe 7.11 (53) | Fremantle Oval | [64] |
Bye East Perth | |||||
|
Round 18 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 21 August (2:45 pm) | Perth 11.19 (85) | def. | Claremont-Cottesloe 9.10 (64) | WACA | [65] |
Saturday, 21 August (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 8.6 (54) | def. by | East Perth 12.14 (86) | Subiaco Oval | [66] |
Saturday, 21 August (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 10.8 (68) | def. by | West Perth 15.12 (102) | Fremantle Oval | [67] |
Bye East Fremantle | |||||
East Perth, with only seventeen men after half-time as “Digger” Thomas breaks his jaw, easily win a Grand Final preview. |
Round 19 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 4 September (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 12.14 (86) | def. | Claremont-Cottesloe 9.11 (65) | Fremantle Oval | [68] |
Saturday, 4 September (2:45 pm) | Perth 5.4 (34) | def. by | Subiaco 4.13 (37) | WACA | [69] |
Saturday, 4 September (2:45 pm) | East Perth 21.8 (134) | def. | West Perth 10.11 (71) | Perth Oval | [70] |
Bye South Fremantle | |||||
|
Round 20 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 11 September (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 9.12 (66) | def. | Perth 8.10 (58) | Fremantle Oval | [73] |
Saturday, 11 September (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 19.18 (132) | def. | South Fremantle 8.7 (55) | Subiaco Oval | [74] |
Saturday, 11 September (2:45 pm) | Claremont-Cottesloe 9.7 (61) | def. by | East Perth 16.14 (110) | Claremont Showground | [75] |
Bye West Perth | |||||
Subiaco, who had looked out of the running a month ago, seize fourth position with their victory, leaving their last round match with West Perth to potentially decide both fourth position and the minor premiership. |
Round 21 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 18 September (2:45 pm) | East Perth 15.17 (107) | def. | Perth 10.11 (71) | Perth Oval | [76] |
Saturday, 18 September (2:45 pm) | West Perth 4.13 (37) | def. by | Subiaco 9.16 (70) | Leederville Oval | [77] |
Saturday, 18 September (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 12.9 (81) | def. | South Fremantle 11.13 (79) | Fremantle Oval | [78] |
Bye Claremont-Cottesloe | |||||
|
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | East Perth(P) | 18 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 1443 | 1078 | 133.9 | 54 |
2 | East Fremantle | 18 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 1226 | 1067 | 114.9 | 48 |
3 | West Perth | 18 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 1365 | 1200 | 113.8 | 48 |
4 | Subiaco | 18 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 1313 | 1103 | 119.0 | 38 |
5 | South Fremantle | 18 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 1119 | 1268 | 88.2 | 32 |
6 | Perth | 18 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 1267 | 1219 | 103.9 | 28 |
7 | Claremont-Cottesloe | 18 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 999 | 1797 | 55.6 | 4 |
First semi-final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 25 September (2:45 pm) | West Perth 8.9 (57) | def. by | Subiaco 8.14 (62) | Perth Oval (crowd: 7,629) | |
Subiaco come back from a half-time deficit to repeat their last-round win.[80] |
Second semi-final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 2 October (2:45 pm) | East Perth 11.17 (83) | def. | East Fremantle 5.9 (39) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 9,098) | |
East Perth run away after a close first half to win very easily over their rivals of the time.[81] |
1926 WAFL Grand Final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 9 October (2:45 pm) | East Perth | def. | Subiaco | WACA Ground (crowd: 8,722) | [82] |
0.4 (4) 6.10 (46) 8.12 (60) 11.19 (85) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 1.1 (7) 2.1 (13) 4.5 (29) 5.5 (35) | Umpires: Frank O‘Connor | ||
Campbell 4, Sparrow 2, Walsh, Gepp, Hubble, Duffy, Western | Goals | Grigg 2, Cockburn, Leonard, Green | |||
Walsh (best on ground), Guhl, O‘Meara, Gepp, Sherlock, C. Mitchell, Sparrow | Best | Outridge, Brophy, Hickey, Leonard (until injured), Green | |||
Injuries | Leonard (concussion) | ||||
This was the last WAFL Grand Final at the WACA, and saw East Perth’s most decisive triumph during its 1919 to 1927dynasty. Bonny Campbell took his goalkicking record to 89. |