Australian rules football season
Australian rules football season
The 1989 WAFL season was the 105th season of senior football in Perth. It saw Claremont continue its dominance of the competition with a third successive minor premiership under Gerard Neesham, despite having lost most of their top players of previous seasons to the VFL, and their 1988 conquerors Subiaco fall to third last with a mere six wins – their worst performance since the dark days of 1983 when the club had not played in the finals for nine years and had been wooden spooners four times in eight seasons. Coach Bunton had to promote many young players and knew 1989 was to be a year of rebuilding,[1] though only a second (and last as of 2014) Colts premiership under Eddie Pitter showed Subiaco did possess much resilience.[2]
Perth, who in 1988 had had their best record since 1978 and returned to Lathlain Park after the experiment of playing at their pre-1959 home of the WACA Ground was regarded as a financial failure, were also severely disappointing.[3] Swan Districts, who in 1988 had become the first club to suffer the ignominy of being last in all three grades,[a] rebounded so well despite the absence of Narkle that after thirteen rounds they were certainties for the four before a run of wins by West Perth coincided with a Swan slump and allowed the Falcons to reach the finals for only the third time in eleven seasons.
The season saw two experimental matches played in outer suburbs so that the WAFL could assess the possibility of relocating financially crippled Perth and West Perth to the Perth Hills and the growing northwestern corridor respectively.[4] The former move never occurred due to dissent within the committee, the latter did however five years subsequently.
Another first was the semi-finals double-header that was to become standard in the league during the 1990s, instigated due to the only senior finals tie since the 1938 Grand Final and the refusal of Claremont and South Fremantle to accept two weekends without a match.[5] Although a game on Saturday and one on Sunday was proposed, the first semi-final replay was ultimately played before the second semi on the Saturday.[6] There were also suggestions for the first time of the WAFL expanding beyond Perth to such rural centres as Bunbury and Geraldton and that established Perth clubs merge in order to adapt to the new realities of a national VFL/AFL competition.[7]
A more pressing issue was the off-field debate between Indian Pacific (the holders of the Eagles’ VFL licence) and the WAFL over the running of football in Western Australia, with Indian Pacific demanding an independent West Australian Football Commission rather than one controlled by the WAFL which was felt to be depressing standards.[8] The dispute after the VFL allowed the Eagles to field a reserves team in exchange for a larger list[9] continued: the VFL wanted the Eagles’ reserves playing in the VFL/AFL reserve grade competition, but that was unacceptable to the WAFC due to the cost of moving extra players to Melbourne, whilst the WAFC's preferred option of an Eagle reserves team in the WAFL was not acceptable to WAFL club executives as it would upset the tried-and-proved WAFL structure.[10]
Home-and-away season
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9 (Foundation Day)
Round 10
Round 11
Round 12
Round 13
Round 14
Round 15
Round 16
Round 17
Round 18
Round 19
Round 20
Round 21
Ladder
Source: WAFL Footy Facts
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers
Finals
Semi-finals
Preliminary final
Grand Final
Notes
a The only other clubs to finish last in all three grades since 1957 have been Peel Thunder in their inaugural 1997 season and West Perth in 1992. No club has won premierships in all three grades in this time span.
As with the AFL, WAFL/Westar semi- and preliminary finals have since 1991 been required to play extra time if drawn at full-time, though this has never actually occurred.
c At the Albany match the attendance figure did not include children under fifteen years of age who were admitted free of charge.
d At that time, Bill was president of the Swan Districts Football Club, a position he held from 1983 to 1994
References
- ^ a b Lewis, Ross; ‘Subi on Slippery Slope’; The West Australian, 12 June 1989, p. 112
- ^ Spillman, Ken; Diehards: The Story of the Subiaco Football Club 1946-2000, p. 250 ISBN 0957818505
- ^ a b Lewis, Ross; ‘Demons Find No Sympathy’; The West Australian, 22 May 1989, p. 104
- ^ a b East, Alan (2005); From Redlegs to Demons : A History of the Perth Football Club from 1899; p. 165
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Commission May Regret Final Change’; The West Australian, 4 September 1989, p. 107
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Public Gets Behind Double-Header’; The West Australian, 6 September 1989, p. 144
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Football Needs to Spread Its Wings’; The West Australian, 29 May 1989, p. 98
- ^ See Stocks, Gary; ‘Eagles, WAFL Ready for Truce’; The West Australian, 19 June 1989, p. 108
- ^ Main, Jim and Christison, Darren; 1989 Football: The Year in Review, p. 96. Published 1989 by Century Magazines
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Presidents Opposed to Eagles’ Reserves Side’; The West Australian, 28 August 1989, p. 105
- ^ Lewis, Ross; ‘Swans Have Ed Smiling’; The West Australian, 10 April 1989, p. 117
- ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Rover Rowe a Find for Sharks’; The West Australian, 10 April 1989, p. 117
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Macnish Flair Lightens Up Subi’s Gloom’; The West Australian, 10 April 1989, p. 117
- ^ McDonald, Ron; ‘Subiaco on the Rebound’; The West Australian, 17 April 1989, p. 139
- ^ Lewis, Ross; ‘The Mark of a Champion’; The West Australian, 17 April 1989, p. 141
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Jakovich Pedigree Breeds a Bulldog’; The West Australian, 17 April 1989, p. 141
- ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Juggling Act by Blackaby Lifts Swans’; The West Australian, 17 April 1989, p. 139
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘It’s a Kalgoorlie Cracker’; The West Australian, 24 April 1989, p. 132
- ^ McDonald, Ron; ‘Demons’ Season Goes Up in Smoke’; The West Australian, 24 April 1989, p. 133
- ^ Lewis, Ross; ‘Woman’s Hand Helps Falcons’; The West Australian, 24 April 1989, p. 131
- ^ McDonald, Ron; ‘Falcons’ Win a Sign of Better Times’; The West Australian, 1 May 1989, p. 102
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Royals Dredge Depths’; The West Australian, 1 May 1989, p. 102
- ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Captain Sets Fine Example’; The West Australian, 1 May 1989, p. 103
- ^ Atkinson, Brian; It’s a Grand Old Flag: A History and Comprehensive Statistical Analysis of the West Perth Football Club 1885-2007; p. 151; ISBN 9781921361395
- ^ ‘WA Football 2000’; in Barker, Anthony J. Behind the Play: A History of Football in Western Australia; pp. 275-276 ISBN 0975242709
- ^ Lewis, Ross; ‘Star Trio Bring Demons Back to Life’; The West Australian, 8 May 1989, p. 141
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Neesham Still Shows Bulldogs New Tricks’; The West Australian, 8 May 1989, p. 140
- ^ McDonald, Ron; ‘Edwards Earns Call-Up’; The West Australian, 15 May 1989, p. 103
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘The Dawn of a New Walker Era’; The West Australian, 15 May 1989, p. 103
- ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Top Marks to Claremont’; The West Australian, 15 May 1989, p. 103
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Bassendean Jinx Broken by Bulldogs’; The West Australian, 22 May 1989, p. 105
- ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Subiaco Shocked as Royals Break the Ice’; The West Australian, 22 May 1989, p. 105
- ^ McDonald, Ron; ‘Tigers Weave a Magic Spell’; The West Australian, 22 May 1989, p. 104
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Falcons Sail the Heights with Sing on Song’; The West Australian, 29 May 1989, p. 100
- ^ McDonald, Ron; ‘Swans Put Demons in Doldrums’; The West Australian, 29 May 1989, p. 101
- ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Karl a Tiger Tamer’; The West Australian, 29 May 1989, p. 99
- ^ Fremantle Oval: Unsuccessful Streaks
- ^ Lewis, Ross; ‘Reshuffle by Wiley Puts Lions on Deck’; The West Australian, 5 June 1989, p. 96
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Falcons’ Hit by Tigers’ Thunderbolt’; The West Australian, 5 June 1989, p. 96
- ^ a b WAFL Match Program and Results 1989 (archived)
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Scruffy Puts the Bite on Bulldogs – Lester-Smith Kicks Six as Sharks Steal Thriller’; The West Australian, 6 June 1989, pp. 124-125
- ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Jackson Talks Royals to Victory‘; The West Australian, 12 June 1989, p. 111
- ^ Denham, Greg; ‘Mick Back with Bang‘; The West Australian, 12 June 1989, p. 111
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Broadbridge Strike New High as Sharks Shred Swans’ Defences’; The West Australian, 19 June 1989, pp. 104-105
- ^ Denham, Greg; ‘Falcons Look Good for the Final Four’; The West Australian, 19 June 1989, p. 104
- ^ Loxley, Steven; ‘Swans Prevail but Need All-Round Improvement’; The West Australian, 26 June 1989, p. 98
- ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Narkle Gives the Demons a Lift’; The West Australian, 26 June 1989, p. 98
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Bulldogs Respond to Familiar Chorus’; The West Australian, 26 June 1989, p. 98
- ^ Marsh, David; ‘Craig Gives Bulldogs Bite’; The West Australian, 3 July 1989, p. 113
- ^ Loxley, Steven; ‘Ellis Puts Sharks on Right Road’; The West Australian, 3 July 1989, p. 113
- ^ Lewis, Ross; ‘New-Look Hodyl a Master for Swans’; The West Australian, 3 July 1989, p. 112
- ^ Loxley, Steven; ‘Second-Quarter Nap Costs Demons Dearly’; The West Australian, 10 July 1989, p. 100
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Cheers for Beers in Claremont Win’; The West Australian, 10 July 1989, p. 99
- ^ Lewis, Ross; ‘Swans Let South Scramble Home’; The West Australian, 10 July 1989, p. 100
- ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Langdon Sets Off a Subiaco Goal Glut’; The West Australian, 10 July 1989, p. 100
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Nelson’s Grit Not Enough for Falcons’; The West Australian, 17 July 1989, p. 96
- ^ Lewis, Ross; ‘Bunton Has All the Right Moves; Checkmate for Subiaco’; The West Australian, 17 July 1989, p. 96
- ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Demons Kick Finals Fight Back into Life’; The West Australian, 17 July 1989, p. 97
- ^ Denham, Greg; ‘Tigers Breeze In for 95-Point Win’; The West Australian, 24 July 1989, p. 87
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Brad the Derby Hero’; The West Australian, 24 July 1989, p. 88
- ^ West Perth: Lowest Scores
- ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Close Shave for South Fremantle’; The West Australian, 31 July 1989, p. 100
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Tigers Earn Stripes; Swans Make Life Tough at the Top’; The West Australian, 31 July 1989, p. 100
- ^ "WAFL Footy Facts: East Fremantle Team v Team". Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
- ^ East Fremantle Oval: Lowest Scores
- ^ Denham, Greg; ‘Sharks Shatter Pathetic Perth’; The West Australian, 31 July 1989, p. 100
- ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Nelson Keeps Falcons Clear of Waterloo’; The West Australian, 7 August 1989, p. 92
- ^ Denham, Greg; ‘Game Just a Picnic for Claremont’; The West Australian, 7 August 1989, p. 90
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Swans Show form; Sharks Take Honours’; The West Australian, 7 August 1989, p. 90
- ^ Denham, Greg; ‘Williams Kicks Super Goal To Crush Sharks’; The West Australian, 14 August 1989, p. 97
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Claremont Win but at a Price’; The West Australian, 14 August 1989, p. 96
- ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Hobbling Shine is the Hero’; The West Australian, 14 August 1989, p. 95
- ^ Lewis, Ross; ‘A Right Royal Letdown’; The West Australian, 14 August 1989, p. 96
- ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Tigers Do Just Enough to Dump the Demons’; The West Australian, 21 August 1989, p. 84
- ^ Denham, Greg; ‘Easy for the Sharks: Sleepy-Time Lions Go Round in Circles’; The West Australian, 21 August 1989, p. 84
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Soaring Falcons Stay in Hunt’; The West Australian, 21 August 1989, p. 84
- ^ Reid, Russell; ‘For Falcons, Pure Joy’; The West Australian, 28 August 1989, p. 104
- ^ Reid, Russell; ‘For Swans, There’s Always Another Year’; The West Australian, 28 August 1989, p. 104
- ^ Denham, Greg; ‘Sharks Set for the Semis’; The West Australian, 28 August 1989, p. 105
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Spine-Tingler Will Be Hard to Repeat’; The West Australian, 4 September 1989, p. 106
- ^ WAFL Footy Facts: Most Consecutive Games Between Successive Draws Archived April 15, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Sharks Ease Through’; The West Australian, 11 September 1989, p. 99
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Bulldogs Scent the Holy Grail’; The West Australian, 11 September 1989, p. 100
- ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Lessons Are Learnt as Tigers Head the Class’; The West Australian, 18 September 1989, p. 104
- ^ a b Stocks, Gary; ‘Perfect Timing by Maestro Neesham’; in The West Australian; 25 September 1989; p. 110
- ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Thorne Thinks It’s Over’; The West Australian, 25 September 1989, p. 106
External links
- Official WAFL website
- West Australian Football League Season 1989