Australian rules football in Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Australian rules football
in Western Australia
is the most popular sport
in the state.
/Fremantle
region of Western Australia dates back to 1881. Back then though rugby union
was the dominant football code. Only one senior club, "Unions", played Australian Rules.
In 1883 a second club, "Swans", emerged, but Australian Rules' growth remained much subdued compared to that of Victoria
and South Australia
.
However in those days many young men of Perth's wealthier families were educated in Adelaide
, the capital of South Australia
.
On returning home from there they naturally wished to play the sport they'd grown up with and no doubt exerted some influence on their less affluent peers as to such. Coincidentally, the press at the time reported there was a growing dissatisfaction with rugby as a spectacle.
During the 1880s, the discoveries of gold, firstly in the Kimberley
, Pilbara
and Murchison regions, led to a dramatic increase in WA's population, including many players and supporters of Australian Rules from the eastern colonies.
In 1885 one of the leading rugby clubs, Fremantle
, decided to change to Australian Rules. It was quickly joined by three other clubs - , Victorians
, and a team of schoolboys from The High School
. The schoolboy side lasted just two matches, but the three other sides went on to contest what in retrospect was viewed as the first ever official Western Australian Football Association (WAFA) premiership, won by Rovers. And virtually overnight Australian rules football became the dominant code for the spectator as well.
Progress of Australian Rules in Western Australia still lagged behind the big football cities of Melbourne, Adelaide and Geelong however and is evidenced by the unstable nature of the clubs that participated in the early years.
In 1886 a new club Fremantle based club Unions joined.
In 1887 Fremantle left the WAFA and the "West Australian Football Club" joined but they would only play two seasons before they disappeared.
In 1890 Unions would rename themselves Fremantle as those involved in the game saw the need to identify themselves with the region they were located in.
1891 Saw two new clubs arrive, Centrals and East Perth, but they would be gone after one and two seasons respectively.
1899 would be the last season Fremantle would take part. Despite Unions/Fremantle being the most dominant club in the WAFA up to this point winning the competition 10 times in its 13 years of existence, problems with debt saw the club disappear and some people involved with the old entity formed South Fremantle Football Club
in its place. Despite the fact that many involved with Fremantle moved onto South Fremantle the new club is not seen as a continuation of the old and did not lay claim to its proud records to that date.
1899 was also the last time Rovers would take part. The move to regionalisation which saw Unions take on the old Fremantle's name and colours made it difficult for this club that didn't represent a particular area to attract players. They folded and were immediately replaced by Perth Football Club
who were promoted from the Perth First Rate Association.
Major gold discoveries at Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie, coupled with a major international economic depression, caused immigration from the eastern colonies to accelerate. These migrants included a large number of footballers including some celebrated players, and the Goldfields competition (later known as the Goldfields Football League
) was comparable in status and standard to the Perth competition for many years. (This was shown by the fact that it had a separate seat on the Australian National Football Council until 1919.) The higher standard of play that naturally followed, helped to increase the game's popularity and increased the professionalism of the WAFA.
By 1901, the WAFA had grown to have six teams. Up to this point, five sides at most had been in the competition, and this number had invariably changed from year to year, as clubs came and went. And by 1906 there were eight teams — being West Perth
, East Perth
, East Fremantle
, South Fremantle
, North Fremantle
, Subiaco
, Perth
and Midland Junction
.
In 1908 the WAFA was renamed the West Australian Football League (WAFL).
Unlike many other sporting competitions, the WAFL didn't go into recess during World War I
, although two teams — North Fremantle and Midland Junction — were "casualties" of the war, competing for the last time in 1915 and 1917 respectively.
In 1921, the WAFL followed the idea of the SANFL
's Magarey Medal
and introduced the Sandover Medal
, for the fairest and best player over a season, as voted by the field umpires. The medal has been awarded annually ever since.
Claremont
entered the league in 1926, bringing the number of teams back to seven.
In 1932, the WAFL was renamed the Western Australian National Football League (WANFL) - the "national" concept in the name being adopted by the SANFL and a couple of other leagues a few years earlier.
Swan Districts
entered the league in 1934. The eight competing sides still remain today and are generally referred to as the "traditional eight clubs".
Because of World War Two, the league only ran an "under age" competition between 1942-44. However, the three premierships won during this time are given equal status to any other, in official records. All clubs competed, with the exception of Swan Districts who could not form a team in 1942, although they were back in 1943.
The 1960s saw crowds get bigger and bigger, as WAFL football captured the hearts and minds of the WA public like never before, and in the 1970s and early 80s it was easily the biggest show in town.
However, during this period more and more star WAFL players were looking to head to the Victorian Football League
(VFL), enticed by the bigger money and the fact that it was more and more gaining a reputation as the "big" league.
This is perhaps best evidenced in that Victoria (i.e. the VFL representative team) had by far the best record in interstate games for a long time. But in 1977, when the first proper State of Origin match was played, it saw Western Australia inflict its biggest defeat on a Victorian team.
In 1980, the WANFL dropped the "N" and the "ern" and reverted back to being called the WAFL.
At this time crowds were as big as they ever were. Soon afterwards, however, interest in the WAFL began a slow decline, as it became increasingly obvious that even larger numbers of the WAFL's best players were going to head east.
were formed and entered the VFL (the VFL was renamed the AFL
in 1990). With many of Western Australia's best players now competing in a team that represented Western Australia on a national scale, it was suddenly apparent that the WAFL was now a second-class competition.
In 1990 the state league was renamed the Western Australian State Football League, but it had reverted back to WAFL by 1991.
In 1992, the West Coast Eagles made history by becoming the first interstate club to win an AFL premiership. The win resulted in a huge boost to the side's popularity, put pressure on Subiaco Oval
to expand and ultimately led to demand for a second AFL licence for the state.
Another locally-based AFL team, the Fremantle FC
were formed in 1995.
The popularity of the AFL with 2 sides, particularly with the Western Derby
, cemented the position of WAFL as a second-class competition. WAFL clubs have struggled ever since with their sudden demise from being technically equal to any VFL club, to feeder club status. However, they have enjoyed some benefits, such as the funds flowing from the WA-based AFL teams and the influx of talented players from other states, attempting to make a name for themselves.
In 1997, Peel Thunder
— somewhat controversially — become the ninth WAFL club. Throughout their brief history, they have struggled to compete with the traditional eight clubs, which are generally opposed to their presence. This is partly because having an odd number of teams forces one team to have a bye each week.
Also in 1997, the WAFL was renamed Westar Rules, in a failed attempt to revamp the league's image. However the name again reverted to WAFL in 2001.
Recent years have seen the WAFL stabilise itself as a league a step down from the AFL
. Obviously the sudden player drain brought on by the expansion of the VFL into the AFL has lessened the standard of play, however this has recovered somewhat, with "veteran" AFL players returning and new players coming through.
in 2003.
Involvement and attendance in Australian Rules reached record levels in Western Australia 2004. The total attendance, including AFL games was a record 1,030,000. The 2005 WAFL grand final between South Fremantle and Claremont attracted 22,570 to Subiaco Oval
.
in 2006, the combined membership of Fremantle and West Coast AFL clubs was a record 79,804 members. http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=282468
is the only West Australian to have been inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
as a legend. He was also named as the ruckman in the AFL Team of the Century.
Other great players from WA to have been inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame are Barry Cable
, Jack K. Clarke
, George Doig
, Ross Glendinning
, Denis Marshall
, Merv McIntosh
, Stephen Michael
, George Moloney
, Graham Moss
, Wayne Richardson
, Jack Sheedy
, William 'Nipper' Truscott and Bill Walker. In the 1980s and 90s players such as Brad Hardie
, Nicky Winmar
, Darren Bewick
, Mark Bairstow
, Glen Jakovich
, Guy McKenna
, Dean Kemp
, Dean Laidley
and Peter Matera starred in the AFL.
is nicknamed alternatively the "Sandgropers" or the "Black Swans" and have played representative matches, either as State of Origin or as a state team representing the WAFL against all other Australian states.
for Australian rules football in WA is the West Australian Football Commission
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
is the most popular sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
in the state.
Early Beginnings
Organised football in the PerthPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
/Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
region of Western Australia dates back to 1881. Back then though rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
was the dominant football code. Only one senior club, "Unions", played Australian Rules.
In 1883 a second club, "Swans", emerged, but Australian Rules' growth remained much subdued compared to that of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
.
However in those days many young men of Perth's wealthier families were educated in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, the capital of South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
.
On returning home from there they naturally wished to play the sport they'd grown up with and no doubt exerted some influence on their less affluent peers as to such. Coincidentally, the press at the time reported there was a growing dissatisfaction with rugby as a spectacle.
During the 1880s, the discoveries of gold, firstly in the Kimberley
Kimberley region of Western Australia
The Kimberley is one of the nine regions of Western Australia. It is located in the northern part of Western Australia, bordered on the west by the Indian Ocean, on the north by the Timor Sea, on the south by the Great Sandy and Tanami Deserts, and on the east by the Northern Territory.The region...
, Pilbara
Pilbara region of Western Australia
The Pilbara is a large, dry, thinly populated region in the north of Western Australia known for its vast mineral deposits, in particular iron ore...
and Murchison regions, led to a dramatic increase in WA's population, including many players and supporters of Australian Rules from the eastern colonies.
In 1885 one of the leading rugby clubs, Fremantle
Fremantle Football Club (1882–1886)
The Fremantle Football Club was an Australian rules football club, based in Fremantle, Western Australia, that played in the Western Australian Football Association from 1885–86. The team won the WAFA premiership in 1886...
, decided to change to Australian Rules. It was quickly joined by three other clubs - , Victorians
West Perth Football Club
The West Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Falcons, is an Australian rules football club located in Joondalup, Western Australia, competing in the West Australian Football League . It is the oldest existing Australian rules football club in Western Australia. It competes in the West Australian...
, and a team of schoolboys from The High School
Hale School
Hale School is a selective, independent, Anglican day and boarding school for boys, located in Wembley Downs, a coastal suburb of Perth, Western Australia....
. The schoolboy side lasted just two matches, but the three other sides went on to contest what in retrospect was viewed as the first ever official Western Australian Football Association (WAFA) premiership, won by Rovers. And virtually overnight Australian rules football became the dominant code for the spectator as well.
Progress of Australian Rules in Western Australia still lagged behind the big football cities of Melbourne, Adelaide and Geelong however and is evidenced by the unstable nature of the clubs that participated in the early years.
In 1886 a new club Fremantle based club Unions joined.
In 1887 Fremantle left the WAFA and the "West Australian Football Club" joined but they would only play two seasons before they disappeared.
In 1890 Unions would rename themselves Fremantle as those involved in the game saw the need to identify themselves with the region they were located in.
1891 Saw two new clubs arrive, Centrals and East Perth, but they would be gone after one and two seasons respectively.
1899 would be the last season Fremantle would take part. Despite Unions/Fremantle being the most dominant club in the WAFA up to this point winning the competition 10 times in its 13 years of existence, problems with debt saw the club disappear and some people involved with the old entity formed South Fremantle Football Club
South Fremantle Football Club
The South Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football club, based in Fremantle, Western Australia, playing in the West Australian Football League...
in its place. Despite the fact that many involved with Fremantle moved onto South Fremantle the new club is not seen as a continuation of the old and did not lay claim to its proud records to that date.
1899 was also the last time Rovers would take part. The move to regionalisation which saw Unions take on the old Fremantle's name and colours made it difficult for this club that didn't represent a particular area to attract players. They folded and were immediately replaced by Perth Football Club
Perth Football Club
The Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The club plays its matches at Lathlain Park.-History:...
who were promoted from the Perth First Rate Association.
Major gold discoveries at Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie, coupled with a major international economic depression, caused immigration from the eastern colonies to accelerate. These migrants included a large number of footballers including some celebrated players, and the Goldfields competition (later known as the Goldfields Football League
Goldfields Football League
The Goldfields Football League is a regional Australian football league based in the Kalgoorlie region, Western Australia. Originally founded in 1896 as Hannans District Football Association, the league enjoyed a seat and full voting rights on the Australian National Football Council until 1919...
) was comparable in status and standard to the Perth competition for many years. (This was shown by the fact that it had a separate seat on the Australian National Football Council until 1919.) The higher standard of play that naturally followed, helped to increase the game's popularity and increased the professionalism of the WAFA.
By 1901, the WAFA had grown to have six teams. Up to this point, five sides at most had been in the competition, and this number had invariably changed from year to year, as clubs came and went. And by 1906 there were eight teams — being West Perth
West Perth Football Club
The West Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Falcons, is an Australian rules football club located in Joondalup, Western Australia, competing in the West Australian Football League . It is the oldest existing Australian rules football club in Western Australia. It competes in the West Australian...
, East Perth
East Perth Football Club
The East Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Royals, is an Australian rules football club that is a member of the West Australian Football League...
, East Fremantle
East Fremantle Football Club
The East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team's home ground is East Fremantle Oval...
, South Fremantle
South Fremantle Football Club
The South Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football club, based in Fremantle, Western Australia, playing in the West Australian Football League...
, North Fremantle
North Fremantle Football Club
The North Fremantle Football Club was an Australian rules football club which competed in the West Australian Football League from 1901 to 1915.North Fremantle started out in the First Rate Junior Association, the state's second tier competition...
, Subiaco
Subiaco Football Club
The Subiaco Football Club, nicknamed the Lions, is an Australian rules football club in the West Australian Football League . It was founded in 1896, and admitted to the WAFL in 1901, along with North Fremantle...
, Perth
Perth Football Club
The Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The club plays its matches at Lathlain Park.-History:...
and Midland Junction
Midland Junction Football Club
Midland Junction Football Club, nicknamed the Railways, was an Australian rules football club that competed in the West Australian Football League . The club played in the WAFL, the premier football league in Western Australia, from 1905 to 1910 and again from 1914 to 1917. They team wore black and...
.
In 1908 the WAFA was renamed the West Australian Football League (WAFL).
Unlike many other sporting competitions, the WAFL didn't go into recess during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, although two teams — North Fremantle and Midland Junction — were "casualties" of the war, competing for the last time in 1915 and 1917 respectively.
In 1921, the WAFL followed the idea of the SANFL
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
's Magarey Medal
Magarey Medal
For the biography award of the same name, see Magarey Medal for biography. For a list of winners, see List of Magarey Medallists.The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football...
and introduced the Sandover Medal
Sandover Medal
The Sandover Medal is an Australian rules football award, given annually since 1921 to the fairest and best player in the West Australian Football League...
, for the fairest and best player over a season, as voted by the field umpires. The medal has been awarded annually ever since.
Claremont
Claremont Football Club
The Claremont Football Club, nicknamed the Tigers, is an Australian rules football club in the West Australian Football League . Its official colours are navy blue and gold....
entered the league in 1926, bringing the number of teams back to seven.
In 1932, the WAFL was renamed the Western Australian National Football League (WANFL) - the "national" concept in the name being adopted by the SANFL and a couple of other leagues a few years earlier.
Swan Districts
Swan Districts Football Club
The Swan Districts Football Club, nicknamed the Swans, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The club is based at Bassendean Oval, in Bassendean, an eastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia...
entered the league in 1934. The eight competing sides still remain today and are generally referred to as the "traditional eight clubs".
Because of World War Two, the league only ran an "under age" competition between 1942-44. However, the three premierships won during this time are given equal status to any other, in official records. All clubs competed, with the exception of Swan Districts who could not form a team in 1942, although they were back in 1943.
However, during this period more and more star WAFL players were looking to head to the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL), enticed by the bigger money and the fact that it was more and more gaining a reputation as the "big" league.
This is perhaps best evidenced in that Victoria (i.e. the VFL representative team) had by far the best record in interstate games for a long time. But in 1977, when the first proper State of Origin match was played, it saw Western Australia inflict its biggest defeat on a Victorian team.
In 1980, the WANFL dropped the "N" and the "ern" and reverted back to being called the WAFL.
At this time crowds were as big as they ever were. Soon afterwards, however, interest in the WAFL began a slow decline, as it became increasingly obvious that even larger numbers of the WAFL's best players were going to head east.
Entering the National Competition
By 1987, the WAFL had decided that the future of the game in WA depended on it entering a team in the VFL. The West Coast EaglesWest Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
were formed and entered the VFL (the VFL was renamed the AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
in 1990). With many of Western Australia's best players now competing in a team that represented Western Australia on a national scale, it was suddenly apparent that the WAFL was now a second-class competition.
In 1990 the state league was renamed the Western Australian State Football League, but it had reverted back to WAFL by 1991.
In 1992, the West Coast Eagles made history by becoming the first interstate club to win an AFL premiership. The win resulted in a huge boost to the side's popularity, put pressure on Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
to expand and ultimately led to demand for a second AFL licence for the state.
Another locally-based AFL team, the Fremantle FC
Fremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
were formed in 1995.
The popularity of the AFL with 2 sides, particularly with the Western Derby
Western Derby
The Western Derby is the name given to the Australian rules football rivalry match between the Fremantle Football Club and West Coast Eagles, who both participate in the Australian Football League . As both teams are based in Western Australia, the term 'derby' is used to describe the...
, cemented the position of WAFL as a second-class competition. WAFL clubs have struggled ever since with their sudden demise from being technically equal to any VFL club, to feeder club status. However, they have enjoyed some benefits, such as the funds flowing from the WA-based AFL teams and the influx of talented players from other states, attempting to make a name for themselves.
In 1997, Peel Thunder
Peel Thunder Football Club
The Peel Thunder Football Club is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team is based in Mandurah, Western Australia, with their home ground being Rushton Park...
— somewhat controversially — become the ninth WAFL club. Throughout their brief history, they have struggled to compete with the traditional eight clubs, which are generally opposed to their presence. This is partly because having an odd number of teams forces one team to have a bye each week.
Also in 1997, the WAFL was renamed Westar Rules, in a failed attempt to revamp the league's image. However the name again reverted to WAFL in 2001.
Recent years have seen the WAFL stabilise itself as a league a step down from the AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. Obviously the sudden player drain brought on by the expansion of the VFL into the AFL has lessened the standard of play, however this has recovered somewhat, with "veteran" AFL players returning and new players coming through.
Recent History
Western Australia was the first state to trial the derivative social game of Rec FootyRec Footy
Recreational Football is a non-contact version of the Australian rules football game sanctioned by the Australian Football League...
in 2003.
Involvement and attendance in Australian Rules reached record levels in Western Australia 2004. The total attendance, including AFL games was a record 1,030,000. The 2005 WAFL grand final between South Fremantle and Claremont attracted 22,570 to Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
.
in 2006, the combined membership of Fremantle and West Coast AFL clubs was a record 79,804 members. http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=282468
Participation
In 2007, there were around 12,050 senior players in WA and a total participation of 91,009, , with a participation rate of around 4% per capita, making it equal third most supported state (with Victoria and South Australia). http://afl.com.au/cp2/c2/webi/article/205058bu.pdfAttendance Record
- 52,781 (1979). WAFLWest Australian Football LeagueThe West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
Grand FinalGrand FinalGrand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
. East FremantleEast Fremantle Football ClubThe East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team's home ground is East Fremantle Oval...
v South FremantleSouth Fremantle Football ClubThe South Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football club, based in Fremantle, Western Australia, playing in the West Australian Football League...
. (Subiaco OvalSubiaco OvalSubiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
, PerthPerth, Western AustraliaPerth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
)
Major Australian Rules Events in Western Australia
- Australian Football LeagueAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
Premiership Season (West Coast Eagles and Fremantle home games) - Western DerbyWestern DerbyThe Western Derby is the name given to the Australian rules football rivalry match between the Fremantle Football Club and West Coast Eagles, who both participate in the Australian Football League . As both teams are based in Western Australia, the term 'derby' is used to describe the...
- West Australian Football LeagueWest Australian Football LeagueThe West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
Grand Final
Notable Western Australian footballers
Graham 'Polly' FarmerGraham Farmer
Graham Vivian "Polly" Farmer, MBE is a retired Australian rules football player and coach. Born in Western Australia, he joined the East Perth Football Club as a ruckman in 1953, where he won several awards and contributed to the team winning three premierships...
is the only West Australian to have been inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
as a legend. He was also named as the ruckman in the AFL Team of the Century.
Other great players from WA to have been inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame are Barry Cable
Barry Cable
Barry Cable is an Australian former Australian rules footballer who played in the West Australian National Football League and Victorian Football League . Cable played as a rover. He won the Sandover Medal three times while playing with the Perth Football Club.-Club career:Cable played 225 games...
, Jack K. Clarke
Jack K. Clarke
John Kildahl "Jack" Clarke was an Australian rules footballer in the Western Australian National Football League .Clarke played as a ruckman for East Fremantle, making his debut in 1952...
, George Doig
George Doig
George Doig , was a full forward for the East Fremantle Football Club from 1933 to 1945.Born in Fremantle, Western Australia, George Doig's football career started in the South Suburban Football Competition in and around Fremantle. In one game in 1931 he kicked the whole score of his team - 26.21 -...
, Ross Glendinning
Ross Glendinning
Ross Glendinning was an Australian rules footballer for the North Melbourne Football Club and West Coast Eagles in the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League...
, Denis Marshall
Denis Marshall (footballer)
Deniston "Denis" Marshall is a former Australian rules footballer in the West Australian National Football League and the Victorian Football League ....
, Merv McIntosh
Merv McIntosh
Mervyn Francis "Merv" McIntosh was an Australian rules footballer in the West Australian National Football League...
, Stephen Michael
Stephen Michael
Stephen Albert Michael in Kojonup, Western Australia is a former Australian rules footballer.-Playing career:A Noongar Australian Aborigine, Michael played in the WAFL between 1975 and 1985 with the South Fremantle Football Club, playing 243 games and kicking 231 goals. He played in South's 1980...
, George Moloney
George Moloney
George "Specka" Moloney was a highly-regarded Australian rules footballer in both the West Australian National Football League and the Victorian Football League ....
, Graham Moss
Graham Moss
Graham Moss is a former Australian rules footballer and coach, who was highly successful in both the West Australian Football League and the Victorian Football League . He was a Brownlow Medal-winning ruckman and played 343 senior games in the WAFL and VFL.Moss debuted for Claremont Football Club...
, Wayne Richardson
Wayne Richardson
Wayne Richardson is a former Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League.Collingwood Football Club snared Wayne Richardson from South Fremantle Football Club in 1965 before he had made his senior debut and, not surprisingly, the West Australian side was extremely reluctant to...
, Jack Sheedy
Jack Sheedy (Australian rules footballer)
John Cameron "Jack" Sheedy is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. He played for and in the Western Australian National Football League and in the Victorian Football League . Sheedy is considered one of the greatest ever footballers from Western Australia, and is a member of both...
, William 'Nipper' Truscott and Bill Walker. In the 1980s and 90s players such as Brad Hardie
Brad Hardie
Bradley John "Brad" Hardie is a former Australian rules footballer and current radio commentator. He began his career as an attacking back pocket player, but ended as a dangerous goal kicking forward pocket...
, Nicky Winmar
Nicky Winmar
Neil Elvis "Nicky" Winmar is a former Australian Footballer of an indigenous background who played for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League.- AFL career :...
, Darren Bewick
Darren Bewick
Darren Bewick is a former dual premiership Australian rules footballer who played for the Essendon Football Club in the AFL. Bewick was known for his game breaking pace and goal sense in the forward 50. His ability to take high flying marks was a spectacle amongst Bomber fans, not to mention his...
, Mark Bairstow
Mark bairstow
Mark Bairstow is a former Australian rules footballer who played in both the Australian Football League and the West Australian Football League .-WAFL career:...
, Glen Jakovich
Glen Jakovich
Glen Jakovich is a former Australian rules footballer for the West Coast Eagles.Glen was recruited from South Fremantle in Western Australia and debuted in 1991 and played most of his career at the Centre Half Back position, in the number 27 gernsey...
, Guy McKenna
Guy McKenna
Guy Lindsay McKenna is an Australian rules football coach and former player. He is the current coach of the Gold Coast Football Club in the Australian Football League . McKenna also played 267 games for the West Coast Eagles, including the 1992 and 1994 premiership wins...
, Dean Kemp
Dean Kemp
Dean Kemp is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League....
, Dean Laidley
Dean Laidley
Dean Laidley is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles and North Melbourne in the Australian Football League from 1987 to 1997, including in North Melbourne's 1996 premiership side. He served as coach of North Melbourne from 2003 to 2009...
and Peter Matera starred in the AFL.
Representative teams
The West Australian representative teamWestern Australia Australian rules football team
The Sandgropers is the representative side of Western Australia in the sport of Australian rules football. The team is currently the representative team of the West Australian Football League and West Australian under-age footballers.-History:...
is nicknamed alternatively the "Sandgropers" or the "Black Swans" and have played representative matches, either as State of Origin or as a state team representing the WAFL against all other Australian states.
Governing Body
The governing bodySport governing body
A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...
for Australian rules football in WA is the West Australian Football Commission
West Australian Football Commission
The West Australian Football Commission is the governing body of Australian rules football in the state of Western Australia.It was formed in 1989 as an independent body to the West Australian Football League for governance and development of the game in the state.The WAFC operates Subiaco Oval,...
.
Professional Clubs
- West Coast EaglesWest Coast EaglesThe West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
(Australian Football LeagueAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
) - Fremantle Football ClubFremantle Football ClubThe Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
(Australian Football LeagueAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
)
Perth Metropolitan Leagues
- West Australian Football LeagueWest Australian Football LeagueThe West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
(semi-professional) - Western Australian Amateur Football LeagueWestern Australian Amateur Football LeagueThe West Australian Amateur Football League is the largest fully amateur Australian rules football competition in Western Australia.The competition began in 1922.-Clubs:*Ballajura*Bassendean*Beechboro*Belmont Districts*Brentwood Booragoon...
- Mercantile Football AssociationMercantile Football AssociationThe Mercantile Football Association is one of the three community based football leagues based in Perth, Western Australia. The league is made up from 13 clubs, 16 teams and over 1200 registered players....
- Sunday Football League (defunct)
Regional Leagues
- West Australian Country Football LeagueWest Australian Country Football LeagueThe West Australian Country Football League is the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in the non-metropolitan areas of Western Australia. The organisation was founded in 1973 as the Western Australian National Country Football League , changing its name to the current in 1979...
- Avon Football Association
- Central Kimberley Football Association
- Central Midlands Coastal Football League
- Central Wheatbelt Football League
- East Kimberley Football Association
- Eastern Districts Football League
- Esperance District Football Association
- Fortescue National Football League
- Gascoyne Football Association
- Goldfields Football LeagueGoldfields Football LeagueThe Goldfields Football League is a regional Australian football league based in the Kalgoorlie region, Western Australia. Originally founded in 1896 as Hannans District Football Association, the league enjoyed a seat and full voting rights on the Australian National Football Council until 1919...
- Great Northern Football League
- Great Southern Football League
- Hills Football Association
- Lower South West Football LeagueLower South West Football LeagueThe Lower South West Football League is a country football league incorporating teams from towns located within the South West and Great Southern regions...
- Mortlock Football LeagueMortlock Football LeagueThe Mortlock Football League is an Australian rules football competition based around 8 clubs in the south-west region of Western Australia. It is one of a number of football leagues in the wheat-belt region of WA. The 8 teams include the towns of Calingiri, Dalwallinu, Dowerin, Gingin, Goomalling,...
- Newman Football League
- North Midlands Football League
- North Pilbara Football League
- Ongerup Football Association
- Peel Football LeaguePeel Football LeagueThe Peel Football League is a country football league based in the Peel region of Western Australia. The competition was formed in 1992 when teams from the Metropolitan Football League and Murray Districts Football League merged...
- Ravensthorpe & Districts Football Association
- South West Football LeagueSouth West Football LeagueThe South West Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the south-west of Western Australia. The league is affiliated to the West Australian Country Football League.-History:...
- Upper Great Southern Football LeagueUpper Great Southern Football LeagueThe Upper Great Southern Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the state of Western Australia, incorporating teams from towns located within the Great Southern, Wheatbelt and Peel regions. The league was formed in 1959 from a merger of the town competitions in Wagin and...
- West Kimberley Football AssociationWest Kimberley Football AssociationThe West Kimberley Football Association is an Australian rules football competition in the far North West of Western Australia.The league covers an area from Bidyadanga in the West to Derby in the East. Games are played during the day in Broome and Derby with the majority of games and all finals...
Masters
- Masters Australian Football WA Official Site
Principal Venues
- Subiaco OvalSubiaco OvalSubiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
- Fremantle OvalFremantle OvalFremantle Oval is a stadium in the centre of Fremantle, Western Australia. It currently has a capacity of 17,500 with terracing and a members area holding 750. Fremantle Oval was originally used for cricket, but in 1895 hosted its first game of Australian rules football...
- Arena Joondalup
- Medibank Private StadiumMedibank Private StadiumLeederville Oval, officially called Medibank Stadium, is an Australian rules football ground located in Leederville, Western Australia. The ground is currently used as a home ground by two clubs: the East Perth Football Club and the Subiaco Football Club, both competing in the West Australian...
(formerly Leederville Oval) - East Fremantle OvalEast Fremantle OvalEast Fremantle Oval is an Australian rules football ground located in East Fremantle, Western Australia. The ground was opened in 1906, and underwent a large redevelopment in 1953. It current serves as the home ground of the East Fremantle Football Club in the West Australian Football League...
- Claremont OvalClaremont OvalClaremont Oval is an Australian rules football stadium located in Perth, Australia. The capacity of the venue is 10,000 people and was opened in 1905 and is the home of the Claremont Football Club....
- Steel Blue OvalSteel Blue OvalBassendean Oval is a sports stadium, located in Bassendean, Western Australia. The capacity of the venue is 22,000 people....
(formerly Bassendean Oval) - Eftel OvalEftel OvalLathlain Park is an Australian rules football ground, located in Lathlain, an inner-eastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia...
(formerly Lathlain Park) - Rushton ParkRushton ParkRushton Park, officially called Bendigo Bank Stadium, is an Australian rules football ground located in Mandurah, Western Australia. The ground is currently used as a home ground by three clubs: the , competing in the West Australian Football League , the Mandurah Mustangs, competing in the Peel...
See also
- West Australian Football LeagueWest Australian Football LeagueThe West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
- Australian Football LeagueAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
- West Coast EaglesWest Coast EaglesThe West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
- Fremantle Football ClubFremantle Football ClubThe Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
- List of Australian rules football in Western Australia
- Australian rules football in the Goldfields region of Western AustraliaAustralian rules football in the Goldfields region of Western AustraliaAustralian rules football has been played in the Goldfields region of Western Australia since the late 1890s, when the Western Australian gold rush brought an influx of immigrants from Victoria and South Australia, bringing the sport with them....
- West Australian State Championship