The 1935 WANFL season was the 51st season of the Western Australian National Football League. The season saw West Perth win the premiership under the coaching of Johnny Leonard; it was the only time in West Perth's history that it won consecutive premierships,[1] preceding a brief but exceptionally steep decline that saw the Cardinals four years later suffer the equal longest losing streak in WA(N)FL history.[2]
This season saw Claremont-Cottesloe under new president Pat Rodriguez change its name to Claremont,[3] and at first gave promise of great improvement before returning to their worst 1934 form. 1934 finalists Victoria Park lost defenders Shepherd, A. Brown, Hungerford and Patrick Fitzgerald in the off-season to retirement of major injuries[4] and failed to cope with these problems,[5] finishing last for the only time in open-age competition between 1924 and 1980. In contrast, Subiaco, who had been disappointing in 1934 with just seven victories, regained Lou Daily from Geelong and Collingwood to signal the end of a major exodus to the VFL.[6] Daily's brilliant play in defence, and the acquisition of Frank Murphy from the Magpies as captain-coach, made the Maroons the best team in the competition for much of 1935, but West Perth's defence was too much in the Grand Final and Subiaco were to have a third of a century as a cellar-dweller before their next premiership in 1973.
The Sandover Medal count was marred by overlooking a clause in the rules to deal with a tie – Lou Daily was initially awarded the Medal on the casting vote of WANFL President Walter Stooke[7] and became the first full-back to win a "best-and-fairest" medal in any leading Australian Rules state,[8] but on 21 September it was pointed out that George Krepp should have won through having received one more three-vote than Daily.[9] Ultimately the WANFL had no choice but to strike a second medal, which was given to Krepp at the League meeting on 16 October.[10]
Clarence Hooper, in his first match for the Tigers, shows that the hype he received in the pre-season[4] is justified with a clear best-on-ground display in his WANFL debut.
East Perth kicked 5.12 (42) with the wind in the third quarter, allowing East Fremantle to win.
Jack Jennings kicks thirteen goals against the depleted Victoria Park defence, a total not equalled for Subiaco until Austin Robertson junior kicked fifteen in 1968 against East Fremantle.
Following its loss to West Perth, Subiaco protested on the grounds that former Collingwood player Jack Beveridge had played without the proper permit. The protest was upheld, and Subiaco was awarded the match points for the game.[31]
Victoria Park kicked eight goals in the final quarter to defeat East Fremantle and hand over bottom position to Swan Districts. Gook's marking was spectacular.
A WANFL "second eighteen"[b] struggles against the powerful Goldfields league, despite wet conditions unfamiliar to players from that region. The Goldfields were especially impressive in high marking.[55]
The top four moved three games clear of the bottom four with only six more rounds to be played, and with George Doig kicking eight goals and Kingsbury five East Fremantle end a worrying slump against the Tigers, who had now lost their last four.
Victoria Park, after trailing at half time by 45 points – 1.7 (13) to 8.10 (58) – came from behind to defeat Swan Districts.
South Fremantle recover from having only five scoring shots to 22 in the first half for a thrilling win to be two games out of the four but face a tough draw to finish.[72]
Claremont kicks its lowest score to date in the WA(N)FL, beating 3.7 (25) against Subiaco in 1932,[81] and the smallest overall in the WA(N)FL between 1927 and 1943.[82]
Albert Skinner kicks both Claremont's goals, the first seven minutes into the third quarter, whilst Tyson scores nine for the Cardinals in boisterous conditions.[78]
George Doig kicked his hundredth goal for the third successive season in the last quarter.
East Perth fell one point short of the existing record WA(N)FL score,[87] against a Claremont team which had lost eight matches in a row. The score remains the highest by a visiting team at Claremont Oval.[88]
Ted Tyson (West Perth) kicked seven goals to kick his hundredth goal for the season.
Newly promoted forward Ted Holdsworth kicked eight for Swan Districts, as they ensure 1934 finalist Victoria Park, who had to recall committeeman Franch to field eighteen fit players[84] finish with the wooden spoon.
In a fast, high-speed game in wet and slippery conditions, East Perth came from behind to win after East Fremantle had opened with four goals to none with the breeze in the first quarter.[93]
This was the last ever WANFL Grand Final at Perth Oval.
Notes
a WANFL President Walter Stooke gave a casting vote to Daily, but Bob Bryant noted that Krepp had received eight first votes to Daily's seven, and should according to the "countback" rule of the time have won, so that the WANFL had to strike a second medal. b The "first eighteen" of Western Australia was in Adelaide playing South Australia for this weekend.
References
^Devaney, John; Full Points Footy's WA Football Companion; pp. 172-3. ISBN978-0-9556897-1-0
^Casey, Kevin (1995); The Tigers’ Tale: the origins and history of the Claremont Football Club, pp. 30-31. ISBN0646264982
^ ab"Follower" (pseudonymous author); ‘Football Season Opens Next Saturday: Popularity of Game in Early Stages Heralds Keener Competition; New Recruits to Be Fitted into Places’; in The West Australian; 30 April 1935; p. 7
^East, Alan (2005); From Redlegs to Demons: A History of the Perth Football Club from 1899, p. 59
^Spillman, Ken; Diehards: The Story of the Subiaco Football Club 1896–1945, pp. 137-138
^‘Why Daily Won Medal: Reasons Given by President – Better Team’; The Daily News, 17 September 1935, p. 5
^‘Sandover Medal: L. Daily Wins’; Western Mail, 19 September 1935, p. 25
^‘The Sandover Medal: claims of G. Krepp’; The Sunday Times, 13 October 1935, p. 4
^‘Sandover Medal: Two Trophies Will Be Presented’; The Mirror, 19 October 1935, p. 4
^‘East Fremantle Wins: South Fremantle's Poor Kicking’; The West Australian, 6 May 1935, p. 17
^‘Superior Condition: Subiaco Beats Swan Districts’; The West Australian, 6 May 1935, p. 17
^‘Claremont's Success – Improved Standard of Play’; The West Australian, 6 May 1935, p. 17
^‘Pace and Teamwork – West Perth's 38-point Win’; The West Australian, 6 May 1935, p. 17
^‘Recovery in Second Half – A Victory for East Fremantle’; The West Australian, 13 May 1935, p. 7
^‘West Perth Well Beaten – Fine Football by Swan Districts’; The West Australian, 13 May 1935, p. 7
^‘Subiaco Wins by 32 Points: East Perth Outplayed’; The West Australian, 13 May 1935, p. 7
^‘Claremont Wins Again – Stamina and Tactics Count’; The West Australian, 13 May 1935, p. 7
^‘Team-Work and Good Kicking – East Fremantle's Easy Victory’; The West Australian, 20 May 1935, p. 18
^‘Pace and System – East Perth defeat Claremont’; The West Australian, 20 May 1935, p. 18
^‘Subiaco's Third Win: South Fremantle Fades Out’; The West Australian, 20 May 1935, p. 18
^‘West Perth Wins Easily: Victoria Park Outplayed’; The West Australian, 20 May 1935, p. 18
^‘Claremont Wins by 9 Points – Hard Game at Bassendean’; The West Australian, 27 May 1935, p. 17
^‘Hard-Fought Second Half – East Fremantle Extended’; The West Australian, 27 May 1935, p. 17
^‘Superior Combination: West Perth's Convincing Win’; The West Australian, 27 May 1935, p. 17
^‘Subiaco Wins Again: Victory over Victoria Park’; The West Australian, 27 May 1935, p. 17
^‘East Perth's Close Call – Keen Finish to Scrambling Play’; The West Australian, 3 June 1935, p. 9
^‘An Exciting Finish – Claremont Beats East Fremantle’; The West Australian, 3 June 1935, p. 9
^‘A Decisive Victory: Victoria Park Beaten by 70 Points’; The West Australian, 3 June 1935, p. 9
^‘A Brilliant Opening: Fast Pace Set at the Start’; The West Australian, 4 June 1935, p. 18
^‘Beveridge in Perth – Played too Soon: His Club Forfeits Match’; in The Argus; 14 June 1935; p. 14
^‘Won by a Point – Subiaco Beaten in Thrilling Finish’; The West Australian, 10 June 1935, p. 19
^‘A Great Recovery – West Perth Nearly Beaten’; The West Australian, 10 June 1935, p. 19
^‘Victoria Park Outclassed: East Perth's Improved Display’; The West Australian, 10 June 1935, p. 19
^‘South Fremantle's Easy Win: Poor Showing by Swan Districts’; The West Australian, 10 June 1935, p. 19
^‘System and Pace – East Fremantle Wins Easily’; The West Australian, 17 June 1935, p. 17
^‘Victoria Park Wins; Burst in Last Quarter’; The West Australian, 17 June 1935, p. 17
^‘East Perth Finishes Well; Poor Game at Perth Oval’; The West Australian, 17 June 1935, p. 17
^‘Fast and Vigorous – Subiaco Defeats Claremont’; The West Australian, 17 June 1935, p. 17
^‘Interstate Football – Easy Win for Victoria: Instructive Display; W.A.'s Lack of System’; in The West Australian; 24 June 1935; p. 19
^‘Interstate Football – Victoria Wins Again; A Keener Match – Weaknesses in W.A. Team’; in The West Australian; 26 June 1935; p. 21
^‘Subiaco Superior: Swan Districts Outplayed’; The West Australian, 1 July 1935, p. 17
^‘East Perth Improved – Good Win from West Perth’; The West Australian, 1 July 1935, p. 17
^‘Claremont Wins Comfortably: Victoria Park out of Form’; The West Australian, 1 July 1935, p. 17
^‘Match at Fremantle – Easy Win for East Fremantle’; The West Australian, 1 July 1935, p. 17
^‘Hard and Exciting – Subiaco Win by Ten Points’; The West Australian, 8 July 1935, p. 15
^‘Claremont Badly Beaten: South Fremantle's Third Win’; The West Australian, 8 July 1935, p. 15
^‘An Unexpected Result – Victoria Park's Strong Finish’; The West Australian, 8 July 1935, p. 15
^‘West Perth's Hard Fight – Swan Districts Beaten by 24 Points’; The West Australian, 8 July 1935, p. 15
^‘A Strenuous Contest – South Fremantle's Good Win’; The West Australian, 15 July 1935, p. 12
^‘West Perth Recovers: A 32-Point Win from Victoria Park’; The West Australian, 15 July 1935, p. 12
^‘Claremont's Losing Run: Nine-Point Win for East Perth’; The West Australian, 15 July 1935, p. 12
^‘East Fremantle Beaten: Swan Districts’ Good Form’; The West Australian, 15 July 1935, p. 12
^‘Goldfields Fight-Back Against League’; The Daily News, 20 July 1935, p. 4
^‘Highlights of Perth Oval Game’; The Daily News, 20 July 1935, p. 4
^‘Subiaco Finishes Well: Victoria Park Loses by 32 Points’; The West Australian, 29 July 1935, p. 14
^‘East Fremantle Beaten: East Perth's Last-Quarter Rally’; The West Australian, 29 July 1935, p. 14
^‘Win for Swan Districts: Claremont's Forwards Inaccurate’; The West Australian, 29 July 1935, p. 14
^‘South Fremantle Outclassed – Tyson Kicks Eight Goals’; The West Australian, 29 July 1935, p. 14
^‘Speed and Stamina – West Perth Defeats Subiaco’; The West Australian, 5 August 1935, p. 16
^‘South Fremantle's Success – Brilliant Third Quarter Effort’; The West Australian, 5 August 1935, p. 16
^‘Claremont Overwhelmed: East Fremantle's 78-Point Win’; The West Australian, 5 August 1935, p. 16
^‘East Perth's Close Call; An Exhilarating Game’; The West Australian, 5 August 1935, p. 16
^‘East Perth Wins Again: Victoria Park Outplayed’; The West Australian, 12 August 1935, p. 14
^‘Speed and Determination – Swan Districts Beat South Fremantle’; The West Australian, 12 August 1935, p. 14
^‘West Perth Superior – Scrambling Game at Claremont’; The West Australian, 12 August 1935, p. 14
^‘Subiaco Successful – Fast Scoring in Third Term’; The West Australian, 12 August 1935, p. 14
^‘A Remarkable Fight Back – Victoria Park's Good Effort’; The West Australian, 19 August 1935, p. 9
^‘East Perth Narrowly Beaten: South Fremantle's Fine Recovery’; The West Australian, 19 August 1935, p. 9
^‘Value of Good Kicking – West Perth's Attack Superior’; The West Australian, 19 August 1935, p. 9
^‘Subiaco's Brilliant Finish: Claremont Overwhelmed in Last Term’; The West Australian, 19 August 1935, p. 9
^‘League Football – East Perth Defeated; West Perth Succeeds; Win for Victoria Park’; The West Australian, 19 August 1935, p. 9
^‘Pace and Balance – East Fremantle's Superiority’; The West Australian, 26 August 1935, p. 14
^‘Subiaco's Winning Burst: Claremont Outplayed in Last Term’; The West Australian, 26 August 1935, p. 14
^‘Victoria Park Beaten: East Perth's 19-Point Victory’; The West Australian, 26 August 1935, p. 14
^‘Strong finishing Effort – West Perth Successful’; The West Australian, 26 August 1935, p. 14
^‘East Perth's Good Win: Swan Districts Outclassed’; The West Australian, 2 September 1935, p. 14
^ ab‘Claremont Outplayed: West Perth's Hollow Victory’; The West Australian, 2 September 1935, p. 14
^‘Accuracy in Kicking – Subiaco Beats South Fremantle’; The West Australian, 2 September 1935, p. 14
^‘Superior Team-Work – East Fremantle's Strong Finish’; The West Australian, 2 September 1935, p. 14