1973 WANFL season

The 1973 WANFL season was the 89th season of the Western Australian National Football League. It is most famous for Subiaco breaking the longest premiership drought in the history of the competition, winning for the first time since 1924 after having been a chopping block for most of the middle third of the century. Under the coaching of former St Kilda champion Ross Smith, the Lions, as they became christened in July,[1] bounced back from two disappointing seasons to lose only two of their final sixteen home-and-away games for their first minor premiership since 1935, then in a low-scoring Grand Final comfortably defeated a much more hardened West Perth team.

1973 WAFL season
Teams8
PremiersSubiaco
(5th premiership)
Minor premiersSubiaco
(6th minor premiership)
Matches played88
Bernie Naylor MedallistPhil Smith (West Perth)
Sandover MedallistBarry Cable (Perth)

In addition to Subiaco’s premiership win, veteran goal machine Austin Robertson, Jr. broke Ted Tyson’s record for most goals in a WANFL career late in the home-and-away season.

The season also saw 1972 Grand Finalists Claremont suffer the worst single-season fall in WAFL history, from only three losses to only four wins despite being pre-season premiership favourites,[2] as Essendon’s century goalkicker Geoff Blethyn proved an inadequate trade for champion ruckman Graham Moss. Eight losses by under two goals sunk Claremont further.[3] Despite exceptional form from Barry Cable in his last season with the club, Perth also fell from preliminary finalists to their worst record for thirty-two seasons of only six wins. Perennial battlers Swan Districts looked like a first finals berth since 1965 during the autumn but won only two of their last thirteen matches[4] as a rainy winter negated the strength in marking that won Swans their early victories.[5]

Home-and-away season

Round 1
Round 1
Saturday, 7 April Subiaco 16.11 (107) def. Swan Districts 13.7 (85) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8653)
Saturday, 7 April East Perth 15.8 (98) def. West Perth 13.10 (88) Perth Oval (crowd: 11801)
Saturday, 7 April Claremont 14.12 (96) def. by Perth 14.14 (98) Claremont Oval (crowd: 10000)
Saturday, 7 April East Fremantle 15.14 (104) def. South Fremantle 14.19 (103) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11000)

Perth hang on to win despite Tiger recruit Blethyn kicking a controversial last-quarter “soccer” goal that Demon defender Richard Peel believed he kicked himself.[6]

Round 2
Round 2
Saturday, 14 April South Fremantle 13.13 (91) def. by East Perth 18.25 (133) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 10060)
Saturday, 14 April Perth 13.10 (88) def. Subiaco 12.12 (84) Lathlain Park (crowd: 9778)
Saturday, 14 April Swan Districts 18.14 (122) def. Claremont 9.13 (67) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 10000)
Saturday, 14 April West Perth 15.15 (105) def. East Fremantle 8.13 (61) Leederville Oval (crowd: 9765)

Swan Districts, after a clean-out by coach Jack Ensor, lead the Tigers 17.9 (111) to 4.9 (33) after three quarters.[2]

Round 3 (Easter weekend)
Round 3
Saturday, 21 April Claremont 9.15 (69) def. by West Perth 12.14 (86) Claremont Oval (crowd: 12498)
Saturday, 21 April Swan Districts 14.14 (98) def. East Fremantle 11.15 (81) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 13000)
Monday, 23 April South Fremantle 21.10 (136) def. Subiaco 12.15 (87) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8553)
Monday, 23 April East Perth 14.11 (95) def. Perth 12.15 (87) Perth Oval (crowd: 12750)

Thirty-two-year-old Peter Senior leads South Fremantle to a convincing win, along with ten-goal forward Peter Troode.[7]

Round 4
Round 4
Saturday, 28 April Swan Districts 26.15 (171) def. South Fremantle 15.13 (103) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 10220)
Saturday, 28 April Perth 9.14 (68) def. by West Perth 10.11 (71) Lathlain Park (crowd: 11115)
Saturday, 28 April Subiaco 18.13 (121) def. East Perth 10.12 (72) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8770)
Saturday, 28 April East Fremantle 12.21 (93) def. Claremont 13.12 (90) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8640)

Swan Districts kick their highest-ever second quarter score and the highest for that quarter at Bassendean Oval.[8]

Round 5
Round 5
Saturday, 5 May West Perth 14.11 (95) def. Subiaco 8.13 (61) Leederville Oval (crowd: 10050)
Saturday, 5 May East Perth 14.8 (92) def. Swan Districts 9.7 (61) Perth Oval (crowd: 15587)
Saturday, 5 May Claremont 9.19 (73) def. South Fremantle 6.9 (45) Claremont Oval (crowd: 7898)
Saturday, 5 May East Fremantle 12.8 (80) def. Perth 10.17 (77) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7404)

With John Lewis brilliant at full-back, Claremont kick 9.17 (71) to 2.6 (18) after the first 22 minutes to with their first game in slippery conditions.[9]

Round 6
Round 6
Saturday, 12 May Swan Districts 7.20 (62) def. West Perth 9.5 (59) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 8000)
Saturday, 12 May South Fremantle 16.14 (110) def. Perth 14.11 (95) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4679)
Saturday, 12 May East Perth 16.12 (108) def. Claremont 13.7 (85) Perth Oval (crowd: 5983)
Saturday, 12 May Subiaco 11.21 (87) def. East Fremantle 8.6 (54) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4564)
  • Swan Districts became the first club to win a match with two fewer goals since East Perth did so in the last round of 1961 against South Fremantle.[10]
  • The Swans hold West Perth out into a five-goal breeze after the Cardinals kick a goal in the opening minute, kicking 0.4 (4) to 0.3 (3) with stars Walker, Nowotny and Ron Boucher dominating.[11]

Round 7
Round 7
Saturday, 19 May West Perth 15.15 (105) def. South Fremantle 12.14 (86) Leederville Oval (crowd: 10523)
Saturday, 19 May Perth 14.11 (95) def. by Swan Districts 20.16 (136) Lathlain Park (crowd: 12933)
Saturday, 19 May Claremont 12.10 (82) def. by Subiaco 13.11 (89) Claremont Oval (crowd: 9320)
Saturday, 19 May East Fremantle 13.14 (92) def. by East Perth 23.20 (158) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8982)

Injuries to Vernon Orr, David Mile and fullback John Lewis (who was thrashing Austin Robertson, Jr. and threatening to keep him goalless for the first time since 1965) deny Claremont a win despite playing their best football of the season.[12]

Round 8
Round 8
Saturday, 26 May East Perth 23.13 (151) def. South Fremantle 16.19 (115) Perth Oval (crowd: 10178)
Saturday, 26 May Subiaco 18.17 (125) def. Perth 7.7 (49) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 9049)
Saturday, 26 May Claremont 17.11 (113) def. by Swan Districts 17.20 (122) Claremont Oval (crowd: 9000)
Saturday, 26 May East Fremantle 17.11 (113) def. West Perth 9.16 (70) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8714)

Round 9
Round 9
Saturday, 2 June Swan Districts 7.8 (50) def. by Subiaco 15.16 (106) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 10050)
Saturday, 2 June West Perth 15.11 (101) def. East Perth 9.12 (66) Leederville Oval (crowd: 10249)
Saturday, 2 June Perth 13.12 (90) def. by Claremont 16.9 (105) Lathlain Park (crowd: 6431)
Saturday, 2 June South Fremantle 19.13 (127) def. East Fremantle 8.16 (64) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9148)

Round 10
Round 10
Saturday, 9 June Subiaco 10.13 (73) def. South Fremantle 5.11 (41) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6694)
Saturday, 9 June Perth 11.12 (78) def. East Perth 10.6 (66) Lathlain Park (crowd: 5245)
Saturday, 9 June West Perth 8.13 (61) def. Claremont 5.8 (38) Leederville Oval (crowd: 6697)
Saturday, 9 June East Fremantle 12.11 (83) def. Swan Districts 9.6 (60) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5656)
  • Barry Cable has an astonishing 44 kicks and 11 handballs as Perth end their worst losing run since 1945 over the top-placed reigning premiers.[13]
  • West Perth full-forward Phil Smith kicks 6.2 in heavy rain to win the match on his own and deliver “the final nail in Claremont's coffin”.[14]

Round 11
Round 11
Saturday, 16 June South Fremantle 17.17 (119) def. Swan Districts 8.13 (61) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5860)
Saturday, 16 June West Perth 12.12 (84) def. Perth 7.15 (57) Leederville Oval (crowd: 6478)
Saturday, 16 June East Perth 6.19 (55) def. by Subiaco 8.11 (59) Perth Oval (crowd: 9880)
Saturday, 16 June Claremont 16.13 (109) def. by East Fremantle 18.11 (119) Claremont Oval (crowd: 5465)

Round 12
Round 12
Saturday, 23 June Subiaco 10.7 (67) def. by West Perth 13.10 (88) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 13357)
Saturday, 23 June Swan Districts 7.14 (56) def. by East Perth 14.16 (100) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 8191)
Saturday, 23 June South Fremantle 12.12 (84) def. Claremont 6.10 (46) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7779)
Saturday, 23 June Perth 11.12 (78) def. by East Fremantle 14.16 (100) Lathlain Park (crowd: 6281)

Round 13
Round 13
Saturday, 30 June West Perth 9.18 (72) def. Swan Districts 8.6 (54) Leederville Oval (crowd: 9289)
Saturday, 30 June Perth 12.9 (81) def. by South Fremantle 16.14 (110) Lathlain Park (crowd: 7307)
Saturday, 30 June Claremont 14.15 (99) def. by East Perth 15.10 (100) Claremont Oval (crowd: 7356)
Saturday, 30 June East Fremantle 7.16 (58) def. by Subiaco 16.13 (109) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8309)

Three goals from the previously outplayed Archie Duda win East Perth a thriller against the tailender despite a 70-metre shot from Bruce Duperouzel on the siren (which was punched clear).[15]

Round 14
Round 14
Saturday, 14 July South Fremantle 6.10 (46) def. by West Perth 13.17 (95) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7402)
Saturday, 14 July Swan Districts 3.12 (30) def. by Perth 5.11 (41) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 5220)
Saturday, 14 July Subiaco 12.19 (91) def. Claremont 10.8 (68) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5684)
Saturday, 14 July East Perth 12.15 (87) def. East Fremantle 9.9 (63) Perth Oval (crowd: 5358)
  • Perth were the first team goalless at half-time since East Fremantle kicked only 0.2 (2) in three quarters on the same weekend six years before. The Demons ultimately became the last team to win after being goalless at half-time until East Perth did so in 2002, and one of only four since 1921.[a]
  • The aggregate score remains the lowest for Bassendean Oval[8] and the second-lowest for any Swan Districts match.[16] A lower aggregate score was not seen until Round 18, 1998.

Round 15
Round 15
Saturday, 21 July Subiaco 14.9 (93) def. Swan Districts 12.7 (79) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6554)
Saturday, 21 July East Perth 13.11 (89) def. West Perth 9.11 (65) Perth Oval (crowd: 16659)
Saturday, 21 July Claremont 13.14 (92) def. Perth 12.17 (89) Claremont Oval (crowd: 5933)
Saturday, 21 July East Fremantle 7.11 (53) def. by South Fremantle 17.9 (111) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11960)

Round 16
Round 16
Saturday, 28 July South Fremantle 18.9 (117) def. East Perth 12.16 (88) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 10584)
Saturday, 28 July Perth 6.15 (51) def. by Subiaco 8.9 (57) Lathlain Park (crowd: 5868)
Saturday, 28 July Swan Districts 10.11 (71) def. by Claremont 13.18 (96) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 5000)
Saturday, 28 July West Perth 21.12 (138) def. East Fremantle 11.18 (84) Leederville Oval (crowd: 7534)
  • Perth were goalless at half-time for the second time in three weeks, the closest together successive occurrences by a team since Claremont in 1945 were goalless at half-time twice in consecutive matches against Perth[17] and East Fremantle.[18]
  • Two posters and the absence of forward mainstay Murray Couper allow Subiaco to hold on in the rain as Perth press hard at the close.[19]

Round 17
Round 17
Saturday, 4 August South Fremantle 8.13 (61) def. by Subiaco 15.8 (98) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 12324)
Saturday, 4 August East Perth 18.14 (122) def. Perth 10.14 (74) Perth Oval (crowd: 7158)
Saturday, 4 August Claremont 9.8 (62) def. by West Perth 9.13 (67) Claremont Oval (crowd: not disclosed)
Saturday, 4 August Swan Districts 14.13 (97) def. by East Fremantle 16.14 (110) Bassendean Oval (crowd: not disclosed)

West Perth lose top spot despite winning a game where tailender Claremont wins three quarters, and their injuries rocket Subiaco to premiership favouritism for the first time at this stage since 1935.[3]

Round 18
Round 18
Saturday, 11 August Swan Districts 12.9 (81) def. South Fremantle 11.13 (79) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 6002)
Saturday, 11 August Perth 14.10 (94) def. West Perth 12.7 (79) Lathlain Park (crowd: 6513)
Saturday, 11 August Subiaco 10.12 (72) def. East Perth 8.15 (63) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 12497)
Saturday, 11 August East Fremantle 11.18 (84) def. Claremont 9.11 (65) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6744)
  • Perth move from the bottom in a win that flatters the Cardinals - and this despite Cable suffering from asthma.[20]
  • Swan Districts, despite scoring only 1.0 (6) to 6.4 (40) in the last quarter, end a run of nine defeats, with future Fitzroy forward star Bob Beecroft moved from the ruck for the first time to great effect despite kicking only three behinds.[21]

Round 19
Round 19
Saturday, 18 August West Perth 9.10 (64) def. Subiaco 9.8 (62) Leederville Oval (crowd: 15262)
Saturday, 18 August East Perth 13.13 (91) def. Swan Districts 7.10 (52) Perth Oval (crowd: 8769)
Saturday, 18 August Claremont 14.16 (100) def. by South Fremantle 16.13 (109) Claremont Oval (crowd: 7570)
Saturday, 18 August East Fremantle 20.16 (136) def. Perth 10.9 (69) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7342)

Bill Dempsey and reluctant defender Keith Miller help the Cardinals rebound to a thrilling win in a battle of defences. Austin Robertson kicked four goals to finish the match with 1,201, two behind former Cardinal Tyson.[22]

Round 20
Round 20
Saturday, 25 August Swan Districts 13.17 (95) def. West Perth 10.16 (76) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 7620)
Saturday, 25 August South Fremantle 20.18 (138) def. Perth 10.16 (76) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8235)
Saturday, 25 August East Perth 16.10 (106) def. Claremont 9.17 (71) Perth Oval (crowd: 8334)
Saturday, 25 August Subiaco 15.15 (105) def. East Fremantle 11.15 (81) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 9899)

Austin Robertson was chaired from the ground after three goals took him to the WANFL record which he has held since.[23]

Round 21
Round 21
Saturday, 1 September West Perth 11.14 (80) def. South Fremantle 9.18 (72) Leederville Oval (crowd: 12873)
Saturday, 1 September Perth 14.16 (100) def. Swan Districts 13.14 (92) Lathlain Park (crowd: 7362)
Saturday, 1 September Claremont 14.10 (94) def. by Subiaco 17.18 (120) Claremont Oval (crowd: 6608)
Saturday, 1 September East Fremantle 17.19 (121) def. East Perth 9.12 (66) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9936)

East Fremantle’s desperation and determination gives them an unexpected finals place after rivals South lose.[24]

Ladder
1973 ladder
Pos Team Pld W L D PF PA PP Pts
1 Subiaco (P) 21 16 5 0 1873 1514 123.7 64
2 West Perth 21 15 6 0 1749 1504 116.3 60
3 East Perth 21 14 7 0 2006 1768 113.5 56
4 East Fremantle 21 11 10 0 1834 2009 91.3 44
5 South Fremantle 21 10 11 0 2003 1915 104.6 40
6 Swan Districts 21 8 13 0 1735 1883 92.1 32
7 Perth 21 6 15 0 1635 2008 81.4 24
8 Claremont 21 4 17 0 1720 1954 88.0 16
Source: WAFL Footy Facts
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers.

Finals

First semi-final
First semi-final
Sunday, 9 September East Perth 17.19 (121) def. East Fremantle 9.18 (72) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 25,500)

East Perth reverse the last round result with a dramatic team reshuffle, as East Fremantle fail to use a strong wind in the first quarter.[25][26]

Second semi-final
Second semi-final
Saturday, 15 September Subiaco 13.7 (85) def. by West Perth 15.13 (103) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 31,320)

Mel Whinnen’s dominance of Peter Featherby in the centre and strong roving by Bill Valli and Shane Sheridan put the Cardinals in the Grand Final more comfortably than the score suggested.[27]

Preliminary final
Preliminary final
Saturday, 22 September Subiaco 18.13 (121) def. East Perth 17.9 (111) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 31,050)

Subiaco win for the fourth time over the Royals in a match notable for a behind to East Perth being retracted after being placed on the scoreboard late in the second quarter (due to a Lion free kick).[28]

Grand Final
1973 WANFL Grand Final
Saturday, 29 September West Perth def. by Subiaco Subiaco Oval (crowd: 46,885) [29]
2.0 (12)
4.2 (26)
5.2 (32)
 6.4 (40)		 Q1
Q2
Q3
 Final		 3.4 (22)
3.7 (25)
7.10 (52)
 10.12 (72)		 Simpson Medal: Dennis Blair (Subiaco)
Geoff Taylor 2, Anderson, Logan, Watling, Sheridan Goals Watt 4, Malone 3, Robertson, Fitzpatrick, Davenport
Aitken, Steward, Whinnen, Walker, Prinster, Knell Best Ross Smith, Blair, Watt, Manning, Davenport, Fitzpatrick, Crouch, Malone

Subiaco’s superb defence win their first flag since 1924 on a very windy and damp afternoon.

Notes

a The other two were by West Perth against Swan Districts in 1940 and the Cardinals against South Fremantle in 1966.

References
  1. Spillman, Ken; Diehards - the Story of the Subiaco Football Club 1946-2000. pp. 153–172 ISBN 0-9578185-0-5
  2. Casellas, Ken; ‘Swans Make Capital of Panic Moves’; The West Australian, 16 April 1973, p. 59
  3. Casellas, Ken; ‘Claremont Show Up West Perth Flaws’; The West Australian, 6 August 1973, p. 59
  4. Swan Districts Football Club; SWANS - THE FIRST 40 YEARS (1934-1974) (2007)
  5. Hopkins, Colin; “Swans Need More than Blue Skies”; The West Australian, 14 July 1973; p. 46
  6. ‘Five Goals to Blethyn’; The West Australian, 9 April 1973, p. 59
  7. Casellas, Ken; ‘Quicksilver South Humble Subiaco’; The West Australian, 24 April 1973, p. 47
  8. WAFL Footy Facts: Bassendean Oval Archived September 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  9. Casellas, Ken; ‘Claremont Should Not Get Carried Away’; The West Australian, 7 May 1973, p. 55
  10. "WAFL Footy Facts: Wins With Fewer Goals". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  11. Hopkins, Colin; ‘Swans Show How to Fight Back’; The West Australian, 14 May 1973, p. 59
  12. Casellas, Ken; ‘Is There a Jinx on Claremont?’; The West Australian, 21 May 1973, p. 56
  13. East, Alan; “Perth Can Thank Cable”; The West Australian, 11 June 1973, p. 59
  14. Christian, Geoff; “West Perth Carry Too Many Guns”; The West Australian, 11 June 1973, p. 59
  15. Casellas, Ken; ‘East Perth Steady in Crisis’; The West Australian, 2 July 1973, p. 55
  16. Australian Football: Swan Districts Least Points in a Game
  17. Perth vs Claremont: R15 1945
  18. East Fremantle vs Clarmeont: R16 1945
  19. East, Alan; “Subiaco Have Their Worries”; The West Australian, 30 July 1973, p. 46
  20. Hopkins, Colin; ‘West Perth Have Slipped a Little’; The West Australian, 13 August 1973, p. 51
  21. East, Alan; ‘Where Now, South?’; The West Australian, 13 August 1973, p. 51
  22. Christian, Geoff; ‘West Perth Held the Call in Trumps’; The West Australian, 20 August 1973, p. 59
  23. ‘Record’; The West Australian, 27 August 1973; p. 68
  24. Hopkins, Colin; ‘East Perth Stripped by East Fremantle’; The West Australian, 3 September 1973, p. 71
  25. Christian, Geoff; ‘East Fremantle Were Gone by Quarter-Time’; The West Australian, 10 September 1973, p. 59
  26. East, Alan; ‘Youth Has Its Reward’; The West Australian, 10 September 1973, p. 59
  27. Christian, Geoff; ‘West Perth in Command Where It Counts’; The West Australian, 17 September 1973, p. 63
  28. ‘Point Comes Off Score’; The West Australian, 24 September 1973, p. 62
  29. Christian, Geoff; ‘The Year of Subiaco: Defence Holds Firm, Smith Sets Pattern’; The West Australian, 1 October 1973, pp. 51-52
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