1974 –
Todd wins the flag and gets the boot not long after
the PFC returnned to the top of the table
Subiaco proved the previous year was a fluke, as they only just made the finals thanks to the mighty cardies
the cardies actually finished last
SD had a good year finishing third
EP had an ordinary year given that, in general the club had a successufl era in the 1970s
Myself and Swandog were only chatting about 1974-75 the other day AR as to the Swans side in those 2 years under Ensor. We were both too young to know but on paper we had a pretty decent side especially in the big man department with the likes of Sidebottom, Beecroft, George, Mullooly, Gillespie, Boucher et al but we just couldn’t get the job done come finals time. Would be great to hear Swans fans who can remember that time thoughts on where we went wrong?
Ark I use to study Wafl seasons quiet closely,here I go.
East Freo beat Perth 5 times in 74 including the 2nd semi and GF.
Swans had a narrow 15 point prel loss like in 75.
West Perth made history 74-75 and 59-60.Bottom to top.
EF centre man David Holland Sandover.
The first of J Todd’s 6 coached premierships at 3 differnt clubs.
Not sure about state games but would of been smashed by Vics.Although we where very unlucky in 1973 on the MCG.
Going to have a look on Wafl online.Dont know if 74 was a wet winter.My guess the av crowd would be around 10,000 per game.Not quiet as high as the boom 1960’s but still v-good.
BH I was to young to remember that era .But my late grandfather never missed a game in that era.I was told they where a midfielder or 2 short on the big Subi oval.They played a straight VFL type game using the players you mentioned.
Didn’t Melly win the Sandover in 74 gtr?
Knowing an EF player from that era he has told me they had a pretty big summer after that 74 flag (not necessarily on the track) thus contributing to an average 75 although losing Melly to North Melbourne wouldn’t have helped either.
I am the same my first memory was 1980
One thing I did notice was that 'freezin’s mate Glen Durnthaler played in the grand final and kicked two goals.
bh: I think Swans might have been a wee bit 'top heavy in that final? Some great names
gtr: beautifully spotted on the WP front – I was going to mention their rise fall and rise. 69,71,73, 75
I thought Dave Hollins Won the Sandover in '71 and Graham Melrose Won in '74?
As for the Season itself,Perth had a Fairly Successfull Season,finishing Runners Up in the League and Premiers in the Ressies under Brian Ashbolt’s Coaching Reigns.
We couldn’t roll Old Easts in 5 Attempts,but had Swans’ measure 4 Times.17 500 saw the Round 21 Clash at Bassendean to Determine 2nd Spot and a Double Chance.
We ended up Stramrolling Jack’s Swans by 69 Points.
Had a Great Win against South at The Port,winning by 6 points,with the Winner kicked by Bryan Cousins,intercepting a Backline Howler by the Bulldogs in the last few seconds.
I thought Dave Hollins Won the Sandover in '71 and Graham Melrose Won in '74?
As for the Season itself,Perth had a Fairly Successfull Season,finishing Runners Up in the League and Premiers in the Ressies under Brian Ashbolt’s Coaching Reigns.
We couldn’t roll Old Easts in 5 Attempts,but had Swans’ measure 4 Times.17 500 saw the Round 21 Clash at Bassendean to Determine 2nd Spot and a Double Chance.
We ended up Stramrolling Jack’s Swans by 69 Points.
Had a Great Win against South at The Port,winning by 6 points,with the Winner kicked by Bryan Cousins,intercepting a Backline Howler by the Bulldogs in the last few seconds.
I thought Dave Hollins Won the Sandover in '71 and Graham Melrose Won in '74?
As for the Season itself,Perth had a Fairly Successfull Season,finishing Runners Up in the League and Premiers in the Ressies under Brian Ashbolt’s Coaching Reigns.
We couldn’t roll Old Easts in 5 Attempts,but had Swans’ measure 4 Times.17 500 saw the Round 21 Clash at Bassendean to Determine 2nd Spot and a Double Chance.
We ended up Stramrolling Jack’s Swans by 69 Points.
Had a Great Win against South at The Port,winning by 6 points,with the Winner kicked by Bryan Cousins,intercepting a Backline Howler by the Bulldogs in the last few seconds.
Didn’t Melly win the Sandover in 74 gtr?
Knowing an EF player from that era he has told me they had a pretty big summer after that 74 flag (not necessarily on the track) thus contributing to an average 75 although losing Melly to North Melbourne wouldn’t have helped either.
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Champagne Bottle had already been uncorked straight after the Final Siren,if I remember 1 Photo of Toddy,friend and Melly correctly.
The crowds where solid in 1974.Considering well supported clubs East Perth,West Perth and South Freo didnt make the finals.L=Largest crowd ,S= Smallest crowd.
R1 L10,856 S 9310,R2 L 16,922 S 9841 , R3 L11,634 S8742 , R4 L15,552 S8902 ,R5 7353 S5447,R6 9722 S5158,R7 8899 S7421,R8 16,110 S6377,R9 L12,940,R10 L11,222,R12 L7821,R13 L 9830,R14 L 14,703,R15 L 8812,R16 L 13,110,R17 L 7329,R18 L 15,325,R19 L 8,320,R20 L 17,520,R21 L11,914.
The smallest Wafl attendance in 1974 was R 17 bottom of the table clash Cmt V WP ClaremontOval 4,582.
I hope you didn’t spend too much time researching those attendance records on wafl online when I have already done it for you on my site - here the link to the attendance records for 1974. Follow the navigation page to,help,you get there from the home page WAFL FootyFacts - 1974
I hope you didn’t spend too much time researching those attendance records on wafl online when I have already done it for you on my site - here the link to the attendance records for 1974. Follow the navigation page to,help,you get there from the home page WAFL FootyFacts - 1974
Thankyou Rick.Perth didn’t crack 1 million people till the Earley 80’s.Thoes crowds are outstanding for there time.But still a bit below the late 60’s.
Know where to go nxt time I’m looking for thoes stats.
Thank - You both all the same.
All part of a Golden Era of WAFL and WANFL Footy.
1974 was the first time Swans had made the finals for 9 years. They were a youngish side that had been rebuilt by Ensor and were up against some experienced sides in the finals. They confounded the critics by beating reining premiers Subiaco in the first semi final, but Perth were our nemesis that year and we were defeated by them in the preliminary final, I recall that Swans were very competitive in that game but wasted a lot of scoring opportunities.
1975 we were blown off the park by Graeme Campbells West Perth in the 2nd semi final as were South Fremantle in the Grand Final that year. Swans had beaten West Perth by over 100 points at a muddy Bassendean Oval just before the finals but didn’t have the pace to match it with the Cardinals on the more spacious Subiaco Oval.
Great work Ric.
Good to see the time honoured Eastern Derby easily had the highest attended home and away crowd that season…it might be time for the WAFC to move that historic clash back to Foundation Day starting next year!
GTR you are right about the population when I was in Primary School in the 80s Adelaide had a higher population than Perth now we have almost doubled them in size only 30 years later!
So true Ark but I think after 49 years in the wilderness we were allowed a decent premiership hangover, shame it was13 years long!! I was at the 74 FSF and it was not a bad effort after just scrapping into the finals, Swans had a big side back then, the very beginnings of that champion triple flag side of the early 80’s.
BH have a look on Rick’s site at the late 60’s.Perth maby 600 ,000.The Wafl crowds where massive.
gtr: yep, I remember people saying that in those days you either played football, cricket or netball, making Perth a very different place to today.