Ark the Wafl GF in 1969 had over 51,000.There was prob only 1 million in WA.1 out of every 20 people in this state went to that game of footy.So in today’s numbers you could fill the MCG twise.
My main memory of Cricket from that era was how good we were.Dennis Lillies bowled for Wa like he did for Au.
Netball can remember watching games in Wembley around Perry Lakes .Where there was 50 games being played at the same time.
The year John Todd first came of age as a very , very good WAFL coach
This was the year South started to embark on relaunch that would propel it through to the early 80s as a force in WANFL footy , 4 grand finals , pity we only won 1.
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!
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BH I remember that round 21 game in 1974. There were a number of teams jostling for spots in the four in that final round and there was a massive buildup to the game at Bassendean. Prior to the game it was assumed that Swans would have to beat Perth to make the finals because Souths were playing bottom side West Perth at Fremantle and if we lost and the Doggies won,they would leapfrog us on the basis of a superior percentage. It was a fantastic atmosphere at the ground on the day with over 17,000 there, but the game itself turned out to be a complete fizzer. After an even first quarter, Perth were far too good, running away with the game to win by 69 points. I had resigned myself to mothballs until I noticed that quite a few Swans supporters were not watching the game anymore and had transistor radios up to their ears. It was then I discovered that West Perth were upsetting South and by doing so qualifying Swans for the finals after all. It was a bit weird seeing the Swans players coming off the ground all forlorn after being flogged but the supporters cheering for West Perth like they never thought they would.
History then shows that Swans won their first semi final the week after that against Subiaco and but for poor kicking (4-9 in a dominant 3rd quarter) could well have won the preliminary final against Perth.
Great memories of some fantastic football days in the 70’s
Bazza Claremont where as good as any Wafl side from the past in 1981.Only lost 2 games.Had a Cricket score %.
SF blew that GF kicking 6-12 in the second qtr.Should of been over at halftime.All of Magic Maurices hard work was wasted.
Yeah mate, but the GF attendance in 1974 of 40k would of been disappointing for that era, 52k the year after.
gtr: Yep, it is a myth peddlled by the apoligists for the AFL that more people have attended the football since 1986 than before the onest of the Eagles. Around 40,000 people use to watch the four games each week, today 40,000 watch the AFL each week.
The problem with AFL is its a domestic AU game played in the Southern States.Wa,Sa,Vic,Tas.Act and Nt are a mix of Afl and Rugby codes.
Back to 86 the Wafl and VFL where on the verges of bankruptcy. SA investment in Football Park in the early 70’s put SA footy in a stronger position.
The AFL has grown footy but the casualties have been every level of footy below the AFL.Salary Caps ,Draft equity have ensured a solid comp.Still not sold on GCS or GWS .
Just on the world game thread and the massive money thrown around.It just can’t be sustainable for ever as player payments and transfer fees.Have an ASX PE Ratio of well over 1000%.Maby Wenger can see the future problems.AFL.NRL +A League all have salary caps.
1974…Doug Green…first autograph I ever got…had to bypass Durnthaler to get it though!!
SS: I am glad you could relate to my comment about Subi that year, I got frustratted simplly readding the results. Still, we must give great credit to the other sides in the competition at that time.
SD supporters, what ever happened to Brian Close?
My memories are that it was a very wet winter and a weird footy season.
Third and fourth on the ladder had percentages less than a 100 and fifth and sixth above a 100???
The bottom two teams caused a bit of damage along the way.
Also remember on the 72 bus reading an article in the Daily News that stated nobody wanted to play Swans as they were storming towards the end of the season and had the potential to go all the way.
The Old East players dedicated themselves to be able to run a 100, 100 yard sprints by the END of the home and aways.
Their warm down on Sunday was a lap to the Canning Bridge and back with some stretches thrown in half way.
A lot different today.
Played at Swans from 1973-78…84 games-105 goals then went to play in the SANFL for Woodville from memory AR in 1979 through to 1981. Came back to WA in 1982 & played at SF.
Was also the CEO (General Manager) at Swans for many years in the late 80s-90s.
Finished his league career under Mal Brown at South Fremantle - had some very good games too number 15 I think from memory
BH I remember that round 21 game in 1974. There were a number of teams jostling for spots in the four in that final round and there was a massive buildup to the game at Bassendean. Prior to the game it was assumed that Swans would have to beat Perth to make the finals because Souths were playing bottom side West Perth at Fremantle and if we lost and the Doggies won,they would leapfrog us on the basis of a superior percentage. It was a fantastic atmosphere at the ground on the day with over 17,000 there, but the game itself turned out to be a complete fizzer. After an even first quarter, Perth were far too good, running away with the game to win by 69 points. I had resigned myself to mothballs until I noticed that quite a few Swans supporters were not watching the game anymore and had transistor radios up to their ears. It was then I discovered that West Perth were upsetting South and by doing so qualifying Swans for the finals after all. It was a bit weird seeing the Swans players coming off the ground all forlorn after being flogged but the supporters cheering for West Perth like they never thought they would.
History then shows that Swans won their first semi final the week after that against Subiaco and but for poor kicking (4-9 in a dominant 3rd quarter) could well have won the preliminary final against Perth.
Great memories of some fantastic football days in the 70’s
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Thanks Mike that is a great recollection much appreciated.
Gentleman bloke who was a very good golfer to boot.
Has been running Lakelands for a while but not sure if he is there presently.
Gentleman bloke who was a very good golfer to boot.
Has been running Lakelands for a while but not sure if he is there presently.
BH: I noticed ‘the missing years’ on Ric’s site. He was a bit brave going to Woodville in those days, the great Malacolm Blight aside. Close kicked 10.2 in a game against Old Easts (1975?)
Southerner: cheers mate
Devonleigh: thanks mate
He did kick a bag of 10 vs Freezes mob in 75 AR I believe at that time the first rover to do so but since bettered by Noel Carter in 1981 from memory.
Played under him at Basso amateurs in the 90’s…coached colts and or ressies at SD from memory at some stage…no longer at Lakelands the last time I bumped in to him, had a bigger gig somewhere on the WA golfing landscape but sorrry can’t recall where. As a coach found he had a unique way of dealing with a cheeky lazy young fella I used to be. Would always say “how bout you start training and prove to me you’re a better player than I think you are” …Closey use to get right under my skin in his short stint at our club…might have even trained twice a week during those 2 seasons…pinged the hammy badly during this period and to this day every time I bump in to him he tells me I coulda been a champ with that wry grin of his indicating otherwise…apparently he could play a bit or so he told me on numerous occasions 