1924 WAFL season

The 1924 WAFL season was the 40th season of the West Australian Football League. Although East Perth and East Fremantle completely dominated the season until after the Carnival, each having lost only one match of the first eleven, neither was to win the premiership and the Royals’ record sequence of five consecutive premierships came to an end in the semi-final.

1924 WAFL season
Teams6
PremiersSubiaco
4th premiership
Minor premiersEast Fremantle
14th minor premiership
Sandover MedallistJim Gosnell (West Perth)
Bernie Naylor MedallistBonny Campbell (East Perth)
Matches played49

Subiaco, who along with Perth had been in the doldrums during previous seasons, finally developed the teamwork to match the individual talents of players like Outridge, skipper “Snowy” Hamilton and young rover Johnny Leonard – consequently carrying all before them during the finals after a mediocre home-and-away season.[1] Despite maintaining prominence for another decade, the Maroons were to become a perennial cellar-dweller for three decades and failed to win another premiership until 1973 – the longest premiership drought in WA(N)FL history. Despite Gosnell being the second of their famous half-back line to win the Sandover Medal, West Perth fell to wooden spooners owing to the suspension of key forward Fred Wimbridge for most of the season.[2]

Following controversy over his clearance from South Fremantle that caused him to sit out the 1923 season,[3] East Perth's “Bonny” Campbell was to break Allan Evans’ record from 1921 for the most goals scored during a WAFL season with 67.[4]

Including the Hobart Carnival, where he kicked 51 goals - including an amazing 23 goals against Queensland[3] - Campbell kicked 118 goals for the entire year, with his 100-goal season coming five years before Gordon Coventry and six years before Ken Farmer.

Home-and-away season

Round 1
Round 1
Saturday, 3 May (3:00 pm) West Perth 6.10 (46) def. by Subiaco 8.8 (56) Leederville Oval [5]
Saturday, 3 May (3:00 pm) East Fremantle 15.12 (102) def. South Fremantle 5.9 (39) Fremantle Oval [6]
Saturday, 3 May (3:00 pm) East Perth 10.9 (69) def. Perth 6.13 (49) Perth Oval [7]

East Perth unfurl their pennant with eight goals in the second quarter, and despite scoring only 0.5 (5) after half-time Perth cannot catch them.

Round 2
Round 2
Saturday, 10 May (3:00 pm) Perth 7.11 (53) def. by East Fremantle 10.17 (77) WACA [8]
Saturday, 10 May (3:00 pm) South Fremantle 9.12 (66) def. West Perth 7.10 (52) Fremantle Oval [9]
Saturday, 10 May (3:00 pm) Subiaco 11.13 (79) def. by East Perth 13.6 (84) Subiaco Oval [10]

Round 3
Round 3
Saturday, 17 May (3:00 pm) West Perth 12.11 (83) def. by Perth 16.5 (101) Leederville Oval [11]
Saturday, 17 May (3:00 pm) South Fremantle 10.9 (69) drew with Subiaco 9.15 (69) Fremantle Oval [12]
Saturday, 17 May (3:00 pm) East Fremantle 12.9 (81) def. East Perth 9.12 (66) Perth Oval [13]

With Evans kicking eight goals, Perth win its first match and only its fifth since the end of 1921.

Round 4
Round 4
Saturday, 24 May (3:00 pm) Subiaco 8.11 (59) def. Perth 6.7 (43) Subiaco Oval [14]
Saturday, 24 May (3:00 pm) East Fremantle 13.14 (92) def. West Perth 8.2 (50) Fremantle Oval [15]
Saturday, 24 May (3:00 pm) East Perth 16.12 (108) def. South Fremantle 3.6 (24) Perth Oval [16]

“Bonny” Campbell becomes the first East Perth player to kick double figures in a match[17] as the Royals demolish South Fremantle for the biggest win the WAFL since 1919.

Round 5 (Foundation Day)
Round 5
Saturday, 31 May (3:00 pm) Perth 6.12 (48) def. by South Fremantle 7.8 (50) WACA [18]
Saturday, 31 May (3:00 pm) East Fremantle 11.8 (74) def. Subiaco 9.11 (65) Fremantle Oval [19]
Monday, 2 June (3:00 pm) West Perth 5.13 (43) def. by East Perth 10.11 (71) Leederville Oval [20]

Round 6
Round 6
Saturday, 7 June (3:00 pm) Perth 6.3 (39) def. by East Perth 9.11 (65) WACA [21]
Saturday, 7 June (3:00 pm) Subiaco 10.8 (68) def. West Perth 9.9 (63) Subiaco Oval [22]
Saturday, 7 June (3:00 pm) East Fremantle 11.13 (79) def. South Fremantle 5.12 (42) Fremantle Oval [23]

Johnny Leonard’s superb roving in a high-standard match in heavy rain ensures West Perth remain winless and keeps the Maroons clear in third position.

Round 7
Round 7
Saturday, 14 June (3:00 pm) East Fremantle 13.16 (94) def. Perth 8.12 (60) Fremantle Oval [24]
Saturday, 14 June (3:00 pm) East Perth 17.9 (111) def. Subiaco 7.15 (57) Perth Oval [25]
Saturday, 14 June (3:00 pm) West Perth 11.18 (84) def. South Fremantle 5.8 (38) Leederville Oval [26]

With Campbell adding another six goals as the rain of previous weeks cleared, East Perth and East Fremantle move ten points clear just before the halfway mark of the season.

Round 8
Round 8
Saturday, 21 June (3:00 pm) Perth 9.8 (62) def. by West Perth 9.10 (64) WACA [27]
Saturday, 21 June (3:00 pm) East Fremantle 8.16 (64) def. by East Perth 11.12 (78) Fremantle Oval [28]
Saturday, 21 June (3:00 pm) Subiaco 11.7 (73) def. South Fremantle 8.11 (59) Subiaco Oval [29]
  • West Perth move a game clear of Perth at the bottom in a game marred by numerous all-in-brawls.
  • East Perth end East Fremantle’s undefeated run with a strong second-quarter burst reminiscent of their opening round match with Perth.

Round 9
Round 9
Saturday, 28 June (3:00 pm) West Perth 8.10 (58) def. by East Fremantle 14.11 (95) Leederville Oval [30]
Saturday, 28 June (3:00 pm) Perth 7.11 (53) def. by Subiaco 12.14 (86) WACA [31]
Saturday, 28 June (3:00 pm) South Fremantle 9.8 (62) def. by East Perth 14.11 (95) Fremantle Oval [32]

Round 10
Round 10
Saturday, 5 July (3:00 pm) Subiaco 12.9 (81) def. by East Fremantle 15.12 (102) Subiaco Oval [33]
Saturday, 5 July (3:00 pm) East Perth 10.16 (76) def. West Perth 10.6 (66) Perth Oval [34]
Saturday, 5 July (3:00 pm) South Fremantle 12.11 (83) def. Perth 8.11 (59) Fremantle Oval [35]

In an exceptional standard preview of the grand final, East Fremantle kick three goals that belie the closeness of the match all afternoon.

Round 11
Round 11
Saturday, 12 July (3:00 pm) West Perth 11.18 (84) def. Subiaco 6.9 (45) Leederville Oval [36]
Saturday, 12 July (3:00 pm) East Fremantle 10.14 (74) def. South Fremantle 9.9 (63) Fremantle Oval [37]
Saturday, 12 July (3:00 pm) East Perth 9.11 (65) def. Perth 7.9 (51) Perth Oval [38]

Despite asking for the return of three irregular membership tickets,[39] West Perth win easily to move within half a win of the top four.

Round 12
Round 12
Saturday, 19 July (3:00 pm) Subiaco 11.7 (73) def. East Perth 8.7 (55) Subiaco Oval [40]
Saturday, 19 July (3:00 pm) Perth 8.5 (53) def. by East Fremantle 8.11 (59) WACA [41]
Saturday, 19 July (3:00 pm) South Fremantle 10.9 (69) def. West Perth 9.5 (59) Fremantle Oval [42]
  • Subiaco record a surprise victory over East Perth with a strong first half to give the first suggestion the premiership will not be a two-horse race as had appeared previously.
  • Minus eventual Sandover winner Jim Gosnell (illness),[43] West Perth in a high-standard match fail to take fourth position and do not obtain another opportunity.

Round 13
Round 13
Saturday, 26 July (3:00 pm) East Fremantle 10.7 (67) def. East Perth 7.12 (54) Subiaco Oval [44]
Saturday, 26 July (3:00 pm) West Perth 6.11 (47) def. by Perth 10.11 (71) Leederville Oval [45]
Saturday, 26 July (3:00 pm) South Fremantle 9.12 (66) def. Subiaco 5.13 (43) Fremantle Oval [46]

This week’s results, in the last round before the Hobart Carnival, effectively seal both the finalists and the minor premiership, leaving East Fremantle two games clear of East Perth on top and South Fremantle ten points clear of West Perth for fourth.

Round 14
Round 14
Saturday, 30 August (3:00 pm) Subiaco 6.14 (50) def. by Perth 12.9 (81) Subiaco Oval [47]
Saturday, 30 August (3:00 pm) East Perth 15.15 (105) def. South Fremantle 8.12 (60) Perth Oval [48]
Saturday, 30 August (3:00 pm) East Fremantle 12.4 (76) def. West Perth 7.9 (51) Fremantle Oval [49]

Dash and pace – which some thought inherited from a tour of the Eastern States early in August[50] – allow the Redlegs to move from the bottom and avoid a fourth consecutive wooden spoon.

Round 15
Round 15
Saturday, 6 September (3:00 pm) West Perth 10.14 (74) def. by East Perth 17.9 (111) Leederville Oval [51]
Saturday, 6 September (3:00 pm) Perth 8.13 (61) def. South Fremantle 6.11 (47) WACA [52]
Saturday, 6 September (3:00 pm) East Fremantle 8.11 (59) def. by Subiaco 11.15 (81) Fremantle Oval [53]

Subiaco’s surprise victory, with the promising Greg Hickey fully recovered from a mid-season injury,[1] paves the way for their successes in the subsequent finals.

Ladder

1924 ladder
Pos Team Pld W L D PF PA PP Pts
1 East Fremantle 15 13 2 0 1195 894 133.7 52
2 East Perth 15 12 3 0 1213 889 136.4 48
3 Subiaco (P) 15 7 7 1 985 1049 93.9 30
4 South Fremantle 15 5 9 1 838 1112 75.4 22
5 Perth 15 4 11 0 885 999 88.6 16
6 West Perth 15 3 12 0 924 1097 84.2 12
Source: WAFL Footy Facts
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Final

First semi-final
First semi-final
Saturday, 13 September (3:00 pm) East Fremantle 12.12 (84) def. South Fremantle 7.5 (47) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4,009)

Minor premiers East Fremantle have no difficulty winning against a South team that had had the poorest record for fourth place in WAFA/WAFL history.[54]

Second semi-final
Second semi-final
Saturday, 20 September (3:00 pm) East Perth 7.11 (53) def. by Subiaco 8.13 (61) WACA (crowd: 8,260)

Subiaco end East Perth’s run of five consecutive premierships with a hard-fought victory in windy conditions, with Outridge and Leonard outstanding.[55]

Final
Final
Saturday, 27 September (3:00 pm) East Fremantle 3.9 (27) def. by Subiaco 11.7 (73) Perth Oval (crowd: 13,158)

Subiaco record an unexpectedly one-sided victory over Old Easts in perfect conditions, with their defence so strong East Fremantle kick only 1.2 (8) in the second half.[56]

Grand Final
1924 WAFL Grand Final
Saturday, 4 October (3:00 pm) East Fremantle def. by Subiaco Perth Oval (crowd: 10,519) [57]
0.1 (1)
0.4 (4)
3.5 (23)
 3.6 (24)		 Q1
Q2
Q3
 Final		 1.2 (8)
4.3 (27)
5.3 (33)
 7.9 (51)		 Umpires: “Joe” Brack
Coffey 2, Richards Goals Rodriguez 4, Grigg 2, Hickey
Dolan, Jarvis, Wicks, Truscott, Mudie, Dunne Best Grigg (best on ground), Green, Hodge, Outridge, Leonard, Hamilton, Rodriguez

A brilliant first quarter into a very strong wind sets up an unexpected premiership victory for the Maroons – to remain their last for forty-nine seasons.[58]

References
  1. Spillman, Ken; Diehards: The Story of the Subiaco Football Club 1896-1945, pp. 95-98
  2. Atkinson, Brian; It’s a Grand Old Flag: a History and Comprehensive Statistical Analysis of the West Perth Football Club 1885-2007, p. 57 ISBN 9781921361395
  3. Devaney, John; Full Points Footy’s WA Football Companion, p. 201. ISBN 9780955689710
  4. Devaney, Full Points Footy’s WA Football Companion, p. 201
  5. ‘Subiaco v West Perth’; The West Australian, 5 May 1924, p. 8
  6. ‘Old Easts Win’; The West Australian, 5 May 1924, p. 8
  7. ‘East Perth v Perth’; The West Australian, 5 May 1924, p. 8
  8. ‘East Fremantle Successful’; The West Australian, 12 May 1924, p. 11
  9. ‘South’s First Win: An Ugly Incident’; The West Australian, 12 May 1924, p. 11
  10. “Onlooker” (anonymous author); ‘East Perth v Subiaco: A Stirring Struggle’; The West Australian, 12 May 1924, p. 11
  11. ‘Perth Beat West Perth’; The West Australian, 19 May 1924, p. 10
  12. ‘South Fremantle v Subiaco – A Drawn Game’; The West Australian, 19 May 1924, p. 10
  13. ‘Old Easts Whip Young Easts’; The West Australian, 19 May 1924, p. 10
  14. ‘Subiaco Successful’; The West Australian, 26 May 1924, p. 11
  15. ‘Old Easts Win’; The West Australian, 26 May 1924, p. 11
  16. ‘Young Easts Trounce Souths: H. Campbell’s 10 Goals’; The West Australian, 26 May 1924, p. 11
  17. East, Alan; The Royals: 100 Years of Tradition – A History of the East Perth Football Club; p. 269
  18. ‘South Fremantle Successful’; The West Australian, 2 June 1924, p. 10
  19. ‘East Fremantle v Subiaco – A Splendid Game’; The West Australian 2 June 1924, p. 10
  20. ‘Football: The League Season – East Perth v West Perth – A Poor Game’; The West Australian; 3 June 1924, p. 12
  21. ‘East Perth Meet Perth’; The West Australian, 9 June 1924, p. 8
  22. ‘Subiaco v West Perth – A Good Game’; The West Australian, 9 June 1924, p. 8
  23. ‘Old Easts’ Win’; The West Australian, 9 June 1924, p. 8
  24. ‘East Fremantle Victorious – An Interesting Game’; The West Australian, 16 June 1924, p. 9
  25. ‘East Perth v Subiaco – Young Easts Win Easily’; The West Australian, 16 June 1924, p. 9
  26. ‘West Perth’s First Win’; The West Australian, 16 June 1924, p. 9
  27. ‘West Perth’s Second Victory’; The West Australian, 23 June 1924, p. 10
  28. ‘East Perth v East Fremantle – A Good Game’; The West Australian, 23 June 1924, p. 10
  29. ‘Subiaco Defeat South Fremantle’; The West Australian, 23 June 1924, p. 10
  30. ‘East Fremantle v West Perth – Easts Win Easily’; The West Australian, 30 June 1924, p. 9
  31. ‘Subiaco Defeat Perth’; The West Australian, 30 June 1924, p. 10
  32. ‘East Perth Win’; The West Australian, 30 June 1924, p. 10
  33. ‘East Fremantle v Subiaco – A Splendid Game’; The West Australian, 7 July 1924, p. 9
  34. ‘East Perth and West Perth’; The West Australian, 7 July 1924, pp. 9-10
  35. ‘South Fremantle Win’; The West Australian, 7 July 1924, p. 10
  36. ‘West Perth’s Easy Win’; The West Australian, 14 July 1924, p. 9
  37. ‘“Old Easts” Victorious’; The West Australian, 14 July 1924, pp. 9-10
  38. ‘East Perth Successful’; The West Australian, 14 July 1924, p. 10
  39. ‘West Perth Club’; The West Australian, 14 July 1924, p. 10
  40. ‘Subiaco v East Perth – Subiaco Victorious’; The West Australian, 21 July 1924, p. 9
  41. ‘East Fremantle Win’; The West Australian, 21 July 1924, p. 9
  42. ‘South Fremantle Defeat West Perth’; The West Australian, 21 July 1924, p. 9
  43. ‘Good-bye and Good Luck: Carnival Team Leaves’; Mirror, 26 July 1924, p. 4
  44. ‘East Fremantle v East Perth – Seasiders Win’; The West Australian, 28 July 1924, p. 9
  45. ‘Perth Defeat West Perth’; The West Australian, 28 July 1924, p. 9
  46. ‘Subiaco Defeated’; The West Australian, 28 July 1924, p. 9
  47. ‘Perth v Subiaco – Perth Victorious’; The West Australian, 1 September 1924, p. 10
  48. ‘East Perth Defeat South Fremantle’; The West Australian, 1 September 1924, p. 10
  49. ‘East Fremantle Win’; The West Australian, 1 September 1924, p. 10
  50. ‘Perth Footballers’; The Advertiser, 7 August 1924, p. 9
  51. ‘East Perth Defeat West Perth’; The West Australian, 8 September 1924, p. 10
  52. ‘Perth v South Fremantle – Red Legs’ Fifth Win’; The West Australian, 8 September 1924, p. 10
  53. ‘Subiaco Win’; The West Australian, 8 September 1924, p. 10
  54. ‘Yesterday’s Football: League First semi-final – East Victory for East Fremantle’; The Sunday Times, 14 September 1924, p. 7
  55. ‘The Second Semi-Final: Exciting Tussle at the Association Ground – Subiaco Put East Perth Out’; The Sunday Times, 21 September 1924, p. 7
  56. ‘Premiership Contest – An Unexpectedly One-Sided Game: Subiaco Easily Defeat East Fremantle – Will the Challenge Match Be a Repetition’; The Sunday Times, 28 September 1924, p. 7
  57. ‘The Challenge Match: East Fremantle v Subiaco – Premiership Won by Subiaco’; The Sunday Times, 5 October 1924, p. 4
  58. ‘Football: The Challenge Match – Subiaco Champions’; The West Australian, 6 October 1924, p. 7
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