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1981 WAFL season

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1981 WAFL season
TeamsEight
Premiers‹See Tfd›Claremont
5th premiership
Minor premiers‹See Tfd›Claremont
6th minor premiership
Sandover MedallistStephen Michael (‹See Tfd›South Fremantle)
Bernie Naylor MedallistWarren Ralph (‹See Tfd›Claremont)
Matches played88
Highest18,106
← 1980
1982 ⊟

The 1981 WAFL season was the 97th season of the West Australian Football League in its various incarnations. The season opened on 11 April and concluded on 3 October with the 1981 WAFL Grand Final between Claremont and South Fremantle. It was the last WAFL season to begin in April and end in October; from 1982 the league shifted the schedule of the season forward by a week and in later years by another.

The 1981 WAFL season is famous because of its prodigious scoring, chiefly by premiers Claremont and runners-up South Fremantle. The Claremont trio of Warren Ralph, and brothers Jimmy and Phil Krakouer broke numerous records related to scoring in single matches and seasons. (It was to be the Krakouer brothers' last season at Claremont, before a move to North Melbourne, where they introduced an attacking style of football to the VFL.) During 1981, the 1979 record score by Swan Districts was broken twice, with the last round record by South Fremantle still remaining as the highest score in senior WAFL history. The average score of 123 points per team per game is the highest in WAFL history and as much as ten points higher than the VFL/AFL maximum during 1982, whilst tailender Perth set the unenviable record of conceding 157 points per match,[1] allowing under 100 only on a very wet day against East Perth.

Home-and-away season

[edit]

Round 1

[edit]
Round 1
Saturday, 11 April ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 21.21 (147) def. ‹See Tfd›West Perth 10.12 (72) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 12467)
Saturday, 11 April ‹See Tfd›East Perth 25.10 (160) def. ‹See Tfd›Perth 14.10 (94) Perth Oval (crowd: 7626)
Saturday, 11 April ‹See Tfd›Claremont 22.22 (154) def. ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 18.18 (126) Claremont Oval (crowd: 10105)
Saturday, 11 April ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 21.16 (142) def. ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 18.12 (120) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7010)
  • Impressive commitment and skilful coaching by Moss dispel the expectation South Fremantle would be invincible in 1981.[2]
  • Bill Valli, who played no pre-season football, takes Subiaco from 55 points down at quarter-time to four points down with ten minutes to go.[3]

Round 2

[edit]
Round 2
Saturday, 18 April ‹See Tfd›West Perth 23.16 (154) def. ‹See Tfd›East Perth 14.14 (98) Leederville Oval (crowd: 13053)
Saturday, 18 April ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 22.21 (153) def. ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 20.14 (134) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 14827)
Monday, 20 April ‹See Tfd›Perth 13.9 (87) def. by ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 38.21 (249) Lathlain Park (crowd: 10859) [4]
Monday, 20 April ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 22.21 (153) def. ‹See Tfd›Claremont 18.15 (123) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 9167)
  • Swan Districts just fail to equal their 1979 record score, but equal the record for most scoring shots.[5] It did beat Perth's previous biggest loss in the 1959 First Semi-Final by 33 points[6]
  • The dominance of Buckenara and Neil Taylor ensures Subiaco run over Claremont into the breeze in the last quarter.[7]

Round 3

[edit]
Round 3
Saturday, 25 April ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 22.17 (149) def. ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 17.11 (113) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 11070)
Saturday, 25 April ‹See Tfd›East Perth 21.9 (135) def. ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 17.14 (116) Perth Oval (crowd: 10426)
Saturday, 25 April ‹See Tfd›Claremont 29.17 (191) def. ‹See Tfd›Perth 12.23 (95) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5997)
Saturday, 25 April ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 19.25 (139) def. ‹See Tfd›West Perth 8.17 (65) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8923)

East Fremantle’s unusual policy of playing four roving forwards gives Old Easts an open forward line that completely outplays the Cardinals, as shown by a match total of ninety-three effective handballs to West Perth's fifty.[8]

Round 4

[edit]
Round 4
Saturday, 2 May ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 18.16 (124) def. ‹See Tfd›West Perth 17.18 (120) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8451)
Saturday, 2 May ‹See Tfd›Perth 17.13 (115) def. by ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 26.28 (184) Lathlain Park (crowd: 6053)
Saturday, 2 May ‹See Tfd›Claremont 20.26 (146) def. ‹See Tfd›East Perth 17.11 (113) Claremont Oval (crowd: 10347)
Saturday, 2 May ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 28.17 (185) def. ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 12.6 (78) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 12020)

Six third quarter goals by Demon flanker Doug Simms brings the match to life despite the Demons being thrashed for the fourth successive week and finishing with a percentage of 49.87.[9]

Round 5

[edit]
Round 5
Saturday, 9 May ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 17.19 (121) def. ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 16.16 (112) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 16120)
Saturday, 9 May ‹See Tfd›East Perth 23.23 (161) def. ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 10.11 (71) Perth Oval (crowd: 8562)
Saturday, 9 May ‹See Tfd›Claremont 26.24 (180) def. ‹See Tfd›West Perth 13.9 (87) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8871)
Saturday, 9 May ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 20.21 (141) def. ‹See Tfd›Perth 13.20 (98) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5023)

Round 6

[edit]
Round 6
Saturday, 16 May ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 13.19 (97) def. by ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 17.13 (115) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7930)
Saturday, 16 May ‹See Tfd›West Perth 18.15 (123) def. ‹See Tfd›Perth 17.9 (111) Leederville Oval (crowd: 7006)
Saturday, 16 May ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 27.14 (176) def. ‹See Tfd›East Perth 17.13 (115) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 14107)
Saturday, 16 May ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 14.12 (96) def. by ‹See Tfd›Claremont 19.12 (126) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8851)

East Perth’s gamble to rely on bold attacking play fails as Swan Districts win the toss with a stiff easterly and later dominate the final quarter against this breeze.[10]

Round 7

[edit]
Round 7
Saturday, 23 May ‹See Tfd›Perth 22.16 (148) def. ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 17.12 (114) Lathlain Park (crowd: 5018)
Saturday, 23 May ‹See Tfd›Claremont 24.12 (156) def. ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 16.14 (110) Claremont Oval (crowd: 16154)
Saturday, 23 May ‹See Tfd›East Perth 24.12 (156) def. ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 17.10 (112) Perth Oval (crowd: 9808)
Sunday, 24 May ‹See Tfd›West Perth 17.14 (116) def. by ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 18.18 (126) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 11180)
  • Perth put on 12.6 (78) to 1.2 (8) in 29 minutes around half-time to defeat Subiaco for the fourteenth straight meeting after the Lions led by 22 points with the wind. Alan Johnson dominates in the centre and Subiaco’s weakness in key forward positions is too great a handicap.[11]
  • The WAFL’s first Sunday match since 1976, despite a first wet football day,[12] proves a great success, with Stephen Michael’s superb ruckwork winning a tight game for the Bulldogs.[13]

Round 8

[edit]
Round 8
Saturday, 30 May ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 31.14 (200) def. ‹See Tfd›Perth 10.13 (73) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 5125)
Saturday, 30 May ‹See Tfd›Claremont 25.11 (161) def. ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 19.12 (126) Claremont Oval (crowd: 5552)
Monday, 1 June ‹See Tfd›East Perth 20.18 (138) def. by ‹See Tfd›West Perth 22.10 (142) Perth Oval (crowd: 13564)
Monday, 1 June ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 13.15 (93) def. by ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 27.17 (179) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 15212)

Led by Les Fong in this 150th match, West Perth, despite a serious knee injury to John Duckworth, come back from 32 points down during the third quarter to win a thriller over their rivals.[14]

Round 9

[edit]
Round 9
Saturday, 6 June ‹See Tfd›West Perth 5.10 (40) def. by ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 18.17 (125) Leederville Oval (crowd: 7534)
Saturday, 6 June ‹See Tfd›Perth 10.14 (74) def. by ‹See Tfd›East Perth 13.8 (86) Lathlain Park (crowd: 4038)
Saturday, 6 June ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 16.19 (115) def. ‹See Tfd›Claremont 13.17 (95) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9920)
Saturday, 6 June ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 14.13 (97) def. ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 14.5 (89) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4122)
  • The absence of Les Fong and Cory Bewick from the forward line allows Swans defender Craig Holden to dominate West Perth’s attack. Backed up by a magnificent effort in atrocious conditions upfield (led by Neesham and Blackaby) Swans hold West Perth to the lowest score of the season.[15]
  • Maurice Rioli’s wet-weather skill and a better-suited forward line for the wet conditions – with Hardie and Monteath kicking four goals each – allows South Fremantle to come from ten points down early in the last quarter to a twenty-point win.[16]

Round 10

[edit]
Round 10
Saturday, 13 June ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 15.7 (97) def. by ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 14.18 (102) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8236)
Saturday, 13 June ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 22.15 (147) def. ‹See Tfd›East Perth 11.11 (77) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11908)
Saturday, 13 June ‹See Tfd›Perth 10.14 (74) def. by ‹See Tfd›Claremont 23.18 (156) Lathlain Park (crowd: 5563)
Saturday, 13 June ‹See Tfd›West Perth 37.17 (239) def. ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 9.7 (61) Leederville Oval (crowd: 7716)
  • Gary Buckenara kicks six magnificent goals but a poor second quarter denies Subiaco an upset despite scoring the first six goals of the match.[17]
  • After a wet-weather debacle the previous week, West Perth’s attack led by former Footscray full-forward Phil Bradmore, achieves a club record score[18] and winning margin[19] (equalled and broken in 1987).
  • At one point, West Perth kicked 16.6 (102) without East Fremantle scoring.[20]

Round 11

[edit]
Round 11
Saturday, 27 June ‹See Tfd›West Perth 9.13 (67) def. ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 9.11 (65) Leederville Oval (crowd: 7930)
Saturday, 27 June ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 30.18 (198) def. ‹See Tfd›Perth 10.13 (73) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4487)
Saturday, 27 June ‹See Tfd›East Perth 13.14 (92) def. by ‹See Tfd›Claremont 21.17 (143) Perth Oval (crowd: 7595)
Saturday, 27 June ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 10.13 (73) def. by ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 13.13 (91) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4452)
  • In heavy rain, Perth at one point lead South Fremantle 8.5 (53) to 7.6 (48) before the Bulldogs kick 23.12 (150) to 2.6 (18) for the rest of the game.[21]
  • In tough conditions, aided by two superb “wrong-foot” kicks from Jager and Menaglio, West Perth come back from 26 points down to win a thriller.[22]

Round 12

[edit]
Round 12
Saturday, 4 July ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 19.20 (134) def. ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 13.8 (86) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 14600)
Saturday, 4 July ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 26.14 (170) def. ‹See Tfd›East Perth 12.8 (80) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7148)
Saturday, 4 July ‹See Tfd›Claremont 30.19 (199) def. ‹See Tfd›West Perth 20.9 (129) Claremont Oval (crowd: 8922)
Saturday, 4 July ‹See Tfd›Perth 23.24 (162) def. ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 21.9 (135) Lathlain Park (crowd: 4091)

With young Laurie Keene kicking nine goals, Subiaco make a charge for fourth place against the struggling Royals, for whom no one does much in attack against Mitch Fussell’s speed.[23]

Round 13

[edit]
Round 13
Saturday, 11 July ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 23.20 (158) def. ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 10.17 (77) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6375)
Saturday, 11 July ‹See Tfd›West Perth 26.23 (179) def. ‹See Tfd›Perth 13.17 (95) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3500) [24]
Saturday, 11 July ‹See Tfd›East Perth 14.13 (97) def. by ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 17.9 (111) Perth Oval (crowd: 6500)
Saturday, 11 July ‹See Tfd›Claremont 30.17 (197) def. ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 14.11 (95) Claremont Oval (crowd: 5183)

Subiaco lose full-back Fussell with a compound left leg fracture and this loss combined with their on-field loss to South Fremantle ends the Lions hopes of a finals berth.[25]

Round 14

[edit]
Round 14
Saturday, 18 July ‹See Tfd›West Perth 23.8 (146) def. ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 19.19 (133) Leederville Oval (crowd: 8205)
Saturday, 18 July ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 22.17 (149) def. ‹See Tfd›Perth 14.8 (92) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4289)
Saturday, 18 July ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 16.16 (112) def. by ‹See Tfd›Claremont 17.12 (114) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 14019)
Saturday, 18 July ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 9.17 (71) def. by ‹See Tfd›East Perth 12.11 (83) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4211)
  • In another superb pressure match, Claremont claim top position by kicking 3.1 (19) to 2.5 (17) against the win after scores were level early in the final quarter.[26]
  • A brilliant 10 goals without a miss in the last quarter in “unsettled” weather gives West Perth a superb triumph and allows them to hold fourth place.[27]
  • In a lacklustre game in changeable weather, East Perth come from behind to stay in the battle for fourth position and tailender East Fremantle are luck a $2000 bet was turned down.[28]

Round 15

[edit]
Round 15
Saturday, 25 July ‹See Tfd›West Perth 10.10 (70) def. by ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 25.22 (172) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 12169)
Saturday, 25 July ‹See Tfd›East Perth 20.16 (136) def. ‹See Tfd›Perth 17.8 (110) Perth Oval (crowd: 4765)
Saturday, 25 July ‹See Tfd›Claremont 23.22 (160) def. ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 14.25 (109) Claremont Oval (crowd: 12670)
Saturday, 25 July ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 14.9 (93) def. by ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 18.19 (127) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3987)

West Perth suffer another big loss to Swan Districts and again fall out of the four. The Cardinals do not goal between the five-minute mark of the opening quarter and the twenty-minute mark of the second as Swans’ waves of speed move down the field to produce eleven of their own.[29]

Round 16

[edit]
Round 16
Saturday, 1 August ‹See Tfd›Perth 13.15 (93) def. by ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 18.20 (128) Lathlain Park (crowd: N/A)
Saturday, 1 August ‹See Tfd›West Perth 15.9 (99) def. by ‹See Tfd›East Perth 25.10 (160) Leederville Oval (crowd: 11980)
Saturday, 1 August ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 12.10 (82) def. by ‹See Tfd›Claremont 28.13 (181) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8348)
Saturday, 1 August ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 24.22 (166) def. ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 19.5 (119) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6510)

An unfashionable but brilliant centreline and the move of John Hayes to full-forward where he kicks 7.1 (43) allows East Perth to beat finals rival West Perth and move a game plus percentage clear inside the four.[30]

Round 17

[edit]
Round 17
Saturday, 8 August ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 30.17 (197) def. ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 10.14 (74) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 9237)
Saturday, 8 August ‹See Tfd›East Perth 20.11 (131) def. ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 16.22 (118) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 11022)
Saturday, 8 August ‹See Tfd›Claremont 39.20 (254) def. ‹See Tfd›Perth 12.9 (81) Claremont Oval (crowd: 5820)
Saturday, 8 August ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 21.17 (143) def. ‹See Tfd›West Perth 16.11 (107) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5175)
  • East Perth’s Grant Campbell gives a classic display to lead his team to a 40-point lead at quarter-time before Bulldog ruckman Michael is equally brilliant in a belated charge.[31]
  • Swan Districts kick 26.13 (169) to 7.7 (49) after quarter-time as the refusal of Subiaco’s Neil Taylor to man Phil Narkle allows the latter and his brother to create havoc as Subiaco coach Ken Armstrong makes the mistake of using Douge in the centre.[32]
  • Claremont kick their highest score,[33] and the highest in the WAFL to that point, to thrash the Demons who kick only 3.5 (23) after half-time.[34]

Round 18

[edit]
Round 18
Saturday, 15 August ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 25.13 (163) def. ‹See Tfd›West Perth 9.15 (69) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4858)
Saturday, 15 August ‹See Tfd›Perth 18.13 (121) def. ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 15.13 (103) Lathlain Park (crowd: 4897)
Saturday, 15 August ‹See Tfd›Claremont 23.24 (162) def. ‹See Tfd›East Perth 8.13 (61) Claremont Oval (crowd: 10172)
Saturday, 15 August ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 24.24 (168) def. ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 8.15 (63) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 6123)
  • The brilliance of the Krakouer brothers slightly weakens East Perth’s hold on fourth position as the Royals score only 3.12 (30) to 20.18 (138) after quarter-time despite Ralph kicking only a single goal.[35]
  • Without champion Buckenara and arguable “rookie of the year” Ray Reeves, Subiaco settle West Perth’s fate for 1981 as they seize the game at the start with Bill Valli returning with great effect.[36]

Round 19

[edit]
Round 19
Saturday, 22 August ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 21.22 (148) def. ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 16.17 (113) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 12142)
Saturday, 22 August ‹See Tfd›East Perth 19.14 (128) def. ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 16.7 (103) Perth Oval (crowd: 10220)
Saturday, 22 August ‹See Tfd›West Perth 12.9 (81) def. by ‹See Tfd›Claremont 35.15 (225) Leederville Oval (crowd: 7145)
Saturday, 22 August ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 20.19 (139) def. ‹See Tfd›Perth 17.18 (120) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3218)
  • Four opening goals in as many minutes stuns Swans, who suffer their sixth loss in eight matches against South since the start of 1980. Ruckman Michael and half-back Simon Outhwaite dominate for the Bulldogs.[37]
  • With their win, East Fremantle makes sure Perth would finish bottom of the WA(N)FL ladder for the first time since 1935.
  • East Perth seal the four with a skilful burst after the seventeen-minute mark of the last quarter, in the process showing the lack of class and anticipation in Subiaco’s key forwards.[38]
  • Claremont became the only WAFL team to win three consecutive games by over 100 points.[39]

Round 20

[edit]
Round 20
Saturday, 29 August ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 18.12 (120) def. ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 10.23 (83) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7814)
Saturday, 29 August ‹See Tfd›West Perth 16.19 (115) def. ‹See Tfd›Perth 16.15 (111) Leederville Oval (crowd: 4827)
Saturday, 29 August ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 18.14 (122) def. ‹See Tfd›East Perth 14.17 (101) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 12728)
Saturday, 29 August ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 7.16 (58) def. by ‹See Tfd›Claremont 10.21 (81) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7935)

East Fremantle kick only 1.9 (15) in dry (but windy) conditions after quarter-time, not goalling in the second or third quarters — a first in the WA(N)FL since Subiaco in Round 11 of 1976. Their wasteful short-kicking game allows the Tigers to recover from Old Easts’ ferocious tackling in the first quarter.[40]

Round 21

[edit]
Round 21
Saturday, 5 September ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 40.18 (258) def. ‹See Tfd›West Perth 12.6 (78) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6157)
Saturday, 5 September ‹See Tfd›Perth 18.16 (124) def. by ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 26.15 (171) Lathlain Park (crowd: 4984)
Saturday, 5 September ‹See Tfd›Claremont 22.16 (148) def. ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 20.13 (133) Claremont Oval (crowd: 18106)
Saturday, 5 September ‹See Tfd›East Perth 17.15 (117) def. ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 12.10 (82) Perth Oval (crowd: 5660)
  • South Fremantle set a still-standing record for the highest score in the WAFL, beating Claremont’s record from Round 17.[34] The Bulldogs become the first team to lead by 100 points at half-time in open-age WA(N)FL football.[41]
  • Despite the early loss of Phil Krakouer and a 35-point deficit midway through the third quarter, Claremont overcome a strong Swan Districts defence for a twelfth stright victory in front of a record Claremont Oval crowd via brilliant running and handball.[42]

Ladder

[edit]

1981 ladder
Pos Team Pld W L D PF PA PP Pts
1 ‹See Tfd›Claremont (P) 21 19 2 0 3352 2128 157.5 76
2 ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 21 16 5 0 3036 2019 150.4 64
3 ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 21 13 8 0 2942 2400 122.6 52
4 ‹See Tfd›East Perth 21 11 10 0 2425 2523 96.1 44
5 ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 21 9 12 0 2413 2582 93.5 36
6 ‹See Tfd›West Perth 21 8 13 0 2298 2973 77.3 32
7 ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 21 5 16 0 2156 2837 76.0 20
8 ‹See Tfd›Perth 21 3 18 0 2151 3311 65.0 12
Source: WAFL Footy Facts
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals series

[edit]

First semi-final

[edit]
First semi-final
Saturday, 12 September ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 19.14 (128) def. ‹See Tfd›East Perth 13.10 (88) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 32,860)

Despite a heavy knock, Bruce Monteath kicks 6.2 (38) of 6.4 (40) to avoid a potential upset by the Royals. He had no recollection of equalling the WA(N)FL record of nine goals in a final.[43]

Second semi-final

[edit]
Second semi-final
Saturday, 19 September ‹See Tfd›Claremont 14.24 (108) def. ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 12.9 (81) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 33,478)

A wayward Claremont win with surprising ease owing to Swan Districts’ roving weakness in windy conditions combined with the overlooked power of Claremont’s defence.[44]

Preliminary final

[edit]
Preliminary final
Sunday, 27 September ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 15.15 (105) def. by ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 28.10 (178) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 33,940)

South Fremantle gain the opportunity to defend their 1980 premiership with a brilliant twenty-goal second half after being sixteen points behind late in the second quarter. Rover Noel Carter rivals his last-round eleven-goal display and Monteath is again superb – this time at centre half-forward.[45]

Grand Final

[edit]
Main article: 1981 WAFL Grand Final
1981 WAFL Grand Final
Saturday, 3 October ‹See Tfd›Claremont def. ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle Subiaco Oval (crowd: 50,517)
4.5 (29)
7.7 (49)
11.13 (79)
16.15 (111) 		Q1
Q2
Q3
Final 		1.3 (9)
7.15 (57)
10.20 (80)
12.24 (96) 		Umpires: Ross Capes, Ron Powell
Simpson Medal: Gary Shaw (‹See Tfd›Claremont)
Maurice Rioli (‹See Tfd›South Fremantle)
Malaxos 5, Blackwell 3, Ralph 3, Daniels, Jimmy Krakouer, Panizza, Shaw, Watson Goals Monteath 4, Carter 3, McKay, Hardie, Rioli, Randall, Vasoli
Moss, Phil Krakouer, Shaw, Pearce, Morton, Blackwell, Malaxos, Harper Best Rioli, Barrett, Monteath, Carter, Vasoli, Michael

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "WAFL Footy Facts: High Average Against". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  2. ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Claremont Plan Thwarts South’; The West Australian, 13 April 1981, p, 80
  3. ^ Sheterline, John; ‘Valli Sparks Revival’; The West Australian, 13 April 1981, p, 81
  4. ^ Young, Doug; ‘Swans Dump Perth by 162 Points’; The West Australian, 21 April 1981, pp. 111-112
  5. ^ Swan Districts: Most Scoring Shots
  6. ^ Perth: Biggest Losses
  7. ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘Subiaco Finish All Over Claremont’; The West Australian, 21 April 1981, pp. 111-112
  8. ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Roving Sewell Foils Defence’; The West Australian, 27 April 1981, p. 68
  9. ^ Sheterline, John; ‘Doug Simms Stands Out in Attack’; The West Australian, 4 May 1981, p. 100
  10. ^ Sheterline, John; ‘East Perth Gamble Backfires’; The West Australian, 18 May 1981, p. 69
  11. ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Perth Maintains Their Hoodoo’; The West Australian, 25 May 1981, p. 65
  12. ^ Perth Regional Office (009034) May 1981 rainfall
  13. ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘Michael Again the Master as South Win By 10 Points’; The West Australian, 25 May 1981, p. 72
  14. ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘West Perth Stage Superb Fightback’; The West Australian; 2 June 1981, pp. 95, 100
  15. ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Holden Excels as Attacking Backman’; The West Australian, 8 June 1981, p. 81
  16. ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘South overcome Invading Troops’; The West Australian; 8 June 1981, p. 80
  17. ^ Sheterline, John; ‘Buckenara at His Best’; The West Australian, 15 June 1981, p. 72
  18. ^ Australian Football: West Perth Highest Scores
  19. ^ Australian Football: West Perth Biggest Wins
  20. ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘Adamson and Menaglio Shine’; The West Australian, 15 June 1981, p. 73
  21. ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Monteath Move Pays Dividends’; The West Australian, 29 June 1981, p. 71
  22. ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘Left-Foot Side Kick Sinks Subiaco’; The West Australian, 29 June 1981, p. 70
  23. ^ Young, Doug; ‘Subiaco Are on the Move’; The West Australian, 6 July 1981, p. 84
  24. ^ Banks, Ron; ‘West Perth Get an Armchair Ride’; The West Australian, 13 June 1981, p. 97
  25. ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘Plenty Hangs on Big Clash at Bassendean’; The West Australian, 13 July 1981, pp. 96, 104
  26. ^ Christian Geoff; ‘Claremont Show True Grit’; The West Australian, 20 July 1981, p. 68
  27. ^ Young, Doug; ‘West Perth Were All Smiles at the Finish’; The West Australian, 20 July 1981, p. 69
  28. ^ Sheterline, John; ‘East F‘tle Lucky Not to Lose $2000’; The West Australian, 20 July 1981, p. 69
  29. ^ Young, Doug; ‘West Perth Rot Sets in Early’; The West Australian, 27 July 1981, p. 55
  30. ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘East Perth Centreline Sets Up Chances’; The West Australian, 3 August 1981, p. 64
  31. ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘Campbell, Michael Turn It on for Fans’; The West Australian, 10 August 1981, p. 77
  32. ^ Sheterline, John; ‘Blackaby shows His True Worth’; The West Australian, 10 August 1981, p. 77
  33. ^ Claremont: Highest Scores
  34. ^ a b Highest Scores
  35. ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘Krakouers Ignite the Flame’; The West Australian, 17 August 1981, p. 89
  36. ^ Young, Doug; ‘Subiaco Are Not a Spent Force’; The West Australian, 17 August 1981, p. 88
  37. ^ Young, Doug; ‘South’s Slick Start Stuns Swans’; The West Australian, 24 August 1981, p. 73
  38. ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘East Perth’s Skill Tells in the Crisis’; The West Australian, 24 August 1981, p. 73
  39. ^ "WAFL Footy Facts: Streaks". Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  40. ^ Young, Doug; ‘Claremont Forced to Struggle’; The West Australian, 31 August 1981, p. 108
  41. ^ "WAFL Footy Facts: Largest Margins at Half-Time". Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  42. ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘Claremont Show Great Character’; The West Australian, 7 September 1981, p. 97
  43. ^ Sheterline, John; ‘Monteath’s Goals Were Only a Blur’; The West Australian, 14 September 1981, p. 70
  44. ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘24 Carat Gold (and Blue): Too Many Guns in Claremont Arsenal’; The West Australian, 21 September 1981; pp. 75, 80
  45. ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘South Are on Target – Now for Claremont in the Grand Final’; The West Australian, 28 September 1981, pp. 76, 80
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