1988 WAFL season | |
---|---|
Teams | 8 |
Premiers | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 7th premiership |
Minor premiers | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 7th minor premiership |
Sandover Medallist | David Bain (‹See Tfd›East Perth) |
Bernie Naylor Medallist | Todd Breman (‹See Tfd›Subiaco) |
Matches played | 88 |
The 1988 WAFL season was the 104th season of the West Australian Football League in its various incarnations.
In many ways the “end of an era”, the 1988 season saw the membership base of most WAFL clubs severely affected by the transfer of the State's best players to West Coast, a problem only marginally ameliorated by reciprocal memberships given to many Eagle members.[1] The WAFL was laced with several off-field controversies, with chief executive Peter Cumminsky refusing to allow an exhibition match in Vancouver which Subiaco and Swan Districts planned to play on the last Saturday in September,[2] and opposing the WAFC over an Eagles reserves team and maximum transfer fees to VFL clubs being set $13,000 lower than what the clubs said was needed to actually develop the highest standard footballers – in effect funding “destitute” VFL clubs.[3]
The season also saw the end of the exceptionally high scoring of the past decade: for the first time since 1977 the WA(N)FL did not see a single score of over 200 points or a match where both teams scored twenty goals, while the highest score of 27.20 (182) was the lowest since 1974. The average score of 103.97 points per team per game was the lowest since 1975.
Claremont and Subiaco continued to dominate the WAFL this year under coaches Gerard Neesham and Haydn Bunton Jr.[a] but this time the Lions took the honours with their second convincing Grand Final win in three seasons. There was controversy because the Lions played Laurie Keene after the WAFL ruled on 7 September that a VFL match against Melbourne on the Queen's Birthday, for which Keene travelled to Melbourne an emergency, counted as a WAFL game to determine eligibility for finals.[4] Early-1980s power club Swan Districts, who lost champion coach John Todd to the Eagles and suffered the first of numerous financial crises in the subsequent fifteen years,[5] became the first club since the colts competition began in 1957 to suffer the ignominy of finishing last in all three grades,[6][7][b] although expectations the black and whites would suffer another lengthy period in the cellar were not fulfilled in subsequent seasons. South Fremantle, who had lost their last eighteen matches of 1987, convincingly won the WAFL's pre-season competition[8] and despite a second consecutive injury crisis with twenty-four senior list players unavailable as of Round 12,[9] rebounded for their first finals appearance in five seasons due to the return of Maurice Rioli and the discovery of numerous young stars like Peter Sumich, Scott Watters and Stevan Jackson.
Round 1 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monday, 4 April | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 23.23 (161) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 10.17 (77) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 6700) | |
Monday, 4 April | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 21.23 (149) | def. | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 6.12 (48) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6800) | |
Monday, 4 April | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 21.16 (142) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 11.9 (75) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 5700) | [10] |
Monday, 4 April | ‹See Tfd›Perth 13.20 (98) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 17.15 (117) | WACA (crowd: 4500) | |
|
Round 2 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 9 April | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 17.23 (125) | def. | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 14.11 (95) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 4383) | |
Saturday, 9 April | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 14.15 (99) | def. | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 10.10 (70) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3011) | [14] |
Saturday, 9 April | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 8.18 (66) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Perth 10.14 (74) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 3315) | |
Saturday, 9 April | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 14.19 (103) | def. | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 14.9 (93) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4388) | [15] |
|
Round 3 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 16 April | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 26.18 (174) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 9.11 (65) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4002) | |
Saturday, 16 April | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 8.16 (64) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Perth 18.9 (117) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 4361) | [17] |
Saturday, 16 April | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 10.10 (70) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 21.23 (149) | WACA (crowd: 2744) | [18] |
Saturday, 16 April | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 11.19 (85) | def. | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 10.12 (72) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7764) | [19] |
|
Round 4 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sunday, 24 April | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 8.12 (60) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 15.19 (109) | Geraldton (crowd: 3420) | [23] |
Monday, 25 April | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 16.16 (112) | def. | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 14.12 (96) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 4300) | [24] |
Monday, 25 April | ‹See Tfd›Perth 24.22 (166) | def. | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 16.13 (109) | WACA (crowd: 9000) | [25] |
Monday, 25 April | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 20.13 (133) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 16.7 (103) | WACA (crowd: 9000) | |
|
Round 5 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 30 April | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 16.26 (122) | def. | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 6.13 (49) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3842) | |
Saturday, 30 April | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 23.10 (148) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Perth 15.15 (105) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5015) | |
Saturday, 30 April | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 18.19 (127) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 13.11 (89) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 2873) | |
Saturday, 30 April | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 16.9 (105) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 17.23 (125) | WACA (crowd: 2210) | [27] |
|
Round 6 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 7 May | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 12.15 (87) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 20.12 (132) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 4679) | |
Saturday, 7 May | ‹See Tfd›Perth 20.20 (140) | def. | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 15.6 (96) | WACA (crowd: 3102) | |
Saturday, 7 May | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 14.17 (101) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 18.19 (127) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5159) | |
Saturday, 7 May | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 15.18 (108) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 22.19 (151) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 4388) | [30] |
|
Round 7 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 14 May | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 25.23 (173) | def. | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 11.13 (79) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 2722) | |
Saturday, 14 May | ‹See Tfd›Perth 27.20 (182) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 11.15 (81) | WACA (crowd: 2736) | |
Saturday, 14 May | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 10.9 (69) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 14.13 (97) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 2417) | [33] |
Saturday, 14 May | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 9.10 (64) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 11.16 (82) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4086) | |
|
Round 8 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 21 May | ‹See Tfd›Perth 13.11 (89) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 18.18 (126) | WACA (crowd: 2713) | |
Saturday, 21 May | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 21.17 (143) | def. | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 19.16 (130) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 3028) | [37] |
Saturday, 21 May | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 18.15 (123) | def. | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 6.20 (56) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 3191) | |
Saturday, 21 May | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 18.13 (121) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 11.13 (79) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3593) | [38] |
South Fremantle stay in touch with the top four by overwhelming Perth after a slow start, with coach Wiley saying Perth did too little to attack the ball.[39] |
Round 9 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 28 May | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 20.15 (135) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 14.12 (96) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3485) | [40] |
Saturday, 28 May | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 14.10 (94) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 20.10 (130) | WACA (crowd: 2656) | |
Saturday, 28 May | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 22.10 (142) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Perth 16.13 (109) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 3508) | [41] |
Saturday, 28 May | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 14.16 (100) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 18.14 (122) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 2871) | [42] |
A blunder by Ray Ewen – handballing after a free kick[d] – that leads to a goal to Georgiades, plus several other serious mistakes derail East Perth’s determined effort to cause a big upset with a final-quarter charge. The Royals pressure Subiaco well but their lack of skill proved decisive.[43] |
Round 10 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 4 June | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 16.19 (115) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 10.8 (68) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3505) | |
Saturday, 4 June | ‹See Tfd›Perth 17.16 (118) | def. | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 14.13 (97) | WACA (crowd: 3123) | [44] |
Saturday, 4 June | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 17.12 (114) | def. | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 10.13 (73) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 3213) | |
Monday, 6 June | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 16.10 (106) | def. | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 12.12 (84) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9981) | |
|
Round 11 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 11 June | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 10.15 (75) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 16.17 (113) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2946) | [47] |
Saturday, 11 June | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 14.15 (99) | def. | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 13.12 (90) | WACA (crowd: 3015) | |
Saturday, 11 June | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 10.13 (73) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 15.13 (103) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6301) | |
Saturday, 11 June | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 22.11 (143) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Perth 15.21 (111) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3547) | [48] |
|
Round 12 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 18 June | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 11.8 (74) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 16.19 (115) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3769) | [51] |
Saturday, 18 June | ‹See Tfd›Perth 18.13 (121) | def. | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 17.11 (113) | WACA (crowd: 3177) | |
Saturday, 18 June | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 18.18 (126) | def. | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 11.9 (75) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 3819) | |
Saturday, 18 June | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 18.17 (125) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 18.6 (114) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2878) | [52] |
|
Round 13 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 25 June | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 17.22 (124) | def. | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 8.9 (57) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 2813) | |
Saturday, 25 June | ‹See Tfd›Perth 9.19 (73) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 9.8 (62) | WACA (crowd: 4297) | |
Saturday, 25 June | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 11.10 (76) | drew with | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 10.16 (76) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2263) | |
Saturday, 25 June | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 13.12 (90) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 22.24 (156) | WACA (crowd: 4297) | [54] |
|
Round 14 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 2 July | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 21.10 (136) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 17.8 (110) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3000) | |
Saturday, 2 July | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 13.21 (99) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Perth 18.15 (123) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 3100) | [58] |
Saturday, 2 July | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 15.11 (101) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 18.12 (120) | Perth Oval (crowd: 2995) | [59] |
Saturday, 2 July | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 14.10 (94) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 17.19 (121) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4514) | |
|
Round 15 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 9 July | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 20.22 (142) | def. | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 11.12 (78) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 3106) | |
Saturday, 9 July | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 9.17 (71) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 10.12 (72) | WACA (crowd: 2600) | [62] |
Saturday, 9 July | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 17.15 (117) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 18.11 (119) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 3682) | |
Saturday, 9 July | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 21.14 (140) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Perth 13.20 (98) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3626) | [63] |
|
Round 16 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 16 July | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 25.6 (156) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 17.13 (115) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3260) | [67] |
Saturday, 16 July | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 18.18 (126) | def. | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 13.3 (81) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 2928) | [68] |
Saturday, 16 July | ‹See Tfd›Perth 13.16 (94) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 23.17 (155) | WACA (crowd: 3685) | |
Saturday, 16 July | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 17.19 (121) | def. | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 13.10 (88) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 2624) | |
Despite one brilliant mark by Mick Rea, Perth are overwhelmed apart from a 6.3 (39) to 4.7 (31) second quarter by a strengthened Tiger team that produces its best team football of 1988.[69] |
Round 17 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 23 July | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 13.13 (91) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Perth 10.12 (72) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2700) | |
Saturday, 23 July | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 10.12 (72) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 6.8 (44) | WACA (crowd: 1766) | |
Saturday, 23 July | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 7.7 (49) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 4.6 (30) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 2153) | [70] |
Saturday, 23 July | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 6.7 (43) | def. | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 3.9 (27) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 2717) | [71] |
|
Round 18 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 30 July | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 15.7 (97) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 15.18 (108) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 3103) | [76] |
Saturday, 30 July | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 13.8 (86) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Perth 19.14 (128) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 4568) | |
Saturday, 30 July | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 11.6 (72) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 20.21 (141) | WACA (crowd: 2757) | |
Saturday, 30 July | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 13.13 (91) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 26.20 (176) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6682) | |
|
Round 19 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 6 August | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 22.7 (139) | def. | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 16.15 (111) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4622) | [79] |
Saturday, 6 August | ‹See Tfd›Perth 15.12 (102) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 18.21 (129) | WACA (crowd: 4187) | |
Saturday, 6 August | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 18.16 (124) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 11.7 (73) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 2727) | [80] |
Saturday, 6 August | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 13.15 (93) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 16.15 (111) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2391) | |
East Fremantle – clear second in mid-July – become in danger of losing fourth position by losing to last-placed East Perth, who make many mistakes to skilfully exploit the Sharks’ poor discipline in a rough match.[81] Top rover David Bushell – the worst offender – obtained three weeks' suspension plus a nominal fine of one dollar at Monday night’s tribunal session.[82] |
Round 20 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sunday, 14 August (11:40 am) | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 13.20 (98) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 16.9 (105) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6486) | |
Sunday, 14 August (2:15 pm) | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 20.20 (140) | def. | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 7.17 (59) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6486) | [83] |
Sunday, 14 August (2:15 pm) | ‹See Tfd›Perth 16.12 (108) | def. | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 15.13 (103) | WACA (crowd: 2632) | |
Sunday, 14 August (2:15 pm) | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 16.19 (115) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 11.13 (79) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2335) | [84] |
|
Round 21 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 20 August | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 16.19 (115) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 11.12 (78) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6618) | [87] |
Saturday, 20 August | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 17.11 (113) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Perth 26.13 (169) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 3541) | [88] |
Saturday, 20 August | ‹See Tfd›West Perth 15.17 (107) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›East Perth 16.17 (113) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 2468) | [89] |
Saturday, 20 August | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 12.16 (88) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 18.14 (122) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 3871) | |
|
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ‹See Tfd›Claremont | 21 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 2354 | 1796 | 131.1 | 58 |
2 | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco (P) | 21 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 2296 | 1916 | 119.8 | 56 |
3 | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle | 21 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 2306 | 2137 | 107.9 | 52 |
4 | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle | 21 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 2226 | 2104 | 105.8 | 52 |
5 | ‹See Tfd›Perth | 21 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 2397 | 2280 | 105.1 | 48 |
6 | ‹See Tfd›West Perth | 21 | 8 | 13 | 0 | 1992 | 2201 | 90.5 | 32 |
7 | ‹See Tfd›East Perth | 21 | 5 | 16 | 0 | 1905 | 2408 | 79.1 | 20 |
8 | ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts | 21 | 4 | 16 | 1 | 1991 | 2625 | 75.8 | 18 |
First semi-final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 27 August | ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 14.20 (104) | def. by | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 24.14 (158) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 19,668) | [92] |
South Fremantle, playing in the finals for the first time since 1983 and with only three players having previous experience therein, do not cope with the pressure. Boom forward Sumich scores 1.7 (13). |
Second semi-final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sunday, 4 September | ‹See Tfd›Claremont 22.12 (144) | def. | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 17.17 (119) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 11,175) | |
|
Preliminary final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sunday, 11 September | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 19.10 (124) | def. | ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 17.19 (121) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 13,112) | |
Lion rookie Gary Kemp goals with thirty seconds remaining to win a fluctuating match where Subiaco score only 4.5 (29) to 13.11 (89) in the second and third quarters. Key Shark defender Shane Ellis was injured and could not counter John Georgiades, who kicks three goals in each of the first and final quarters.[94] |
1988 WAFL Grand Final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sunday, 18 September | ‹See Tfd›Claremont | def. by | ‹See Tfd›Subiaco | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 28,183) | [95] |
2.3 (15) 5.6 (36) 5.9 (39) 8.12 (60) |
Q1 Q2 Q3 Final |
3.3 (21) 6.4 (40) 10.7 (67) 19.8 (122) |
Umpires: Phil O‘Reilly, David Johnson Simpson Medal: Mick Lee (‹See Tfd›Subiaco) | ||
Malaxos 3, Brayshow 2, Ahmat, Allan, Neesham | Goals | Georgiades 6, Cocker 3, McDougall 2, Jones 2, Breman 2, Jennings, Brian Taylor, Lee, Carpenter | |||
Neesham, Pyke, David O‘Connell, Beers, Scott, Thorne | Best | Keene, Georgiades, Brian Taylor, Breman, Carpenter, Neil Taylor, Willet, Lee | |||
Peter Melesso for striking Rod Willet in first quarter (three umpires) Peter Melesso for striking Ian Dargie in first quarter Dale Kickett for unduly rough play toward Clint Brown in first quarter |
Reports | Ian Dargie for striking Peter Thorne in first quarter | |||
Subiaco, aided controversially by Eagle Laurie Keene and providing a more traditional style against Neesham’s innovative “chip and draw” which had demolished all opponents during the previous season, run away with the game after half-time in hot 31 °C (88 °F) weather.[1] |