Wikipedia

1999 Westar Rules season

The 1999 Westar Rules season was the 115th season of the various incarnations of the West Australian Football League and the third as “Westar Rules”. It is most notable for the first winless season in open-age Western Australian football since Midland Junction in their final 1917 season lost all twelve of their games, although South Fremantle in the under-19 1944 competition lost all nineteen of their games.[1] Peel Thunder, who at the completion of the season had won only two of their first sixty Westar Rules matches, achieved the equal second-longest winless season in a major Australian Rules league behind SANFL club Sturt in 1995.[a] Although beforehand most critics thought the Thunder would improve on what they did in their first two seasons,[2] late in the season none of the major Westar Rules writers gave them a chance to win even against second-last East Perth at Rushton Park.[3]

1999 WAFL season
Teams9
Premiers‹See Tfd›West Perth
17th premiership
Minor premiers‹See Tfd›South Fremantle
11th minor premiership
Sandover MedallistGus Seebeck (‹See Tfd›Perth)
Bernie Naylor MedallistRod Tregenza (‹See Tfd›East Fremantle)
Matches played94
← 1998
2000 →

In the process Peel became the first team for fifty-four seasons to fail to score in the first half and suffered the second-worst loss in open-age WA(N)FL football. Amazingly, the Thunder's only near miss was against minor premier South Fremantle in the last round, when they led all day only to lose by seven points.[b] Their inept performances led to controversy concerning the Thunder's existence among both critics[4] and other Westar Rules clubs, which were to come to a tipping point in subsequent WAFC reports on the state of the competition, notably the “Fong Report” after the 2000 season.

Apart from Peel's ignominious season, East Perth, suffering from internal dissent[5] and disputes over where they would play their home matches – Perth Oval was scheduled for redevelopment as a rectangular field for soccer club Perth Glory,[6] – fell from fourth to second last in their worst season since 1989, winning only twice against the top seven clubs. South Fremantle and West Perth established themselves as the competition's heavyweights with a run of spectacular performances. Despite the pre-season loss of Peter Sumich and Scott Watters,[7] the Bulldogs, aided by access to Docker players under the first host club scheme and whose season featured numerous “centenary year” celebrations,[c] won fifteen on end after an opening round defeat[8] and the Falcons lost only once in the final fifteen home-and-away rounds.

Home-and-away season

edit

Round 1 (Easter weekend)

edit
Round 1
Saturday, 3 April ‹See Tfd›Perth 6.13 (49) def. by ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 12.8 (80) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1490)
Sunday, 4 April ‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder 11.6 (72) def. by ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 17.13 (115) Rushton Park (crowd: 2245) [9]
Sunday, 4 April (6:45 pm) ‹See Tfd›West Perth 14.13 (97) def. ‹See Tfd›East Perth 5.9 (39) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2935) [10]
Monday, 5 April ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 18.14 (122) def. ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 14.10 (94) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4012)
Bye
‹See Tfd›Claremont
  • Seven straight majors in the final quarter ensure East Fremantle win their seventeenth consecutive match, after a seemingly depleted South Fremantle scores 6.5 (41) to 1.4 (10) in the third quarter.[11]
  • In the first night match at Arena Joondalup, the troubled Royals start well but fade severely, not goalling between the seven-minute mark of the second quarter and the fifteen-minute mark of the last.

Round 2

edit
Round 2
Saturday, 10 April ‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder 9.9 (63) def. by ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 11.16 (82) Rushton Park (crowd: 1132)
Saturday, 10 April ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 9.8 (62) def. by ‹See Tfd›West Perth 16.13 (109) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1902)
Saturday, 10 April ‹See Tfd›Claremont 17.19 (121) def. ‹See Tfd›East Perth 6.11 (47) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1377)
Sunday, 11 April ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 21.20 (146) def. ‹See Tfd›Perth 11.9 (75) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1261)
Bye
‹See Tfd›East Fremantle
  • In a match billed as the “battle of the centenarians”[c], Perth are completely outplayed in the first and final quarters as South Fremantle’s Brad Bootsma stars with thirty-two kicks from a half-back flank.[12]
  • Tiger coach Don Pyke uses the first host club scheme to create a seemingly perfect blend with Claremont’s abundant supply of local juniors so that East Perth again fail against a powerful centreline.[13]

Round 3

edit
Round 3
Saturday, 17 April ‹See Tfd›Perth 9.8 (62) def. ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 8.12 (60) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1447)
Saturday, 17 April ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 8.9 (57) def. by ‹See Tfd›West Perth 10.12 (72) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1903)
Saturday, 17 April ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 15.8 (98) def. ‹See Tfd›Claremont 13.14 (92) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1391)
Saturday, 17 April ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 33.21 (219) def. ‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder 3.6 (24) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1142)
Bye
‹See Tfd›East Perth
  • South Fremantle record the second-biggest win in open-age WAFL football, behind only West Perth’s 210-point win over the Bulldogs in 1987.[14] After the red and whites fail to goal in the first fifteen minutes, the remained of the match is an embarrassment for Peel.[15]
  • Perth end East Fremantle’s run of seventeen straight victories, the equal fifth-longest in open-age Westar/WAFL/WANFL football,[8] as the injury-plagued Darren Rigby – who had played only seventeen matches in four seasons due to leg fractures – dominates returning AFL star Shaun McManus.[16]

Round 4 (Anzac Day)

edit
Round 4
Saturday, 24 April ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 22.17 (149) def. ‹See Tfd›East Perth 3.1 (19) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1313) [17]
Saturday, 24 April ‹See Tfd›West Perth 7.18 (60) def. by ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 14.8 (92) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2462)
Saturday, 24 April (6:45 pm) ‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder 4.10 (34) def. by ‹See Tfd›Perth 9.18 (72) Rushton Park (crowd: 1305) [18]
Monday, 26 April ‹See Tfd›Claremont 7.9 (51) def. by ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 20.14 (134) Claremont Oval (crowd: 2471)
Bye
‹See Tfd›Swan Districts

East Perth suffer their biggest loss to Subiaco.[19] The Royals record the fewest scoring shots in a WANFL/WAFL/Westar match since Claremont in 1945 against Perth and their fewest since 1913.[20]

Round 5

edit
Round 5
Saturday, 1 May ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 19.18 (132) def. ‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder 11.13 (79) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1284)
Saturday, 1 May ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 14.16 (100) def. ‹See Tfd›East Perth 10.10 (70) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2128)
Saturday, 1 May ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 11.15 (81) def. ‹See Tfd›West Perth 11.10 (76) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1794)
Saturday, 1 May ‹See Tfd›Claremont 3.6 (24) def. by ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 15.16 (106) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1137)
Bye
‹See Tfd›Perth
  • Subiaco become the first WAFL/WANFL/WASFL/Westar club to hold consecutive opponents to three or fewer goals since East Perth in Rounds 13 and 14 of 1919. The Lions’ experience, especially in defence, completely decimates Claremont as Ryan O'Connor and Andrew Donnelly consistently keep the ball from the Tigers’ forward line.[21]
  • West Perth failed to catch South Fremantle after coach Tony Micale rested his top backmen and the Bulldogs get two key goals after fifteen goalless minutes at the star of the final quarter.[22]

Round 6

edit
Round 6
Saturday, 8 May ‹See Tfd›West Perth 12.14 (86) def. ‹See Tfd›Perth 9.4 (58) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1302) [23]
Saturday, 8 May ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 26.13 (169) def. ‹See Tfd›Claremont 11.9 (75) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1417) [24]
Saturday, 8 May ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 19.12 (126) def. ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 10.9 (69) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1228)
Saturday, 8 May ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 16.23 (119) def. ‹See Tfd›East Perth 7.4 (46) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1117) [25]
Bye
‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder

Round 7

edit
Round 7
Saturday, 15 May ‹See Tfd›West Perth 20.13 (133) def. ‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder 7.4 (46) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1282) [4]
Saturday, 15 May ‹See Tfd›East Perth 8.14 (62) def. by ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 19.13 (127) Perth Oval (crowd: 1380)
Saturday, 15 May ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 11.6 (72) def. by ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 13.17 (95) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1686)
Saturday, 15 May ‹See Tfd›Claremont 14.8 (92) def. ‹See Tfd›Perth 6.12 (48) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1143)
Bye
‹See Tfd›Subiaco

After long-serving ground disputes and modification of the draw, East Perth play their first home game for the season, but are thwarted by the return of former Eagle champion Chris Mainwaring, whose solid, injury-free display suggests he is ready for an AFL recall.[26]

Round 8

edit
Round 8
Saturday, 22 May ‹See Tfd›Perth 12.11 (83) def. by ‹See Tfd›East Perth 13.9 (87) Lathlain Park (crowd: 2031) [27]
Saturday, 22 May ‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder 7.10 (52) def. by ‹See Tfd›Claremont 15.15 (105) Rushton Park (crowd: 976)
Saturday, 22 May ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 7.13 (55) def. ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 7.6 (48) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2010)
Saturday, 22 May ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 16.12 (108) def. ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 8.12 (60) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1575)
Bye
‹See Tfd›West Perth
  • South Fremantle gain revenge for a thrashing in the pre-season Grand Final as their exceptional discipline shuts down a Lion team whose ability to deal with close tagging is questioned.[28]
  • Seventeen-year-old Andrew Embley stars for Claremont, who are unsettled by Peel‘s tactic of using goalkicker Scott Simister and vice-captain Wayne Barden on the ball – Embley shuts both down after quarter-time when Peel had gained a surprise lead.[29]
  • East Perth break a run of ten straight losses, their fourth-longest losing streak on record.[30]

Round 9

edit
Round 9
Saturday, 29 May ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 10.11 (71) def. by ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 11.15 (81) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2097)
Saturday, 29 May ‹See Tfd›East Perth 15.7 (97) def. ‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder 6.11 (47) Perth Oval (crowd: 1481) [31]
Saturday, 29 May ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 12.13 (85) def. by ‹See Tfd›Perth 13.11 (89) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1636)
Sunday, 30 May ‹See Tfd›Claremont 5.11 (41) def. by ‹See Tfd›West Perth 14.13 (97) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1931)
Bye
‹See Tfd›South Fremantle
  • Troy Wilson’s brilliant defensive marking and robust physical work in free play smashes the Tiger attack to make the four look already sealed with two-thirds of the season still to be played.[32]
  • Despite having played only twenty Westar Rules games between them, youngsters Leon Davis, Chance Bateman, Darren Glass, Richard Kelly and Matt Shaw show Perth have a big AFL-ready talent pool with dominant displays in an unexpected narrow win for the Demons.[33]

Round 10 (Foundation Day)

edit
Round 10
Saturday, 5 June ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 16.14 (110) def. ‹See Tfd›Perth 8.8 (56) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1539) [34]
Saturday, 5 June ‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder 7.12 (54) def. by ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 12.10 (82) Rushton Park (crowd: 1137) [35]
Monday, 7 June ‹See Tfd›East Perth 7.4 (46) def. by ‹See Tfd›West Perth 18.17 (125) Perth Oval (crowd: 2968) [36]
Monday, 7 June ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 13.8 (86) def. ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 12.10 (82) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 12258) [37]
Bye
‹See Tfd›Claremont

The Foundation Day derby saw the last Westar Rules/WAFL home-and-away attendance of over 10,000 until 2009 and the second last to date.[38] The Bulldogs win a high-standard thriller as the Sharks’ run proves too late – a special win in their centenary year.

Round 11

edit
Round 11
Saturday, 12 June ‹See Tfd›West Perth 17.14 (116) def. ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 5.8 (38) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1801)
Saturday, 12 June ‹See Tfd›Perth 12.9 (81) def. by ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 15.8 (98) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1787)
Saturday, 12 June ‹See Tfd›East Perth 10.7 (67) def. by ‹See Tfd›Claremont 16.10 (106) Perth Oval (crowd: 1376)
Saturday, 12 June ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 17.14 (116) def. ‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder 4.3 (27) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1263) [39]
Bye
‹See Tfd›East Fremantle
  • Peel Thunder become the first WANFL/WAFL/WASFL/Westar Rules club to fail to score in the first half since Claremont against Perth in 1945.
  • Perth’s enthusiasm has them leading South Fremantle for over two quarters before Tony Delaney wrests control of the centre from Bateman and leads the Bulldogs to a ninth consecutive victory – equalling their 1998 win tally.[40]

Round 12

edit
Round 12
Saturday, 26 June ‹See Tfd›Perth 8.7 (55) def. by ‹See Tfd›West Perth 21.23 (149) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1423)
Saturday, 26 June ‹See Tfd›East Perth 6.11 (47) def. by ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 17.11 (113) Perth Oval (crowd: 1431)
Saturday, 26 June ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 6.20 (56) def. by ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 20.8 (128) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1474)
Saturday, 26 June ‹See Tfd›Claremont 14.9 (93) def. ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 11.15 (81) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1137) [41]
Bye
‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder
  • Swan Districts’ inexperience has them thrashed despite having four more kicks and only two fewer scoring shots,[d] which lead to undisciplined frustration among the Swans’ players.[42]
  • East Perth are predictably outclassed by the top-of-the-table Bulldogs after being three goals ahead entering time-on of the opening quarter, as the Royals’ initial desire and especially their forward line (which does not goal again until well into the last quarter) disintegrate.[43]

Round 13

edit
Round 13
Saturday, 3 July ‹See Tfd›West Perth 11.14 (80) def. ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 8.8 (56) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2565)
Saturday, 3 July ‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder 5.8 (38) def. by ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 18.16 (124) Rushton Park (crowd: 1266)
Saturday, 3 July ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 13.15 (93) def. ‹See Tfd›Perth 12.10 (82) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1646) [44]
Saturday, 3 July ‹See Tfd›Claremont 19.15 (129) def. ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 12.8 (80) Claremont Oval (crowd: 922)
Bye
‹See Tfd›East Perth

Steve Trewhella, whose start to 1999 was delayed by a broken wrist, plays a major role in a crucial win lifting the Falcons to clear second by tagging Fremantle-listed Luke Toia to completely reverse a 20-point half-time Lion lead that actually flattered West Perth.[45]

Round 14

edit
Round 14
Saturday, 10 July ‹See Tfd›Perth 13.9 (87) def. ‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder 9.12 (66) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1368)
Saturday, 10 July ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 9.5 (59) def. by ‹See Tfd›West Perth 16.14 (110) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1897)
Saturday, 10 July ‹See Tfd›East Perth 8.8 (56) def. by ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 20.9 (129) Perth Oval (crowd: 1380) [46]
Saturday, 10 July ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 14.14 (98) def. ‹See Tfd›Claremont 9.9 (63) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1818)
Bye
‹See Tfd›Swan Districts
  • West Perth fan favourite Paul Mifka returns for his first match since a car accident in 1998, nullifying veteran Earl Spalding and keeping East Fremantle to three second-half goals after a close first half.[47]
  • Fraser Gehrig’s comeback for Perth is nearly upset by an inaccurate Thunder team[48]

Round 15

edit
Round 15
Saturday, 17 July ‹See Tfd›West Perth 4.17 (41) def. by ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 12.7 (79) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2328)
Saturday, 17 July ‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder 7.11 (53) def. by ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 20.13 (133) Rushton Park (crowd: 1202)
Saturday, 17 July ‹See Tfd›East Perth 9.14 (68) def. by ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 14.14 (98) Perth Oval (crowd: 1508)
Saturday, 17 July ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 10.9 (69) def. by ‹See Tfd›Claremont 13.8 (86) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1553) [49]
Bye
‹See Tfd›Perth
  • Despite the handicap of working a one-man police station at Wyalkatchem 235 kilometres (150 mi) from Perth and training with the local team, South Fremantle veteran Marty Atkins’ solid defence leaves the Bulldogs two games clear on top as West Perth cannot convert their chances.[50]
  • East Fremantle’s targeting of Peel as needing to go for an eight-club competition does nothing inspire the Thunder, who score only 2.6 (18) to 10.6 (66) in two quarters with the wind.[51]

Round 16

edit
Round 16
Saturday, 24 July ‹See Tfd›East Perth 11.6 (72) def. by ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 13.11 (89) Exmouth (crowd: 2114)
Saturday, 24 July ‹See Tfd›Perth 20.10 (130) def. ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 15.13 (103) Moora (crowd: 1746) [52]
Saturday, 24 July ‹See Tfd›Claremont 15.14 (104) def. ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 15.12 (102) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1467) [53]
Bye
‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder, ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle, ‹See Tfd›West Perth
  • As relief for those who suffered from Cyclone Vance,[54][55] Westar Rules play a game for the first and only time in the Pilbara town of Exmouth, and for one of only two times in Moora in Perth’s country zone.
  • On a windy 29 °C (84.2 °F) day, Subiaco and East Perth are allowed a fourth interchange player (standardised the following season). Fringe Eagle Andrew Donnelly dominates as the Lions win in the trying weather.[54]

Round 17

edit
Round 17
Saturday, 31 July ‹See Tfd›Perth 12.10 (82) def. by ‹See Tfd›Claremont 12.15 (87) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1474) [56]
Saturday, 31 July ‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder 7.4 (46) def. by ‹See Tfd›West Perth 13.16 (94) Rushton Park (crowd: 1219) [57]
Saturday, 31 July ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 17.15 (117) def. ‹See Tfd›East Perth 13.9 (87) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1662)
Saturday, 31 July ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 30.11 (191) def. ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 8.10 (58) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1656)
Bye
‹See Tfd›Subiaco

In a thrashing described as a “farce” with the Bulldogs taking 102 marks to 36 and having 113 effective handballs to 45, South Fremantle’s Anthony Jones makes a memorable 100 metre run regarded as the best play in Westar Rules for a long time.[55]

Round 18

edit
Round 18
Saturday, 7 August ‹See Tfd›East Perth 10.8 (68) def. by ‹See Tfd›Perth 19.4 (118) Perth Oval (crowd: 1533) [58]
Saturday, 7 August ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 14.8 (92) def. by ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 16.9 (105) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1517)
Saturday, 7 August ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 11.18 (84) def. ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 11.17 (83) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1439)
Saturday, 7 August ‹See Tfd›Claremont 22.9 (141) def. ‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder 9.8 (62) Claremont Oval (crowd: 616) [59]
Bye
‹See Tfd›West Perth
  • Despite a broken left hand, South Fremantle’s Brad Bootsma, with 32 possessions mainly in the second half, courageously leads a win after being behind for most of the last quarter, which virtually settles the double chance in the finals.[60]
  • Swan Districts rebound from their South Fremantle thrashing to pip East Fremantle and leave Claremont in the four. The marking of West Coast Eagle discard Jason Ball and attack on the ball of Shane Beros win for Swans.[61]

Round 19

edit
Round 19
Saturday, 14 August ‹See Tfd›West Perth 11.22 (88) def. ‹See Tfd›Claremont 9.9 (63) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2100)
Saturday, 14 August ‹See Tfd›Perth 18.12 (120) def. ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 10.10 (70) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1642)
Saturday, 14 August ‹See Tfd›East Perth 13.20 (98) def. ‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder 7.9 (51) Perth Oval (crowd: 954)
Saturday, 14 August ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 25.11 (161) def. ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 12.4 (76) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1476) [62]
Bye
‹See Tfd›South Fremantle
  • Brendon Fewster’s size and strength leaves Claremont with no options, as does Troy Wilson in defence. Only inaccurate kicking prevents a humiliation, but East Fremantle’s thrashing keeps Claremont in the four.[63]
  • East Perth’s Ashley Hutchison is sent off after being reported twice – once for striking and once for spitting. He is one of four Westar players to suffer this ignominy.[64]
  • In a game where, despite East Perth having won only twice, no tipster gave the Thunder a chance to break their winless season,[65] Ryan Turnbull shows the form that made him a dominating figure in the Royals’ mini-dynasty of the early 2000s.[64]

Round 20

edit
Round 20
Friday, 20 August (6:45 pm) ‹See Tfd›West Perth 14.11 (95) def. ‹See Tfd›East Perth 10.8 (68) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1838)
Saturday, 21 August ‹See Tfd›Perth 7.10 (52) def. by ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 16.14 (110) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1798) [66]
Saturday, 21 August ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 22.12 (144) def. ‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder 10.8 (68) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1228) [67]
Saturday, 21 August ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 17.23 (125) def. ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 10.15 (75) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2849)
Bye
‹See Tfd›Claremont

By guarding Bootsma and the other South Fremantle on-ballers, the Sharks end a worrying slump by convincingly ending the seemingly invincible Bulldogs’ run of fifteen consecutive victories – in spite of kicking five goals fifteen behinds in the first half.[68]

Round 21

edit
Round 21
Friday, 27 August (6:45 pm) ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 11.7 (73) def. ‹See Tfd›Claremont 10.11 (71) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1317) [69]
Saturday, 28 August ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 7.11 (53) def. by ‹See Tfd›West Perth 10.13 (73) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1747[70])
Saturday, 28 August ‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder 7.9 (51) def. by ‹See Tfd›East Perth 11.15 (81) Rushton Park (crowd: 2569)
Bye
‹See Tfd›Perth, ‹See Tfd›Subiaco, ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts

After Peel hold a narrow lead for most of the first half in wet conditions, Rhys Croxford dashed the Thunder’s hope of a win for 1999 with one goal late in the second quarter and three early in the third – and Peel did not receive another chance.[71]

Round 22

edit
Round 22
Saturday, 4 September ‹See Tfd›East Perth 13.9 (87) def. ‹See Tfd›Claremont 8.8 (56) Perth Oval (crowd: 1605)
Saturday, 4 September ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 23.7 (145) def. ‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder 7.5 (47) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 927) [72]
Saturday, 4 September ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 7.7 (49) def. by ‹See Tfd›West Perth 22.15 (147) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1772) [73]
Saturday, 4 September ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 20.10 (130) def. ‹See Tfd›Perth 5.9 (39) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1538) [74]
Bye
‹See Tfd›East Fremantle

East Perth leave their home since 1910 of Perth Oval (though it was not known at the time) on a high with a win that denies Claremont a finals berth.[6] The brilliant speed of Halls Creek recruit Brendan Thomas led the Royals to score 5.3 (33) to nothing after Claremont took the lead halfway through the last quarter in a game that had always been close to that stage.[75]

Round 23

edit
Round 23
Saturday, 11 September ‹See Tfd›West Perth 16.20 (116) def. ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 16.7 (103) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1818) [76]
Saturday, 11 September ‹See Tfd›Perth 11.8 (74) def. by ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 21.19 (145) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1590) [77]
Saturday, 11 September ‹See Tfd›Claremont 19.12 (126) def. ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 8.12 (60) Claremont Oval (crowd: 918)
Saturday, 11 September (6:45 pm) ‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder 13.13 (91) def. by ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 13.20 (98) Rushton Park (crowd: 1178)
Bye
‹See Tfd›East Perth

The winless Thunder nearly cause a huge upset against the minor premiers, leading all day only to go down by seven points after the Bulldogs, looking for a “solid hit-out”, rested six top players. It was the first time in thirty-two games Peel had actually led at half-time, and at one point they led by 37 points with Scott Simister in his best form.[78]

Ladder

edit

1999 ladder
Pos Team Pld W L D PF PA PP Pts
1 ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 20 18 2 0 2213 1342 164.9 72
2 ‹See Tfd›West Perth (P) 20 17 3 0 1964 1191 164.9 68
3 ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 20 14 6 0 2037 1251 162.8 56
4 ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 20 11 9 0 2030 1655 122.7 44
5 ‹See Tfd›Claremont 20 11 9 0 1726 1700 101.5 44
6 ‹See Tfd›Perth 20 7 13 0 1512 1899 79.6 28
7 ‹See Tfd›Swan Districts 20 7 13 0 1583 2121 74.6 28
8 ‹See Tfd›East Perth 20 5 15 0 1312 1991 65.9 20
9 ‹See Tfd›Peel Thunder 20 0 20 0 1071 2298 46.6 0
Source: WAFL Footy Facts
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals

edit

Semi-finals

edit
First semi-final
Sunday, 19 September ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 13.10 (88) def. ‹See Tfd›East Fremantle 9.15 (69) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 9,064)

Subiaco exploit East Fremantle’s newfound lack of height to eliminate the reigning premiers, who score 2.10 (22) from many more opportunities in the final quarter.[79]

Second semi-final
Sunday, 19 September ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle 13.13 (91) def. ‹See Tfd›West Perth 10.16 (76) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 9,064) [80]
  • Since the two semi-finals were played at the same venue on the same day, the attendance figure is the same.
  • A poor second quarter ensures West Perth are always playing catch-up football against the skill and experience of Atkins – and with Mann beating the Falcons’ danger man in Fewster.

Preliminary final

edit
Preliminary final
Sunday, 26 September ‹See Tfd›West Perth 16.13 (109) def. ‹See Tfd›Subiaco 6.8 (44) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6,149)
  • In wet conditions that had caused late changes to both teams, West Perth’s defence crushes the Lions.[81]
  • Subiaco were fined for playing a player who was not in their original list of 24.[81]

Grand Final

edit
Main article: 1999 Westar Rules Grand Final
1999 Westar Rules Grand Final
Saturday, 2 October ‹See Tfd›South Fremantle def. by ‹See Tfd›West Perth Subiaco Oval (crowd: 25,473) [82]
3.1 (19)
8.1 (49)
10.5 (65)
11.6 (72) 		Q1
Q2
Q3
Final 		6.4 (40)
9.8 (62)
11.9 (75)
14.13 (97) 		Umpires: Mark Fussell, Wayne French, Brett Rosebury
Simpson Medal: Christian Kelly (‹See Tfd›West Perth)
Taylor 3, Clark 2, Bootsma, Schell, Maher, Worsfold, Grover, PaRsons Goals Kelly 4, Fewster 2, Britten 2, Symmons 2, Logan, Bruce, Skender, Morrell[83]
Toby McGrath, Cory McGrath, Taylor, Porter, Clucas Best Kelly, Kim Kigali, Fewster, Curley, Clayton Lassock, Mifka

West Perth jump the minor premiers unexpectedly and some brilliant play allows them to evade a Bulldog comeback to win comfortably.

Notes

edit

a Central District in 1964 and several VFA/VFL clubs share the Thunder's ignominy of a 20-game winless season: Sandringham in 1941, Box Hill in 1951, and the Bendigo Diggers in 2001 and 2002.
b The only other winless VFL, SANFL or WAFL clubs whose narrowest loss was to the minor premier have been St. Kilda in 1902, whose closest shave was against premiers Collingwood, also by seven points, and Sturt in 1995, whose narrowest loss was to Central District by 24 points.
c Both South Fremantle and Perth were formed in 1899, though South Fremantle's ancestry can be traced back to the older Fremantle Football Club.
d The WA(N)FL/Westar record win with fewer shots is 53 points (with two fewer shots) by Claremont against Perth in 1994, whilst with equal shots the record is fifty points – also by Subiaco against Swan Districts – in 1968.

References

edit
  1. ^ "WAFL Footy Facts: Worst Record". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  2. ^ See Reid, Russell; ‘Godden Faces End of Season after Injury’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian; 12 April 1999
  3. ^ ‘Westar Tips’, The West Australian; 28 August 1998
  4. ^ a b Casellas, Ken; ‘Westar’s Woes Go on Show’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 17 May 1999
  5. ^ Fight on East Perth
  6. ^ a b Fight on East Perth: Leaving Perth Oval
  7. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Sumich Bows Out with No Regrets’; The West Australian; 7 April 1999; p. 149
  8. ^ a b "WAFL Footy Facts: Consecutive Games Won". Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  9. ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Sluggish Swans Subdue Peel Challenge’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian; 5 April 1999
  10. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Logan Inspires Falcons’ Victory’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian; 5 April 1999
  11. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Bulldogs Lose Match and Possibly Sumich’; The West Australian, 6 April 1999, p. 67
  12. ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Bulldogs Strike Early’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 12 April 1999
  13. ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Pyke Has Tigers on Autopilot’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 12 April 1999
  14. ^ "WAFL Footy Facts: Biggest Wins". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  15. ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Bulldog Blitz Embarrasses Peel’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 19 April 1999
  16. ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Bland Comments Motivate the Demons’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 19 April 1999
  17. ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Spiritless Royals’ Day of Shame’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 26 April 1999
  18. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Pick Steers Demons to Handy Win’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 26 April 1999
  19. ^ "WAFL Footy Facts: East Perth v Subiaco". Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  20. ^ WAFL Footy Facts: East Perth Lowest Scores For Archived 2013-10-17 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Battle-Tough Lions Tame Tiger Cubs’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 3 May 1999
  22. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Bulldogs Win Stand-Off’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 3 May 1999
  23. ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Morrell Steps into Breach’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 10 May 1999
  24. ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Melrose Heralds a New Era for Sharks’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 10 May 1999
  25. ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Jumper’s Past Rubs Off on Schell’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 10 May 1999
  26. ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Mainwaring Makes a Point’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 17 May 1999
  27. ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Croxford Helps East Perth Get Toehold’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 17 May 1999
  28. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Disciplined Bulldogs Keep Lions in Check’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 17 May 1999
  29. ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Embley Steps in To Plug the Gap’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 24 May 1999
  30. ^ See WAFL Footy Facts: East Perth – Consecutive Games Lost Archived 15 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  31. ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Royals Work To Shake Off Thunder’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 31 May 1999
  32. ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Wilson Inspires Falcons’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 31 May 1999
  33. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Rookie Six Help Perth to Surprise Victory’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 31 May 1999
  34. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Parker Takes Leap Forward’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 7 June 1999
  35. ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Tough Job No Problem for Piggott’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 7 June 1999
  36. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Falcons Survive Buffeting’; The West Australian, 8 June 1999, p. 71
  37. ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Historic Win by Bulldogs’; The West Australian, 8 June 1999, p. 71
  38. ^ "West Australian Football League: Biggest Home-and-Away Attendances". Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  39. ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Lions Duo Make Late Bid for Interstate Duty’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 14 June 1999
  40. ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Solid Second Half Sets in Bulldogs’ Win’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 14 June 1999
  41. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Tigers Close Gap on Leaders’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 28 June 1999
  42. ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Inexperience Costly for Spirited Swans’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 28 June 1999
  43. ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Reality Bites after Royals Show Promise’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 28 June 1999
  44. ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Ruckman Quits the Sharks’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 5 July 1999
  45. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Trewhella Inspires Fightback’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 5 July 1999
  46. ^ Lewis, Ross; ‘Stay-Put Spider Seals Subiaco Success’; in The Game, p. 11; The West Australian, 12 July 1999
  47. ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Falcons’ Favorite Returns’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 12 July 1999
  48. ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Peel Threat to Upstage Comeback’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 12 July 1999
  49. ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Tiny Teenager Leads Tigers’ Fightback’; in The Game, p. 11; The West Australian, 19 July 1999
  50. ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Busy Schedule Does not Slow Top Bulldog’; in The Game, p. 11; The West Australian, 19 July 1999
  51. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Attack Fails To Inspire Peel’; in The Game, p. 11; The West Australian, 19 July 1999
  52. ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Bland Happy to Confront Old Foe’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 26 July 1999
  53. ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Tiger Cubs Grow Teeth’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 26 July 1999
  54. ^ a b Lague, Steve; ‘Donnelly Inspires Lions’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 26 July 1999
  55. ^ a b Casellas, Ken; ‘Jones Revels in Farce’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 2 August 1999
  56. ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Claremont Steals Victory’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 2 August 1999
  57. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Peel Shows Some Endeavour’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 2 August 1999
  58. ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Young Demons on Fire’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 9 August 1999
  59. ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Quinn Fires Up as Tigers Surge’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 9 August 1999
  60. ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Bootsma Hands Win to Bulldogs’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 9 August 1999
  61. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Ball Lifts Swans Over Line’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 9 August 1999
  62. ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Ambrose Back to His Best’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 16 August 1999
  63. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Class Catches Out Tigers’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 16 August 1999
  64. ^ a b Stocks, Gary; ‘Turnbull Shines on Westar’s Dark Day’; in The Game, p. 11; in The West Australian, 16 August 1999
  65. ^ ‘Westar Tips’; The West Australian, August 14, 1999; p. 115
  66. ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Ridley Peaking at the Right Time’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 23 August 1999
  67. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Swans Soar as Wilson Loosens Ties’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 23 August 1999
  68. ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Sharks Dent South’s Premiership Hopes’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 23 August 1999
  69. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Bulldogs Wrap Up Top Spot in Rugged Thriller’; The West Australian, 28 August 1999, p. 111
  70. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Fewster Juggling Act Gets Falcons Home’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 30 August 1999
  71. ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Croxford Boosts Royals’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 30 August 1999
  72. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Lions in Top Form for Finals’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 6 September 1999
  73. ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Wingman Ferguson Has All the Answers’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 6 September 1999
  74. ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Recalled Rennick Inspires Bulldogs’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 6 September 1999
  75. ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Teenager Makes It His Day’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 6 September 1999
  76. ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Fans Get Involved in Action’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 6 September 1999
  77. ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Hit-and-Run Raid Pays Off’; The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 13 September 1999
  78. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Micale Makes Right Moves’; in The Game, p. 7; from The West Australian, September 13, 1999
  79. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Lions Make Winning Start on Mission of Redemption’; The Game, p. 7; from The West Australian, 20 September 1999
  80. ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Centenary Goal in Sight’; The Game, p. 7; from The West Australian, 20 September 1999
  81. ^ a b ‘Falcons Thrash Lions to Reach Grand Final’; in The Game, p. 7; from The West Australian; 27 September 1999
  82. ^ ‘Lassock’s Heroics Inspire the Falcons’; The West Australian, October 4, 1999; p. 70
  83. ^ Grand Final – 1999 – League
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1999_Westar_Rules_season&oldid=1174824466"