• South Fremantle 2025 WAFL premiers. Photo by Les Everett.
The 2025 WAFL Grand Final was always going to be interesting. South Fremantle had lost just one game for the season and had thrashed East Perth in their last two encounters, restricting the Royals to a total of seven goals in those games, just three in the preliminary final.
East Perth lost their last three qualifying games to top-five teams Claremont, East Fremantle and South Fremantle and looked on track for a straight sets exit. But in two wins over Claremont in the finals the Royals showed a spirit and commitment to a style of play suggesting maybe they could be a nuisance in the Grand Final.
There was a contradiction too. Wet conditions in the two wins against the Tigers seemed to suit. However the dry conditions in the Grand Final seemed to give East Perth and their high possession style at least a chance to avoid humiliation against the Bulldogs.
South’s first goal, to Trey Ruscoe, came a little too easily but then the game settled down. In fact those watching on the couch may have gone to sleep. A brilliant goal by Coby Burgiel woke us all up and the expected big Bulldogs beginning hadn’t happened. It was game on.
East Perth continued to kick short, win clearances, kick horribly into the forward line and sometimes stuff things up in other, dangerous places. South looked more accomplished and too quick but were stymied by the negative tactics of their opponents. Their 20-point three quarter time lead looked enough. The Royals had managed 3.4 (22).
East Perth got the first two goals of the last quarter but a brilliant goal out of a ruck contest by Hamish Free and a goal by Roan O’Hehir that followed a short kick stuff up took the lead out to 22 points and a South stroll to an expected triumph looked inevitable.
That’s where the East Perth spirit came in. Scott Jones, whose ruck battle with Free had been a highlight, took over and the Royals surged. After Sam van Diemen kicked an incredible curling goal the margin was two points. It’s worth noting East Perth’s eight majors included goal-of-the-year style beauties from Burgiel, Liam Tedesco, van Diemen and Hamish Brayshaw.
A lot happened in the last 10 seconds or so of play. Jordyn Baker won a holding-the-ball free at the centre bounce, the siren went, a South player booted the ball away, South officials and interchange players raced onto the ground, the presentation stage came out at breakneck speed, “We’re the Bulldogs, yes we are…” rang out over the already overused sound system.
But the game wasn’t over. East Perth had a free kick, The ball had been booted away, Wasn’t that a 50 metre penalty? Discussions took place. “FIfty, fifty!” shouted some East Perth supporters, I was one of them.
Finally Baker took the free kick. From the centre. It was a beautiful torpedo punt that landed about 30 metres out.
The best team won the WAFL premiership. But it was nearly the steal of the century. Or maybe someone got robbed.
South Fremantle 8.8 (56) East Perth 8.6 (54)
australianrules.com.au 
Cut it out Les , robbed ?
It was an emotive ending , but move on mated . there was no time left on the clock to waste
East Perth could have won if they played like they did in last 20 minutes for longer earlier
End of story
Can’t work out how to do a smiley face….
My mighty Blues could have w