If you leave the soggy snot green south coast and head north east for about 400km you cross through the guts of Western Australia‘s wheatbelt. In those 400km you cross isohyet after isohyet of diminishing rainfall. A rainfall believed to be so low by the early European explorers that no crops would ever grow here. Continue reading
• Moments after the final siren in the 2020 WAFL grand final. Photos by Les Everett
The WAFL grand final came to Fremantle Oval and it was a classic.
And then along came the Tigers. In the WAFL second semi final Claremont crushed the top team.
The script was clear enough. Second semi and grand final at Fremantle Oval. Premiership for the Bulldogs and not far to go for the celebrations.
It was a horrible day for footy. Dry enough but with a howling wind kind of favouring the prison end. South had first use of the breeze and kicked their first goal in the third quarter.
The highlight of the game was the performance of the powerful Alec Waterman for Claremont. His kicking on a difficult day was magnificent and he finished with four goals.
At Joondalup it looked like Perth’s fairytale would continue when they established a lead of a goal and a bit early in the last quarter kicking with the gale. But the home team had too much experience and scored an impressive victory.
So Fremantle Oval has jagged a bonus final. They’ll get one on grand final day too but now there’s a real chance the home team won’t be in it.
Claremont 10.11 (71) South Fremantle 3.6 (24)
West Perth 7.6 (48) Perth 5.7 (37)
Sunday’s preliminary final will be between South Fremantle and West Perth.
In the WAFLW grand final on Saturday Peel caused an upset beating Subiaco 4.4 (28) to 2.1 (13). Conditions were horrible but 15-year-old Ella Roberts didn’t mind. She marked and kicked brilliantly giving a glimpse into the future of the women’s game.
• Perth took it up to the top team. All photos by Les Everett
Remember all those WAFL final four shaping scenarios we suggested last week? Well they all happened. Continue reading
• Flashback. 2019 and Perth blows a finals chance. Photos by Les Everett
It was a round that promised and teased but when the dust settled we were left with a top four that looks very familiar.
The late 19th century was far more productive as far as competitive Aussie Rules matches were concerned than many of us know. It’s true that the VFA in Melbourne and Geelong was well and truly established, just a few years before the all-conquering VFL was inaugurated in 1897. Continue reading
Watching WAFL on the TV. Subi got players back and knocked off Perth. Thanks for the coverage Ch 7.
The big news out of the WAFL this week is that the grand final will be played at Fremantle Oval. It’s a good decision. There’s every chance South Fremantle will be in it, Freo is the kind of place you can wander into after the game to celebrate and it’s walking distance from my place. These were the factors I considered before making the announcement. Continue reading
A once in a century pandemic needs a hero. A Martin Luther King, a Don Bradman or even an unsung Brigadier Arnold Potts from Kojonup. Sadly world leaders have been lacking in any form of leadership and even Lassie or Captain Pugwash would have done a better job. Continue reading
Has there ever been such a curious kick as the reverse torpedo? Does it have a rightful place in footy history, or is it a furphy? Genuine kick or party trick?
You might’ve noticed what happened to Fremantle on Saturday night. However it is likely you saw nothing at all. Continue reading
Every scoreboard tells a story
A Song. A Place. A Time.
With the first dog chosen in the AFL Canine Draft
escape to the Vasse idyll
