Wikipedia

1997 Westar Rules season

The 1997 Westar Rules season was the 113th season of senior football in Perth, Western Australia. It featured a number of dramatic changes to a competition whose popularity had been dramatically reduced by the drain of players to the Eagles and Dockers of the AFL. The competition's name was changed from the prosaic ‘West Australian Football League’ to ‘Westar Rules’ in an attempt to update the local competition for a more sophisticated audience.[1] However, this change became regarded as unsuccessful and was reversed as per recommendations of the “Fong Report”[2] after four seasons. West Perth also changed their name to Joondalup to recognise their location in Perth's growing northwestern suburbs, but changed back after the ninth round.

1997 WAFL season
Teams9
PremiersSouth Fremantle
11th premiership
Minor premiersSouth Fremantle
10th minor premiership
Sandover MedallistBrady Anderson (East Perth)
Bernie Naylor MedallistJon Dorotich (South Fremantle)
Matches played94
← 1996 (WAFL)
1998 →

More significantly, after intense debate for a number of years about whether to expand or contract the competition,[3] a new team, Peel Thunder, was added, despite requests from Peel's licence holders that they not be required to enter before 1998.[4] This was the first change to the number of teams in the WA(N)FL for sixty-three years.

In their first eighteen seasons, Peel won only seventy-three matches out of 354 (a winning percentage of 20.6%) and never had a winning season, finishing with nine wooden spoons. Along with occasional serious financial difficulties,[5] this produced serious criticism of the decision in subsequent years, but Peel qualified for the finals for the first time in 2015, and won the premiership the following year. A proposal to limit Westar to players under 25 and a few older veterans in order to allow a better flow of players to the AFL[6] was made during the season but rejected.

Affected badly by the erratic availability of a number of AFL-listed players,[7] reigning premiers Claremont had their worst season since 1975 and equalled East Fremantle's decline in 1980 from premiers to only five wins, whilst Swan Districts, brilliant but erratic during 1996, began with nine wins in their first ten matches before losing eight of their next nine to miss the finals for the third successive season.

On a more positive side, the season saw South Fremantle win its first premiership in seventeen years in a thrilling comeback Grand Final win over traditional rivals East Fremantle, and Perth have (after a disastrous opening) its only winning season since 1988, and culminating in its last finals appearance until 2020.

Home-and-away season

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Round 1 (Easter weekend)

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Round 1
Saturday, 29 March Perth 2.5 (17) def. by Swan Districts 11.9 (75) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1317)
Sunday, 30 March Peel Thunder 8.4 (52) def. by South Fremantle 25.10 (160) Rushton Park (crowd: 5781)
Monday, 31 March Claremont 11.7 (73) def. by East Perth 11.18 (84) Claremont Oval (crowd: 2686)
Monday, 31 March Joondalup 11.9 (75) def. by East Fremantle 11.15 (81) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2841)
Bye
Subiaco
  • Playing during an unseasonal thunderstorm,[8] Perth kick its lowest score since 1952 and second-lowest since 1919.[9] Its two goals were both from free kicks for ruck infringements, the first at the twenty-minute mark of the third quarter and the other in time-on of the last.[10]
  • The sole lower score Swan Districts have ever held an opponent to is Claremont’s 1.7 (13) the previous season; the previous lowest by the Demons against the Swans was a winning score of 5.11 (41) after being goalless at half-time in 1973.
  • Injury-plagued ruckman Travis Edmonds dominates along with forward Bernard Carney, Brendan Retzlaff, Troy Ugle and Stewart Kestrel who had not been together in 1995 and 1996[10]
  • Debutant Peel kick the first goal against the Bulldogs and are in front until early in the second quarter before being overwhelmed[11]

Round 2

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Round 2
Saturday, 5 April East Fremantle 15.18 (108) def. Peel Thunder 7.9 (51) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1448)
Saturday, 5 April South Fremantle 11.13 (79) def. by Subiaco 16.11 (107) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1779)
Saturday, 5 April Claremont 6.10 (46) def. by Perth 13.8 (86) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1138)
Saturday, 5 April Swan Districts 20.19 (139) def. Joondalup 8.5 (53) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2107)
Bye
East Perth

Following their shocker against Swans, Perth coach Wayne Blackwell punished his side with a five-hour Tuesday training session and they respond with an excellent win in slippery conditions.[12]

Round 3

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Round 3
Saturday, 12 April Swan Districts 15.14 (104) def. Claremont 11.7 (73) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2183)
Saturday, 12 April Subiaco 27.20 (182) def. Peel Thunder 5.5 (35) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1531)
Saturday, 12 April Joondalup 8.14 (62) def. by East Perth 14.13 (97) Bunbury (crowd: 2212)
Bye
East Fremantle, Perth, South Fremantle
  • Subiaco had their biggest ever win in open-age WAFL football, beating their famous record from the 1959 first semi-final, though they have beaten the record several times during their 2000s WAFL dynasty.[13]
  • Troy Ugle does two brilliant shepherds and two difficult snap shots to derail a comeback by Claremont that threatened to give the Tigers their first win.[14]

Round 4

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Round 4
Friday, 18 April (7:30 pm) South Fremantle 17.14 (116) def. East Fremantle 11.9 (75) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5328)
Saturday, 19 April Perth 11.13 (79) def. East Perth 5.12 (42) Lathlain Park (crowd: 2603)
Saturday, 19 April Peel Thunder 9.9 (63) def. by Swan Districts 26.18 (174) Rushton Park (crowd: 2006)
Saturday, 19 April Joondalup 15.13 (103) def. Subiaco 8.9 (57) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2202)
Bye
Claremont

For the first time, a night match is played at Fremantle Oval, and the experiment is an instant success that later led to lights at most league venues.[15]

Round 5 (Anzac Day)

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Round 5
Friday, 25 April Subiaco 8.8 (56) def. by Perth 25.11 (161) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1413)
Friday, 25 April East Perth 17.12 (114) def. by South Fremantle 19.11 (125) Perth Oval (crowd: 2324)
Saturday, 26 April Joondalup 27.23 (185) def. Peel Thunder 9.11 (65) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1383)
Saturday, 26 April East Fremantle 16.11 (107) def. Claremont 14.14 (98) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1638)
Bye
Swan Districts
  • The Subiaco v Perth game was curtain-raiser to an AFL game between Fremantle and St Kilda, an experiment regarded as a success but not supported by Westar Rules’ clubs.[16]
  • Peel defender Scott Simister kicks an amazing 85-metre goal after a 50 metre penalty on the final siren against Joondalup.[17]

Round 6

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Round 6
Saturday, 3 May Claremont 15.7 (97) def. by South Fremantle 16.13 (109) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1347)
Saturday, 3 May Subiaco 9.15 (69) def. East Perth 10.8 (68) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1889)
Saturday, 3 May Perth 10.11 (71) def. by Joondalup 13.9 (87) Lathlain Park (crowd: 2156)
Saturday, 3 May East Fremantle 14.13 (97) def. by Swan Districts 18.7 (115) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2076)
Bye
Peel Thunder
  • The return of “Spider” Burton helps the Lions contrive a win by the narrowest of margins after being nineteen points behind with less than ten minutes remaining. East Perth’s errors cost it severely.[18]
  • Former Falcon forward Troy Wilson is moved to defence and Joondalup beat the Demons due to his power.[19]

Round 7

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Round 7
Saturday, 10 May Perth 13.10 (88) def. East Fremantle 11.8 (74) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1443)
Saturday, 10 May South Fremantle 26.17 (173) def. Peel Thunder 8.7 (55) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1700)
Saturday, 10 May Claremont 13.18 (96) def. Subiaco 7.12 (54) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1467)
Sunday, 11 May Swan Districts 20.11 (131) def. East Perth 17.10 (112) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2656)
Bye
Joondalup
  • Peel Thunder set a WAFL record of four consecutive losses by over 100 points. Despite continued woeful on-field performances the Thunder have never equalled this debut-season ignominy.[20]
  • Jon Dorotich kicks 9.8 (62) as South Fremantle kick eleven goals to one after Peel showed some improvement for three quarters.[21]
  • Aided by five AFL discards, reigning premiers Claremont win its first game for 1997, with ruckman Greg Egan defeating a higher-profile relegation from the AFL in “Spider” Burton.[22]

Round 8

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Round 8
Saturday, 17 May East Perth 9.10 (64) def. by East Fremantle 15.9 (99) Perth Oval (crowd: 1862)
Saturday, 17 May South Fremantle 23.14 (152) def. Perth 10.7 (67) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2204) [23]
Saturday, 17 May Joondalup 18.12 (120) def. Swan Districts 10.12 (72) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2734)
Saturday, 17 May Claremont 14.11 (95) def. by Peel Thunder 14.14 (98) Anniversary Park (crowd: 1005)
Bye
Subiaco
  • Peel Thunder win one of only two games during their first three seasons, beating the reigning premiers in a match played to celebrate the centenary of the satellite town of Rockingham.[24] Their first “home” win was not until 2000, and ironically was also against the Tigers.
  • The extremely small size of Anniversary Park prevented the running game that had made the Thunder look third-rate from establishing itself.[24]
  • Jon Dorotich kicks 13.2 for South Fremantle in their big win over Perth.
  • Fremantle-listed ruckman Matthew Whitelaw thrashes Sandover hopeful Travis Edmonds as Joondalup end Swans’ unbeaten start by kicking the last twelve goals[25]

Round 9

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Round 9
Saturday, 24 May Subiaco 10.10 (70) def. by South Fremantle 18.17 (125) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1399)
Saturday, 24 May Swan Districts 16.15 (111) def. Perth 7.10 (52) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1938) [26]
Saturday, 24 May Claremont 8.11 (59) def. by Joondalup 14.12 (96) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1119)
Saturday, 24 May Peel Thunder 11.5 (71) def. by East Perth 12.22 (94) Rushton Park (crowd: 1858)
Bye
East Fremantle
  • East Perth discard Spiro Mallis effectively ends the reigning premiers’ finals hopes with a superb display on the wing.[27]
  • An inaccurate East Perth hold out Peel in windy conditions but lose key ruckman Jeremy Crough and forward Brady Anderson to injuries, leaving the previous season’s grand finalists appearing troubled.[28]

Round 10 (Foundation Day)

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Round 10
Saturday, 31 May Subiaco 22.15 (147) def. Peel Thunder 6.11 (47) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 981)
Monday, 2 June East Fremantle 14.13 (97) def. South Fremantle 8.12 (60) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5531)
Monday, 2 June West Perth 14.8 (92) def. by East Perth 19.14 (128) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2298)
Bye
Claremont, Perth, Swan Districts

West Perth discarded ‘Joondalup’ and return to their long-established club name during the week before this round.

Round 11

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Round 11
Saturday, 7 June Swan Districts 33.8 (206) def. Peel Thunder 7.9 (51) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1844)
Saturday, 7 June East Fremantle 10.5 (65) def. by West Perth 18.11 (119) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2035)
Saturday, 7 June Perth 18.9 (117) def. Subiaco 17.7 (109) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1886)
Saturday, 7 June East Perth 16.8 (104) def. Claremont 14.12 (96) Perth Oval (crowd: 2154)
Bye
South Fremantle

Swan Districts kick the second most accurate score in WAFL history, with Aboriginal forward Troy Ugle kicking twelve,[29] which despite the Thunder’s continued ineptitude remains a record by one player against them[30]

Round 12

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Round 12
Saturday, 14 June South Fremantle 9.6 (60) def. by West Perth 14.10 (94) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2341)
Saturday, 14 June Claremont 14.6 (90) def. East Fremantle 12.12 (84) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1233)
Saturday, 14 June Swan Districts 19.20 (134) def. Subiaco 16.4 (100) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2252)
Saturday, 14 June Peel Thunder 6.7 (43) def. by Perth 17.19 (121) Rushton Park (crowd: 1363)
Bye
East Perth

Claremont, aided by the return of AFL discards Tony Delaney, Michael Gardiner and Anthony Jones, record a fine win over the eventual Grand finalists.[7]

Round 13

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Round 13
Saturday, 21 June West Perth 17.23 (125) def. Subiaco 5.10 (40) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2057)
Saturday, 21 June Perth 14.12 (96) def. South Fremantle 9.11 (65) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1887)
Saturday, 21 June East Fremantle 14.7 (91) def. East Perth 9.10 (64) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1785)
Sunday, 22 June Swan Districts 10.6 (66) def. by Claremont 17.12 (114) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2407)
Bye
Peel Thunder
  • West Perth thrash Subiaco as a tribute to Wayne “Terror” Dayman, who died in an industrial accident on the Monday, despite losing five players to state duty[31]
  • East Perth fade out against a depleted Shark team after leading 7.8 (50) to 1.3 (9) entering time-on in the second quarter.[32]

Round 14

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Round 14
Saturday, 28 June East Perth 24.14 (158) def. Peel Thunder 7.8 (50) Perth Oval (crowd: 1418)
Saturday, 28 June South Fremantle 16.12 (108) def. Swan Districts 8.8 (56) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2282)
Saturday, 28 June Perth 11.18 (84) def. by Claremont 13.13 (91) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1739)
Sunday, 29 June Subiaco 8.7 (55) def. by East Fremantle 28.15 (183) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1347)
Bye
West Perth

East Fremantle record their biggest ever win over Subiaco, and also their biggest away win over any opponent.[33]

Round 15

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Round 15
Saturday, 5 July Claremont 8.9 (57) v West Perth 14.10 (94) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1520)
Saturday, 5 July East Perth 13.13 (91) def. Swan Districts 12.9 (81) Perth Oval (crowd: 2751)
Saturday, 5 July Peel Thunder 7.4 (46) def. by South Fremantle 18.14 (122) Rushton Park (crowd: 1249)
Saturday, 5 July East Fremantle 10.15 (75) def. by Perth 13.7 (85) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1559)
Bye
Subiaco
  • Perth coach Wayne Blackwell is reported for disputing a decision on the sideline, but his team move into the four by breaking down East Fremantle attacks very efficiently.[34]
  • South Fremantle coach John Todd blasts Peel as uncompetitive in a spiteful game with six reports.[35]

Round 16

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Round 16
Saturday, 12 July Subiaco 14.9 (93) def. Claremont 9.12 (66) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1184)
Saturday, 12 July West Perth 14.8 (92) def. by Perth 18.9 (117) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2207)
Saturday, 12 July South Fremantle 12.11 (83) drew with East Perth 12.11 (83) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2670)
Saturday, 12 July Peel Thunder 12.8 (80) def. by East Fremantle 22.11 (143) Rushton Park (crowd: 1351)
Bye
Swan Districts

In an all-day thriller South Fremantle and East Perth played the second and last WASFL/WAFL/Westar Rules draw of the 1990s. The previous drawn match was 406 games ago in April 1993 between the Royals and Claremont.[36] Dorotich kicked 8.2 in a superb display, but East Perth rover Shawn Colbin was penalised for holding the ball on the siren within range when it appeared he may have got rid of the ball.[37]

Round 17

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Round 17
Saturday, 19 July West Perth 10.5 (65) def. by East Fremantle 23.18 (156) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2338)
Saturday, 19 July Claremont 9.11 (65) def. by East Perth 13.13 (91) Claremont Oval (crowd: 2088)
Saturday, 19 July South Fremantle 13.10 (88) def. by Subiaco 17.9 (111) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1841)
Saturday, 19 July Peel Thunder 11.15 (81) def. by Swan Districts 22.17 (149) Rushton Park (crowd: 2085)
Bye
Perth

Round 18

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Round 18
Saturday, 26 July Swan Districts 9.9 (63) def. by East Fremantle 24.9 (153) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1919)
Saturday, 26 July East Perth 14.10 (94) def. Subiaco 8.8 (56) Perth Oval (crowd: 1952)
Saturday, 26 July Perth 23.18 (156) def. Peel Thunder 8.12 (60) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1267)
Saturday, 26 July West Perth 7.15 (57) def. by South Fremantle 15.15 (105) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1569)
Bye
Claremont

Round 19

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Round 19
Saturday, 2 August Subiaco 18.9 (117) def. West Perth 9.9 (63) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1499)
Saturday, 2 August Swan Districts 11.9 (75) def. by Perth 28.10 (178) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2418)
Saturday, 2 August Claremont 22.15 (147) def. Peel Thunder 3.17 (35) Claremont Oval (crowd: 853)
Saturday, 2 August East Fremantle 14.15 (99) def. East Perth 14.6 (90) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2480)
Bye
South Fremantle
  • Brett Spinks and Jermaine David kick seven each in a crushing Demon win, whilst Winston Abraham stars in the back pocket.[38]
  • In the best game of the season to date, East Fremantle take top position with a fine win under great pressure.[39]

Round 20

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Round 20
Saturday, 9 August South Fremantle 13.21 (99) def. Claremont 3.11 (29) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1153)
Saturday, 9 August East Perth 14.10 (94) def. Swan Districts 4.6 (30) Perth Oval (crowd: 1523)
Saturday, 9 August Peel Thunder 6.5 (41) def. by West Perth 8.12 (60) Rushton Park (crowd: 1109)
Sunday, 10 August Subiaco 10.9 (69) def. by Perth 11.23 (89) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1675)
Bye
East Fremantle
  • Claremont fail to goal after quarter-time for the second time in three seasons; having done so against West Perth in 1995[40]
  • Crippled by injuries and off-field dissent about who will coach in 1998,[41] Swan Districts kick their lowest score for 29 years[42]
  • Perth move to top position despite kicking ten behinds without the ball moving out of their attacking fifty-metre arc.[43]

Round 21

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Round 21
Saturday, 16 August East Fremantle 14.13 (97) def. Subiaco 13.11 (89) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1554)
Saturday, 16 August West Perth 12.18 (90) def. Claremont 5.14 (44) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1551)
Saturday, 16 August Swan Districts 14.10 (94) def. by South Fremantle 18.12 (120) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1453)
Saturday, 16 August Perth 19.19 (133) def. Peel Thunder 7.7 (49) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1437)
Bye
East Perth

Perth win six consecutive games for the only time since 1977, but lose key forward Brett Spinks to an injury that affects their competitiveness in the following two key matches.[44]

Round 22

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Round 22
Saturday, 23 August Subiaco 18.8 (116) def. Swan Districts 14.11 (95) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1217)
Saturday, 23 August East Fremantle 11.18 (84) def. Claremont 8.6 (54) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1569)
Saturday, 23 August East Perth 19.9 (123) def. West Perth 11.3 (69) Perth Oval (crowd: 4709)
Saturday, 23 August Perth 10.15 (75) def. by South Fremantle 15.15 (105) Lathlain Park (crowd: 3122)
Bye
Peel Thunder
  • Dorotich kicks eight goals to reach the century, becoming the oldest player to achieve the feat in WAFL/WANFL/Westar history.[45]
  • Subiaco’s win over Swans seals the top four with West Perth having the last round bye.

Round 23

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Round 23
Saturday, 30 August Peel Thunder 5.17 (47) def. by Subiaco 22.23 (155) Rushton Park (crowd: 1461)
Saturday, 30 August Claremont 11.11 (77) def. by Swan Districts 21.17 (143) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1304)
Saturday, 30 August East Perth 18.9 (117) def. Perth 9.10 (64) Perth Oval (crowd: 3708)
Saturday, 30 August (6:30 pm) South Fremantle 14.6 (90) def. East Fremantle 10.14 (74) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7688)
Bye
West Perth

Peel Thunder lose by 100 points or more for the tenth time in their debut season

Ladder

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1997 ladder
Pos Team Pld W L D PF PA PP Pts
1 South Fremantle (P) 20 14 5 1 2144 1549 138.4 58
2 East Fremantle 20 13 7 0 2042 1611 126.8 52
3 Perth 20 13 7 0 1936 1593 121.5 52
4 East Perth 20 12 7 1 1912 1585 120.6 50
5 Swan Districts 20 11 9 0 2113 1870 113.0 44
6 West Perth 20 11 9 0 1801 1694 106.3 44
7 Subiaco 20 9 11 0 1852 1912 96.9 36
8 Claremont 20 5 15 0 1567 1805 86.8 20
9 Peel Thunder 20 1 19 0 1120 2868 39.1 4
Source: WAFL Footy Facts
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals series

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Semi-finals

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First semi-final
Saturday, 6 September (11:20 am) Perth 17.12 (114) def. East Perth 6.11 (47) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8,918)

The return of centre half-forward Brett Spinks helps Perth reverse their previous loss to East Perth with a crushing victory in windy conditions, led by 100 gamer Toby Jackson.[46]

Second semi-final
Saturday, 6 September South Fremantle 7.5 (47) def. by East Fremantle 10.12 (72) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8,918)
  • Since the two semi-finals were played at the same venue on the same day, the attendance figure is the same.
  • Damian Condon demolishes veteran Dorotich in windy conditions to leave East Fremantle little trouble defeating their neighbours, who score just 3.2 (20) after quarter-time.[47]

Preliminary final

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Preliminary final
Sunday, 14 September South Fremantle 19.13 (127) def. Perth 14.6 (90) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7,585)

Clem Michael’s ruck dominance allows the strong Bulldog midfield to dominate during an eight-goal second quarter burst that Perth never counter.[48]

Grand Final

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Main article: 1997 Westar Rules Grand Final
1997 Westar Rules Grand Final
Saturday, 19 September East Fremantle def. by South Fremantle Subiaco Oval (crowd: 32,371)
5.4 (34)
8.6 (54)
10.10 (70)
11.13 (79) 		Q1
Q2
Q3
Final 		3.1 (19)
6.2 (38)
8.5 (53)
13.7 (85) 		Umpires: Trevor Garrett, Adam Binks, Wayne French
Simpson Medal: David Hynes (South Fremantle)

References

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  1. ^ Devaney, John; Full Points Footy’s WA Football Companion; p. 96. ISBN 9780955689710
  2. ^ Barker, Anthony J. Behind the Play: A History of Football in Western Australia; pp. 358-360. ISBN 0975242709
  3. ^ See Casey, Kevin (1995); The Tigers’ Tale: the origins and history of the Claremont Football Club, p. 201. ISBN 0646264982
  4. ^ See Lewis, Ross; ‘Margin Could Cost Falcons’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 11 August 1997
  5. ^ ‘WAFL club Peel Thunder found to have $300,000 loss’
  6. ^ Lewis, Ross; ‘Pair Show Virtues of Age’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 18 August 1997
  7. ^ a b Stocks, Gary; ‘Part-Time Tigers Make a Difference’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 16 June 1997
  8. ^ Perth Metro (Mount Lawley) March 1997 rainfall
  9. ^ Perth: Lowest Scores
  10. ^ a b Lague, Steve; ‘Swans’ Five Steal Show’; in The Game, p. 8; from The West Australian, 31 March 1997
  11. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Strong South Spoil Celebrations’; in The Game, p. 8; from The West Australian, 31 March 1997
  12. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Horror Session Stops Rot’; in The Game, p. 8; from The West Australian, 7 April 1997
  13. ^ Subiaco Football Club: Biggest Wins
  14. ^ ‘Ugle Leads Swans from Brink’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 14 April 1997
  15. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Lights Attract Fans’, in The Game, p. 11 from The West Australian, 21 April 1997
  16. ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Westar Fine for Starters’, in The Game, p. 12 from The West Australian, 28 April 1997
  17. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Simister Steals Joondalup’s Thunder’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 28 April 1997
  18. ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Shawcross, Burton Turn Lions Around’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 5 May 1997
  19. ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Wilson Moves Back to the Forefront’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 5 May 1997
  20. ^ "WAFL Footy Facts: Consecutive Losses by 100+". Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  21. ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Thunder Stilled by Growling Bulldogs’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 12 May 1997
  22. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Mitchell Burst Gets Tigers off Mark’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 12 May 1997
  23. ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Late Changes Lead to Easy Bulldogs Win’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 19 May 1997
  24. ^ a b ‘Peel Upholds Local Pride’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 19 May 1997
  25. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Whitelaw Rises to Occasion’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 19 May 1997
  26. ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Edmonds Looks Sandover Material’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 25 May 1997
  27. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Mallis Pivotal in Killing off Tiger Hopes’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 25 May 1997
  28. ^ Duffield, Mark; ‘Victory Is Costly for Royals’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 25 May 1997
  29. ^ "WAFL Footy Facts: Swan Districts v Each Opponent". Archived from the original on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  30. ^ "WAFL Footy Facts: Peel Thunder". Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  31. ^ Lewis, Ross; ‘Spirit of “Terror” Sustains Falcons’ Charge’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 23 June 1997
  32. ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘More Questions than Answers for Royals’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 23 June 1997
  33. ^ "East Fremantle v Subiaco- Game Records". Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  34. ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Demons Turn Up the Heat’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 7 July 1997
  35. ^ Lewis, Ross and Lague, Steve; ‘Todd Blasts Thunder’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 7 July 1997
  36. ^ WAFL Footy Facts: Drawn Matches Archived 2014-05-13 at the Wayback Machine
  37. ^ Lewis, Ross; ‘“Apples” Bears Fruit in a Thriller; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 14 July 1997
  38. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Demons Blast Swans out of Water’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 4 August 1997
  39. ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘Sharks Raise Hopes of Centenary Premiership’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 4 August 1997
  40. ^ Claremont: Lowest Scores
  41. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Swans’ Season Sinks in Mire’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 11 August 1997
  42. ^ Swan Districts: Lowest Scores
  43. ^ ‘Perth Gets Points for Persistence’; ; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 11 August 1997
  44. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Spinks Injury Sours Demons’ Win’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 18 August 1997
  45. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Dorotich Helps Himself to a Piece of History’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 25 August 1997
  46. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Happy Jackson Marks Milestone’; The Game, p. 11, from The West Australian, 8 September 1997
  47. ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Condon Leads Sharks’ Revival’; The Game, p. 11, from The West Australian, 8 September 1997
  48. ^ Lague, Steve; ‘Bulldogs Bubble in a Champagne Spell’; The Game, p. 11, from The West Australian, 15 September 1997
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