1986 WAFL season

1986 WAFL season
Teams8
PremiersSubiaco
6th premiership
Minor premiersSubiaco
7th minor premiership
Sandover MedallistMark Bairstow (South Fremantle)
Bernie Naylor MedallistMick Rea (Perth)
Attendance
Matches played88
Total attendance731,709 (8,315 per match)
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1987 →

The 1986 WAFL season was the 102nd season of the various incarnations of the West Australian Football League. It was the last season before the introduction of the West Coast Eagles in the VFL which would relegate the WAFL to a second-level league from 1987, and already all WAFL clubs were in severe financial difficulties[1] as attendances were stagnant at best since 1970 and the financial power of wealthy VFL clubs drew most top players away and left below-market transfer fees[2] as WAFL clubs' inadequate main income source.

There was also controversy over an attempt to play the Round 7 match between West Perth and Claremont on Mother's Day (11 May) which was vigorously opposed by young families, and the game was played on the Saturday,[3] and the WAFL admitted mid-season that changes to its schedules with more matches in major rural centres and matches at night at the WACA[a] were needed to counter the competition's dwindling appeal.[4] WAFL chairman Roy Annear initially proposed to play two games a season in large towns like Geraldton, Bunbury and Kalgoorlie,[4] although in modern times games in rural areas have been spread out to smaller centres at a lower frequency.

On the field, 1986 saw financially crippled Perth,[5] whose reserves had in 1985 made the Demons’ first finals appearance in any grade since 1978,[6][7] build upon this under Mal Brown to reach the preliminary final. The loss of players to the VFL, however, prevented Perth building upon this in subsequent seasons and they have remained almost continuously a cellar-dweller since. East Fremantle and Subiaco, clearly the best teams in 1985, were even more dominant in 1986, though there was an unexpected end when hot favourites East Fremantle were thrashed in the Grand Final. Claremont, disappointing in 1984 and 1985, were spectacular early in 1986 before injuries to key players and form lapses saw a catastrophic fall from second with seven straight defeats.[8]

Swan Districts, who had achieved a mini-dynasty from 1980 to 1984 with 88 wins from 118 matches, declined from third to their fourteenth wooden spoon, as injuries to key players and loss of form by veteran Kevin Taylor[9][10] could only rarely be covered. South Fremantle, possessing the severest financial problems in the WAFL, also suffered from clouds over Don Haddow's coaching future[11] and disputes with the Fremantle Council over Fremantle Oval producing proposals the Bulldogs move to a multi-sport stadium in Cockburn.[12] The Bulldogs suffered their worst season since 1972 and held no opponent under 100 points until the closing round.

  1. ^ Hess, Rob and Stewart, Bob; More Than a Game: The Real Story of Australian Rules Football, p. 230 ISBN 0522847722
  2. ^ See Denham, Greg and Stocks, Gary; ‘New Draft Puts WAFL Clubs “on Death Row”’; The West Australian, 12 July 1988, pp. 100, 98
  3. ^ Stocks, Gary; ‘WAFL Back off Sunday Plan’; The West Australian, 6 May 1986, p. 100
  4. ^ a b Marsh, David; ‘More Games in WA Towns’; The West Australian, 30 June 1986, p. 80
  5. ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘Perth on the Move’; The West Australian, 21 April 1986, p. 101
  6. ^ WAFL Reserves Ladder Positions (download)
  7. ^ WAFL Colts Ladder Positions (download)
  8. ^ Casey, Kevin (1995); The Tigers’ Tale: the origins and history of the Claremont Football Club, pp. 158-159. ISBN 0646264982
  9. ^ See Christian, Geoff; ‘Tunbridge Ready to Make League Debut’; The West Australian, 13 June 1986, p. 76
  10. ^ Marsh, David; ‘Tigers’ Defence Makes a Point’; The West Australian, 26 May 1986, p. 76
  11. ^ Marsh, David; ‘Toothless Bulldogs No Match for Swans’; The West Australian, 5 May 1986, p. 101
  12. ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘South Consider Options: The Bulldogs Look to New Sports Center’; The West Australian, 10 May 1985, p. 210