List of West Australian Football League premiers

This is a list of the West Australian Football League premiers, the premier state-based Australian rules football league in Western Australia, and includes premiers of the Western Australian Football Association (1885–1906), West Australian Football League (1907-1924), Western Australian Football League (1925-1927), Western Australian National Football League (1928–1979), West Australian Football League (1980-1989), WA State League (1990), West Australian Football League (1991-1996), Westar Rules (1997–2000) and West Australian Football League (2001-).

In 1967, WAFL football historian Dave Clement discovered a discrepancy between the official premiership list as published by the league and what he had determined from examination of records from the time. The original list has Fremantle winning six of the first seven premierships; however, documentation was found that the Unions club had won three premierships in succession.[1] The discrepancy was not officially acknowledged and fixed until the League's centenary in 1985.[2]

In the early years, a number of cups were awarded to clubs who won the premiership, including the "Dixson Cup"[1] and the "Farley Cup".[3]

On March 27, 1907, the WAFA was renamed the West Australian Football League (WAFL).[4] The 1907 grand final ended in a controversial manner, after Perth were awarded their first premiership by protesting the results.

On Wednesday October 12, 1927, the WAFL was renamed the Western Australian National Football League (WANFL) – the "national" in the name being adopted by the SANFL, TANFL and other leagues when the Australian Football Council became the Australian National Football Council earlier in that year.[5]

Prior to 1931, premierships were either awarded to the team leading the ladder or who won a final. If the top team lost the final, then they had the right to call for a challenge match to be played the following week to determine the premiership.

In 1931 the system changed to the Page finals system where the top two teams play in the second semi final, with the loser having a second chance and the winner progressing straight to the Grand Final. The winner of the third and fourth placed teams who played in the first semi final play the loser of the second semi final in the preliminary final.[6]

Since 1945, the best player on ground in the Grand Final has been awarded the Simpson Medal.

  1. ^ a b "SPORTING". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 4 October 1889. p. 3. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  2. ^ "Centenary satisfaction for historian". West Australian Football Register: 24–25. 1985.
  3. ^ "FOOTBALL". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 18 April 1901. p. 6. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  4. ^ "WAFA becomes WAFL". The Daily News. Perth. 28 March 1907.
  5. ^ "Bother at Claremont". The Daily News. Perth. 13 October 1927.
  6. ^ Christian, Geoff; Lee, Jack; Messenger, Bob. The Footballers. St George Books. p. 32.