South Fremantle (2)

SOUTH FREMANTLE - Part Two: 1948 to 2007

Many observers have nominated South Fremantle's 1948 combination as the finest in the club's - some would say Western Australian football's - entire history, but despite this they still only managed to finish the home and away rounds in 2nd place behind West Perth. The 2nd semi final was not without its problems either as West Perth led at half time by 20 points before a strong second half surge saw the red and whites home by 8 points. The grand final, watched by a crowd of 28,660, was tough going also as South somehow managed to surrender a 32 point long break lead to turn around at lemon time 3 points adrift. With the game there to be won, however, the side lifted, and strong performances from Simpson Medallist Doug Ingraham on the ball, half forwards Laurie Green and Jack Murray, ruckman Jack Reilly, centreman Clive Lewington and follower Don Wares brought a 13.9 (87) to 8.15 (63) win.

A rash of injuries to key players in 1949 brought a slump to 3rd place but South opened the 1950 season with 15 consecutive wins and went on to take out the minor premiership. The 2nd semi final saw another 'Clash of the Titans' against West Perth, but on this occasion the Cardinals played more like altar boys as South eased their way to a 27 point win. It was a vastly different story a fortnight later against surprise grand finalists Perth, though, as South almost managed to kick themselves out of the contest before a late goal from Wares brought victory by a single straight kick. Perth led 11.10 to 8.19 at three quarter time with South adding 4.4 to 2.1 in the final term to snatch victory. Captain-coach and centreman Clive Lewington won the Simpson Medal for best afield, while rover Steve Marsh, wingman Eric Eriksson, half back flanker John Crook, ruckman Don Wares and half forward flanker Alby Western were also prominent.

South reached another grand final in 1951 only to succumb to West Perth by 3 points after a late rally just failed to bring victory. Shortly after the grand final South trounced VFL finalist Collingwood 22.9 (141) to 15.12 (102) at Fremantle Oval causing Magpie coach Phonse Kyne to concede that "South Fremantle would hold their own in Victorian football". [see footnote 3]

Legendary rover Steve Marsh.

The period 1952-4 ranks as the most illustrious in South Fremantle's history. Bernie Naylor broke George Doig's fifteen year old WANFL record of 144 goals in a season when he booted 147 for the year in 1952 as South bounced back after a losing 2nd semi final against West Perth to win their 6th pennant. A 36 point preliminary final victory over Claremont set up the grand final re-match with the Cardinals which saw South Fremantle trail by 27, 30 and 16 points before getting up to win by 2 goals 9, 12.19 (91) to 10.10 (70). Follower Des Kelly got the Simpson Medal, with rover Steve Marsh (4 goals), wingman Tony Parentich, ruckman Norm Smith, full forward Bernie Naylor (4 goals) and utility Colin Boot also performing well. A crowd of 27,201 watched the game.

When the Cardinals turned the tables on South in the opening fixture of the 1953 season a number of so called 'experts' were quick to write off the reigning premiers. The facts that the defeat had only been by 3 points and that early season form, in almost any sport, is notoriously unpredictable were conveniently overlooked. In round 2 South annihilated Subiaco 30.17 (197) to 5.6 (36) and then proceeded to rack up a further 16 consecutive wins before losing another tight one to East Perth by 7 points. Again, fickle observers were quick to suggest that the red and white bubble had burst, but the side went through the remainder of 1953 unbeaten and many of those same observers were among the first to proclaim South Fremantle one of Western Australia's greatest ever teams at season's end.

In the 2nd semi final South Fremantle nudged past West Perth by 11 points but when the teams next faced one another a fortnight later the southerners produced arguably the finest grand final performance in their history up to that point to win by nearly 10 goals, 18.12 (120) to 8.13 (61). Rover Steve Marsh produced his customary grand final effervescence to take out the Simpson Medal, while full forward Bernie Naylor netted 8 goals to take his tally for the season to a staggering 167 - easily a new record for the major football states. Others to shine for South Fremantle in a match variously described as being watched by 34,207 and 31,610 spectators included ruckman Norm Smith, wingman John Colgan, centreman Tony Parentich and back pocket Don Dixon.

One of the most famous marks in Australian football history: South Fremantle's John Gerovich defies gravity to perch on the shoulders of his East Fremantle opponent Ray French during the 1956 WANFL preliminary final. (Click on the image to view an enlarged version.)

Shortly after the grand final South two exhibition matches against 3rd ranked VFL side Footscray, winning by 46 points at Subiaco, and going down by 9 points in a much less intense encounter a few days later at Bunbury. The club embarked on another eastern tour in 1954 during which wins were achieved against a South Australian number two side 8.13 (61) to 8.6 (54) in Adelaide and reigning VFL premiers Collingwood 12.10 (82) to 7.20 (62) in Melbourne.

Domestically, however, the team struggled to attain the standards of the previous couple of seasons, and 14 wins from 20 was only good enough for 3rd spot on the ladder. Once the finals got underway though the red and whites' experience came to the fore and comfortable wins over Perth (47 points) and West Perth (24 points) set up a 5th consecutive grand final appearance, this time against local rivals East Fremantle.

If South's 1953 premiership winning performance had been impressive the 1954 showing was positively awesome. Watched by either a new WANFL grand final record crowd of 36,098, or slightly less than the old record at 33,464 (depending on which media source you go on), the southerners actually appeared in trouble early on and trailed by 20 points at the first change. However, thereafter they methodically rattled up 18 goals to 3 to win with considerable comfort by 78 points, 21.14 (140) to 9.8 (62). Half forward flanker Charlie Tyson won the Simpson Medal with other strong displays coming from rover Steve Marsh - as ever - full forward Naylor (7 goals for a season's tally of 133), half back flankers Treasure and Crawford, and ruckman Smith.

A 14.9 (93) to 10.14 (74) end of season win over Carlton at Subiaco lent further substance - if it were needed - to the claim that South Fremantle were, at this particular point in time, the strongest club side in Australia.

Alas, the claim could not be made for much longer. In 1955 South ended the minor round with a series of resounding wins to once again top the ladder but then, inexplicably, their season collapsed in a heap. Perhaps over confidence was to blame, or perhaps, as sometimes happens, the side had simply lost the all consuming hunger to succeed which most champion teams seem to possess. In any case, whatever the reason, consecutive finals losses to East Fremantle (by 19 points) and Perth (12 points) have to be seen as representing the end of an era.

Admittedly, South did reach the 1956 grand final against East Perth, but in front of a crowd of 34,959 the Royals were always in control before a late surge by the southerners reduced the final margin to a comparatively respectable 13 points.

In 1957 South Fremantle missed contesting a finals series for the first time since the end of the second World War and the glory days were well and truly over.

The next decade and a half was a time of persistent mediocrity interspersed with occasional glimmers of promise. The WANFL during the 1960s was a highly competitive and fairly even competition in which significant fluctuations in fortune from one season to the next proved fairly commonplace. Transformations such as those of Swan Districts and Claremont which went from wooden spooners to premiers in 1960-61 and 1963-64 respectively gave supporters of other clubs hope, but sadly South Fremantle appeared to be immune to the yo-yo syndrome, remaining firmly in the category of also-rans throughout the decade.

The 1969 season produced South's fourth wooden spoon of the sixties and there appeared to be little on the horizon to promote cheer. However, thanks to what the club's official history described as "a felicitous combination of interlocking circumstances" [see footnote 4] the 1970 season brought a dramatic reversal of fortunes, on a par with those experienced earlier at Bassendean and Claremont Ovals.

Briefly, the circumstances in question were:

	the 'delayed benefits' accruing form the coaching methods of former Melbourne veteran Hassa Mann; appointed coach in 1969 after a 10 season 178 game VFL career Mann took some time to get the players on his wavelength, but once he did the effect was significant;
	the intensive (and quite innovative by WANFL standards) pre-season fitness campaign engaged in by the players under the supervision of professional fitness advisor Rodney Rate;
	the arrival of former Collingwood and Preston player Len Clark;
	the return of former player John O'Reilly after eight seasons in the VFL with Carlton and Footscray;
	the rapid and marked improvement shown by youngsters such as Danny Civech (who won the 1970 club best and fairest award), Tony Ryan and Don Haddow.

Notwithstanding all of this, during the home and away season South Fremantle had to accept second billing to Perth, which defeated South in all three home and away meetings and finished a game clear at the head of the ladder going into the finals. However, once there the Bulldogs, as South Fremantle were by this stage popularly known, exhibited the full scope of their abilities, downing the Demons by 4 points in the 2nd semi final and overwhelming them 15.7 (97) to 6.18 (54) a fortnight later in the 'big one' before a crowd of 40,620.

The press were generous in their acclaim:

There is little doubt that the pre-match attitude of the rival teams had a bearing on the result. South, whose last grand final appearance was in 1956, were at fever pitch in the days leading up to the game. But for Perth (premiers 1966-68), the novelty of grand final football had worn off. [see footnote 5]

And:

South showed that their vulnerability in adverse conditions was a myth when they mastered conditions that were thought to favour Perth, turning the second half of the grand final into a runaway victory. [see footnote 6]

The Simpson Medal went to rover Brian Ciccotosto for a display of "courageous defensive roving", [see footnote 7] with sterling performances also coming from half back flanker Danny Civech, centre half back 'Big Tom' Grljusich, centreman Don Haddow and ruck rover John Dennis.

South Fremantle's 'rags to riches' 1970 flag winners.

The 1970 premiership did not spark a major run of success, however. Indeed, just two seasons after winning the flag the club was back at rock bottom managing only 6 wins for the year and collecting another wooden spoon. Even when things improved during the middle years of the decade ignominy was close at hand. In 1975 the Bulldogs played off in the grand final against old rivals West Perth but were on the end of a WANFL grand final record 104 point hiding. There were further finals humiliations in store. In 1976 Perth ousted South from premiership contention in the preliminary final by nearly 10 goals, while two years later East Perth almost doubled the dose, winning by no fewer than 112 points at the same stage. A 20 point victory over Claremont in the 1979 2nd semi final teed up a mouth-watering 'derby' grand final against East Fremantle, but once again the gods were not smiling on South. The Sharks won 21.19 (145) to 16.16 (112) before a record crowd of 52,781 and no one at Fremantle Oval derived any consolation from the rapturous accolades bestowed on both teams in post-match media analyses.

A year later the disappointment was forgotten as South covered themselves in glory on grand final day with an emphatic 58 point victory over Swan Districts. Throughout the 1980 season it was clear that South and Swans were easily the best sides in the competition. Swan Districts opened the season with 13 consecutive wins but significantly it was the Bulldogs who brought their run to an end with an 11.21 (87) to 10.8 (68) triumph at Bassendean. South finished the season on a high with 12 successive victories before disposing of Swan Districts by 10 points in a hard fought 2nd semi final. A crowd of 46,208 turned up for the grand final re-match expecting another close tussle, but when the Bulldogs rattled up 8.7 to 1.5 in the 2nd term the contest was effectively over. Livewire South centreman Maurice Rioli won the Simpson Medal for best afield, while rover Noel Carter, centre half back Joe McKay, ruckman Stephen Michael, wingman Benny Vigona and centre half forward Wayne Delmenico were among the others to shine. (Click here for a full, goal by goal report on this game.)

[Click on the image to view an enlarged version.]

South had double cause for celebration in 1980 as Stephen Michael won the first of two successive Sandover Medals after having finished runner-up the previous season.

On the team front, however, just as ten years previously, South's 1980 premiership was to prove an isolated achievement. Admittedly, the side did manage to fight its way through to the 1981 grand final from 3rd, but inaccuracy in front of goal proved costly in a 15 point loss to Claremont.

It was not to be until 1997 that the Bulldogs would finally become reacquainted with that winning feeling. Top after the minor round the Bulldogs fought their way through to a 'derby' grand final confrontation with East Fremantle. The Sharks had the added incentive of celebrating their centenary year [see footnote 8] and, in front of a vocal crowd of 32,010, held sway for much of the match. However, the last quarter belonged to South as they overran their opponents to win by a single straight kick. Evergreen Bulldog coach John Todd later affirmed "I never lost hope because I have always maintained that 30 points in the modern game is not enough. If you can blow it out to 50 points you are normally safe, but with 30 you are never safe and all we had to do was turn a little bit around at the start of the last quarter. We were playing behind our opponents and allowing them to have first shot at the footy. We had to turn that negative into a positive and be more aggressive at the ball ... which we did." [see footnote 9]

South Fremantle's winning goal came after a 50 metre penalty awarded to Warren Campbell two minutes from the end which brought him within goal kicking range. Arguably a more decisive moment came with just seconds remaining on the clock, however. Wayne Roser of East Fremantle took a snap shot at goal which hung high in the air above Bulldog defender Peter Kelly as two Shark forwards converged on the scene. Kelly never flinched, taking a great saving mark, and East Fremantle's last chance to tie the scores was gone.

The 1997 premiership apart, however, the Bulldogs were for several seasons little better than a middle of the road side, with a losing grand final in 1989 (to Claremont),1992 (most gallingly, to East Fremantle) and 2001 (by an ignominious 82 points to East Perth) the nearest they managed to come to recapturing past glories. In 1987 there was even the ultimate ignominy of a 12th wooden spoon, but on the whole, as throughout most of the club's history, South tended to be competitive if not quite pre-eminent.

That was until an unexpectedly memorable 2005 season in which the Bulldogs lost just 3 of 20 minor round matches to qualify for the finals in 2nd place. A comprehensive 60 point 2nd semi final demolition of minor premier Subiaco followed, and in the grand final a fortnight later a defiant Claremont was shrugged off after a closely fought opening term to the tune of 56 points. It was South Fremantle's first ever win over the Tigers in a grand final, following losses in 1940, 1981 and 1989.

Stephen Mount has front position but still has three Claremont opponents to beat in this action from the 1983 season. (Click to enlarge.)

The 2006 season saw the Bulldogs once again contesting the grand final, but on this occasion they found a highly polished Subiaco combination too strong, and went down by the embarrassing margin of 83 points. South were competitive for most of the first two quarters, but after half time they were relentlessly and consistently overrun.

In 2007 the Bulldogs bowed out of premiership contention at the preliminary final stage, losing heavily to eventual premiers Subiaco after comfortably accounting for East Perth in the previous week's 1st semi final.

Among the champion players to have worn the red and white jumper with distinction in the 1980s and '90s have been 1986 Sandover Medallist and eventual Geelong skipper Mark Bairstow, dynamic on baller Scott Watters, flame haired utility Brad Hardie (winner of the Tassie Medal in 1984, and a Brownlow Medallist with Footscray after he went to the VFL), powerful key position player Jon Dorotich, 1989 Sandover Medallist Craig Edwards, versatile and tenacious English policeman Marty Atkins, and a panoply of West Coast Eagles stalwarts such as Peter Matera, John Worsfold, Glen Jakovich and David Hart.

The formation of the Fremantle Football Club and its admission to the AFL in 1995 has had a pronounced impact on South Fremantle, and will doubtless continue to have significant implications in years to come. For example, the Dockers elected to use Fremantle Oval as their training and administration base while, somewhat less objectively, it would also appear that the 'blue collar' ethos being cultivated by the Dockers is a good deal closer in spirit to that of the red and white fraternity than to their blue and white counterparts.

This deliberately concocted image is more a result of marketing strategy than a reflection of the club's actual membership base and management philosophy, but, however indirectly, it can be argued that the South Fremantle influence is continuing and indeed expanding as football in Western Australia simultaneously strides and totters its way into a new millennium.

Where now?

[ Home ] [ Centrals ] [ Claremont ] [ East Fremantle ] [ East Perth (original) ] [ East Perth ] [ Fremantle (original) ] [ Fremantle/Unions ] [ Imperials ] [ Midland Junction ] [ North Fremantle ] [ Peel ] [ Perth ] [ Rovers ] [ South Fremantle ] [ Subiaco ] [ Swan Districts ] [ WA Football Club ] [ West Perth ]

Footnotes

3. The South Fremantle Story 1900-1975 Volume 1, page 81. Return to Main Text

4. The South Fremantle Story 1900-1975 Volume 2 by Frank Harrison and Jack Lee, page 179. Return to Main Text

5. Geoff Christian in 'The West Australian' quoted in The South Fremantle Story 1900-1975 Volume 2 by Frank Harrison and Jack Lee, page 181. Return to Main Text

6. Ibid., page 181. Return to Main Text

7. Ibid., page 181. Return to Main Text

8. Following the somewhat questionable example of the AFL, East Fremantle, which was formed in 1898, elected to regard its centenary season as being the 100th since its inception rather than the equivalent year in the following century. Return to Main Text

9. From 'The West Australian', 29/9/97. Return to Main Text