2001 WAFL season | |
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Teams | 9 |
Premiers | East Perth 16th premiership |
Minor premiers | Claremont 12th minor premiership |
Sandover Medallist | Ryan Turnbull (East Perth) |
Bernie Naylor Medallist | Paul Medhurst (Claremont) |
Matches played | 85 |
The 2001 WAFL season was the 117th season of the various incarnations of the West Australian Football League. Following the off-season “Fong Report” by WAFC President Neale Fong which was written as a response to the problems then faced on-and off-field by AFL and domestic football in Western Australia,[1] the league reverted to calling itself the ‘WAFL’ because it was acknowledged ‘Westar Rules’ was painfully contrived and did not reflect the history or traditions of the local game.[2]
2001 also saw the abandonment of the “double-header” system of playing finals that began with the replay of the 1989 First semi-final, and also an unsuccessful experiment of giving each club four byes during the home-and-away season rather than three.
East Perth continued on from their dominance of the 2000 season to win a second successive premiership for the first time in forty-two seasons, thrashing a South Fremantle team that came from third position – after along with minor premiers Claremont completely dominating the season up to the end of May – to the Grand Final. Former West Coast Eagle regular Ryan Turnbull became the second player in four seasons to complete the Sandover/Simpson double. 2000 Grand Finalists East Fremantle, after having the best WAFL/Westar record during the 1990s, fell to second-last ahead of only financially crippled Swan Districts and were to play only one final during the rest of the decade. Peel Thunder, after advancing to four wins in 2000, advanced further despite the “Fong Report” recommending the withdrawal of their licence and at one time looked a chance for the finals, but the off-field pressure caused them to falter severely in the run home.[3]
Round 1 | |||||
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Saturday, 31 March | Peel Thunder 10.16 (76) | def. | Swan Districts 7.15 (57) | Rushton Park (crowd: 1183) | |
Saturday, 31 March | East Perth 8.20 (68) | def. by | South Fremantle 22.13 (145) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 1467) | |
Saturday, 31 March | West Perth 9.6 (60) | def. by | Claremont 19.7 (121) | Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1932) | |
Saturday, 31 March | Perth 10.7 (67) | def. | Subiaco 6.6 (42) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 1707) | |
Bye East Fremantle |
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Round 2 | |||||
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Saturday, 7 April | Claremont 17.16 (118) | def. | Peel Thunder 16.10 (106) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 1191) | |
Saturday, 7 April | East Fremantle 13.12 (90) | def. | West Perth 13.10 (88) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1770) | |
Saturday, 7 April | Swan Districts 8.5 (53) | def. by | Perth 14.12 (96) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1848) | [7] |
Bye East Perth, South Fremantle, Subiaco |
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New skipper Marshall Stockden, replacing the retired Stephen Bilcich, gives the Sharks a splendid comeback win with a goal from a bouncing shot almost on the siren.[8] |
Round 3 | |||||
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Saturday, 14 April | Subiaco 16.6 (102) | def. by | Claremont 17.13 (115) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1686) | |
Saturday, 14 April | Peel Thunder 11.9 (75) | def. | Perth 10.12 (72) | Rushton Park (crowd: 2040) | |
Monday, 16 April | South Fremantle 11.16 (82) | def. | East Fremantle 11.5 (71) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5080) | |
Monday, 16 April | West Perth 13.11 (89) | def. by | East Perth 16.14 (110) | Arena Joondalup (crowd: 4010) | |
Bye Swan Districts |
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Round 4 | |||||
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Saturday, 21 April | Swan Districts 10.11 (71) | def. | South Fremantle 20.17 (137) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1738) | |
Saturday, 21 April | Peel Thunder 15.10 (100) | def. by | West Perth 20.9 (129) | Rushton Park (crowd: 1812) | |
Saturday, 21 April | Claremont 18.15 (123) | def. | East Perth 5.4 (34) | Albany (crowd: 2240) | |
Saturday, 21 April | Perth 10.7 (67) | def. by | East Fremantle 14.17 (101) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 1570) | |
Bye Subiaco |
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Round 5 | |||||
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Saturday, 28 April | East Fremantle 9.9 (63) | def. by | Claremont 12.10 (82) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1667) | |
Saturday, 28 April | Subiaco 15.17 (107) | def. | Peel Thunder 11.8 (74) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1029) | |
Saturday, 28 April | West Perth 18.11 (119) | def. | Swan Districts 11.5 (71) | Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1815) | |
Saturday, 28 April | South Fremantle 12.15 (87) | def. | Perth 3.12 (30) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1584) | |
Bye East Perth |
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Round 6 | |||||
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Saturday, 5 May | Swan Districts 4.11 (35) | def. by | Subiaco 15.16 (106) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1570) | |
Saturday, 5 May | East Perth 13.9 (87) | def. | East Fremantle 10.10 (70) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 1677) | |
Saturday, 5 May | Claremont 10.14 (74) | def. | South Fremantle 5.8 (38) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 1815) | |
Saturday, 5 May | Perth 9.17 (71) | def. | West Perth 6.9 (45) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 1610) | |
Bye Peel Thunder |
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Round 7 | |||||
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Saturday, 12 May | East Fremantle 8.13 (61) | def. by | Swan Districts 10.8 (68) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1158) | |
Saturday, 12 May | East Perth 12.11 (83) | def. | Perth 2.12 (24) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 1368) | |
Saturday, 12 May | West Perth 9.8 (62) | drew with | Subiaco 8.14 (62) | Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1057) | |
Saturday, 12 May | South Fremantle 22.15 (147) | def. | Peel Thunder 3.3 (21) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1532) | [18] |
Bye Claremont |
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Round 8 | |||||
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Saturday, 19 May | Swan Districts 13.4 (82) | def. by | East Perth 14.11 (95) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2014) | |
Saturday, 19 May | Peel Thunder 17.16 (118) | def. | East Fremantle 14.9 (93) | Rushton Park (crowd: 1302) | |
Saturday, 19 May | Subiaco 8.2 (50) | def. by | South Fremantle 13.13 (91) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1578) | |
Saturday, 19 May | Perth 4.15 (39) | def. by | Claremont 9.6 (60) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 1383) | |
Bye West Perth |
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Round 9 | |||||
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Saturday, 26 May | East Fremantle 8.12 (60) | def. by | Subiaco 18.13 (121) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1298) | |
Saturday, 26 May | Claremont 19.16 (130) | def. | Swan Districts 8.7 (55) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 1406) | [27] |
Saturday, 26 May | South Fremantle 14.15 (99) | def. | West Perth 12.6 (78) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1593) | |
Sunday, 27 May | East Perth 9.14 (68) | def. by | Peel Thunder 11.11 (77) | Collie (crowd: 1088) | |
Bye Perth |
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For the only time to date, the WAFL play a match in the coal-mining town of Collie, in East Perth’s country zone. The game becomes Peel’s first win over an eventual premier club, and continues East Perth’s hoodoo in matches staged in country centres, as former Thunder star Buszan scores 2.7 (19).[28] |
Round 10 | |||||
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Saturday, 2 June | Subiaco 12.6 (78) | def. | Claremont 10.12 (72) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1924) | |
Saturday, 2 June | Perth 15.9 (99) | def. | Peel Thunder 6.12 (48) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 1721) | |
Monday, 4 June | East Fremantle 8.7 (55) | def. by | South Fremantle 12.13 (85) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7540) | |
Monday, 4 June | East Perth 20.13 (133) | def. | West Perth 8.10 (58) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 2890) | |
Bye Swan Districts |
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Round 11 | |||||
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Saturday, 9 June | Peel Thunder 23.11 (149) | def. | Swan Districts 11.12 (78) | Rushton Park (crowd: 2012) | [31] |
Saturday, 9 June | South Fremantle 7.10 (52) | def. by | East Perth 13.23 (101) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1457) | |
Sunday, 10 June | Subiaco 14.9 (93) | def. | Perth 7.11 (53) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1497) | |
Bye Claremont, East Fremantle, West Perth |
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Round 12 | |||||
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Saturday, 16 June | Swan Districts 9.13 (67) | def. by | Perth 11.8 (74) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2403) | |
Saturday, 16 June | Claremont 17.9 (111) | def. | Peel Thunder 10.12 (72) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 1339) | |
Saturday, 16 June | West Perth 9.12 (66) | def. by | East Fremantle 14.7 (91) | Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1564) | |
Bye East Perth, South Fremantle, Subiaco |
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Round 13 | |||||
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Saturday, 23 June | East Perth 14.11 (95) | def. | Subiaco 14.9 (93) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 2348) | |
Saturday, 23 June | South Fremantle 8.11 (59) | def. by | Claremont 11.16 (82) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2051) | |
Bye East Fremantle, Peel Thunder, Perth, Swan Districts, West Perth |
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Led by Ryan Turnbull and Devan Perry, East Perth win a thrilling match with two goals direct from clearances in the final minute and remain in touch with top club Claremont.[38] |
Round 14 | |||||
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Saturday, 30 June | East Fremantle 17.9 (111) | def. by | East Perth 18.9 (117) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1935) | |
Saturday, 30 June | Subiaco 12.19 (91) | def. | Swan Districts 10.7 (67) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1446) | |
Saturday, 30 June | Perth 10.12 (72) | def. by | West Perth 18.13 (121) | Bruce Rock (crowd: 1178) | |
Bye Claremont, Peel Thunder, South Fremantle |
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Troy Wilson, despite playing with three pairs of socks in the boots of Dean Buszan, kicks seven goals to ward off a potential Shark upset.[39] |
Round 15 | |||||
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Saturday, 7 July | Swan Districts 10.9 (69) | def. by | West Perth 11.14 (80) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1641) | |
Saturday, 7 July | Peel Thunder 13.14 (92) | def. | Subiaco 12.9 (81) | Rushton Park (crowd: 1902) | |
Saturday, 7 July | Claremont 17.11 (113) | def. | East Fremantle 10.10 (70) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 1574) | |
Saturday, 7 July | Perth 9.7 (61) | def. by | South Fremantle 10.8 (68) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 1529) | |
Bye East Perth |
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Round 16 | |||||
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Saturday, 14 July | East Fremantle 18.11 (119) | def. | Perth 11.13 (79) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1673) | |
Saturday, 14 July | East Perth 19.12 (126) | def. | Claremont 10.6 (66) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 2725) | |
Saturday, 14 July | West Perth 17.17 (119) | def. | Peel Thunder 12.8 (80) | Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1588) | |
Saturday, 14 July | South Fremantle 18.16 (124) | def. | Swan Districts 7.10 (52) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1632) | |
Bye Subiaco |
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West Perth maintain their perfect record against Peel thanks to the return of former big man Brett King, whose presence in the ruck allows Laurie Belotti and Simon Duckworth to solve forward woes created by the loss of Digby Morrell.[42] |
Round 17 | |||||
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Saturday, 21 July | Swan Districts 14.7 (91) | def. by | East Fremantle 19.10 (124) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1892) | |
Saturday, 21 July | Peel Thunder 9.9 (63) | def. by | South Fremantle 22.13 (145) | Rushton Park (crowd: 2349) | |
Saturday, 21 July | Subiaco 8.9 (57) | def. by | West Perth 8.11 (59) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1962) | |
Saturday, 21 July | Perth 8.7 (55) | def. by | East Perth 11.11 (77) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 2798) | |
Bye Claremont |
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West Perth coach Andrew Lockyer has an unexpected success via leaving 1999 Simpson Medallist Christian Kelly on the bench, as his fresh legs give the Falcons a stirring win after having only four goals on the board with ten minutes remaining. Simon Duckworth helps Kelly by kicking three late goals from centre half-forward.[43] |
Round 18 | |||||
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Saturday, 28 July | East Fremantle 15.3 (93) | def. by | Peel Thunder 16.9 (105) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1244) | |
Saturday, 28 July | East Perth 16.13 (109) | def. | Swan Districts 9.6 (60) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 2057) | |
Saturday, 28 July | Claremont 14.10 (94) | def. | Perth 12.9 (81) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 1252) | |
Sunday, 29 July | South Fremantle 7.11 (53) | def. by | Subiaco 14.11 (95) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1432) | |
Bye West Perth |
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Round 19 | |||||
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Saturday, 4 August | Swan Districts 12.11 (83) | def. | Claremont 10.2 (62) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2253) | |
Saturday, 4 August | East Perth 25.17 (167) | def. | Peel Thunder 8.8 (56) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 1559) | [47] |
Saturday, 4 August | East Fremantle 10.13 (73) | def. by | Subiaco 20.20 (140) | Kalgoorlie (crowd: 4192) | |
Saturday, 4 August | West Perth 9.16 (70) | def. by | South Fremantle 13.6 (84) | Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1536) | |
Bye Perth |
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Round 20 | |||||
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Saturday, 11 August | East Fremantle 10.6 (66) | def. by | West Perth 16.12 (108) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1536) | |
Saturday, 11 August | Peel Thunder 7.7 (49) | def. by | Claremont 23.20 (158) | Rushton Park (crowd: 2028) | |
Saturday, 11 August | Subiaco 10.12 (72) | def. by | East Perth 15.10 (100) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 2356) | |
Saturday, 11 August | Perth 12.14 (86) | def. | Swan Districts 12.4 (76) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 1701) | |
Bye South Fremantle |
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Round 21 | |||||
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Saturday, 18 August | Claremont 14.11 (95) | def. | Subiaco 7.16 (58) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 1628) | [54] |
Saturday, 18 August | West Perth 11.10 (76) | def. | East Perth 10.14 (74) | Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2593) | |
Saturday, 18 August | South Fremantle 26.10 (166) | def. | East Fremantle 13.6 (84) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2119) | |
Bye Peel Thunder, Perth, Swan Districts |
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Round 22 | |||||
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Saturday, 25 August | Swan Districts 22.16 (148) | def. | Peel Thunder 8.8 (56) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1640) | |
Saturday, 25 August | East Perth 10.15 (75) | def. | South Fremantle 9.8 (62) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 2574) | |
Saturday, 25 August | Claremont 18.8 (116) | def. | West Perth 11.10 (76) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 2300) | |
Saturday, 25 August | Perth 6.8 (44) | def. by | Subiaco 18.11 (119) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 2101) | |
Bye East Fremantle |
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Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |
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1 | Claremont | 18 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 1792 | 1249 | 143.5 | 60 |
2 | East Perth (P) | 18 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 1719 | 1371 | 125.4 | 56 |
3 | South Fremantle | 18 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 1724 | 1201 | 143.5 | 52 |
4 | Subiaco | 18 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 1567 | 1307 | 119.9 | 38 |
5 | West Perth | 18 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 1503 | 1566 | 96.0 | 34 |
6 | Peel Thunder | 18 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 1417 | 1990 | 71.2 | 28 |
7 | Perth | 18 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 1170 | 1428 | 81.9 | 24 |
8 | East Fremantle | 18 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 1495 | 1783 | 83.8 | 20 |
9 | Swan Districts | 18 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 1283 | 1775 | 72.3 | 12 |
First semi-final | |||||
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Sunday, 2 September | South Fremantle 15.11 (101) | def. | Subiaco 10.13 (73) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4,309) | |
With the Bulldogs severely short of tall players due to injury, coach Peter Sumich moves Rick Mott and veteran Marty Atkins into the ruck – where they are extremely successful and overpower the Lions.[59] |
Second semi-final | |||||
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Saturday, 8 September | Claremont 9.7 (61) | def. by | East Perth 20.13 (133) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 6,778) | [60] |
With East Perth’s superb win, Tony Micale becomes the fifth WAFL coach to appear in five consecutive Grand Finals,[c], and the only one to do so with multiple clubs. Claremont’s troubles began with the loss of key rover Ben Cunningham in the second quarter, after which they were overwhelmed.[61] |
Preliminary final | |||||
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Saturday, 15 September | South Fremantle 14.9 (93) | def. | Claremont 12.13 (85) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4,894) | |
Travis Gaspar does a remarkable job of overcoming severe hamstring problems to play a decisive role as a ruckman in the Bulldogs’ victory.[62] |
Main article: 2001 WAFL Grand Final |
2001 WAFL Grand Final | |||||
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Saturday, 22 September | East Perth | def. | South Fremantle | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 23,842) | [63] |
2.7 (19) 7.12 (54) 11.12 (78) 17.18 (120) |
Q1 Q2 Q3 Final |
3.1 (19) 5.4 (34) 5.7 (37) 5.8 (38) |
Umpires: Craig Hendrie, Mark Fussell, David Corcoran Simpson Medal: Ryan Turnbull (East Perth) | ||
Perry 3, Buszan 3, Symmons 2, Munro 2, Wheatley, Barnard, Cowell, Waller, Humm, Haynes, Antonowicz | Goals | Gaspar 2, Chisholm, Sampi, Dodd | |||
Wheatley, Perry, Cowell, Webster, Turnbull, Symmons | Best | Gaspar, Tinsley, Chisholm, Burridge, Gault, McGrath | |||
Injuries | Mott (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Burridge Atkins (thigh) Chisholm (shoulder) Thompson (ankle) | ||||
East Perth’s powerful, tough rucks destroy a depleted South Fremantle team, with Turnbull leading the charge a day before his thirtieth birthday.[64] |