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Make of this what you will lads, having a quick look at 1980 again, I noticed that the PFC had a strong forward line. The Demons easily matched Ep and Wp, especially in scorring shots. Comments?

Yes we may have underachieved in 1980 but we were certainly heading in the wrong direction. I think you mentioned on another thread that we were 4.12 at 1/4 time against SF at Fremantle oval in the opening game of the season. It was John McGuire’s first game for Perth and he was dominant in the first quarter along with Bryan Cousins but we were made to pay for not kicking straight and South overtook us and won quite comfortably in the end. We should have been 6 or 7 goals in front at 1/4 time such was the dominance.
 

Hypothetical. Takes us back in a time machine to 1980 (by the way was that under Alan Joyce)? We know what we know now, we are facing 40 plus years in competitive oblivion, no grand finals and just a few finals appearances.

Do we (a) stay where we are and stubbornly resist calls to move further south or (b) be bold and move further south around the Canningvale Jandakot area where new growth is spurning? What’d ya think fella’s? Which club would be sitting right in the middle of Canningvale, Jandakot, Piara Waters, Southern River, Auburn Grove etc etc……

I reckon we’d have had similar success to West Perth if we did.

Thanks for the good posts, men. DD, the amazing thing is that, in 1980, the club had seven flags and no wooden spoons since the early 1930s. Perth are not in an easy position, Subi have faced similar problems since the 1960s --supposedly moving to Scharabrough, Kingsway, Carine- and we stayed, the same decision as Perth made. Be careful with the WP
a they have worked hard
b they still divided
c they nearly lost their club because of being forced into a deal
d they are different to Perth--they never appoint from within

We were about to go off the edge of the cliff in 1980, although we didn't know it at the time. 1981 was next, probably the worst season in living memory for a Perth supporter. Got absolutely smashed regularly although somehow managed to record our 14th straight victory against $. How times have changed. I always cringe when I walk past that 1981 team photo outside the Rovers Lounge. I really feel for the guys in that team, even Archie Duda. What must of Doug Simms have been thinking playing in that team?

Yep, in hindsight, we should have seen the demographic tide moving against us and moved. Still should.