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With the undefeated Subiaco playing the bottom of the ladder Sharks this weekend, I have been mischeviously contemplating the chances of a monumental upset. Probably wouldnt put too much money on it but it got me thinking about other times when teams at or near the bottom of the ladder have pulled off a win over a top team.

One example I can think of involving Swans was in 2001 when the club was in a lot of financial difficulty and John Todd had returned to coach the league team to help out. In round 19 of that year, Swans played Claremont at Bassendean. Going into that game, Swans were on the bottom of the ladder with one win out of 15 games and Claremont were on top with 12 wins out of 14. It looked like a complete mismatch but it was a milestone game for John Todd in his coaching career ( can't remember the milestone but I'm sure another Swans fan can help us here).
This obviously inspired the players who shot out to a 30 point lead at half time then held out Claremont in the 2nd half to prevail by 21 points. There was some talent in that Swans team, Mark Piani, Travis Edmonds, Scott Cummings, Adam Hunter, Shane Beros and Joel Cornelius to name a few. This result was seen as a massive upset though. Claremont were not beaten again in the qualifying round although they went out in straight sets in the finals.
Thanks to Ric's wonderful site for filling the gaps in my memory about that game.

Would be interested in hearing any other stories of lower ranked teams upsetting top teams.

A few that spring to mind to me Mike were in our Premiership years-

1984 SD lost to bottom side Perth at Lathlain Park (the first loss I encountered vs Perth)
1990 SD lost to bottom side WP twice that season (once at Leederville & once at Bassendean)
2010 SD lost to bottom side Perth at Lathlain Park

I remember that 2010 one clearly. It was a cold wet day and Swans had a raft of injuries and suspensions to key players. Our reserves team only won 1 game all year so our depth wasn't great.

Beasley Hutton wrote: A few that spring to mind to me Mike were in our Premiership years-

1984 SD lost to bottom side Perth at Lathlain Park (the first loss I encountered vs Perth)
1990 SD lost to bottom side WP twice that season (once at Leederville & once at Bassendean)
2010 SD lost to bottom side Perth at Lathlain Park

Yes 1984 was a big upset Beas, and a great day for Perth supporters.

Robert Wiley had 48 kicks that day.

Cesspit wrote:

Beasley Hutton wrote: A few that spring to mind to me Mike were in our Premiership years-

1984 SD lost to bottom side Perth at Lathlain Park (the first loss I encountered vs Perth)
1990 SD lost to bottom side WP twice that season (once at Leederville & once at Bassendean)
2010 SD lost to bottom side Perth at Lathlain Park

Yes 1984 was a big upset Beas, and a great day for Perth supporters.

Robert Wiley had 48 kicks that day.

Just goes to show how strong the WAFL was back in that era Cess Perth had superstars like Wiley, Cousins, Bosustow, Johnson and many other top players like Rea, W & D Simms, Baynes, Spalding, Yorgey, Fitzgerald, Shepherd, Turner, Gandini, Montgomery, Cook, Barich, Kimberley, Ryder, McGuire etc and yet still finished at or near the bottom in almost every year of the early to mid 80s ditto for Subi.

Mike I reckon that 2001 one was John Todd's 700th game as player/coach.

Also note that Rob Wiley got no Sandover votes in that 1984 game.

I maybe wrong but I'm pretty sure he did get the top votes for that game. There were some other games where he was clearly BOG and didn't get a vote, or at least the top votes.

Another big upset I remember was in 1981 on a wet day at Lathlaain and we beat South in a low scoring game. it was a top v bottom situation.

Another one...
1978 R17 Swans 18.17 (125) def Perth 9.13 (67) Coming into this game Swans had lost the last 7 against Perth by an average of 64 points - Swans were 8th with a 1-15 record whilst Perth were 1st with a 12-4 record. Before this match the head to head record was Perth 93 Swans 34 (2 draws) and since then its been Perth 38 Swans 78 (1 draw). This was the start of Swans record 17 game winning streak against the Demons., which ended in the upset that BH mentioned earlier. This 1978 game is also the biggest winning margin for a last place side beating a 1st place side.

waflfootyfacts.net/season/games/stats.php?GameID=6094

Cesspit wrote: I maybe wrong but I'm pretty sure he did get the top votes for that game. There were some other games where he was clearly BOG and didn't get a vote, or at least the top votes.

Another big upset I remember was in 1981 on a wet day at Lathlaain and we beat South in a low scoring game. it was a top v bottom situation.

That was round 18, 1981 Perth were 8th (2-15) against South Fremantle who were 3rd (11-6). Perth were coming off a 173 point hammering by Claremont the week before and they beat the 'dogs 18.13 (121) to 15.13 (103). The next week Perth lost to 7th placed East Fremantle by 19 points who co-incidentally were thrashed by 105 points by Swans in round 18.

Season 1981 scores - waflfootyfacts.net/season/games/results.php?Season=1981

There has been 5 occasions where a 9th place team has beaten a 1st place team
r19 2001 SD def Cl
r4 2005 Perth def SF
r15 2007 Peel def Subi
r18 2011 Perth def WP
r11 2012 Peel def Cl

8th place teams (in an 8 team competition) defeated 1st place team on 27 occassions, but 7 of those were before round 10 - notable upsets include
r20 1992 WP (wooden spooners) def EF (premiers)
r17 1990 WP (wooden spooners) def SD (premiers)
r18 1986 SF (finished 7th) def Subi (premiers)
r17 1978 SD (wooden spooners) def Perth (minor premier & runner-up)
r20 1976 Subi (wooden spooners) def EP (minor premier & runner-up)
r18 1974 WP (wooden spooners) def Perth (runner up)
r15 1971 SD (wooden spooners) def EP (minor premier & runner-up)
r20 1970 EF (finished 7th) def Perth (minor premier & runner-up)
r17 1967 Subi (wooden spooners) def EP (minor premier & runner-up)
r20 1965 SF (wooden spooners) def SD (minor premier & runner-up)
r20 1964 EP (wooden spooners) def EF (minor premier & runner-up)
r20 1962 Claremont (wooden spooners) def SD (premiers)
r21 1929 EP (wooden spooners) def EF (premiers)