TOPIC:

Lets start cranking up for the new season which is now only 7 weeks away by reminiscing on the golden age of WAFL. That of course is prior to the Eagles entering the VFL competition in 1987. My question for all those old enough to remember is what are some of your favourite games/memories from the 60's 70's and 80's where it wasn't uncommon to get 10000 people at a WAFL game?

I will share 2 of my many happy memories of that time. In 1981, there was a game at Claremont Oval, last round of the regular season between the Tigers who had the Krakouer brothers, Steve Malaxos, Warren Ralph etc and Swans who had the Narkle brothers, Mike Richardson, Melrose and many others. It was a fantastic game which Claremont ended up winning but I think both sides kicked 20+ goals. Stavros kicked a bag as I remember. The standard of footy that day was high class as many of these players went on to have successful careers in the VFL and of course the Tigers went on to win the flag 4 weeks later.
The other memory was being part of the record crowd at Bassendean in 1980 to watch a game between Swans and West Perth. More than 22,000 people packed out that ground would you believe!. The game itself was very one sided but it was just an amazing experience to see the ground with that many people in it.

I look forward to reading about others favourite moments

The local ground record attendance game - SF v EF
23 000 plus were there & they even packed 'em on the walls of the jail side & every Moreton Bay Fig was even filled , I'll never forget that day

The other one was seeing Don Scott shit his knickers in that State game when Big Basil went in to blow him apart , the Vicco ran away in fear

Actually Mike I have two more

1982 Grand Final aftermath in the changerooms - seeing Big Ronny Boucher & Stan The Man Nowotny bawling their eyes out with the flag after all those years

(That is almost tied with earlier in the season when Graham Moss & Ronny punched the crap out of each other during a home & away fixture)

Other one was I think 1979 at Leederville (WP v EF) - Big Johnny Duckworth ran from CHB directly down the guts - had two bounces and launched a bomb torp from just backward of the centre bounce circle it went straight through the guts half post high easily

Good thread.

Some of my earliest memories was driving up from Bunbury to watch the 1975 Grand Final which was my first ever WAFL game. Huge crown and I sat as a very young boy on the wing on one of those metal bars and my sister held me up all day.

The very first Sunday games in the WAFL, 2 in one year where West Perth hosted Claremont and Swans in the same year.
Against Claremont the crowd was 18556 and against Swans it was 15695, these were both great days. I think later that season Claremont hosted West Perth and got nearly 18000 at Claremont oval.

Not sure what season but West Perth hosted claremont and George Michalczyk got knocked out with the cradies down by about 7-8 goals, what transpired in the next 20 minutes was incredible and West Perth nearly won. I think it was Noel Morton who saved the day for Claremont.

Swans in 82-83 were in my opinion one of the greatest sides in Aussie rules footy history. They are the only WAFL premier ever who i think could of beaten or given the VFL premier in those years a run for their money.

Anyway there are a couple for you.

Wafl footy in the eighties great times, one of the best games I saw I think it was 86 or 87 Perth v Swans at Lathlain, Swans were up by 40 odd point at H/T Stazza rest his soul kicked 7 after half time and 9 for the game to get Perth over the line great individual effort, he was a freak.

Swans had a good team in 82-3, but they were not the best of the early 1980s. Claremont of 81 is generally considered to be the best of the decade; the South team of 1980-81 just behind. Should have won in 1981, but for their pratting about with the ball, particularly in front of goal

The best achievement of swans, was their premiership of 84, when, quite simply, they did not have the best team and won the flag. Good on them.

PN -- I think it was 1986
I remember the show of strength between Boucher and Moss.
Michael Mitchell's mark over Greg Wilkinson
Warren Ralph's mark over Ray Holden
Boustow's goal at the end of the 1978 GF: Given where he was on the ground and the conditions of the day, the best goal I have seen in league football

SD sending over a predominantly Colts team to play the Escort Cup 1982 -- rightly so too.
Dorrington making the old EP run to Leederville after a loss
SD, MO, S and Buckenera 40.11 20.7
the westside football editorial which questioned whether any Subi players would make it at one of the seven other clubs.
EF -- WP brawl 1982

Interesting memories indeed.

1982-83-84 obviously for me being a one eyed Black Duck but that whole period from 1977-86 was just brilliant for WA footy. The advent of State Of Origin in 77 when we started consistently pumping the Vics due finally to a level playing field, the record breaking 79 season where over a million people went thru the WA footy turnstyles, the great battles between the unforgettable SD, C & SF sides of the early 80's & of course the centenary season in 85 to top it off.
I for one am glad I was able to witness first hand the halcyon days of WA footy back then!

every game I went to between 73 - 86(bar the GF in 86!)possess favourite memories for me in regards to the WAFL and growing up as a kid........memories I'll treasure for ever.....couldn't beat sat arvo at the footy watching champs from every side battle it out.....too many to mention.....my sons look at me and shake their head when I waffle on about the WAFL.....it's AFL and only the AFL in their eyes....which then makes me shake my head in despair!

Billy Jones skipping down the opposite wing to the members at Moss St.....Bomber Peake and Muzza Wrensted getting their hands on the footy time and time again at the clearances.... Doug Green and Michael Brennan plucking marks out of no where in defence......Squizzy Taylor kicking 100 plus goals in that golden year of 79......Jumpin Jimmy Sewell taking speccys up front.......winning the 79 GF........Melrose and Hollins dominating 74......and so on and so on......lots of champs from opposition clubs, but I'll let their fans write up their tributes.....fantastic comp durng a fantastic era of footy.....WA footy...

My first great memory as a young lad was sitting in a vacant block out in a country town listening to the 65 GF on a tiny tranny. Last quarter Swans were a few up, we were kicking into a strong breeze (about 300mph I think it was ). My 2 Swanny mates were giving it to me - flag's in the bag stuff...ahh, what a finish!! Another was Bomber Peake in a game against Perth - our ruckman tapped it to him, he spun around and booted it. It bounced deep into the goal square and through the big sticks. Last one...promise. About 82, WA v Vic, last quarter, WA a couple of points up with only minutes to go, Big Ronnie Boucher was carrying the ruck. Ball was thrown in near their goals and the 40000 crowd just started chanting "Roo, Roo, Roo". Raising hair on the neck stuff.