Heres some historical data taken from The Western Mail newspaper in 1939. There are other articles about the resistance somewhere if I can find them
Records show that the game was
played in Western Australia in the early
eighties of last century. It was then in
its infancy, struggling for a foothold, and
was only played by a few-people who had
migrated from East to the West. The
dominating game then in this State was
Rugby, most of whose players were Eng-
lishmen or sons of West Australian fam-
ilies who had been educated in England.
In 1882 a letter appeared in "The West
Australian," signed by a correspondent
"G," who deplored the fact that the Vic-
torian or bouncing game was not played
in the Colony. He regretted, he said,
that Perth players did not play the same game, three of the clubs being governed
by Rugby rules, while the fourth played
the Victorian game
Although he did
not discuss the respective merits of the
two games, he based his advocacy of a
universal game on the fact that if West-
ern Australia were to receive a challenge
from Melbourne or Adelaide, they would
be unable to accept it.
Genesis of the Game.
On March 30, 1883, an historic meet-
ing was held at Flindell's Hotel, Fre-
mantle, when a new football club was
formed to play under the Victorian rules.
The leading lights in this movement
were W. A. ("Bill") Bateman and H. Her-
bert, the former being elected captain.
Both these members had been educated
in Adelaide and, on returning to their
homes in Fremantle, had proceeded to in-
terest and coach their friends in the
game they had learned while away. This
movement was the genesis for the estab-
lishment of the game in Western Aus-
tralia, although matches were at first
played among club members. The club
was known as "Swans."
Then, on April 27, 1885, another step
forward was made when, at a meeting
of the Fremantle (Rugby) Football Club,
an animated discussion took place as to
whether the club should play under
Rugby or Victorian rules. It was ul-
timately decided "to play under associa-tion rules, the same as adjoining Col-
onies." W. A. Bateman was appointed
captain with A. Newham as secretary
and treasurer. This was the Fremantle
Club and its colours were recorded as
blue and white.
A newspaper advertisement appeared
about that time, headed "to Footballers,"
and Inviting gentlemen willing to assist
in the formation of a football club to
play under Victorian rules to attend a
meeting at Chipper's Hotel. The meet-
ing was adjourned owing to poor at-
tendance, but on May 2 of the same year
the Victorian Club was formed, the of-
fice-bearers being as follows:-President,
J. C. H. James; secretary, H. R. Dixon;
captain, H. E. Rankin; vice-captain. H.
S. Haussen; committee members, Messrs.
Longson and Lake.
Controlling Body.
Another important step was made in
1885 when the first controlling body in
the State was formed. Representatives
from the Fremantle, Rovers and Victorian
clubs met at the Criterion Hotel and it
was decided to change over in a body
from Rugby to Victorian football. The
outcome of the meeting was the forma-
tion of the West Australian Football As-
sociation.
