East Perth Football Club


The East Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Royals, is an Australian rules football club based in Leederville, Western Australia, current playing in the West Australian Football League. Formed in 1902 as the Union Football Club, the club entered the WAFL in 1906, changing its name to East Perth. It won its first premiership in 1919, part of a streak of five consecutive premierships. Overall, the club has won 17 premierships, most recently in 2002. The club is currently based at Leederville Oval, which it shares with the Subiaco Football Club, having previously played home games at Wellington Square and Perth Oval from 1910 to 1999. The current coach of East Perth is Jeremy Barnard and the current captains are Kyle Anderson and Patrick McGinnity.
From 2014 until 2018, East Perth served as the host club for the West Coast Eagles of the Australian Football League, the arrangement saw West Coast's reserves players playing in the WAFL for East Perth.

History

The club was actually founded in 1902 as Union Football Club and competed in the Perth Third Rate Association Competition. The club was successful and was promoted to the First Rate Association. After continuing to succeed at this level they applied to join the WAFL and hence became a member in April 1906. The club became known as East Perth in accordance with the WAFL’s policy of having each club represent a district in Perth.
After a relatively slow start – despite being competitive form its first season – East Perth after World War I went on to become one of the most powerful clubs in the West Australian league with the appointment of former Subiaco player Phil Matson as captain-coach. The club won five consecutive WAFL premierships between 1919 and 1923, and after a brief lapse due to Matson’s death in a truck crash recovered to contest the finals every year from 1931 to 1940, but won only one premiership – a frustrating record to be repeated in the 1970s.
Although the club garnered an undefeated premiership in the under-age WAFL competition in 1944, East Perth became very much a middle-of-the-road side after open-age WANFL football resumed until the emergence of champion ruckman Graham “Polly” Farmer in 1956. That year, despite being held to the lowest WAFL score between 1946 and 2002 by Perth in torrential rain and genuine darkness at the WACA, the Royals won fourteen of their nineteen games and beat South Fremantle twice in the finals. Under the coaching of Jack Sheedy, and aided by becoming the first WAFL club to play players formally, the club contested the following five grand finals for further premierships in 1958 and 1959 and a huge upset loss to Swan Districts in 1961.
The loss of Farmer, however, saw a decline in fortunes: in 1964 the club won only one of its first eighteen games and finished with its first wooden spoon since 1929, but with the recruitment of Kevin Murray the club returned to the top quickly. It returned to the finals in 1966 and played therein during every one of the next seventeen seasons except 1974. During these years East Perth won 246 and drew one of 388 games for a success rate of 63.5 percent: clearly the highest in a competition that – at least during the first half of this period – was extremely even and characterised by very rapid fluctuations in teams’ fortunes. By 1980, the club had made a submission to enter the VFL/AFL, however this was withdrawn, and from 1983 their fortunes declined abruptly: between 1985 and 1995 East Perth won only eighty and draw one of 235 games for a success rate of 34.26%. Indeed, between 1985 and 1989, the Royals actually won just 24 of 105 games for a success rate of 22.8% and did not finish above sixth, with a lowlight being the sacking of coach Greg Brehaut on 13 May 1986 that was followed by a walk-out of three managers from a reserves team that had won five matches out of seven.
In 1996 the Royals returned to prominence and took the minor premiership before losing narrowly to Claremont in its first grand final since 1978. However, the club returned to the lower reaches of the ladder in 1999, winning only five of twenty games. East Perth later acted as the host club for West Coast Eagles players recruited from interstate from 2000–2001 until the host club arrangement was abolished. This made them favoured for high honours in 2000 - which was achieved with five Eagles in the grand final side, though the Royals’ “old guard” made a much larger contribution than expected to the club’s first flag for twenty-two years. It repeated the dose emphatically in 2001, holding South Fremantle to 0.3 after half time, and yet again in 2002, but fell off steadily in the following four seasons to win only six games in 2005. A partial recovery in 2007 saw the Royals finish fourth, but it returned to last in 2008 before again rebounding in 2009 to finish fifth.
Its first home ground was Wellington Square. It then moved to Perth Oval between 1910 and 2002, although it played games at the WACA from 1988–89. East Perth began playing its games at Leederville Oval from 2000, formerly the home of bitter rivals West Perth), but the club only officially moved there in 2003. They have since been joined at the ground by the Subiaco Football Club.

2010 season

The 2010 season of home and away matches ended on a high for the Royals, as they defeated minor premiers Clarement in a tense and physical round 23 encounter. The win enabled them to hold their fourth place in the top four, earning a first semi-final appearance against East Fremantle.
After a slow start where East Fremantle lead 7.2-3.2 at quarter time East Perth eventually overran the much more fancied Sharks by 14 points 15.12 to East Fremantle 13.10. West Coast Eagles listed player Ben McKinley lead the charge up forward with 6 goals while Zac Beeck and Zac Clarke dominated the ruck.
A week later East Perth met Swan Districts at Bassendean Oval for the chance to meet the top of the table Claremont in the Grand Final. This time it was East Perth who flew out of the blocks to lead at the first change 5.2 to 3.2 but after that they would manage only 4 goals for the rest of the match as Swans steamrolled their way past a valiant East Perth 15.11 to 9.9. Swan Districts then went on to win the 2010 WAFL Premiership defeating Claremont in one of the great Grand Finals by 1 point at Subiaco Oval 8 days later.
The Reserve grade team went one step further than the Seniors in 2010 going down to Claremont by 12 points 13.6 to 10.12 in the Grand Final.
Craig Wulff was finally rewarded with his first FD Book Medal as the Best & Fairest for season 2010.

Current squad

As of Sep 2018:

Rivalries

East Perth's traditional and most bitter rivals are West Perth Football Club. Known as the Perth Derby, they have competed in many historic matches including Grand Finals in 1922, 1932, 1960, 1969, 1971, 2002, when East Perth defeated the Falcons by 60 points to complete a hat-trick of premierships, and 2013.
The East Perth vs Perth fixtures were a significant rivalry in the 1960s and 1970s, including the famous 1978 Grand Final. However its significance is somewhat muted compared to the former mentioned fixture, possibly due to Perth's lacklustre performances since the late 1970s.
Another newer rivalry is that with co-tenants Subiaco Football Club. East Perth had not beaten Subiaco since they began sharing the ground in 2004, until the 2007 season when East Perth came from over forty points behind at half time to win the game by three points. Recent games have become even more bitter with the transfer of players Travis Knights, Caine Hayes and Paul Ridley to Subiaco under controversial circumstances. Off the field the two clubs do have a good working relationship in regard to their ground sharing situation.

Club Song

East Perth Forever Boys is the theme song of the East Perth Football Club, played as the league team comes to the field at either a home game or final, and after a victory at a home game or final. It is sung to the tune of Anchors Aweigh The lyrics were written by John K. Watts, an ex-player of the club. He was also responsible for the club songs of Swan Districts Football Club and Geelong Football Club. The recording of the song used by the club was performed by Clem Grogan and the Blue Brass. Hobart Football Club also has a song sung to the tune of Anchors Aweigh. Its lyrics are very similar to East Perth Forever Boys.

Honours

Club honours

WAFL Premierships: 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1926, 1927, 1936, 1944, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1972, 1978, 2000, 2001, 2002
WAFL Runners-Up: 1910, 1918, 1928, 1932, 1957, 1960, 1961, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1976, 1996, 2013, 2014
Reserves Premierships: 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1948, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1967 1976, 1978, 1981, 1983
Colts Premierships: 1967, 1975, 1980, 2000, 2006
Fourths Premierships: 1965, 1967
Rodriguez Shield: 1958, 1959, 1961, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1976, 2000

Individual honours

Sandover Medallists: 1923: William 'Digger' Thomas, 1925: George 'Staunch' Owens, 1929: Billy Thomas, 1950: Frank Allen, 1956: Graham Farmer, 1957: Graham Farmer, 1958: Ted Kilmurray, 1960: Graham Farmer, 1969: Malcolm Brown, 1975: Alan Quartermaine, 1976: Peter Spencer, 1978: Phil Kelly, 1979: Phil Kelly, 1983: John Ironmonger, 1984: Peter Spencer, 1988: David Bain, 1997: Brady Anderson, 2001: Ryan Turnbull
Simpson Medallists: 1958: Ned Bull, 1959: Graham Farmer, 1972: Ken McAullay, 1978: Ian Miller, 2000: Dean Cox, 2001: Ryan Turnbull, 2002: Ryan Turnbull
Bernie Naylor Medallists: 1909: Sam Sloss, 1924: Bonny Campbell, 1926: Bonny Campbell, 1927: Bonny Campbell, 1944: Alan Watts, 1958: William Mose, 1959: Neil Hawke, 1967: Phil Tierney, 1990: Glen Bartlett, 2006: Troy Wilson, 2013: Josh Smith
All Australians: 1956, 1958 & 1961: Graham Farmer, 1966: Kevin Murray, 1966: Keith Doncon, 1972: Mal Brown, 1972: Ken McAullay, 1979: Barry Cable
Tassie Medallists: 1937: Mick Cronin, 1956: Graham Farmer, 1972: Ken McAullay
JJ Leonard Medallists: 2014: Brian Dawson

F.D. Book Medallists

The F.D. Book Medal is awarded to the club's fairest and best player at the end of each season.

Records

Highest Score: Round 1, 1944 - 41.30 vs. South Fremantle at Perth Oval
Lowest Score: Round 13, 1909 - 0.6 vs. East Fremantle at Fremantle Oval
Greatest Winning Margin: Round 1, 1944 - 256 points vs. South Fremantle at Perth Oval
Greatest Losing Margin: Round 20, 1987 - 169 points vs. Claremont at WACA
Most Games: Craig Wulff 286
Most Goals: Phil Tierney 620
Record Home Attendance: Round 9, 1969 - 26,760 vs. West Perth at Perth Oval.
Record Finals Attendance: 1969 Grand Final - 51,385 vs. West Perth at Subiaco Oval.

"Teams of the century"

With the launch of the East Perth history book in mid-2006, an expert panel from the club came up with two "teams of the century", one pre-war team from 1906 to 1944, and the other from 1945 to 2005

Pre-war team

Post-war team

Honourboard

YearPlaceRecordCoachCaptainBest & Fairest
Leading goalkickers
19067th5–12W.PlunkettJohn Woollard-Don McKinnon
19076th7–10J.KennedyJ.Kennedy-Jack Oliver
19085th7–9–1J.KennedyI.Brown-Sam Sloss
19093rd10–8Henry "Ivo" CrappP.Wallish-Sam Sloss
1910R/Up14–5Bob BurnsBob Burns-Sam Sloss
19117th2–10Bob BurnsCharles Hardisty-Bill Gagner
19125th5–11B.WallishCharlie McKenzie-Sam Sloss
19137th2–10P.SheaArthur Nash-Albert Oates
19145th7–7G.SparrowC.Morrissey-Ernie Sellars
19154th13–9G.Sparrow
Hedley Tomkins
Charlie McKenzie-Ernie Sellars
19165th4–8-William 'Digger' Thomas-Jim Wallace
19175th4–8C.WaughPaddy Finlay-William Silverstone
1918R/Up14–3Phil MatsonWilliam 'Digger' Thomas-George Owens
1919Premiers14–3Phil MatsonChris Slattery-Harold Gepp
1920Premiers11–6Phil MatsonCharlie McKenzie
Chris Slattery
-George Owens
1921Premiers11–7Phil MatsonVern Harold
Charlie McKenzie
-Paddy Hebbard
1922Premiers12–4Phil MatsonVern Harold-Gus Giese
1923Premiers13–4Phil MatsonVern Harold-Bert Harold
19243rd12–4Phil MatsonWilliam 'Digger' Thomas-Bonny Campbell
19254th9–8Paddy HebbardPaddy Hebbard-Bonny Campbell
1926Premiers15–4–1Phil MatsonHarold Gepp"Plum" DuffyBonny Campbell
1927Premiers16–5Phil MatsonHarold GeppJim O'MearaBonny Campbell
1928R/Up12–8–1Phil Matson
Paddy Hebbard
W. FletcherBilly ThomasBonny Campbell
19297th2–16Val Sparrow"Plum" DuffyBilly ThomasBob Crow
19305th8–10Val SparrowVal SparrowAlbert DaviesKen O'Reilly
19313rd12–8–1Val SparrowVal SparrowMick CroninBilly Thomas
1932R/Up11–10Val SparrowVal SparrowHerb ScreaighKen O'Reilly
19334th9–10-Jackie GuhlHerb ScreaighPaul Lockyer
19344th13–8–1Jerry DolanBob BennettHerb ScreaighHerb Screaigh
19353rd13–7Jerry DolanDick LawnBrian RyanPaul Lockyer
Herb Screaigh
Seff Parry
1936Premiers13–10Jerry DolanMick CroninLeo GrahamFrank McAllon
19373rd13–7–3Jerry DolanMick CroninHerb ScreaighCecil Rowland
19383rd11–10–1Jerry DolanMick CroninRay StarrHerb Screaigh
19393rd15–7Mick CroninMick CroninDave Miller
Ritchie Thomas
Austin Gardener
19404th13–8Herb ScreaighMick CroninRitchie ThomasAustin Gardener
19415th12–8Mick CroninHerb ScreaighMax O'LoughlinMax O'Loughlin
1942
Underage Comp
3rd11–8Billy ThomasNeil ReigerJohn CampbellRon Brentnall
1943
Underage Comp
5th7–10Val SparrowMick GeorgeRay PerryJohn Campbell
1944
Underage Comp
Premiers21–0Cecil RowlandAllan WattsJohn CampbellAlan Watts
19456th9–11Cecil RowlandCecil RowlandHarry OutridgeCecil Rowland
19466th7–11–1Cecil RowlandJack SweetJim WashbourneMax O'Loughlin
19475th10–9Val SparrowJack SweetNorm GibneyMax O'Loughlin
19485th10–9Val SparrowJack SweetFrank SparrowJim Washbourne
19495th9–9Seff ParryDon Matson
Frank Sparrow
Ray PerryJack Webb
19506th6–15Johnny Larcombe
Colin Pestell
Johnny Larcombe
Colin Pestell
Frank AllenJack Smith
19515th12–9Mick CroninFrank SparrowRay PerryJack Smith
19524th13–8Mick CroninJim SpencerFrank SparrowJack Smith
19535th8–13Mick CroninJim SpencerJim SpencerJack Smith
19545th8–12Mick CroninJim SpencerGraham FarmerTed Kilmurray
19555th7–13Mick CroninJim SpencerGraham FarmerTed Kilmurray
1956Premiers16–5Jack SheedyJack SheedyGraham FarmerTed Kilmurray
1957R/Up18–5Jack SheedyJack SheedyGraham FarmerKevin McGill
1958Premiers18–6Jack SheedyJack SheedyTed KilmurrayBill Mose
1959Premiers20–3Jack SheedyJack SheedyGraham FarmerNeil Hawke
1960R/Up14–8–2Jack SheedyJack SheedyGraham FarmerKevin McGill
1961R/Up20–3Jack SheedyJack SheedyGraham FarmerRalph Rogerson
19625th11–10Jack SheedyJack Sheedy
Ted Kilmurray
Don MarinkoKarl Bearman
19634th13–9Jack SheedyDon MarinkoDerek ChadwickKarl Bearman
19648th3–18Jack SheedyMal AtwellDerek ChadwickTed Kilmurray
19656th10–11Kevin MurrayKevin MurrayKevin MurrayPhil Tierney
1966R/Up16–8Kevin MurrayKevin MurraySyd JacksonKeith Doncon
1967R/Up18–6Derek ChadwickDerek ChadwickHans VerstegenPhil Tierney
1968R/Up15–9Derek ChadwickDerek ChadwickJim HainesPhil Tierney
1969R/Up18–5–1Jack SheedyDerek ChadwickMal BrownPhil Tierney
19703rd13–10Mal BrownMal BrownMal BrownGary Bygraves
1971R/Up18–5Mal BrownMal BrownKen McAullayPhil Tierney
1972Premiers17–6Mal BrownMal BrownMal BrownMal Brown
19733rd15–8Mal BrownMal BrownGary MalarkeyArchie Duda
19746th10–11Ray GiblettHans VerstegenRon AlexanderArchie Duda
19754th13–9Ray GiblettRon AlexanderPeter SpencerPeter Spencer
1976R/Up17–6Graham FarmerBrad SmithPeter SpencerGary Bygraves
19774th13–9Graham FarmerBrad SmithStephen CurtisArchie Duda
1978Premiers15–9Barry CableBarry CableKevin BryantArchie Duda
19794th13–9Barry CableBarry CablePhil KellyPaul Arnold
19803rd12–11Barry CableIan MillerWayne Otway, Sr.Paul Arnold
19814th11–11Grant DorringtonJohn HayesDean TurnerGrant Campbell
19824th13–9Grant DorringtonJohn HayesStephen CurtisGrant Campbell
19835th9–12Greg BrehautJohn DimmerPeter SpencerJohn Scott
19844th11–11Greg BrehautGreg WalshGrant CampbellJohn Scott
19858th5–16Greg BrehautKevin BryantBrett StephensBrett Stephens
19866th7–14Greg Brehaut
Gerard McNeil
Kevin Bryant
Russel Sparks
Craig StarcevichRichard Dennis
19877th4–17Gerard McNeilChris AllenGeorge GiannakisGrant Campbell
19887th5–16Gerard McNeilGlen BartlettDavid BainGrant Campbell
19898th3–18Ian McCullochGlen BartlettGeorge GiannakisGlen Bartlett
19905th9–12Ian McCullochGlen BartlettLucio BaroniGlen Bartlett
19915th10–12Ian McCullochGlen BartlettRyan TurnbullGlen Bartlett
19923rd12–12Stan MagroCraig McGrathPeter MillerPaul Peos
19937th9–11–1Stan MagroLucio BaroniRyan TurnbullPaul Barnard
19947th6–15Robert SolinLucio BaroniDean TalbotDarren Williams
19956th10–11Robert SolinStephen HooperGreg JonesScott Loving
1996R/Up15–8Kevin WorthingtonStephen HooperPaul PeosChristopher Gerreyn
19974th12–8–1Kevin WorthingtonPaul PeosPeter MillerScott Loving
19984th11–10Kevin WorthingtonPeter MillerAaron MarleyWayne Otway, Jr.
19998th5–15Kevin WorthingtonGreg JonesRyan TurnbullJeremy Barnard
2000Premiers17–3Tony MicaleJeremy BarnardAaron Marley
David Swan
Rod Wheatley
Ashley Hutchinson
2001Premiers16–4Tony MicaleJeremy BarnardRod WheatleyDean Buszan
2002Premiers15–5Tony MicaleJeremy Barnard
Ryan Turnbull
Rod Wheatley
Paul RidleyPaul Ridley
20033rd14–7–1Andy LovellJeremy Barnard
Ryan Turnbull
Rod Wheatley
Brent CowellPaul Ridley
20045th11–9Andy LovellJeremy Barnard
Ryan Turnbull
Troy WilsonTroy Wilson
20056th6–14Warren MahoneyDean BrennanAndrew MerringtonAndrew Merrington
20065th7–13Warren Mahoney
Paul Peos
Michael SwanTroy WilsonTroy Wilson
20074th11–10Glen BewickMichael SwanFrank AgostinoBen McKinley
20089th6–14Glen BewickMichael SwanTimothy NoakesAndrew Merrington
20095th10–10Tony MicaleCraig Glancy
Michael Swan
Luke Webster
Trevor OliverMathew Seal
20103rd12–10Tony MicaleCraig Glancy
Michael Swan
Luke Webster
Craig WulffAdam Prior
20117th6–14Tony Micale
David Hynes
Michael SwanBrendan LeeJosh Smith
20124th11–9–1Tony MicaleMichael Swan
Craig Wulff
Paul JohnsonJosh Smith
2013R/Up14–9Brian DawsonBrendan Lee
Craig Wulff
Brendan LeeJosh Smith
2014R/Up17-5Brian Dawson
Russell Thompson
Brendan Lee
Craig Wulff
Steven PayneJosh Smith
20153rd13-10Brian DawsonBrendan Lee
Craig Wulff
Paul JohnsonCraig Wulff
20165th10-11Jaymie GrahamKyle Anderson
Craig Wulff
Mitchell FraserJonathan Giles
20176th9-11Luke WebsterKyle Anderson
Patrick McGinnity
Julian Ameduri
Nathan Blee
Fraser McInnes
Tom Lamb
20185th8-11Luke WebsterKyle Anderson
Patrick McGinnity
Matthew Allen
Patrick McGinnity
Luke Partington
William Maginness

League Championship Cup

In 2010 the Australian Football League announced plans to start a knockout competition featuring the best teams from the state leagues around Australia. 16 Teams would qualify based on their finishing position in their corresponding state leagues the previous years. Originally games were played primarily as curtain raisers for AFL games on a Saturday night and broadcast live on Fox Footy. In 2013 the games shifted to Tuesday night and the tournament comprised only 10 teams. The competition is sponsored by Foxtel and is known as Foxtel Cup.
East Perth have qualified for the tournament twice. In the competitions first year, 2011, the Royals defeated North Ballarat and NT Thunder to reach the semi final losing to eventual premiers Williamstown.
The Royals also gained qualification for the 2014 season. East Perth were big 50 point winners over Norwood in the quarter final but once again fell in the semi final to VFL side Williamstown who once again went on to win the title.

F. D. Book Medal

The East Perth Football CLub's senior best and fairest player wins the F. D. Book Medal. Past winners of the award are listed below.