1923 WAFL season
| 1923 WAFL season | |
|---|---|
| Teams | 6 |
| Premiers |
East Perth (5th premiership) |
| Minor premiers |
East Perth (5th minor premiership) |
| Matches played | 47 |
| Bernie Naylor Medallist | Denis Coffey (East Fremantle) |
| Sandover Medallist | “Digger” Thomas (East Perth) |
|
← 1922
1924 →
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The 1923 WAFL season was the 39th season of the West Australian Football League. It saw East Perth set an unequalled WAFL record of five consecutive premierships, which in major Australian Rules leagues has only been beaten by SANFL club Port Adelaide with six straight from 1954 to 1959 and equalled by Sturt between 1966 and 1970. The Royals prevailed after two superb games with East Fremantle, who had had its last two home-and-away games cancelled due to undertaking a tour of Victoria and South Australia.
The top four teams was unchanged for the third successive season, and tailender Perth looked likely to suffer a winless season before winning its last match – a fate the Redlegs would suffer again in 2000.
A brilliant last quarter allows East Perth to unfurl its 1922 pennant with an impressive win after Subiaco, fifth for the previous two seasons, outplayed it in general play for two quarters.
An excellent second quarter allows East Fremantle to remain unbeaten despite kicking only 3.5 (23) for three quarters.
In an “unnecessarily rough” WACA game several casualities had to be treated after the match at the ground and Parkes of West Perth was taken to hospital.
The Leederville Oval match sees the first use of an electric bell in Australian football.
During the following weekend, Western Australia thrashed South Australia by the score of 13.13 (91) to 4.3 (27).
After a violent all-in-brawl with the scores level at half-time (for which no reports were made despite most players fighting even after a later inquiry), Subiaco take over for their last win of 1923.
In a match marred by Perth’s wettest September on record and consequent extremely slippery conditions, a depleted East Perth, with 38-year-old coach Matson forced to strip, hold West Perth to 0.2 (2) with the wind in the last quarter and advance to the final.
In their first WAFL match for over a month, East Fremantle completely outplay the Southerners.
East Perth’s 0.8 (8) with the wind in the second quarter ensures East Fremantle will force a rematch.
East Perth set an Australian record, winning a fifth consecutive premiership after coming from behind with brilliant determination led by an impassable half-back line.
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Wikipedia