1931 WANFL season
| 1931 WAFL season | |
|---|---|
| Teams | 7 |
| Premiers |
East Fremantle (16th premiership) |
| Minor premiers |
East Fremantle (18th minor premiership) |
| Matches played | 67 |
| Bernie Naylor Medallist | Doug Oliphant (Perth) |
| Sandover Medallist | Lin Richards (East Fremantle) |
|
← 1930 (WAFL)
1932 →
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The 1931 WANFL season was the 47th season of the Western Australian National Football League and the first under that moniker, having been called the West Australian Football League (WAFL) until 1930.
The season saw East Fremantle win its fourth consecutive premiership for the second time, having already done so between 1908 and 1911. It also saw a major revival by East Perth, who had fallen to a clear last in 1929. The Great Depression and consequent search for work saw the beginning of the first major drain of Western Australian players to powerful VFL clubs, with the loss of George Moloney to Geelong, Ron Cooper to Carlton and Keith Hough to South Melbourne, where Hough never played a single match due to the WANFL's refusal to grant the VFL Swans a clearance.
Subiaco, a power since 1924, lost star rover Johnny Leonard to country Victoria but, despite four consecutive losses mid-season, won eight straight to reach the Second-Semi and Grand Finals only to face a much larger player drain than seen so far in the WANFL.
Bill Faul takes a decisive mark of a long shot to win a thrilling match and leave Subiaco as the early pacesetter.
South Fremantle show they will challenge for the premiership with a fine display led by a dominant centreline where R. Doig is outstanding.
East Fremantle gave one of the worst displays of goalkicking in WA(N)FL history, kicking 4.28 (52) in fine conditions, but still take top position from their derby rivals.
Despite some of the most brilliant marking seen in WA(N)FL football by centre half-back Lawn, East Perth, unable to use the wind in the second quarter, lose the advantage in the last.
With captain-coach Gepp kicking ten goals, Claremont-Cottesloe recorded its first win of the season.
With Doug Oliphant kicking eight goals, Perth come back in the last quarter to record a thrilling win.
On a day of heavy rain after a cold and dry June, Claremont-Cottesloe surprise South Fremantle to leave the three-time premiers three games clear on top, whilst Perth displace West Perth from the four and leave Subiaco's place in jeopardy after three straight defeats.
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