2006 WAFL season

2006 WAFL season
Teams 9
Premiers Subiaco
(9th premiership)
Minor premiers Subiaco
(11th minor premiership)
Matches played 94
Bernie Naylor Medallist Troy Wilson (East Perth)
Sandover Medallist Matt Priddis (Subiaco)
← 2005
2007 →

The 2006 WAFL season was the 122nd season of the various incarnations of the West Australian Football League. Owing to low crowds making the city’s traditional big-match venue, Subiaco Oval, uneconomic due to high overheads, the WAFL followed the AFL since 1991 by scheduling finals (except the Grand Final) at the home ground of the club higher on the ladder.

It saw the three top clubs of 2005 – Subiaco, South Fremantle and Claremont – intensify their dominance of the competition, being five games and a large percentage ahead of the remaining six clubs and losing only four games to any of the other six clubs. The only major disappointment on-field was East Perth, who for their centenary season invested considerably in recruiting but won only one extra match vis-à-vis 2005 despite widespread expectation the Royals would be the main threat to the power clubs.[1] The Royals had numerous injury problems with their recruits and coach Warren Mahoney resigned after the club lost its first seven games for its longest losing streak since 1929.[2] West Perth after a poor pre-season[3] comfortably took the final place in the four, and Peel Thunder, who suffered from predictions of extreme doom despite having won the past two colts premierships,[4] doubled their 2005 win tally with some excellent football in July and August. Swan Districts, finalists in 2004 and 2005, began well but a horror run with injuries after May[5] whereby they lost sole ruckman Taylan Ames,[6] Shane Beros, Craig Callaghan and Daniel Wulf[7] meant that after inflicting the first defeat upon Subiaco the Swans could win only one of their final eleven matches, losing many of the others in spectacular fashion.

A record dry year[8][9] helped produce a marked increase in scoring compared with the past decade, with the average score of 99.41 points per team per game as much as thirteen points higher than the previous season and the highest in the WAFL or Westar Rules since 1991. Included in this was a record half-time margin and the highest score in the WAFL since 1987 by South Fremantle against their struggling derby rivals, who took their second wooden spoon in three years as a dwindling support base and severe financial deficits meant the Sharks could not compete for the best players with the stronger clubs.[10][11]

Home-and-away Season

Round 1

Round 1
Saturday, 25 March (2:15 pm) East Perth 10.11 (71) def. by West Perth 10.16 (76) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2585)
Saturday, 25 March (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 5.10 (40) def. by South Fremantle 20.18 (138) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2736) [12]
Saturday, 25 March (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 17.9 (111) def. Perth 13.9 (87) Rushton Park (crowd: 1137)
Saturday, 25 March (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 12.16 (88) def. by Subiaco 18.9 (117) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2048) [13]
Bye: Claremont
  • West Perth’s seemingly undersized defenders Josh Pearce, Dion Fleay and Darren Atkinson win the match against the clubs expected to be the biggest challenger to 2005’s elite.[14]
  • Peel coach Chris Waterman vows to keep playing the club’s 2004 and 2005 colts premiership players, as the Thunder win a fast-paced and entertaining duel between the cellar-dwellers of the modern WAFL.[4]

Round 2

Round 2
Friday, 31 March (6:45 pm) South Fremantle 14.13 (97) def. East Perth 11.5 (71) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2183)
Saturday, 1 April (2:15 pm) West Perth 17.22 (124) def. Peel Thunder 10.8 (68) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1639) [15]
Saturday, 1 April (2:15 pm) Subiaco 16.9 (105) def. Claremont 8.9 (57) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2286)
Saturday, 1 April (2:15 pm) Perth 17.21 (123) def. East Fremantle 8.11 (59) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1375)
Bye: Swan Districts
  • Former ACT player David Mapleston’s excellent marking shows Subiaco – established as the richest and most professional club in the WAFL – have replaced former Bernie Naylor Medallists Brad Smith and Lachlan Oakley with remarkable efficiency, and it shows in the manner by which they overcome the Tigers.[16]
  • Despite 37 possessions – 79 in two games – from 2000 Brownlow Medallist Shane Woewodin, East Fremantle are never in the hunt against a solid Perth team who are warned of the task ahead against Subiaco.[17]

Round 3

Round 3
Saturday, 8 April (2:15 pm) Claremont 16.14 (110) def. Swan Districts 16.7 (103) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1447)
Saturday, 8 April (2:15 pm) Perth 13.10 (88) def. by Subiaco 24.10 (154) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1585)
Saturday, 8 April (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 6.16 (52) def. by South Fremantle 19.20 (134) Rushton Park (crowd: 1571) [18]
Saturday, 8 April (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 20.14 (134) def. East Perth 7.15 (57) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1319)
Bye: West Perth
  • Subiaco take advantage of Hawthorn’s failure to draft Caine Hayes – recommended to the Hawks by Subiaco coach Peter German – as he returns to a running-type role to crush the improved Demons.[19]
  • Improved support for the prolific 34-possession Woewodin from Joel Sofi, Nic Polce and Kris Miller, means East Fremantle after two big losses upset the still-winless Royals, who are clear last with three tough matches to come.[20]

Round 4 (Easter Weekend)

Round 4
Saturday, 15 April (2:15 pm) West Perth 17.10 (112) def. by Swan Districts 18.13 (121) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2543) [21]
Saturday, 15 April (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 20.16 (136) def. East Fremantle 15.7 (97) Rushton Park (crowd: 1666) [22]
Monday, 17 April (2:15 pm) East Perth 7.11 (53) def. by Claremont 16.14 (110) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2620)
Monday, 17 April (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 20.19 (139) def. Perth 9.9 (63) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2342)
Bye: Subiaco
  • Peel Thunder’s opening of 10.5 (65) is their record score for any quarter.[23] Darren Bolton’s fleet-footed movement shows coach Waterman knew what he was doing when he offered the overweight 29-year-old a lifeline. Peel, however, do lose key on-baller Daniel Haines for the rest of 2006.
  • Swan Districts’ 40-point deficit at half-time is the biggest overcome to win at Arena Joondalup.[24]
  • East Perth fail to keep up with the speedy Tigers and suffer their tenth consecutive defeat, adding to severe financial problems associated with their off-season recruiting.[25]

Round 5

Round 5
Friday, 21 April (6:45 pm) Subiaco 19.15 (129) def. East Fremantle 2.5 (17) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2067)
Saturday, 22 April (2:15 pm) West Perth 13.9 (87) def. by South Fremantle 16.18 (114) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1731)
Saturday, 22 April (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 18.9 (117) def. East Perth 11.13 (79) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2256) [26]
Saturday, 22 April (2:15 pm) Claremont 21.7 (133) def. Peel Thunder 10.16 (76) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1257) [27]
Bye: Perth
  • In an embarrassing thrashing where Subiaco never hit peak form but are under no pressure at any stage after the Sharks had only one kick in the first twelve minutes,[10] East Fremantle kicked:
  1. their second-lowest score since 1915[a] when they kicked 2.2 (14) with a scoreless second half against Perth
  2. their second-lowest ever against Subiaco ahead of 2.4 (16) in 1912.[28]
  3. the lowest score ever by a visiting team at Leederville Oval and the second-lowest in the history of the ground.[29]
  • Coach John Dimmer dismisses talk of South Fremantle going through the season undefeated after a fourteenth consecutive victory against a depleted West Perth, who finish with seventeen fit men and cannot counter eight-goal Ryan Murphy or forty-possession Daniel Gilmore.[30]

Round 6

Round 6
Friday, 28 April (6:45 pm) South Fremantle 23.10 (148) def. Swan Districts 12.12 (84) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2202)
Friday, 28 April (6:45 pm) East Perth 10.14 (74) def. by Subiaco 14.8 (92) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2279)
Saturday, 29 April (2:15 pm) Perth 5.15 (45) def. by Claremont 18.11 (119) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1544)
Saturday, 29 April (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 16.5 (101) def. by West Perth 19.7 (121) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1350) [31]
Bye: Peel Thunder
  • East Perth’s “flooding” tactics hold out Subiaco apart from a burst of five goals in time-on of the second quarter that consign the Royals to a twelfth consecutive loss when they were threatening the upset of the season to that point.[32]
  • South Fremantle extend their winning run to fifteen matches as they run away with three goals in the last two minutes of the half after Swans score only 0.5 (5) from a long period of sustained attack in the second quarter.[33]
  • Daniel Bandy is heckled by the Lathlain crowd after he joined several former AFL teammates at Claremont rather than the Demons where he began his senior football, but still plays a critical role – both in the ruck and attack – in the Tigers’ big win.[34]

Round 7

Round 7
Friday, 5 May (6:45 pm) Subiaco 28.9 (177) def. Peel Thunder 8.7 (55) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1514)
Saturday, 6 May (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 13.17 (95) def. East Fremantle 11.8 (74) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1599) [35]
Saturday, 6 May (2:15 pm) Perth 15.11 (101) def. West Perth 15.8 (98) Mukinbudin (crowd: 2008) [36]
Sunday, 7 May (2:15 pm) Claremont 19.13 (127) def. South Fremantle 6.10 (46) Claremont Oval (crowd: 2182)
Bye: East Perth
  • Claremont break South’s fifteen-match winning streak thanks to a miserly defence that allows no goals after quarter-time except one brief three-goal burst, plus an amazing display by ex-Docker centre half-forward Anthony Jones. Jones finished with 25 possessions, 14 marks, and kicks 6.2 (38).[37]
  • A concrete-and-matting based cricket strip across the centre of Mukinbudin’s oval caused rival captains Simon Duckworth (West Perth) and Chris Bossong (Perth) to imagine they were tossing for innings, and caused much criticism of the WAFL for taking the league to towns lacking the requisite infrastructure.[38] Perth won a thriller after being behind narrowly most of the afternoon.[36]

Round 8

Round 8
Friday, 12 May (6:45 pm) Subiaco 20.18 (138) def. West Perth 14.6 (90) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2325)
Saturday, 13 May (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 15.9 (99) def. by Claremont 21.15 (141) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1129) [39]
Saturday, 13 May (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 12.12 (84) def. by Swan Districts 27.19 (181) Rushton Park (crowd: 1169)
Saturday, 13 May (2:15 pm) Perth 19.12 (126) def. East Perth 11.9 (75) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1663)
Bye: South Fremantle
  • Perth comfortably win to create a surprise challenge for the finals but rookie coach Simon Eastaugh is not happy with his team’s skill against the winless Royals, whose thirteenth consecutive loss was their longest run of “outs” since 1929.[40]
  • Ex-St. Kilda defender Daniel Wulf constantly streaks into attack to decimate Peel after half-time, when he scores an amazing three goals amongst Swans’ 17.9 (111) to 3.8 (26) romp for the half.[41]

Round 9

Round 9
Friday, 19 May (6:45 pm) South Fremantle 19.7 (121) def. by Subiaco 19.14 (128) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2125)
Saturday, 20 May (2:15 pm) Claremont 16.18 (114) def. West Perth 8.12 (60) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1535)
Saturday, 20 May (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 17.17 (119) def. Perth 12.10 (82) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2101)
Saturday, 20 May (2:15 pm) East Perth 22.14 (146) def. Peel Thunder 12.11 (83) Manjimup (crowd: 1965)
Bye: East Fremantle

East Perth’s strong forward give them an easy first win for 2006 under new coach Peos. Troy Wilson scores nine goals to justify his state selection, but Andrew Merrington and Ben McKinley play equally well.[42]

Round 10

Round 10
Saturday, 3 June (2:15 pm) Subiaco 18.7 (115) def. by Swan Districts 21.11 (137) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1953) [5]
Saturday, 3 June (2:15 pm) Perth 20.14 (134) def. Peel Thunder 9.6 (60) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1815) [43]
Monday, 5 June (2:15 pm) West Perth 11.7 (73) def. by East Perth 14.12 (96) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 6477) [44]
Monday, 5 June (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 35.13 (223) def. East Fremantle 9.12 (66) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8129) [45]
Bye: Claremont
  • In inflicting Subiaco’s first defeat of the season, Swan Districts break a record losing streak of thirteen against the Lions, with their previous win being in Kununurra during the fourteenth round of 2000.[46] Swans’ win is amazing given they were without Daniel Wulf, Shane Beros, Morris Coppin and Daniel Piani, and leading goalkicker Chris Maguires scores only two behinds. Adam Lange, overlooked by state selectors, gave a dominant 28-possession display.
  • In front of the season’s biggest non-Grand Final crowd and the unveiling of statue to commemorate John Gerovich’s famous mark in the 1956 Preliminary Final between the two clubs, South Fremantle achieve the biggest half-time lead in open-age WA(N)FL competition, leading by 20.6 (126) to 1.8 (14).[47] They finished with the highest score in the WAFL since Claremont kicked 33.28 (226) against East Perth in 1987.
  • South Fremantle set records for highest score and biggest margin over their derby rivals,[48] beating 107 points from 1980 and 28.21 (189) from 1976.[49]
  • Seven Bulldogs score three or more goals, with Ryan Murphy kicking five in the second half after starting in defence, and Daniel Gilmore score two from seven shots and over 40 possessions.

Round 11

Round 11
Saturday, 10 June (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 12.13 (85) def. by West Perth 20.16 (136) Rushton Park (crowd: 955)
Saturday, 10 June (2:15 pm) Claremont 14.12 (96) def. Subiaco 12.8 (80) Claremont Oval (crowd: 2724) [50]
Saturday, 10 June (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 9.13 (67) def. by Perth 10.13 (73) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1313) [51]
Saturday, 10 June (2:15 pm) East Perth 12.8 (80) def. by South Fremantle 16.12 (108) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1808)
Bye: Swan Districts
  • Perth win only their fifth game at East Fremantle Oval since 1980 to rise to clear fifth when the siren sounded before Tim Malseed could kick an easy goal that would have produced the WAFL’s first drawn match since the opening round of 2003.[b]
  • Key forwards Ryan Hewitt and Ryan Murphy each kick five goals and take nineteen marks between them as South Fremantle kick the first seven goals, which proves enough to win despite tough East Perth resistance.[52]

Round 12

Round 12
Friday, 16 June (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 22.10 (142) def. Peel Thunder 11.14 (80) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1068)
Saturday, 17 June (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 11.16 (82) def. by Claremont 23.14 (152) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1674)
Saturday, 17 June (2:15 pm) Subiaco 19.13 (127) def. Perth 13.7 (85) Kambalda (crowd: 1529)
Saturday, 17 June (2:15 pm) East Perth 18.16 (124) def. East Fremantle 14.14 (98) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1449) [53]
Bye: West Perth
  • Perth coach Simon Eastaugh is pleased with his club’s effort, saying they showed the ability to match it with Subiaco until three quick goals midway through the third quarter moved the Lions clear for good.[54]
  • Swans’ loss of ruckman Ames allowed Tiger follower Michael Gardiner to run rings around the black and whites and leave the top three twelve points clear.[6]

Round 13

Round 13
Saturday, 24 June (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 22.13 (145) def. Peel Thunder 7.9 (51) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1893)
Saturday, 24 June (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 11.3 (69) def. by West Perth 20.21 (141) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 4314)
Saturday, 24 June (2:15 pm) Claremont 15.8 (98) def. by East Perth 19.6 (120) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1853)
Saturday, 24 June (2:15 pm) Perth 12.15 (87) def. South Fremantle 8.8 (56) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1605)
Bye: Subiaco
  • Perth’s impressive commitment moves them within a game of the four, but coach Eastaugh refused to talk “finals”. South Fremantle challenge and early Demon lead for a brief period during the final quarter before a Richard Kelly tackle in defence leads to a goal to Shane Paap, which that player immediately duplicates.[55]
  • With eleven goals against Eagle-listed Brett Jones,[56] Troy Wilson becomes the first Royal to kick double figures in a match for a decade as East Perth, winless after eight weeks, record a major upset.
  • West Coast interchange ruckman Mark Seaby takes advantage of Gardiner’s AFL recall to decimate a Swan Districts ruck duo with eight WAFL matches between them and leave Swans in the four only on percentage.[7]

Round 14

Round 14
Saturday, 1 July (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 13.11 (89) def. by Claremont 14.11 (95) Rushton Park (crowd: 936)
Saturday, 1 July (2:15 pm) East Perth 20.16 (136) def. Swan Districts 8.9 (57) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2804)
Saturday, 1 July (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 15.10 (100) def. West Perth 10.18 (78) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1814)
Saturday, 1 July (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 11.4 (70) def. by Subiaco 21.21 (147) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1380) [57]
Bye: Perth
  • East Perth coach Peos talks “finals” for the first time as a crushing win, led by Craig Wulff and Andrew Merrington, over Swan Districts leaves the victims inside the four by only 0.5 percent.[58]
  • A harsh training session after the Perth loss has a South Fremantle team depleted by injuries and Docker calls holding out an inaccurate West Perth to stay second and keep the Falcons a game out of the four.[59]
  • Peel coach Waterman laments injuries after an inspired third quarter has the Thunder on track to defeat one of the pacesetters before “one-on-one” tactics that Peel cannot handle win the game for the Tigers in the last.[60]

Round 15

Round 15
Saturday, 8 July (2:15 pm) West Perth 16.15 (111) def. East Fremantle 14.15 (99) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1245)
Saturday, 8 July (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 14.10 (94) def. by South Fremantle 18.14 (122) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1956) [61]
Saturday, 8 July (2:15 pm) Subiaco 17.13 (115) def. East Perth 8.17 (65) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2623)
Saturday, 8 July (2:15 pm) Claremont 22.17 (149) def. Perth 9.6 (60) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1525) [62]
Bye: Peel Thunder
  • East Perth fade out after a very tough three quarters, with ex-Royals Caine Hayes and Paul Ridley booed for their sparking of the Lions when they are rested late in the match.[63]
  • East Fremantle fall apart after a strong start, but the match analysis is dominated by coach Dunbar’s accusation that playmaker Shane Woewodin, who was kept quiet by Ray Bartholemew, was illegally impeded for most of the match.[64]

Round 16

Round 16
Friday, 14 July (6:45 pm) South Fremantle 9.11 (65) def. Claremont 9.8 (62) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2859)
Saturday, 15 July (2:15 pm) Perth 7.10 (52) def. by West Perth 16.20 (116) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1809)
Saturday, 15 July (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 10.11 (71) def. by Subiaco 15.8 (98) Rushton Park (crowd: 1172)
Saturday, 15 July (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 29.7 (181) def. Swan Districts 12.9 (81) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1573) [65]
Bye: East Perth
  • South Fremantle move ahead in the battle for second position as they just hold off a Claremont team that in dewy conditions did not goal between quarter-time and ten minutes into the last quarter.[66]
  • Despite midweek predictions that Perth and East Perth would fight out fourth position, West Perth are the team to take advantage of Swan Districts’ thrashing by jumping the Demons and never being threatened even when Andrew McDougall kicks his four goals for the game in the third quarter.[67]
  • East Fremantle, with only two wins in thirteen matches, kick their most accurate score by excess of goals over behinds and the most accurate against Swan Districts.[68] It is their second highest score and most goals ever against Swan Districts.[69] Former defender Andrew McCarrey kicks eleven goals straight and Michael Griffiths against shows Swans’ ruck weakness and gives Woewodin and Kris Miller complete midfield control.
  • Peel Thunder lead Subiaco for all but the first thirteen and last thirteen minutes – before the Lions escape a giant upset by kicking 10.1 (61) in the final quarter of what was previously a low-scoring match.[70]

Round 17

Round 17
Saturday, 22 July (2:15 pm) West Perth 13.15 (93) def. by Subiaco 21.9 (135) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1901) [71]
Saturday, 22 July (2:15 pm) East Perth 13.15 (93) def. by Perth 16.9 (105) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1887)
Saturday, 22 July (2:15 pm) Claremont 23.8 (146) def. East Fremantle 9.9 (63) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1622) [72]
Saturday, 22 July (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 12.10 (82) def. by Peel Thunder 14.15 (99) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1458) [73]
Bye: South Fremantle
  • Perth move to within percentage of the four with a favourable draw remaining whilst East Perth are eliminated after a slow start and the loss of key defender Craig Wulff.[74]
  • Peel end a run of ten consecutive losses in a spiteful match, whereby young rover Haydn Ballantyne overcomes being hit and treated in the opening quarter to be the dominant player for the remainder of the match. Owing to Peel’s failure to formally complain, Ballantyne was the only player reported on video evidence and was suspended for headbutting despite his great performance.[75]

Round 18

Round 18
Saturday, 29 July (2:15 pm) Subiaco 16.10 (106) def. South Fremantle 13.10 (88) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1215) [76]
Saturday, 29 July (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 16.14 (110) def. East Perth 9.11 (65) Rushton Park (crowd: 911) [77]
Saturday, 29 July (2:15 pm) Perth 9.11 (65) def. by Swan Districts 16.13 (109) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1517)
Saturday, 29 July (2:15 pm) West Perth 15.3 (93) def. Claremont 12.12 (84) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1198)
Bye: East Fremantle
  • Former Perth spearhead Chris Maguire returns after one week in the reserves to end a Swan Districts horror stretch with four of eight final quarter goals against a passionless Demon team.[78]
  • Anthony Tsalikis, who trained at Hopetoun and worked in Ravensthorpe as an engineer, gives West Perth an upset win to move clear in the four against expectations of Perth taking their place.[79]
  • Returned forward Dean Buszan kicks eight goals in a match for the second time, being as of 2013 one of only two Thunder players to do this.[80] As of 2014, Buszan holds the record for most goals in a match on both sides of Peel v East Perth.

Round 19

Round 19
Saturday, 5 August (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 12.7 (79) def. by South Fremantle 15.11 (101) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1740)
Saturday, 5 August (2:15 pm) East Perth 12.9 (81) def. by West Perth 23.17 (155) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2228)
Saturday, 5 August (2:15 pm) Perth 10.10 (70) def. by Subiaco 18.15 (123) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1318)
Saturday, 5 August (2:15 pm) Claremont 22.17 (149) def. Swan Districts 13.12 (90) Broome (crowd: 3950) [81]
Bye: Peel Thunder
  • For the third occasion in four matches, Subiaco race away after being in difficulties for most of the contest, as a “wall of players” in the Demon midfield stops Subiaco’s running game until Josh Wooden is moved into the centre and uses his skill to break the “wall” down.[82]
  • Mark LeCras’ 7.5 (47) from over thirty possessions – including thirteen in the first quarter – leaves West Perth two wins clear in the four, birtually sealing the finalists with a month of the home-and-away season remaining.[83]

Round 20

Round 20
Friday, 11 August (6:45 pm) South Fremantle 22.14 (146) def. Peel Thunder 8.6 (54) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1557)
Saturday, 12 August (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 9.14 (68) def. by East Perth 21.9 (135) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1212) [84]
Bye: Claremont, Perth, Subiaco, Swan Districts, West Perth

Debutant Callum Wilson’s five goals leads South Fremantle to a brilliant win after having trailed by fifteen points early in the second quarter.[85]

Round 21

Round 21
Saturday, 19 August (2:15 pm) West Perth 8.15 (63) def. by Peel Thunder 11.11 (77) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1022)
Saturday, 19 August (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 8.8 (56) def. by South Fremantle 11.11 (77) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1288) [86]
Saturday, 19 August (2:15 pm) Subiaco 16.11 (107) def. Claremont 8.14 (62) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1351)
Saturday, 19 August (2:15 pm) Perth 6.10 (46) def. by East Fremantle 17.15 (117) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1109)
Bye: East Perth
  • Cameron Heise’s ability to put pressure on Paul Medhurst, along with Subiaco’s ability to spread the goalscoring with ten single goalkickers all but seals the double chance and Subiaco’s “home” final.[87]
  • Peel’s commitment and efficient ball use have them ahead of the Falcons almost all afternoon on the only wet day of the season[88] despite a few bad discipline errors, in the process virtually sealing the wooden spoon with East Fremantle’s last hope to defeat almost invincible Subiaco.[89]
  • Port Melbourne recruits Michael Griffiths, Joel Sofi and James Kondarovskis combine for the first time to end the finals hopes of an uninspiring Perth and mathematically keep the Sharks’ hopes of avoiding the wooden spoon alive.[90]

Round 22

Round 22
Saturday, 26 August (2:15 pm) Subiaco 26.17 (173) def. East Fremantle 13.7 (85) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1826) [91]
Saturday, 26 August (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 14.16 (100) def. Perth 11.11 (77) Rushton Park (crowd: 1076) [92]
Saturday, 26 August (2:15 pm) West Perth 19.12 (126) def. Swan Districts 7.12 (54) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1531)
Saturday, 26 August (2:15 pm) Claremont 22.15 (147) def. East Perth 10.9 (69) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1722)
Bye: South Fremantle

Eight goals from in-form Mark LeCras – an Eagle emergency in Brisbane when the Falcons lost to Peel – fails to add confidence because of the prospect of a permanent AFL call-up weakening the club.[93]

Round 23

Round 23
Friday, 1 September (6:45 pm) South Fremantle 17.11 (113) def. West Perth 5.16 (46) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1989)
Saturday, 2 September (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 11.11 (77) def. by Subiaco 22.17 (149) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1661) [94]
Saturday, 2 September (2:15 pm) East Perth 24.8 (152) def. Perth 13.10 (88) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1764) [95]
Saturday, 2 September (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 18.13 (121) def. by Claremont 20.14 (134) Rushton Park (crowd: 1116)
Bye: East Fremantle
  • With Mark LeCras kicking five goals for West Coast[96] and Josh Head blanketing Tsalikis, West Perth’s attack fails completely and give no sign they can match the top three in the finals.[97]
  • Peel record the second highest losing score in their history[98] as Buszan kicks eight goals in a match for the third time, remaining the sole Thunder player to do so until 2008.[80] He did this despite having a dog chew up his football boots six weeks beforehand.
  • The Thunder trailed by 64 points early in the third quarter after Claremont kicked 10.7 (67) to 1.0 (6) in the second quarter, but their determination has them come back strongly in the best form in their WAFL history.[99]

Ladder

2006 WAFL Ladder
TEAM P W L D PF PA % PTS
1 Subiaco 20 18 2 0 2515 1589 158.28% 72
2 South Fremantle 20 16 4 0 2278 1540 147.92% 64
3 Claremont 20 15 5 0 2285 1626 140.53% 60
4 West Perth 20 10 10 0 1999 1873 106.73% 40
5 East Perth 20 7 13 0 1842 2057 89.55% 28
6 Swan Districts 20 7 13 0 1896 2318 81.79% 28
7 Perth 20 7 13 0 1657 2143 77.32% 28
8 Peel Thunder 20 6 14 0 1662 2396 69.37% 24
9 East Fremantle 20 4 16 0 1759 2351 74.82% 16
Key: P = Played, W = Won, L = Lost, D = Drawn, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against

Finals

First Semi Final

First Semi Final
Sunday, 10 September (2:15 pm) Claremont 21.18 (144) def. West Perth 8.10 (58) Claremont Oval (crowd: 3,302)

This was the first final ever played at Claremont Oval, and underlined the superiority of the top three with the Falcons’ heaviest defeat since 1997,[100] despite Claremont losing Paul Medhurst to the AFL.[101]

Second Semi Final

Second Semi Final
Sunday, 10 September (2:15 pm) Subiaco 15.7 (97) def. South Fremantle 12.18 (90) Leederville Oval (crowd: 5,084)
  • This was the first final at Leederville since the 1935 First Semi between East Perth and East Fremantle – the last season before all finals were played at Subiaco due to the league establishing permanent headquarters there.[102]
  • Subiaco came from 25 points down to beat a South Fremantle team that kicked only five goals in the second half from sixty entries inside their forward fifty metres.[103]

Preliminary Final

Preliminary Final
Sunday, 17 September (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 16.13 (109) def. Claremont 16.10 (106) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4,811)

South Fremantle hang on when a Claremont kick on the siren does not make the distance but have problems with the availability of key players Andrew Siegert, Ashton Hams, Travis Gaspar and Daniel Gilmore.[104]

Grand Final

2006 WAFL Grand Final
Saturday, 23 September Subiaco def. South Fremantle Subiaco Oval (Crowd: 21,291) [105]
5.0 (30)
9.2 (56)
14.5 (89)
24.9 (153)		 Q1
Q2
Q3
Final		 3.6 (24)
5.8 (38)
8.9 (57)
10.10 (70)		 Umpires: Greg Bandy, Gareth Parker, Todd Keating
Simpson Medal: Marc Webb (Subiaco)
Larkins 7, Keevers 3, Mapleston 3, Hall 2, Cossom, Holmes, Haynes, Hayes, Webb, Schofield, Broughton, Pickett, Robbins Goals Sampi 3, White 2, McGrath 2, Hewitt, Ashton Hams, Adams
Newick, Webb, Parker, Randall, Schofield, Haynes, Larkins Best Duffield, Jones, Head, Thornton, Adams, Kyle Hams
Reports David Gault for unduly rough play

Subiaco completely dominate against a Bulldog side with Gaspar, Siegert and Gilmore under fitness clouds, kicking 15.7 (97) to 5.2 (32) after half-time.

Notes

a Their sole lower score in this period was 2.4 (16) at Lathlain Park in Round 15 of 1967, when Old Easts did not score between the first and last ten minutes of the match.
b Had Malseed been able to kick the goal, he would have produced Perth’s first draw since the opening round of 1986, the first draw between the two clubs since 1923, and East Fremantle’s first home-and-away draw since the third round of 1974. The latter two streaks remain unbroken as of 2014.

References

  1. ↑ ‘WAFL Clubs Ready for Battle’; The West Australian, 22 March 2006, p. 121
  2. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Peos Takes Reins in Rebuilding the Royals’; The West Australian, 17 May 2006, p. 112
  3. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Bulldogs, Sharks, Falcons, Lions Mop-up Pre-Season’; The West Australian, 20 March 2006, p. 63
  4. 1 2 Pedler, Ryan; ‘Waterman Vows to Keep Youngsters after Upset Win: Child’s Play for Peel’; The Game, p. 11, from The West Australian, 27 March 2006
  5. 1 2 Reid, Russell; ‘Swans in Top Shape after Upset’; The Game, p. 14, from The West Australian, 5 June 2006
  6. 1 2 Townsend, John; ‘Taylor Flies Flag for Code and Claremont’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 19 June 2006
  7. 1 2 Lewis, Ross; ‘Seaby and Falcons Both End Up Winners’; The Game, p. 11, from The West Australian, 26 June 2006
  8. ↑ ‘Perth Annual Climate Summary 2006: Perth’s driest year on record’
  9. ↑ ‘Perth Monthly Climate Summary: June 2006: Driest June on Record’
  10. 1 2 Townsend, John; ‘Lions Make Light Work of Toothless Sharks’; The West Australian, 22 April 2006, p. 182
  11. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Sharks Rule Dunbar Safe: disappointed East Fremantle Fans Smell Coach’s Blood But Not Club Bosses’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 24 April 2006
  12. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Bulldogs Start Where They Ended’; The Game, p. 10, from The West Australian, 27 March 2006
  13. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘Lions Off with a Roar as Swans Show Fights’; The Game, p. 11, from The West Australian, 27 March 2006
  14. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘Falcons Break Ice for Curley’; The Game, p. 10, from The West Australian, 27 March 2006
  15. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘Falcons’ Speed Just the Ticket’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 3 April 2006
  16. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Subiaco Find the Answer Up-Front’; The Game, p. 14, from The West Australian, 3 April 2006
  17. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘Rookie Says Demons Must Take the Next Step’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 3 April 2006
  18. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘Duffield Reaps Dividends from Docker Pre-Season’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 10 April 2006
  19. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Hawk Loss Is Subiaco’s Gain’; The Game, p. 14, from The West Australian, 10 April 2006
  20. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Veteran Bounces Back for Sharks’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 10 April 2006
  21. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘Swans Fight Back to Win for Beros’; The Game, p. 14; from The West Australian, 17 April 2006
  22. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Sharks Ripped Apart by Thunder’s Bolton’; The Game, p. 14, from The West Australian, 17 April 2006
  23. ↑ See Peel Thunder: Highest Scores
  24. ↑ See WAFL Footy Facts: Round 14, 2013
  25. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Fleet-Footed Tigers Run Weary Royals Ragged’; The West Australian, 18 April 2006, p. 53
  26. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Veterans Still Good Value for Swans’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 24 April 2006
  27. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘If It’s Not Broken it Won’t Stop Tough Toia’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 24 April 2006
  28. ↑ East Fremantle Lowest Scores
  29. ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: Leederville Oval
  30. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Bulldogs Look Invincible After 14th Straight Win’; The Game, p. 14, from The West Australian, 24 April 2006
  31. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Falcons Survive Despite Missing Veterans’; The Game, p. 14, from The West Australian, 1 May 2006
  32. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Royals Give Subiaco a Fright’; The West Australian, 29 April 2006, p. 176
  33. ↑ Townsend, John;‘Bulldogs Find Extra Gear to Roll Past Swans’; The West Australian, 29 April 2006, p. 176
  34. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Bandy Was Torn, but Shines for Claremont’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 1 May 2006
  35. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘Hansen Shows He’s Ready for Recall’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 8 May 2006
  36. 1 2 Lewis, Ross; ‘Cooks Spoil Falcon Broth’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 8 May 2006
  37. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Tigers Break Bulldog Streak’; The Game, p. 14, from The West Australian, 8 May 2006
  38. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘WAFL Drops Ball as Players Risk Pitch’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 8 May 2006
  39. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘Harper Makes Most of Tall Order’; The Game, p. 14, from The West Australian, 15 May 2006
  40. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Demons in Canter but Coach Not Happy’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 15 May 2006
  41. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Backman Wulf Adds Vital Bite Up-Front’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 15 May 2006
  42. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘Relief for Peos as Royals Find Water’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 22 May 2006
  43. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘Maher Leads Perth Romp on Red-Letter Day’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 5 June 2006
  44. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Revitalised Royals in Line to Have a Say’; The West Australian, 6 June 2006, p. 61
  45. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘Sharks Defend Dunbar after Record Demolition’; The West Australian, 6 June 2006, p. 60
  46. ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: Swan Districts Most Consecutive Losses v Each Opponent
  47. ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: Largest Margins at Half-Time
  48. ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: South Fremantle v East Fremantle
  49. ↑ South Fremantle: Biggest Wins
  50. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Gardiner Shows He Can Walk the Talk’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian 12 June 2006
  51. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘Sharks Lift Spirits as Demons Keep Eye on Finals’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian 12 June 2006
  52. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘High-Flying Hewitt Directs the Traffic’; The Game, p. 14, from The West Australian, 12 June 2006
  53. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Royals Emerging as Roughies for Finals’; The Game, p. 14, from The West Australian, 19 June 2006
  54. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘Lions Made to Work’; The Game, p. 14, from The West Australian, 19 June 2006
  55. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘Demons Waiting to Have Their Final Say’; The Game, p. 10, from The West Australian, 26 June 2006
  56. ↑ Duffield, Mark; ‘Wilson Turns Up the Laser’; The Game, p. 11, from The West Australian, 26 June 2006
  57. ↑ O‘Connell, Ronan; ‘Subiaco Turn It On after Slow Start’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 3 July 2006
  58. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Peos Dares to Look at a Finals Berth’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 3 July 2006
  59. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Bulldogs Respond to Brutal Training Run’; The Game, p. 14, from The West Australian, 3 July 2006
  60. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘Injuries Steal Peel’s Thunder’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 3 July 2006
  61. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘Swans Out of Four an Injury Troubles Mount’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 10 July 2006
  62. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘New Era in Triple Threat of Tigerish Jones Boys’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 10 July 2006
  63. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Hayes, Ridley Have Last Laugh on Royals’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 10 July 2006
  64. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Sharks Take Action on Woewodin Treatment’; The Game, p. 14, from The West Australian, 10 July 2006
  65. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘Dead-Eye McCarrey Slaughters Swans’; The Game, p. 14, from The West Australian, 17 July 2006
  66. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Fading Bulldogs Hold Off the Flying Tigers’; The West Australian, 15 July 2006, p. 187
  67. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Falcons Keep Demons at Bay’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 17 July 2006
  68. ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: More Goals Than Behinds
  69. ↑ East Fremantle: Highest Scores
  70. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Peel Eye Senior On-Baller’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 17 July 2006
  71. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘Lions Gain Whip Hand on Fading Falcons’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 24 July 2006
  72. ↑ O‘Connell, Ronan; ‘Gardy and Bandy Show Has Tigers Salivating’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 24 July 2006
  73. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘WAFL Probes Ugly Clashes’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 24 July 2006
  74. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Demons Have Eye on Place in Finals’; The Game, p. 14, from The West Australian, 24 July 2006
  75. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Thunder Rumble over First-Quarter Clashes’; The West Australian, 25 July 2006, p. 52
  76. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Lions Answer All Challenges’; The Game, p. 14, from The West Australian, 31 July 2006
  77. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘Peel’s Welcome Change of Fortune’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 31 July 2006
  78. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Maguire Returns to Lead Swans’ Charge’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 31 July 2006
  79. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘Finals Loom as Frequent Flyer Boots Home Four’; The Game, p. 14, from The West Australian, 31 July 2006
  80. 1 2 Peel Thunder vs Each Opponent Game Records
  81. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Gardiner and Bandy too Hot for Swans’; The Game, p. 15., from The West Australian, 7 August 2006
  82. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Lions Find Way to Break Down Wall’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 7 August 2006
  83. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘Falcons’ Brood a Mirror on Past’; The Game, p. 14, from The West Australian, 7 August 2006
  84. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Agostino Steps Up to Leads Young Royals to Rout’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 14 August 2006
  85. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘South Turn Up Heat as New Boy Shows Class’; The West Australian, 12 August 2006, p. 185
  86. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Bulldogs Bolt as Swans Rue Early Lapses’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 21 August 2006
  87. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Medhurst Shut Out as Lions Rampage’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 21 August 2006
  88. ↑ Perth Metro (Mount Lawley) (009225) August 2006 rainfall
  89. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘Peel Absorb Pressure for First Win over Top-Four Side: Thunder Hold Sway’; The Game, p. 14, from The West Australian, 21 August 2006
  90. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘Fit Port Melbourne Trio Add Bite to Sharks’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 21 August 2006
  91. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘No Finals Talk for Rampant Subiaco’; The Game, p. 14, from The West Australian, 28 August 2006
  92. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘Phillips Proves Sparkling Debut Was No Fluke’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 28 August 2006
  93. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Mystery Final for In-Form LeCras’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 28 August 2006
  94. ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Ruthless Lions Fire Up for Nine Finals in a Row’; The Game, p. 14, from The West Australian, 4 September 2006, p. 15
  95. ↑ Lamond, David; ‘Dread Debut for Teenage Royal’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 4 September 2006, p. 15
  96. ↑ AFL Tables – Mark LeCras
  97. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘South Fremantle Take Time to Shake Falcons’; The West Australian, 2 September 2006, p. 192
  98. ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: Peel Thunder Highest Losing Scores
  99. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Dogged Peel Make Final Statement’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 4 September 2006, p. 15
  100. ↑ West Perth: Biggest Losses
  101. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Haunted Tigers Fire Up: Falcons Pay Price as Tigers Remember Bitter Grand Final Losses’; The Game, p. 15; from The West Australian, 11 September 2006
  102. ↑ ‘New Football Headquarters’; The West Australian, 7 September 1936, p. 7
  103. ↑ Townsend, John; ‘Wayward Bulldogs Punished’; The Game, p. 15; from The West Australian, 11 September 2006
  104. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Bulldogs’ Top Team Far from Settled’; The Game, p. 10; from The West Australian, 18 September 2006
  105. ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Grateful Lions to Give German Free Rein’; The Game, pp. 10-11; from The West Australian, 25 September 2006

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