February 3 2012, 10:29 pm
by Ron Head When eighteen year old John Colgan was selected to play in Boulder City Football Club’s senior team midway through 1950 he had to ask permission from his parents. Two seasons later he was part of Western Australia’s sixty point victory over South Australia at Subiaco Oval. Selected again on the Tuesday, he was named best for the…
January 31 2012, 9:57 pm
by Ron Head “The Fighting Swan,” motto of Swan Districts Football Club, has been exemplified by the tenacity and toughness of many who have donned the black and white over the years, but none more so than Wally Brown. A dedicated, reliable player who was a tower of strength through many years of struggle for the club, he was also…
January 27 2012, 10:51 pm
by Ron Head Football recruiting in Western Australia has thrown up many anecdotes over the years regarding how players end up at whatever club, with the story of Steve Marsh walking into the wrong change room at Fremantle Oval in 1945 achieving folklore status. In another quirk of the game, Kellerberrin ruckman Ray McAuliffe was signed, sealed and delivered to…
January 24 2012, 9:29 pm
by Ron Head The 1966 WAFL grand final has become part of football folklore. Nineteen year old East Perth centreman/half forward Mark O’Donoghue, in the side after a handful of league games, was flattened moments after the opening bounce. The clash set the scene for a fiery encounter, with the youngster’s team mates and the crowd of 46,763 becoming immediately…
January 20 2012, 9:49 pm
by Ron Head Barry Cable and Bill Walker were such outstanding rovers in the sixties and seventies that the efforts of the abundance of other fine little men produced in the WANFL during that period can be overlooked. While the aforementioned players were two outstanding exponents of the game there were many others at the time who possessed considerable talent.…
January 17 2012, 11:08 pm
by Ron Head The 1980 VFL Grand Final between Richmond and Collingwood was notable for the performance of Tigers rover Kevin Bartlett, whose seven goals led the way to a resounding eighty one point victory by Richmond. Played in front of a crowd of 113,461 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, it was a memorable day for a twenty year old…
January 14 2012, 1:04 am
by Ron Head Concussion has ruined many promising league careers over the years, the risk of permanent head or brain damage far too high a risk to contemplate. Claremont back pocket player Brendan Hendry had to make the decision at a time he was riding high, one of Western Australia’s best in an upset win over South Australia in Adelaide,…
January 10 2012, 11:30 pm
by Ron Head 1951 saw the beginning of four memorable careers at South Fremantle. Three of them, John Colgan, Cliff Hillier, and Ray Richards, went on to become outstanding players for the Bulldogs and Western Australia, but the fourth, despite never taking a mark, laying a tackle, or booting a goal, was to achieve legendary status at the club over…
January 7 2012, 9:51 pm
by Ron Head When Mick Grasso made his league debut for Swan Districts in round one of the 1987 season, he was better prepared than most first gamers, having chalked up sixty two league games with South Bunbury in the tough South West Football League. “I had grown up a keen West Perth supporter, with Peter Menaglio and Les Fong…
January 3 2012, 4:27 am
by Ron Head The first clash of the 1989 WAFL finals series became a promoters dream, when East Fremantle and West Perth fought out a thrilling draw in the first semi final. The replay was re scheduled as a curtain raiser for the second semi final between Claremont and South Fremantle the following week, and a thirty thousand plus crowd…
December 30 2011, 9:28 pm
by Ron Head When George Hall was a lad he would stand outside the Subiaco gates on match day and wait for Haydn Bunton senior to arrive, then carry the champion’s case of football gear into the dressing rooms, the reward for which was free entry. It was to be the beginning of a long association in all facets of…
December 28 2011, 1:17 am
by Ron Head The East Perth combination of the late fifties is widely regarded as one of the best sides to have played in the WAFL. With players such as Sheedy, Farmer, Kennedy, Hawke, Mose, Seal, Bull, Washbourne, Everett, Watts, McGill, Kilmurray, Hunt, Ray, Walker, Roe, Atwell, Bellos, Hall, Giblett, and Langdon, the Royals were permanent grand finalists in the…
December 23 2011, 9:22 pm
by Ron Head The John Grljusich story is a tribute to the man’s determination and will to succeed, and is a lesson for any aspiring youngster. Younger brother of George, Tom, and Don, household names at South Fremantle, Grljusich overcame several barriers to eventually realise his dream. He went on to not only become a league footballer but to play…
December 21 2011, 9:36 pm
by Ron Head A season ending injury to regular full back Brian Ashbolt in 1960 saw the Perth Football Club searching desperately for a worthy replacement. It was at a time when most sides had a damaging full forward, with the mercurial John Gerovich(South Fremantle) and East Fremantle’s Len Anderson just two of an imposing list. Half back Brian Knowles…
December 20 2011, 4:04 am
By Mr Dandalooa Interest in West Australian football remains strong with a growing number of people participating in the sport, the WA Football Commission has revealed. The WAFC said on its website that total participation grew by 4.7 per cent to 130,482 people this year. With the new stadium announced last week, the commission said WA’s AFL teams were in…
December 20 2011, 12:42 am
By Mr Dandalooa The West Coast Eagles will retain its leadership structure next season in a bid to hold on to the winning formula that saw John Worsfold take the 2010 wooden spooners to the finals this year. Darren Glass will stay on as captain while Beau Waters is continuing as his deputy. As part of that structure, there is…
December 19 2011, 5:51 am
By Mr Dandalooa Mining company Fortescue Metals Group said the five-year deal it struck last month with the South Hedland Swans Football Club would be a boon for the town. Under the major sponsorship deal, next season the club will be known as the Fortescue South Hedland Swans. Mining company Fortescue already has a strong presence within the Swans, with…
December 19 2011, 5:35 am
By Mr Dandalooa The WA Football Commission has welcomed the announcement by the State Government outlining the progress of plans for a new major stadium at Burswood. Last week, Premier Colin Barnett announced the State Government had appointed global firm Populous as architectural consultants for the new major stadium at Burswood Peninsula. “We promised the best and we are delivering,”…
December 19 2011, 5:28 am
By Mr Dandalooa Wayde Twomey will return to the Swans Districts next year after he was ``sorely missed’’ this season. Twomey spent three seasons with the Swans from 2008-2010, clocking up 60 WAFL games and having had played a key role in the 2010 premiership win over Claremont. The 2011 AFL Draft saw the 25-year-old rookie-listed by Carlton. After being…
December 19 2011, 5:16 am
WA’s AFL Draft success continued last week with another 12 players added to AFL lists in the Rookie Draft, taking WA’s 2011 draft total to 28. This includes the 14 players selected from WA clubs in the 2011 NAB AFL National Draft and the pre-selection of Gerald Ugle and Nathan Wilson by Greater Western Sydney. Beau Wilkes (pictured) who played…
December 8 2011, 6:25 am
By Mr Dandalooa Twenty-five-year-old Beau Wilkes who had had a strong year in the WAFL with Claremont playing as a key forward is one of four WA country boys selected at the recent AFL draft. This continues the recent outstanding results for the country players in the draft. 2011 had 73 boys from country WA on lists. Three of the…
December 7 2011, 2:54 am
By Mr Dandalooa The WA Country Football League has released a discussion paper on player remuneration which includes a proposed points system to assist Clubs. The 17-page Country Football Remuneration Discussion Paper aimed to identify current practices taking place and implement a system that is transparent and fair to ensure the sustainability of the State’s Country Football Leagues and the…
December 6 2011, 8:51 am
By Mr Dandalooa The Swan Districts Football Club has left 2011 behind them and are looking towards the future. Coach Greg Harding has outlined a robust fitness regime saying he got through last week after 5 reps of Reabold Hill on Thursday and a Narrows/Causeway Bridge run at 6am on Saturday morning. “It doesn't let up this week either with…
December 6 2011, 6:02 am
By Mr Dandalooa Claremont Football Club will have had a hectic past month with its coaching recruitment process, but like most in the WAFL it’s about to wind down. Football Manager Dean Horsington there was not a lot happening this time of the year as the club was starting to wind down for the Christmas break. “The main focus for…
December 6 2011, 5:40 am
By Mr Dandalooa Claremont Football Club is hopeful it will appoint a new Senior Coach by this Friday, Football Manager Dean Horsington said. Speaking exclusively to FootyGoss, Horsington said the Tigers had 3 candidates who will be interviewed during the week, but he would not reveal who the candidates were. “We are looking for a coach who will be a…
December 5 2011, 10:09 pm
by Ron Head Claremont can thank an opposition player for the acquisition of half back Doug Ringholt in 1965. South Fremantle fullback John Reilly pointed the former Carlton player in the Tigers direction after three clubs, including Reilly’s former club the Bulldogs, had expressed interest in the defender. Despite his Port allegiances, Reilly, at the time with the Blues, saw…
December 5 2011, 7:09 am
By Mr Dandalooa Former North Melbourne Football Club WA recruiting Officer Ben Dyer has been named Claremont Football Club’s new Colts coach. Dyer will be moving back to Perth from Brisbane in mid-December to take up the position. Claremont Talent Manager Darcy Coffey said he hoped Dyer’s time at the Brisbane Lion’s would help the Tigers pick up new skills…
December 4 2011, 1:15 am
by Ron Head The VFL second semi final of 1972 at VFL Park between Richmond and Carlton was a dour defensive tussle which saw the Tigers with only 1.8 (14) on the board to half time. Richmond fought back in the second half to force a draw, the final scores being 8.13 apiece. It was only the fifth draw in…
December 1 2011, 6:03 am
By Mr Dandalooa Regional Western Australia has emerged as the clear winner of the 2011 Sport and Recreation Industry Awards, with close to half of all category winners connected to the regions. The West Australian Football Commission and Swan Districts Football Club both received awards at the 2011 Sport and Recreation Industry Awards on Friday night, November 25. The WAFC…
November 29 2011, 9:02 pm
by Ron Head When Barry White walked into Fremantle Oval for pre season training in 1952 the club was reeling with the news that nine from their top twenty from the previous season wouldn’t be there. Clive Lewington, Doug Ingraham, “Corp” Reilly, Don Wares, Jim Matison, John Crook, Alby Western, and Laurie Green had all been State players and with…
November 29 2011, 4:12 am
By Mr Dandalooa It may be modest, but the Richmond Football Club has reported a positive financial result after years of soaring debt. FootyGoss understands the Tigers have managed to claw back their debt by $1 million and have recorded an operating profit of $51,000. The good news came as Richmond President Gary March explained the changes about to happen…
November 29 2011, 3:47 am
By Mr Dandalooa Greater Western Sydney will have the pleasure of getting 11 of the first 14 picks in the AFL drafts. But while they enjoy the spoils of being the new team on the block, the top picks do not necessarily translate into guaranteed finals glory. Coach Kevin Sheedy wanted to personally thank each and every one of the…
November 25 2011, 5:20 am
Expect to see a bevy of West Australians play AFL football next season after the State dominated the recent AFL draft. WAFC High Performance Manager Craig Starcevich said the state had some of the best players on offer and it was no surprise that fledgling clubs would use the opportunity to snap up a West Aussie. He said WA was…
November 24 2011, 4:51 am
By Mr Dandalooa The Perth Demons are on the scout and Jarrod Kayler-Thomson wants footy fanatics to spread the word and become a Perth Demons Member next season. "We are asking you to forward this poster (pictured) on to as many people as possible or print it off and post it up for everyone to see," a club spokesman said.…
November 23 2011, 10:45 pm
by Ron Head A link with the outstanding Perth combination of the Sixties has been broken with the passing of Frank Pyke, who left us after a short illness at the age of sixty nine. Frank Pyke was a man who could well have been a star of several sports, but forsook them for an academic career in sports science,…
November 22 2011, 9:18 pm
by Ron Head After the successes of the sixties and eighties, Swan Districts slide in the nineties was a dismal time for both players and supporters. Just as there were many fine players who celebrated premierships in other eras for the black and whites, there were others equally as good who happened to be around at the wrong time. Names…
November 22 2011, 5:33 am
Adrian Hickmott is poised to start his role as replacement of Justin Longmuir at West Coast this week, after Longmuir was promoted to assistant coach in the wake of Peter Sumich’s departure. The former AFL player, who retired in 2003 with 184 AFL games to his name, played for Geelong and Carlton and had played against the Eagles in the…
November 22 2011, 5:17 am
By Mr Dandalooa Former Eagles assistant coach Rob Wiley has been appointed WA State 16s Head Coach by the WA Football Commission following and extensive selection process. Wiley, who also has playing and coaching experience at both the WAFL and AFL level, was previously involved with the State Academy as WAFC High Performance Coach from 2007 until last year. Prior…
November 22 2011, 5:04 am
By Mr Dandalooa The South Hedland Swans Football Club has signed five-year major sponsorship deal with Fortescue Metals Group that will begin next year. Next season the club will start the new football season as the Fortescue South Hedland Swans. Mining company Fortescue already has a strong presence within the Swans, with the coach, Troy Ugle, being a Fortescue employee…
November 18 2011, 9:43 pm
by Ron Head The 1952 grand final was tagged “the Des Kelly Premiership†following the performance of Simpson Medallist, South Fremantle ruckman Des Kelly, who put in a matchwinning display. Forty years later an East Fremantle player would put in an effort to match Kelly’s, and sink the Bulldogs premiership hopes. Whereas Kelly was a relative youngster in 1952 at…
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