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Footygoss Classic WAFL Grand Finals: 1964..East Fremantle v Claremont

Posted Mar 3, 2009 - 7:46 AM

The 1964 grand final has been lauded by many of those who saw it as one of the best WAFL grand finals ever. It certainly was a nailbiter, fought out by two teams chockfull of talent in a great era for Western Australian football.

East Fremantle were a very good side in the sixties, and, having been runners up in 1962 and 63, were right on track for the much deserved prize after taking the minor premiership of 64. 

Claremont were a definite underdog, having finished last in both previous years, winning only four games in 1963.

To add to the intrigue, former East Fremantle star Jim Conway was in the coaches box for the Tigers.  Conway, respected universally as a football brain, was also the current State coach, and his appointment at Claremont was the catalyst that sparked the resurgence of the club, which had not appeared in a grand final since 1940.

Claremont’s season had been inconsistent to say the least, with some big losses and good wins, but managed fourth place with twelve victories for the season.  East Fremantle on the other hand, led the ladder from second placed Perth, who they accounted for in the Second Semi with a forty three point win.  After Perth inexplicably went down to the Tigers in the Preliminary Final, East Fremantle were the raging favourites at Subiaco in September.

Both sides were well represented in the State games that season, with John McIntosh,Alan Mycock,John Fairbrass, Les Mumme, Wayne Harvey, and John Dethridge(Claremont) and Ray Sorrell, Frank Coulson, “Trizzy” Lawrence, Tony Casserly, and Norm Rogers(East Fremantle) forming a large quota of the West Australian side. Playing his two hundredth game was Claremont’s favourite son Kevin “Mr Claremont”, “The Carnamah Kid” Clune, who had given his heart for the club for years in a losing cause.

With the breeze behind them, Claremont started the game in scintillating fashion, and but for inaccuracy could have had a commanding lead at quarter time, when they led, 4.9 to 1.2., including a running goal from Clune.

The tables were turned when the wind favoured East Fremantle though, and they booted six majors to two to go into the half time break two points in front, 7.5 to 6.9.

The third term saw the game develop into a spirited, even tussle, with both sides well served by their respective class full forwards, Bob “Autumn Leaves” Johnson and Wayne"Boomer" Harvey, who each nailed two for the quarter. When the teams went into their huddles at “lemons” the Tigers were seven points in front but the wind was to be at the Sharks back in the run home.

As the drama unfolded for what was to be a classic last quarter, both goalsneaks were again prominent early, with the Monts full back John Grieve in trouble on Johnson, who was unstoppable and in such form that it was looking ominous for Claremont. And East were kicking long to take advantage.

Not to be denied, Claremont were ferocious, and at the twenty two minute mark they led by a point, 14. 7 to 12.18.  When Bert Thornley sharked a McIntosh tap and dribbled a major it looked like curtains for the Tigers, seven points down at the twenty six minute mark.  Two finger biting minutes went by with both sides throwing everything into the fray as the forty four thousand plus crowd went berserk. 

It was then that former Collingwood player Ian Brewer carved himself into folklore.  With three minutes remaining he grabbed a John Parkinson punt and rammed it home, followed up with another mark and goal.  Two in two minutes and Brewer was the mayor of Claremont and the Tigers were four points in front with a minute left in their first grand final in twenty four years.

East made one last desperate rush forward but the Claremont defence were desperate.  As the siren sounded it was the Tigers flag, 14.18 to 15.8.

It was a tremendous effort by a club risen from the ashes, but sadly, the glory for Claremont was not to be repeated for a further seventeen years.  East Fremantle continued to be a force, and the premiership that had eluded them through three consecutive bridesmaid years was to be theirs the following season.

East Fremantle were valiant in defeat in the 1964 grand final, but they had two outstanding individual performances.  Centre Half Back Norm Rogers was the master of Brewer all day , and the Claremont forward’s matchwinning efforts at the wire weren’t enough to stop Rogers winning the Simpson Medal.  And if ever a full forward deserved that same medal, surely it was Big Bob Johnson, with an eight goal contribution.

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