1926 WAFL season

Claremont-Cottesloe make their league debut with only one established player in Norm McIntosh (formerly of Richmond) and are outplayed but viewed as “promising”.

Despite steady rain in what became a record wet year,^[21] East Fremantle kick the highest score in the WAFL since 1917, when Perth kicked 24.21 (165) against defunct Midland Junction.^[22]

After Perth came back from three to four goals down all afternoon, Sol Lawn kicked the winning goal when he received a wild kick to open spaces with ninety seconds remaining.^[26]

Perth’s thrashing of Claremont-Cottesloe is the second time in four games the new team concedes the highest score in the WAFL since 1917.^[22]

The match between Perth and East Fremantle features a remarkable scoreline with quarter-time margins totalling only 4 points (1, 2, 0 and 1 points).

South Fremantle’s score remains their lowest in open-age competition since scoring only 1.8 (14) against Subiaco in 1918.^[39]

Pat Rodriguez kicks ten goals for Subiaco despite wet conditions, the first time this had been accomplished for the club.

Subiaco continue their improved form following five consecutive losses to come back and defeat the Redlegs in a stirring match where they withstand the black and reds in the final minute.

East Fremantle take top position from the Royals with an excellent win despite some exceptionally bad misses from in front and close-in.

• Perth’s ability to turn “every fleeting attack” into a goal allows it to beat the fledgling club despite having little play on a WACA ground turned into a lake by continuous rain.^[55]
• East Perth recorded only their second draw since entering the WAFA in 1906 and first since the fourth round of 1908.
• The following week, WAFL games were suspended to play an interstate match against Victoria.

• South Fremantle unexpectedly crush an East Perth team lacking Duffy, Owens, Campbell and Sherlock.
• West Perth’s win leaves the equal at the top with Old Easts, who played far below form despite lacking notable absentees.

• West Perth’s narrow win enables them to take top position with the Royals having the bye.
• Claremont-Cottesloe by the narrowest of margins achieve their first WAFL win after South Fremantle attacked for ten minutes but scored only 0.3 (3).

East Perth, with only seventeen men after half-time as “Digger” Thomas breaks his jaw, easily win a Grand Final preview.

• “Bonny” Campbell breaks his own record with seven goals for a total of seventy-two as East Perth play brilliantly in the meeting for top spot, with rover Duffy their star.^[71]
• The score was East Perth’s first-ever twenty-goal score,^[72] though they had scored 19.20 (134) against North Fremantle in 1915.

Subiaco, who had looked out of the running a month ago, seize fourth position with their victory, leaving their last round match with West Perth to potentially decide both fourth position and the minor premiership.

• Subiaco spoil the opening of Leederville Oval’s new grandstand before the match^[79] and 1925 wooden spooners South Fremantle’s hope to regain fourth place with their convincing win.
• After not scoring for a quarter-and-a-half after half-time, Old Easts produce an amazing rally to defeat their post rivals after a wonderful goal by Jones where he dodges half a dozen opponents before kicking straight.

Subiaco come back from a half-time deficit to repeat their last-round win.^[80]

East Perth run away after a close first half to win very easily over their rivals of the time.^[81]

This was the last WAFL Grand Final at the WACA, and saw East Perth’s most decisive triumph during its 1919 to 1927 dynasty. Bonny Campbell took his goalkicking record to 89.