1981 WAFL season
1981 WAFL season | |
---|---|
Teams | Eight |
Premiers | Claremont 5th premiership |
Minor premiers | Claremont 6th minor premiership |
Sandover Medallist | Stephen Michael (South Fremantle) |
Bernie Naylor Medallist | Warren Ralph (Claremont) |
Matches played | 88 |
Highest | 18,106 |
The 1981 WAFL season was the 97th season of the West Australian Football League in its various incarnations. The season opened on 11 April and concluded on 3 October with the 1981 WAFL Grand Final between Claremont and South Fremantle. It was the last WAFL season to begin in April and end in October; from 1982 the league shifted the schedule of the season forward by a week and in later years by another.
The 1981 WAFL season is famous because of its prodigious scoring, chiefly by premiers Claremont and runners-up South Fremantle. The Claremont trio of
Home-and-away season
Round 1
Round 1 | |||||
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Saturday, 11 April | Swan Districts 21.21 (147) | def. | West Perth 10.12 (72) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 12467) | |
Saturday, 11 April | East Perth 25.10 (160) | def. | Perth 14.10 (94) | Perth Oval (crowd: 7626)
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Saturday, 11 April | Claremont 22.22 (154) | def. | South Fremantle 18.18 (126) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 10105) | |
Saturday, 11 April | East Fremantle 21.16 (142) | def. | Subiaco 18.12 (120) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7010) | |
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Round 2
Round 2 | |||||
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Saturday, 18 April | West Perth 23.16 (154) | def. | East Perth 14.14 (98) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 13053) | |
Saturday, 18 April | South Fremantle 22.21 (153) | def. | East Fremantle 20.14 (134) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 14827) | |
Monday, 20 April | Perth 13.9 (87) | def. by | Swan Districts 38.21 (249) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 10859) | [4] |
Monday, 20 April | Subiaco 22.21 (153) | def. | Claremont 18.15 (123) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 9167) | |
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Round 3
Round 3 | |||||
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Saturday, 25 April | Swan Districts 22.17 (149) | def. | Subiaco 17.11 (113) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 11070) | |
Saturday, 25 April | East Perth 21.9 (135) | def. | South Fremantle 17.14 (116) | Perth Oval (crowd: 10426)
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Saturday, 25 April | Claremont 29.17 (191) | def. | Perth 12.23 (95) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5997) | |
Saturday, 25 April | East Fremantle 19.25 (139) | def. | West Perth 8.17 (65) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8923) | |
East Fremantle’s unusual policy of playing four roving forwards gives Old Easts an open forward line that completely outplays the Cardinals, as shown by a match total of ninety-three effective handballs to West Perth's fifty.[8] |
Round 4
Round 4 | |||||
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Saturday, 2 May | Subiaco 18.16 (124) | def. | West Perth 17.18 (120) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8451) | |
Saturday, 2 May | Perth 17.13 (115) | def. by | South Fremantle 26.28 (184) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 6053) | |
Saturday, 2 May | Claremont 20.26 (146) | def. | East Perth 17.11 (113) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 10347) | |
Saturday, 2 May | Swan Districts 28.17 (185) | def. | East Fremantle 12.6 (78) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 12020) | |
Six third quarter goals by Demon flanker Doug Simms brings the match to life despite the Demons being thrashed for the fourth successive week and finishing with a percentage of 49.87.[9] |
Round 5
Round 5 | |||||
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Saturday, 9 May | South Fremantle 17.19 (121) | def. | Swan Districts 16.16 (112) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 16120) | |
Saturday, 9 May | East Perth 23.23 (161) | def. | Subiaco 10.11 (71) | Perth Oval (crowd: 8562)
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Saturday, 9 May | Claremont 26.24 (180) | def. | West Perth 13.9 (87) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8871) | |
Saturday, 9 May | East Fremantle 20.21 (141) | def. | Perth 13.20 (98) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5023) | |
Round 6
Round 6 | |||||
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Saturday, 16 May | Subiaco 13.19 (97) | def. by | South Fremantle 17.13 (115) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7930) | |
Saturday, 16 May | West Perth 18.15 (123) | def. | Perth 17.9 (111) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 7006) | |
Saturday, 16 May | Swan Districts 27.14 (176) | def. | East Perth 17.13 (115) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 14107) | |
Saturday, 16 May | East Fremantle 14.12 (96) | def. by | Claremont 19.12 (126) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 8851) | |
East Perth’s gamble to rely on bold attacking play fails as Swan Districts win the toss with a stiff easterly and later dominate the final quarter against this breeze.[10] |
Round 7
Round 7 | |||||
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Saturday, 23 May | Perth 22.16 (148) | def. | Subiaco 17.12 (114) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 5018) | |
Saturday, 23 May | Claremont 24.12 (156) | def. | Swan Districts 16.14 (110) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 16154) | |
Saturday, 23 May | East Perth 24.12 (156) | def. | East Fremantle 17.10 (112) | Perth Oval (crowd: 9808)
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Sunday, 24 May | West Perth 17.14 (116) | def. by | South Fremantle 18.18 (126) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 11180) | |
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Round 8
Round 8 | |||||
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Saturday, 30 May | Swan Districts 31.14 (200) | def. | Perth 10.13 (73) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 5125) | |
Saturday, 30 May | Claremont 25.11 (161) | def. | Subiaco 19.12 (126) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 5552) | |
Monday, 1 June | East Perth 20.18 (138) | def. by | West Perth 22.10 (142) | Perth Oval (crowd: 13564)
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Monday, 1 June | East Fremantle 13.15 (93) | def. by | South Fremantle 27.17 (179) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 15212) | |
Led by Les Fong in this 150th match, West Perth, despite a serious knee injury to John Duckworth, come back from 32 points down during the third quarter to win a thriller over their rivals.[14] |
Round 9
Round 9 | |||||
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Saturday, 6 June | West Perth 5.10 (40) | def. by | Swan Districts 18.17 (125) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 7534) | |
Saturday, 6 June | Perth 10.14 (74) | def. by | East Perth 13.8 (86) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 4038) | |
Saturday, 6 June | South Fremantle 16.19 (115) | def. | Claremont 13.17 (95) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9920) | |
Saturday, 6 June | Subiaco 14.13 (97) | def. | East Fremantle 14.5 (89) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4122) | |
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Round 10
Round 10 | |||||
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Saturday, 13 June | Subiaco 15.7 (97) | def. by | Swan Districts 14.18 (102) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8236) | |
Saturday, 13 June | South Fremantle 22.15 (147) | def. | East Perth 11.11 (77) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11908) | |
Saturday, 13 June | Perth 10.14 (74) | def. by | Claremont 23.18 (156) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 5563) | |
Saturday, 13 June | West Perth 37.17 (239) | def. | East Fremantle 9.7 (61) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 7716) | |
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Round 11
Round 11 | |||||
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Saturday, 27 June | West Perth 9.13 (67) | def. | Subiaco 9.11 (65) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 7930) | |
Saturday, 27 June | South Fremantle 30.18 (198) | def. | Perth 10.13 (73) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4487) | |
Saturday, 27 June | East Perth 13.14 (92) | def. by | Claremont 21.17 (143) | Perth Oval (crowd: 7595)
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Saturday, 27 June | East Fremantle 10.13 (73) | def. by | Swan Districts 13.13 (91) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4452) | |
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Round 12
Round 12 | |||||
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Saturday, 4 July | Swan Districts 19.20 (134) | def. | South Fremantle 13.8 (86) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 14600) | |
Saturday, 4 July | Subiaco 26.14 (170) | def. | East Perth 12.8 (80) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7148) | |
Saturday, 4 July | Claremont 30.19 (199) | def. | West Perth 20.9 (129) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 8922) | |
Saturday, 4 July | Perth 23.24 (162) | def. | East Fremantle 21.9 (135) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 4091) | |
With young Laurie Keene kicking nine goals, Subiaco make a charge for fourth place against the struggling Royals, for whom no one does much in attack against Mitch Fussell’s speed.[23] |
Round 13
Round 13 | |||||
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Saturday, 11 July | South Fremantle 23.20 (158) | def. | Subiaco 10.17 (77) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6375) | |
Saturday, 11 July | West Perth 26.23 (179) | def. | Perth 13.17 (95) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3500) | [24] |
Saturday, 11 July | East Perth 14.13 (97) | def. by | Swan Districts 17.9 (111) | Perth Oval (crowd: 6500)
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Saturday, 11 July | Claremont 30.17 (197) | def. | East Fremantle 14.11 (95) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 5183) | |
Subiaco lose full-back Fussell with a compound left leg fracture and this loss combined with their on-field loss to South Fremantle ends the Lions hopes of a finals berth.[25] |
Round 14
Round 14 | |||||
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Saturday, 18 July | West Perth 23.8 (146) | def. | South Fremantle 19.19 (133) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 8205) | |
Saturday, 18 July | Subiaco 22.17 (149) | def. | Perth 14.8 (92) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4289) | |
Saturday, 18 July | Swan Districts 16.16 (112) | def. by | Claremont 17.12 (114) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 14019) | |
Saturday, 18 July | East Fremantle 9.17 (71) | def. by | East Perth 12.11 (83) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4211) | |
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Round 15
Round 15 | |||||
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Saturday, 25 July | West Perth 10.10 (70) | def. by | Swan Districts 25.22 (172) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 12169) | |
Saturday, 25 July | East Perth 20.16 (136) | def. | Perth 17.8 (110) | Perth Oval (crowd: 4765)
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Saturday, 25 July | Claremont 23.22 (160) | def. | South Fremantle 14.25 (109) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 12670) | |
Saturday, 25 July | East Fremantle 14.9 (93) | def. by | Subiaco 18.19 (127) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3987) | |
West Perth suffer another big loss to Swan Districts and again fall out of the four. The Cardinals do not goal between the five-minute mark of the opening quarter and the twenty-minute mark of the second as Swans’ waves of speed move down the field to produce eleven of their own.[29] |
Round 16
Round 16 | |||||
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Saturday, 1 August | Perth 13.15 (93) | def. by | Swan Districts 18.20 (128) | Lathlain Park (crowd: N/A) | |
Saturday, 1 August | West Perth 15.9 (99) | def. by | East Perth 25.10 (160) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 11980) | |
Saturday, 1 August | Subiaco 12.10 (82) | def. by | Claremont 28.13 (181) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8348) | |
Saturday, 1 August | South Fremantle 24.22 (166) | def. | East Fremantle 19.5 (119) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6510) | |
An unfashionable but brilliant centreline and the move of John Hayes to full-forward where he kicks 7.1 (43) allows East Perth to beat finals rival West Perth and move a game plus percentage clear inside the four.[30] |
Round 17
Round 17 | |||||
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Saturday, 8 August | Swan Districts 30.17 (197) | def. | Subiaco 10.14 (74) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 9237) | |
Saturday, 8 August | East Perth 20.11 (131) | def. | South Fremantle 16.22 (118) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 11022) | |
Saturday, 8 August | Claremont 39.20 (254) | def. | Perth 12.9 (81) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 5820) | |
Saturday, 8 August | East Fremantle 21.17 (143) | def. | West Perth 16.11 (107) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5175) | |
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Round 18
Round 18 | |||||
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Saturday, 15 August | Subiaco 25.13 (163) | def. | West Perth 9.15 (69) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 4858) | |
Saturday, 15 August | Perth 18.13 (121) | def. | South Fremantle 15.13 (103) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 4897) | |
Saturday, 15 August | Claremont 23.24 (162) | def. | East Perth 8.13 (61) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 10172) | |
Saturday, 15 August | Swan Districts 24.24 (168) | def. | East Fremantle 8.15 (63) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 6123) | |
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Round 19
Round 19 | |||||
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Saturday, 22 August | South Fremantle 21.22 (148) | def. | Swan Districts 16.17 (113) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 12142) | |
Saturday, 22 August | East Perth 19.14 (128) | def. | Subiaco 16.7 (103) | Perth Oval (crowd: 10220)
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Saturday, 22 August | West Perth 12.9 (81) | def. by | Claremont 35.15 (225) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 7145) | |
Saturday, 22 August | East Fremantle 20.19 (139) | def. | Perth 17.18 (120) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 3218) | |
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Round 20
Round 20 | |||||
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Saturday, 29 August | Subiaco 18.12 (120) | def. | South Fremantle 10.23 (83) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7814) | |
Saturday, 29 August | West Perth 16.19 (115) | def. | Perth 16.15 (111) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 4827) | |
Saturday, 29 August | Swan Districts 18.14 (122) | def. | East Perth 14.17 (101) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 12728) | |
Saturday, 29 August | East Fremantle 7.16 (58) | def. by | Claremont 10.21 (81) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 7935) | |
East Fremantle kick only 1.9 (15) in dry (but windy) conditions after quarter-time, not goalling in the second or third quarters — a first in the WA(N)FL since Subiaco in Round 11 of 1976. Their wasteful short-kicking game allows the Tigers to recover from Old Easts’ ferocious tackling in the first quarter.[40] |
Round 21
Round 21 | |||||
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Saturday, 5 September | South Fremantle 40.18 (258) | def. | West Perth 12.6 (78) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6157) | |
Saturday, 5 September | Perth 18.16 (124) | def. by | Subiaco 26.15 (171) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 4984) | |
Saturday, 5 September | Claremont 22.16 (148) | def. | Swan Districts 20.13 (133) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 18106) | |
Saturday, 5 September | East Perth 17.15 (117) | def. | East Fremantle 12.10 (82) | Perth Oval (crowd: 5660)
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Ladder
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |
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1 | Claremont (P) | 21 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 3352 | 2128 | 157.5 | 76 |
2 | Swan Districts | 21 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 3036 | 2019 | 150.4 | 64 |
3 | South Fremantle | 21 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 2942 | 2400 | 122.6 | 52 |
4 | East Perth | 21 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 2425 | 2523 | 96.1 | 44 |
5 | Subiaco | 21 | 9 | 12 | 0 | 2413 | 2582 | 93.5 | 36 |
6 | West Perth | 21 | 8 | 13 | 0 | 2298 | 2973 | 77.3 | 32 |
7 | East Fremantle | 21 | 5 | 16 | 0 | 2156 | 2837 | 76.0 | 20 |
8 | Perth | 21 | 3 | 18 | 0 | 2151 | 3311 | 65.0 | 12 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers
Finals series
First semi-final
First semi-final | |||||
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Saturday, 12 September | South Fremantle 19.14 (128) | def. | East Perth 13.10 (88) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 32,860) | |
Despite a heavy knock, Bruce Monteath kicks 6.2 (38) of 6.4 (40) to avoid a potential upset by the Royals. He had no recollection of equalling the WA(N)FL record of nine goals in a final.[43] |
Second semi-final
Second semi-final | |||||
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Saturday, 19 September | Claremont 14.24 (108) | def. | Swan Districts 12.9 (81) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 33,478) | |
A wayward Claremont win with surprising ease owing to Swan Districts’ roving weakness in windy conditions combined with the overlooked power of Claremont’s defence.[44] |
Preliminary final
Preliminary final | |||||
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Sunday, 27 September | Swan Districts 15.15 (105) | def. by | South Fremantle 28.10 (178) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 33,940) | |
South Fremantle gain the opportunity to defend their 1980 premiership with a brilliant twenty-goal second half after being sixteen points behind late in the second quarter. Rover Noel Carter rivals his last-round eleven-goal display and Monteath is again superb – this time at centre half-forward.[45] |
Grand Final
1981 WAFL Grand Final | |||||
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Saturday, 3 October | Claremont | def. | South Fremantle | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 50,517) | |
4.5 (29) 7.7 (49) 11.13 (79) 16.15 (111) |
Q1 Q2 Q3 Final |
1.3 (9) 7.15 (57) 10.20 (80) 12.24 (96) |
Umpires: Ross Capes, Ron Powell Simpson Medal: Gary Shaw (Claremont) Maurice Rioli (South Fremantle) | ||
Jimmy Krakouer, Panizza, Shaw , Watson
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Goals | Monteath 4, Carter 3, McKay, Hardie, Rioli, Randall, Vasoli | |||
Moss, Phil Krakouer, Shaw, Pearce, Morton, Blackwell, Malaxos, Harper | Best | Rioli, Barrett, Monteath, Carter, Vasoli, Michael | |||
References
- ^ "WAFL Footy Facts: High Average Against". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Claremont Plan Thwarts South’; The West Australian, 13 April 1981, p, 80
- ^ Sheterline, John; ‘Valli Sparks Revival’; The West Australian, 13 April 1981, p, 81
- ^ Young, Doug; ‘Swans Dump Perth by 162 Points’; The West Australian, 21 April 1981, pp. 111-112
- ^ Swan Districts: Most Scoring Shots
- ^ Perth: Biggest Losses
- ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘Subiaco Finish All Over Claremont’; The West Australian, 21 April 1981, pp. 111-112
- ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Roving Sewell Foils Defence’; The West Australian, 27 April 1981, p. 68
- ^ Sheterline, John; ‘Doug Simms Stands Out in Attack’; The West Australian, 4 May 1981, p. 100
- ^ Sheterline, John; ‘East Perth Gamble Backfires’; The West Australian, 18 May 1981, p. 69
- ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Perth Maintains Their Hoodoo’; The West Australian, 25 May 1981, p. 65
- ^ Perth Regional Office (009034) May 1981 rainfall
- ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘Michael Again the Master as South Win By 10 Points’; The West Australian, 25 May 1981, p. 72
- ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘West Perth Stage Superb Fightback’; The West Australian; 2 June 1981, pp. 95, 100
- ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Holden Excels as Attacking Backman’; The West Australian, 8 June 1981, p. 81
- ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘South overcome Invading Troops’; The West Australian; 8 June 1981, p. 80
- ^ Sheterline, John; ‘Buckenara at His Best’; The West Australian, 15 June 1981, p. 72
- ^ Australian Football: West Perth Highest Scores
- ^ Australian Football: West Perth Biggest Wins
- ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘Adamson and Menaglio Shine’; The West Australian, 15 June 1981, p. 73
- ^ Casellas, Ken; ‘Monteath Move Pays Dividends’; The West Australian, 29 June 1981, p. 71
- ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘Left-Foot Side Kick Sinks Subiaco’; The West Australian, 29 June 1981, p. 70
- ^ Young, Doug; ‘Subiaco Are on the Move’; The West Australian, 6 July 1981, p. 84
- ^ Banks, Ron; ‘West Perth Get an Armchair Ride’; The West Australian, 13 June 1981, p. 97
- ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘Plenty Hangs on Big Clash at Bassendean’; The West Australian, 13 July 1981, pp. 96, 104
- ^ Christian Geoff; ‘Claremont Show True Grit’; The West Australian, 20 July 1981, p. 68
- ^ Young, Doug; ‘West Perth Were All Smiles at the Finish’; The West Australian, 20 July 1981, p. 69
- ^ Sheterline, John; ‘East F‘tle Lucky Not to Lose $2000’; The West Australian, 20 July 1981, p. 69
- ^ Young, Doug; ‘West Perth Rot Sets in Early’; The West Australian, 27 July 1981, p. 55
- ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘East Perth Centreline Sets Up Chances’; The West Australian, 3 August 1981, p. 64
- ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘Campbell, Michael Turn It on for Fans’; The West Australian, 10 August 1981, p. 77
- ^ Sheterline, John; ‘Blackaby shows His True Worth’; The West Australian, 10 August 1981, p. 77
- ^ Claremont: Highest Scores
- ^ a b Highest Scores
- ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘Krakouers Ignite the Flame’; The West Australian, 17 August 1981, p. 89
- ^ Young, Doug; ‘Subiaco Are Not a Spent Force’; The West Australian, 17 August 1981, p. 88
- ^ Young, Doug; ‘South’s Slick Start Stuns Swans’; The West Australian, 24 August 1981, p. 73
- ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘East Perth’s Skill Tells in the Crisis’; The West Australian, 24 August 1981, p. 73
- ^ "WAFL Footy Facts: Streaks". Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
- ^ Young, Doug; ‘Claremont Forced to Struggle’; The West Australian, 31 August 1981, p. 108
- ^ "WAFL Footy Facts: Largest Margins at Half-Time". Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
- ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘Claremont Show Great Character’; The West Australian, 7 September 1981, p. 97
- ^ Sheterline, John; ‘Monteath’s Goals Were Only a Blur’; The West Australian, 14 September 1981, p. 70
- ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘24 Carat Gold (and Blue): Too Many Guns in Claremont Arsenal’; The West Australian, 21 September 1981; pp. 75, 80
- ^ Christian, Geoff; ‘South Are on Target – Now for Claremont in the Grand Final’; The West Australian, 28 September 1981, pp. 76, 80