2008 WAFL season
The 2008 WAFL season was the 124th season of the various incarnations of the West Australian Football League, and was completely dominated by Subiaco, who not only recorded their first hat-trick of premierships but achieved a dominance over the rest of the league unrivalled in a major Australian Rules league since Port Adelaide in the 1914 SAFL season.[1] The Lions lost once to eventual Grand Final opponents Swan Districts by the narrowest possible margin, and were previously generally predicted to achieve an undefeated season,[2] being rarely threatened in their twenty-one victories. They finished seven-and-a-half games clear of second-placed West Perth, and convincingly won the Grand Final after trailing early.
2008 WAFL season | |
---|---|
Teams | 9 |
Premiers | Subiaco (11th premiership) |
Minor premiers | Subiaco (12th minor premiership) |
Matches played | 94 |
Bernie Naylor Medallist | Brad Smith (Subiaco) |
Sandover Medallist | Hayden Ballantyne (Peel Thunder) |
Subiaco’s dominance overshadowed the other eight clubs, where the most notable features were the fall of 2007 finalists Claremont and East Perth to second last and last respectively, and a comeback by East Fremantle who won only two of their first eleven matches but then won eight of their last nine
Home-and-away Season
Round 1
Round 1 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thursday, 20 March (7:40 pm) | South Fremantle 12.14 (86) | def. by | Subiaco 19.12 (126) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2282) | |
Saturday, 22 March (2:15 pm) | Perth 18.10 (118) | def. | East Fremantle 10.10 (70) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 1708) | |
Saturday, 22 March (2:15 pm) | Claremont 12.10 (82) | def. | West Perth 9.14 (68) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 1422) | |
Saturday, 22 March (6:30 pm) | Peel Thunder 15.11 (101) | def. by | Swan Districts 19.19 (133) | Rushton Park (crowd: 1620) | |
Bye: East Perth | |||||
Round 2
Round 2 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Friday, 28 March (7:00 pm) | Subiaco 18.17 (125) | def. | Claremont 12.10 (82) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 2228) | |
Saturday, 29 March (2:15 pm) | East Fremantle 8.15 (63) | def. by | South Fremantle 22.10 (142) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1755) | |
Saturday, 29 March (2:15 pm) | West Perth 12.8 (80) | def. by | East Perth 15.14 (104) | Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2089) | |
Saturday, 29 March (2:15 pm) | Perth 14.18 (102) | def. by | Peel Thunder 17.11 (113) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 1340) | |
Bye: Swan Districts | |||||
Round 3
Round 3 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Friday, 4 April (6:40 pm) | South Fremantle 21.18 (144) | def. | Peel Thunder 10.14 (74) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1729) | |
Saturday, 5 April (2:15 pm) | Swan Districts 16.17 (113) | def. | Claremont 16.14 (110) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1116) | |
Saturday, 5 April (2:15 pm) | East Perth 12.9 (81) | def. by | Perth 19.13 (127) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 1200) | |
Sunday, 6 April (2:15 pm) | East Fremantle 12.10 (82) | def. by | Subiaco 15.13 (103) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1717) | |
Bye: West Perth | |||||
Round 4
Round 4 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 12 April (2:15 pm) | Subiaco 19.26 (140) | def. | Swan Districts 12.7 (79) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 2460) | |
Saturday, 12 April (2:15 pm) | South Fremantle 10.10 (70) | def. by | West Perth 14.20 (104) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2133) | |
Saturday, 12 April (2:15 pm) | Peel Thunder 18.7 (115) | def. | East Fremantle 15.24 (114) | Rushton Park (crowd: 1542) | |
Saturday, 12 April (2:15 pm) | Claremont 20.13 (133) | def. | East Perth 9.6 (60) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 1632) | |
Bye: Perth | |||||
The Peel versus East Fremantle game produces the greatest deficit in scoring shots by a winning club in WAFL history, beating the previous record by two shots.[3] |
Round 5
Round 5 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Friday, 18 April (7:30 pm) | West Perth 16.9 (105) | def. by | Swan Districts 16.14 (110) | Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2209) | |
Saturday, 19 April (2:15 pm) | Perth 6.10 (46) | def. by | Subiaco 16.14 (110) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 2162) | |
Saturday, 19 April (2:15 pm) | East Perth 9.10 (64) | def. by | South Fremantle 20.8 (128) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 1912) | |
Saturday, 19 April (5:30 pm) | Peel Thunder 17.16 (118) | def. | Claremont 18.8 (116) | Rushton Park (crowd: 1420) | |
Bye: East Fremantle | |||||
Peel win another thriller, but this time record their first win scoring fewer goals than their opponents.[4] |
Round 6 (Anzac Day)
Round 6 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Friday, 25 April (2:45 pm) | Swan Districts 22.11 (143) | def. | Perth 15.20 (110) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 6177) | |
Saturday, 26 April (2:15 pm) | Subiaco 15.18 (108) | def. | West Perth 5.7 (37) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 2682) | |
Saturday, 26 April (2:15 pm) | East Fremantle 12.10 (82) | def. by | East Perth 17.12 (114) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1545) | |
Saturday, 26 April (2:15 pm) | Claremont 17.15 (117) | def. by | South Fremantle 19.11 (125) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 1485) | |
Bye: Peel Thunder | |||||
Round 7
Round 7 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 3 May (2:15 pm) | West Perth 16.13 (109) | def. | East Fremantle 14.12 (96) | Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1687) | |
Saturday, 3 May (2:15 pm) | Subiaco 29.33 (207) | def. | Peel Thunder 7.8 (50) | Kalgoorlie (crowd: 3874) | |
Saturday, 3 May (2:15 pm) | Perth 26.11 (167) | def. | South Fremantle 15.9 (99) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 1976) | |
Saturday, 3 May (2:15 pm) | East Perth 11.9 (75) | def. by | Swan Districts 10.18 (78) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 2663) | |
Bye: Claremont | |||||
Round 8
Round 8 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 10 May (2:15 pm) | Swan Districts 11.14 (80) | def. by | East Fremantle 13.15 (93) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2541) | |
Saturday, 10 May (2:15 pm) | Subiaco 20.17 (137) | def. | East Perth 10.5 (65) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 2457) | |
Saturday, 10 May (2:15 pm) | Claremont 9.9 (63) | def. by | Perth 11.16 (82) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 1582) | |
Saturday, 10 May (3:15 pm) | Peel Thunder 12.10 (82) | def. by | West Perth 27.20 (182) | Rushton Park (crowd: 1226) | |
Bye: South Fremantle | |||||
Round 9
Round 9 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 17 May (2:15 pm) | South Fremantle 23.16 (154) | def. | Swan Districts 11.9 (75) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1802) | |
Saturday, 17 May (2:15 pm) | Perth 8.17 (65) | drew with | West Perth 9.11 (65) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 2781) | |
Saturday, 17 May (2:15 pm) | Peel Thunder 15.12 (102) | def. | East Perth 8.10 (58) | Rushton Park (crowd: 1125) | |
Saturday, 17 May (2:15 pm) | East Fremantle 18.15 (123) | def. | Claremont 16.6 (102) | Geraldton (crowd: 2019) | |
Bye: Subiaco | |||||
The Lathlain Park match was the first senior WAFL draw in 500 matches since East Perth and Swan Districts drew at Busselton in the opening round of 2003.[7] It was a remarkable result because the colts teams had also drawn earlier in the day.[8] |
Round 10
Round 10 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 24 May (2:15 pm) | West Perth 20.9 (129) | def. | Claremont 14.10 (94) | Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2184) | |
Saturday, 24 May (2:15 pm) | Swan Districts 17.14 (116) | def. | Peel Thunder 14.10 (94) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1874) | |
Saturday, 24 May (2:15 pm) | Subiaco 22.10 (142) | def. | South Fremantle 11.19 (85) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 1451) | |
Saturday, 24 May (2:15 pm) | East Fremantle 7.11 (53) | def. by | Perth 16.13 (109) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1360) | |
Bye: East Perth | |||||
Round 11 (Foundation Day)
Round 11 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 31 May (2:15 pm) | Peel Thunder 9.17 (71) | def. by | Perth 17.12 (114) | Rushton Park (crowd: 874) | |
Monday, 2 June (2:15 pm) | South Fremantle 18.11 (119) | def. | East Fremantle 14.6 (90) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 6003) | |
Monday, 2 June (2:15 pm) | East Perth 4.8 (32) | def. by | West Perth 12.25 (97) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 3864) | |
Monday, 2 June (2:15 pm) | Claremont 11.11 (77) | def. by | Subiaco 18.20 (128) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 2435) | |
Bye: Swan Districts | |||||
Round 12
Round 12 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 14 June (2:15 pm) | Peel Thunder 19.13 (127) | def. | South Fremantle 19.11 (125) | Rushton Park (crowd: 1213) | |
Saturday, 14 June (2:15 pm) | Perth 10.15 (75) | def. by | East Perth 12.11 (83) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 4178) | |
Saturday, 14 June (2:15 pm) | Subiaco 24.18 (162) | def. | East Fremantle 11.10 (76) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 1966) | |
Sunday, 15 June (2:15 pm) | Claremont 10.6 (66) | def. by | Swan Districts 15.7 (97) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 1245) | |
Bye: West Perth | |||||
Round 13
Round 13 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 21 June (2:15 pm) | East Fremantle 11.18 (84) | def. | Peel Thunder 4.17 (41) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1127) | |
Saturday, 21 June (2:15 pm) | East Perth 15.13 (103) | def. | Claremont 14.9 (93) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 1431) | |
Saturday, 21 June (2:15 pm) | Swan Districts 17.12 (114) | def. | Subiaco 17.11 (113) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2607) | |
Saturday, 21 June (2:15 pm) | West Perth 13.8 (86) | def. by | South Fremantle 18.17 (125) | Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1915) | |
Bye: Perth | |||||
Round 14
Round 14 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 28 June (2:15 pm) | Claremont 10.16 (76) | def. by | Peel Thunder 16.12 (108) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 1182) | |
Saturday, 28 June (2:15 pm) | South Fremantle 19.15 (129) | def. | East Perth 7.11 (53) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1130) | |
Saturday, 28 June (2:15 pm) | Subiaco 18.12 (120) | def. | Perth 11.6 (72) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 2137) | |
Saturday, 28 June (2:15 pm) | Swan Districts 13.10 (88) | def. by | West Perth 14.12 (96) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2532) | |
Bye: East Fremantle | |||||
Claremont record their ninth consecutive defeat, their worst run since 1974-75, as Peel win for the first time at Claremont Oval.[10] |
Round 15
Round 15 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 5 July (2:15 pm) | East Perth 7.10 (52) | def. by | East Fremantle 16.12 (108) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 1339) | |
Saturday, 5 July (2:15 pm) | Perth 12.14 (86) | def. by | Swan Districts 16.6 (102) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 2282) | |
Saturday, 5 July (2:15 pm) | South Fremantle 14.4 (88) | def. by | Claremont 14.14 (98) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1150) | |
Saturday, 5 July (2:15 pm) | West Perth 10.6 (66) | def. by | Subiaco 12.12 (84) | Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1524) | |
Bye: Peel Thunder | |||||
Round 16
Round 16 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Friday, 11 July (6:40 pm) | South Fremantle 20.10 (130) | def. | Perth 11.9 (75) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2028) | |
Saturday, 12 July (2:15 pm) | East Fremantle 19.8 (122) | def. | West Perth 10.14 (74) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1436) | |
Saturday, 12 July (2:15 pm) | Peel Thunder 15.9 (99) | def. by | Subiaco 20.12 (132) | Rushton Park (crowd: 1372) | |
Saturday, 12 July (2:15 pm) | Swan Districts 13.9 (87) | def. by | East Perth 14.15 (99) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 3620) | |
Bye: Claremont | |||||
Round 17
Round 17 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 19 July (2:15 pm) | East Fremantle 17.13 (115) | def. | Swan Districts 13.13 (91) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1783) | |
Saturday, 19 July (2:15 pm) | East Perth 7.11 (53) | def. by | Subiaco 20.14 (134) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 1690) | |
Saturday, 19 July (2:15 pm) | Perth 11.10 (76) | def. by | Claremont 16.13 (109) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 1866) | |
Saturday, 19 July (2:15 pm) | West Perth 14.18 (102) | def. | Peel Thunder 13.9 (87) | Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1529) | |
Bye: South Fremantle | |||||
Round 18
Round 18 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 26 July (2:15 pm) | Peel Thunder 14.12 (96) | def. | Claremont 12.11 (83) | Bunbury (crowd: 1200) | |
Saturday, 26 July (2:15 pm) | Subiaco 13.18 (96) | def. | South Fremantle 11.7 (73) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 1795) | |
Bye: East Fremantle, East Perth, Perth, Swan Districts, West Perth | |||||
Peel win from a 48-point half-time deficit, the third most in WAFL history.[11] |
Round 19
Round 19 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 2 August (2:15 pm) | Claremont 19.12 (126) | def. | East Fremantle 9.9 (63) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 1410) | |
Saturday, 2 August (2:15 pm) | East Perth 16.15 (111) | def. | Peel Thunder 7.8 (50) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 1293) | |
Saturday, 2 August (2:15 pm) | Swan Districts 11.19 (85) | def. by | South Fremantle 16.10 (106) | Newman (crowd: 3000) | |
Saturday, 2 August (2:15 pm) | West Perth 16.8 (104) | def. | Perth 14.8 (92) | Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1841) | |
Bye: Subiaco | |||||
Round 20
Round 20 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 9 August (2:15 pm) | Claremont 4.12 (36) | def. by | Subiaco 25.17 (167) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 2012) | |
Saturday, 9 August (2:15 pm) | East Fremantle 16.17 (113) | def. | Perth 8.14 (62) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2081) | |
Saturday, 9 August (2:15 pm) | South Fremantle 22.13 (145) | def. | East Perth 18.6 (114) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1544) | |
Saturday, 9 August (2:15 pm) | West Perth 18.15 (123) | def. | Swan Districts 18.9 (117) | Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1982) | |
Bye: Peel Thunder | |||||
|
Round 21
Round 21 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 16 August (2:15 pm) | East Fremantle 16.13 (109) | def. | South Fremantle 14.16 (100) | East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2322) | |
Saturday, 16 August (2:15 pm) | East Perth 15.11 (101) | def. by | West Perth 18.15 (123) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 2263) | |
Saturday, 16 August (2:15 pm) | Perth 7.13 (55) | def. by | Peel Thunder 10.13 (73) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 1686) | |
Saturday, 16 August (2:15 pm) | Swan Districts 9.19 (73) | def. by | Subiaco 17.21 (123) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2732) | |
Bye: Claremont | |||||
Round 22
Round 22 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 23 August (2:15 pm) | Claremont 10.12 (72) | def. by | West Perth 15.18 (108) | Claremont Oval (crowd: 1480) | |
Saturday, 23 August (2:15 pm) | Peel Thunder 11.13 (79) | def. by | East Fremantle 17.13 (115) | Rushton Park (crowd: 1559) | |
Saturday, 23 August (2:15 pm) | Perth 12.10 (82) | def. by | Swan Districts 15.11 (101) | Lathlain Park (crowd: 2297) | |
Saturday, 23 August (2:15 pm) | Subiaco 20.22 (142) | def. | East Perth 12.8 (80) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 2196) | |
Bye: South Fremantle | |||||
Round 23
Round 23 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 30 August (2:15 pm) | East Perth 4.16 (40) | def. by | Perth 12.14 (86) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 1741) | |
Saturday, 30 August (2:15 pm) | South Fremantle 13.11 (89) | def. by | Claremont 15.10 (100) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1758) | |
Saturday, 30 August (2:15 pm) | Swan Districts 15.11 (101) | def. | Peel Thunder 14.9 (93) | Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2705) | |
Saturday, 30 August (2:15 pm) | West Perth 15.9 (99) | def. by | East Fremantle 16.8 (104) | Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2011) | |
Bye: Subiaco | |||||
Ladder
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Subiaco (P) | 20 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 2599 | 1431 | 181.6 | 76 |
2 | West Perth | 20 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 1957 | 1835 | 106.6 | 46 |
3 | South Fremantle | 20 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 2262 | 1965 | 115.1 | 44 |
4 | Swan Districts | 20 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 1983 | 2084 | 95.2 | 44 |
5 | East Fremantle | 20 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 1875 | 1997 | 93.9 | 40 |
6 | Peel Thunder | 20 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 1773 | 2270 | 78.1 | 32 |
7 | Perth | 20 | 7 | 12 | 1 | 1801 | 1843 | 97.7 | 30 |
8 | Claremont | 20 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 1835 | 2066 | 88.8 | 24 |
9 | East Perth | 20 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 1542 | 2136 | 72.2 | 24 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers.
Finals
Semi-Finals
First Semi Final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 6 September (2:15 pm) | South Fremantle 11.18 (84) | def. by | Swan Districts 16.12 (108) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4,755) | |
Second Semi Final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 6 September (2:15 pm) | Subiaco 17.12 (114) | def. | West Perth 10.10 (70) | Leederville Oval (crowd: 5,163) | |
Preliminary Final
Preliminary Final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 13 September (2:15 pm) | West Perth 14.10 (94) | def. by | Swan Districts 15.14 (104) | Arena Joondalup (crowd: 5,556) | |
Grand Final
2008 WAFL Grand Final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sunday 21 September | Subiaco | def. | Swan Districts | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 23,199) | |
3.5 (23) 9.9 (63) 15.13 (103) 22.16 (148) |
Q1 Q2 Q3 Final |
6.3 (39) 9.5 (59) 10.6 (66) 14.7 (91) |
Umpires: Gavin Statham, Start Parry, Dean Margetts Simpson Medal: Chris Hall (Subiaco) | ||
Brad Smith 6, Mapleston 4, Read 3, Cossom 2, Chris Hall 2, Hildebrandt 2, Schofield, Cockie, Hayes | Goals | Notte 2, Roberts 2, Taylor, Michael McInlay, Garlett, Davis, Geappen, Yarran, Pullman, Naitanui, Wolfenden, Banfield | |||
Brad Smith, Mapleston, Read, Hall, Broughton, Schofield, Hildebrandt, Hayes | Best | Roberts, Spaanderman, Wolfenden, Johnson, Notte, Hinkley | |||
References
- Devaney, John; "The Invincibles at Play" (archived)
- WAFL Football Budget Archived 19 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine; Round 14, 2008, p. 4
- WAFL Footy Facts: Wins With Fewer Scoring Shots Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- WAFL Footy Facts: Peel Thunder Game Records: Wins With Fewer Goals
- "WAFL Footy Facts: Subiaco Highest Scores For". Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- WAFL Footy Facts: All Teams Most Behinds Archived 2013-10-29 at the Wayback Machine
- WAFL Footy Facts – Draws Archived 13 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- WAFL Budget Round 10, 2008, p. 7
- Bassendean Oval: Longest Successful Streaks
- WAFL Football Budget, Round 14, 2008; p. 16
- WAFL Footy Facts: Won From Half-Time Deficit Archived 2013-10-29 at the Wayback Machine
- Claremont: Biggest Losses