1929 WAFL season
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The 1929 WAFL season was the 45th season of the West Australian Football League in its various incarnations.
1929 WAFL season | |
---|---|
Teams | 7 |
Premiers | East Fremantle 14th premiership |
Minor premiers | East Fremantle 16th minor premiership |
Sandover Medallist | Billy Thomas (East Perth) Johnny Leonard (South Fremantle)[a] |
Bernie Naylor Medallist | Sol Lawn (South Fremantle) |
Matches played | 66 |
East Fremantle proved the outstanding team, and won the second of what would become seven successive minor premierships and four successive flags. Subiaco denied a Perth club bolstered by the return as coach of Jack Leckie – who had masterminded their pre-war successes including their only premiership to that point[1] – its first finals appearance since 1920 with a convincing last round win. Claremont-Cottesloe won more games than in its first three seasons combined and a brilliant mid-season burst looked to assure it of a finals berth before a September fade-out – but the Great Depression and the financial power of several wealthy VFL clubs[2] prevented the Tigers sustaining this improvement.[3]
Following the death in a truck accident of champion coach Phil Matson, an upheaval off the field during the summer,[4] and the retirement of numerous top players of their 1920s dynasty such as Bonny Campbell, Val Sparrow (who took to coaching the club), “Paddy” Hebbard, Joe O'Meara and Jack Walsh,[5] former powerhouse East Perth suffered its first wooden spoon since 1913 and lost a club record fifteen consecutive matches. The Royals were also affected by injuries to remaining key players Owens and Fletcher,[6] who missed several games and were never fully fit.
Sol Lawn of South Fremantle beat the record of Bonny Campbell for most goals in a WAFL season, finishing with ninety-six.[7]