2007 WAFL season
Teams9
PremiersSubiaco
10th premiership
Minor premiersClaremont
12th minor premiership
Sandover MedallistAnthony Jones (Claremont)
Bernie Naylor MedallistBrad Smith (Subiaco)
Matches played94
← 2006
2008 →

The 2007 WAFL season was the 123rd season of the various incarnations of the West Australian Football League. The season saw Subiaco, confounding the critics who expected them to slip after winning their second premiership in three years, win their second consecutive premiership for the first time in ninety-four seasons,[1] with injury-plagued forward Brad Smith overcoming two reconstructions that wiped out 2005 and 2006 to kick 126 goals for the season, the most in the WAFL since Warren Ralph kicked 128 for Claremont in 1983.[2] Smith also achieved the unique feat for a full-forward of winning the Simpson Medal in the Grand Final.

The top three teams between 2004 and 2006 – the Lions, Claremont and South Fremantle – maintained their tight grip in 2007, though there were notable improvements from East Fremantle, who had won a mere nineteen games between 2003 and 2006 but rose to nine victories in 2007, and East Perth, who returned to the finals for the first time in four seasons. Claremont won eighteen of nineteen matches after two opening losses before their inexperience told against the hardened Lions in the Grand Final, resulting in a short but quite steep fall in the following two seasons.

Home-and-away season

Round 1

Round 1
Friday, 23 March (7:15 pm) South Fremantle 13.4 (82) def. by East Fremantle 22.11 (143) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3739)
Saturday, 24 March (2:15 pm) Perth 18.11 (119) def. by Swan Districts 20.8 (128) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1982)
Saturday, 24 March (2:15 pm) West Perth 14.14 (98) def. by East Perth 19.8 (122) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2511)
Saturday, 24 March (2:15 pm) Subiaco 13.16 (94) def. Claremont 6.11 (47) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1884)
Bye
Peel Thunder

East Fremantle break a record sequence of thirteen straight losses against their derby rivals, with their previous win having been on Foundation Day of 2002.[3]

Round 2

Round 2
Friday, 30 March (6:45 pm) Subiaco 30.13 (193) def. South Fremantle 5.9 (39) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1776)
Saturday, 31 March (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 10.10 (70) def. by Perth 11.26 (92) Rushton Park (crowd: 1116)
Saturday, 31 March (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 10.9 (69) def. by East Perth 16.23 (119) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2147)
Sunday, 1 April (2:15 pm) Claremont 13.15 (93) def. by West Perth 14.14 (98) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1864)
Bye
East Fremantle

Subiaco’s 154-point win is their biggest over former rival South Fremantle and Bradley Smith’s thirteen goals a record for any Subiaco player against the Bulldogs[4]

Round 3 (Easter weekend)

Round 3
Saturday, 7 April (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 12.23 (95) def. Peel Thunder 9.10 (64) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1602)
Saturday, 7 April (2:15 pm) West Perth 11.9 (75) def. by Subiaco 16.11 (107) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1964)
Monday, 9 April (2:15 pm) East Perth 12.13 (85) def. by Claremont 13.13 (91) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2801)
Monday, 9 April (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 20.12 (132) def. by Swan Districts 19.20 (134) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2866)
Bye
Perth

Round 4

Round 4
Saturday, 14 April (2:15 pm) West Perth 14.11 (95) def. by South Fremantle 14.20 (104) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1546)
Saturday, 14 April (2:15 pm) East Perth 23.17 (155) def. Peel Thunder 18.6 (114) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1518)
Saturday, 14 April (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 8.15 (63) def. by Subiaco 20.9 (129) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1878)
Saturday, 14 April (2:15 pm) Perth 12.10 (82) def. East Fremantle 19.9 (123) Dongara (crowd: 1850)
Bye
Claremont

Round 5

Round 5
Friday, 20 April (6:45 pm) South Fremantle 15.10 (100) def. East Perth 10.10 (70) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1843)
Saturday, 21 April (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 10.13 (73) def. by West Perth 10.18 (78) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1857)
Saturday, 21 April (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 11.13 (79) def. by Claremont 12.14 (86) Rushton Park (crowd: 1274)
Saturday, 21 April (2:15 pm) Subiaco 17.16 (118) def. Perth 11.7 (73) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2051)
Bye
Swan Districts

Round 6

Round 6
Saturday, 28 April (2:15 pm) Perth 13.10 (88) def. East Perth 11.11 (77) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1682)
Saturday, 28 April (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 13.15 (93) def. East Fremantle 9.19 (73) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1959)
Saturday, 28 April (2:15 pm) Claremont 15.7 (97) def. South Fremantle 14.9 (93) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1608)
Saturday, 28 April (2:15 pm) Subiaco 28.14 (182) def. Peel Thunder 8.10 (58) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1405)
Bye
West Perth

Round 7

Round 7
Saturday, 5 May (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 19.10 (124) def. West Perth 14.10 (94) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2217)
Saturday, 5 May (2:15 pm) Perth 12.3 (75) def. by Claremont 15.11 (101) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1341)
Saturday, 5 May (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 10.15 (75) def. by Subiaco 18.13 (121) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1364)
Saturday, 5 May (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 12.15 (87) def. by South Fremantle 17.19 (121) Rushton Park (crowd: 1140)
Bye
East Perth

Round 8

Round 8
Friday, 11 May (6:45 pm) South Fremantle 28.12 (180) def. Perth 9.9 (63) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2827)
Saturday, 12 May (2:15 pm) Claremont 22.15 (147) def. Swan Districts 10.14 (74) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1672)
Saturday, 12 May (2:15 pm) East Perth 11.8 (74) def. East Fremantle 8.12 (60) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1869)
Saturday, 12 May (2:15 pm) West Perth 21.17 (143) def. Peel Thunder 12.7 (79) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1373)
Bye
Subiaco

Round 9

Round 9
Saturday, 19 May (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 12.11 (83) def. by Claremont 14.14 (98) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1339)
Saturday, 19 May (2:15 pm) Perth 12.13 (85) def. by West Perth 18.9 (117) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1706)
Saturday, 19 May (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 10.16 (76) def. Swan Districts 6.11 (47) Bunbury (crowd: 1500)
Saturday, 19 May (2:15 pm) Subiaco 13.11 (89) def. by East Perth 14.8 (92) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1925)
Bye
South Fremantle
  • East Perth’s thrilling come-from-behind win ends the third longest winning streak and fourth longest unbeaten streak in WAFL history.[5]
  • The Royals’ comeback from a 47-point half-time deficit was them the third largest in league history, though they were to break this record later in 2007.[6]
  • Swan Districts’ score remains the lowest kicked by any opponent against Peel, beating by one point East Perth’s 7.6 in Round 21, 2005.[7]

Round 10 (Foundation Day)

Round 10
Saturday, 2 June (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 17.12 (114) def. Perth 17.8 (110) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1854)
Monday, 4 June (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 13.13 (91) def. by South Fremantle 15.15 (105) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 9737)
Monday, 4 June (2:15 pm) Claremont 10.14 (74) def. by Subiaco 12.8 (80) Claremont Oval (crowd: 2950)
Monday, 4 June (2:15 pm) East Perth 9.14 (68) def. by West Perth 17.22 (124) Leederville Oval (crowd: 4575)
Bye
Peel Thunder

Round 11

Round 11
Saturday, 9 June (2:15 pm) Perth 16.15 (111) def. Peel Thunder 11.9 (75) Lathlain Park (crowd: 2294)
Saturday, 9 June (2:15 pm) West Perth 17.6 (108) def. by Claremont 17.7 (109) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2850)
Saturday, 9 June (2:15 pm) East Perth 17.8 (110) def. Swan Districts 14.12 (96) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2116)
Saturday, 9 June (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 20.14 (134) def. Subiaco 17.20 (122) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2149)
Bye
East Fremantle

Round 12

Round 12
Saturday, 16 June (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 10.15 (75) def. by East Fremantle 14.9 (93) Rushton Park (crowd: 1289)
Saturday, 16 June (2:15 pm) Claremont 14.12 (96) def. East Perth 12.2 (74) Claremont Oval (crowd: 2230)
Saturday, 16 June (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 9.12 (66) def. by South Fremantle 28.9 (177) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2922)
Saturday, 16 June (2:15 pm) Subiaco 16.19 (115) def. West Perth 14.10 (94) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2717)
Bye
Perth

Round 13

Round 13
Saturday, 23 June (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 13.12 (90) def. Perth 6.9 (45) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1190)
Saturday, 23 June (2:15 pm) Subiaco 23.15 (153) def. Swan Districts 7.7 (49) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1801)
Saturday, 23 June (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 13.12 (90) def. East Perth 11.6 (72) Rushton Park (crowd: 1030)
Saturday, 23 June (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 8.7 (55) def. by West Perth 7.15 (57) Carnarvon (crowd: 2650)
Bye
Claremont

Round 14

Round 14
Saturday, 30 June (2:15 pm) Claremont 18.15 (123) def. Peel Thunder 8.12 (60) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1117)
Saturday, 30 June (2:15 pm) West Perth 14.11 (95) def. East Fremantle 9.21 (75) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1234)
Saturday, 30 June (2:15 pm) Perth 7.12 (54) def. by Subiaco 23.19 (157) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1295)
Saturday, 30 June (2:15 pm) East Perth 13.13 (91) def. by South Fremantle 18.10 (118) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1834)
Bye
Swan Districts

Round 15

Round 15
Saturday, 7 July (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 19.14 (128) def. Subiaco 18.12 (120) Rushton Park (crowd: 1071)
Saturday, 7 July (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 13.14 (92) def. by Claremont 20.13 (133) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2990)
Saturday, 7 July (2:15 pm) East Perth 13.14 (92) def. Perth 12.16 (88) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1681)
Saturday, 7 July (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 27.15 (177) def. Swan Districts 9.14 (68) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1284)
Bye
West Perth

For the first and only time in their history, Swan Districts lose three consecutive matches by over 100 points.[8]

Round 16

Round 16
Friday, 13 July (6:45 pm) South Fremantle 14.13 (97) def. Peel Thunder 10.12 (72) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2804)
Saturday, 14 July (2:15 pm) Subiaco 19.20 (134) def. East Fremantle 11.9 (75) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1845)
Saturday, 14 July (2:15 pm) West Perth 13.12 (90) def. Swan Districts 8.17 (65) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1781)
Saturday, 14 July (2:15 pm) Claremont 14.8 (92) def. Perth 12.13 (85) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1502)
Bye
East Perth

Round 17

Round 17
Saturday, 21 July (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 13.17 (95) def. by East Perth 15.15 (105) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1136)
Saturday, 21 July (2:15 pm) Perth 4.19 (43) def. by South Fremantle 6.11 (47) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1270)
Saturday, 21 July (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 14.9 (93) def. by Claremont 14.14 (98) Port Hedland (crowd: 1628)
Saturday, 21 July (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 8.15 (63) def. West Perth 8.13 (61) Rushton Park (crowd: 920)
Bye
Subiaco
  • East Perth’s comeback from a 49-point half-time deficit is the second largest in WAFL history, behind Swan Districts’ comeback from 51 points down in the opening round of 1986.[6]
  • In one of the closest rounds in WAFL history with a combined margin of 21 points, Perth kick themselves out of the game with their most inaccurate score since kicking 4.22 (46) against East Fremantle in 1953.[9]
  • Peel Thunder kick the lowest winning score in their history, and the only time they have won with a single-figure goal tally.[10] (As of 2013, their three lowest winning scores are all against the Falcons.)

Round 18

Round 18
Saturday, 28 July (2:15 pm) West Perth 7.14 (56) def. by East Perth 13.14 (92) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1660)
Sunday, 29 July (2:15 pm) Subiaco 12.14 (86) def. South Fremantle 11.8 (74) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1956)
Bye
Claremont, East Fremantle, Peel Thunder, Perth, Swan Districts

Round 19

Round 19
Saturday, 4 August (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 13.12 (90) def. Peel Thunder 11.12 (78) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1894)
Saturday, 4 August (2:15 pm) Claremont 12.13 (85) def. East Fremantle 10.12 (72) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1674)
Saturday, 4 August (2:15 pm) East Perth 5.8 (38) def. by Subiaco 22.16 (148) Leederville Oval (crowd: 2244)
Saturday, 4 August (2:15 pm) West Perth 16.7 (103) def. Perth 15.5 (95) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1500)
Bye
South Fremantle

Round 20

Round 20
Friday, 10 August (6:45 pm) South Fremantle 10.9 (69) def. by East Fremantle 12.16 (88) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2022)
Saturday, 11 August (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 17.9 (111) def. by East Perth 27.17 (179) Rushton Park (crowd: 1124)
Saturday, 11 August (2:15 pm) Claremont 14.13 (97) def. Subiaco 9.5 (59) Claremont Oval (crowd: 2424)
Saturday, 11 August (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 15.11 (101) def. Perth 12.17 (89) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2195)
Bye
West Perth

Peel record their highest aggregate score on record of 290 points, beating their previous 2000 record against Swan Districts by nineteen.[11] East Perth amazingly kick 7.11 (53) in the third quarter but 5.0 (30) in the last.

Round 21

Round 21
Friday, 17 August (6:45 pm) South Fremantle 10.14 (74) def. by Swan Districts 11.15 (81) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2018)
Saturday, 18 August (2:15 pm) Perth 16.7 (103) def. by Claremont 16.13 (109) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1468)
Saturday, 18 August (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 31.16 (202) def. Peel Thunder 12.8 (80) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1201)
Sunday, 19 August (2:15 pm) Subiaco 19.7 (121) def. West Perth 5.7 (37) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1663)
Bye
East Perth
  • East Fremantle record their second-highest open-age score on record and their highest since 1979 against West Perth.[12]
  • Perth complete an amazing sequence of six losses by a combined margin of 41 points.

Round 22

Round 22
Saturday, 25 August (2:15 pm) West Perth 12.11 (83) def. by South Fremantle 14.15 (99) Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1423)
Saturday, 25 August (2:15 pm) Peel Thunder 16.12 (108) def. Perth 14.7 (91) Rushton Park (crowd: 1058)
Saturday, 25 August (2:15 pm) Swan Districts 9.10 (64) def. by East Fremantle 11.17 (83) Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2189)
Saturday, 25 August (2:15 pm) East Perth 12.11 (83) def. by Claremont 24.17 (161) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1745)
Bye
Subiaco
  • South Fremantle seal their place in the finals by defeating the Falcons with a strong last-quarter burst
  • Peel consign Perth to their first wooden spoon since 2000 with this win leaving them two games clear despite Perth’s better percentage.

Round 23

Round 23
Saturday, 1 September (2:15 pm) East Perth 26.12 (168) def. Swan Districts 13.8 (86) Leederville Oval (crowd: 1630)
Saturday, 1 September (2:15 pm) Perth 11.5 (71) def. by Subiaco 23.11 (149) Lathlain Park (crowd: 1795)
Saturday, 1 September (2:15 pm) Claremont 21.13 (139) def. Peel Thunder 14.9 (93) Claremont Oval (crowd: 1411)
Saturday, 1 September (2:15 pm) East Fremantle 11.16 (82) def. by West Perth 14.13 (97) East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1816)
Bye
South Fremantle

Ladder

2007 ladder
Pos Team Pld W L D PF PA PP Pts
1 Claremont 20 17 3 0 2076 1683 123.4 68
2 Subiaco (P) 20 16 4 0 2477 1447 171.2 64
3 South Fremantle 20 11 9 0 1992 1895 105.1 44
4 East Perth 20 11 9 0 1966 1978 99.4 44
5 West Perth 20 10 10 0 1803 1826 98.7 40
6 East Fremantle 20 9 11 0 1948 1714 113.7 36
7 Swan Districts 20 8 12 0 1705 2296 74.3 32
8 Peel Thunder 20 5 15 0 1660 2299 72.2 20
9 Perth 20 3 17 0 1662 2151 77.3 12
Source: WAFL Footy Facts
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals

First semi-final

First semi-final
Sunday, 9 September (2:15 pm) South Fremantle 16.10 (106) def. East Perth 8.9 (57) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3,527)

Second semi-final

Second semi-final
Sunday, 9 September (2:15 pm) Claremont 16.13 (109) def. Subiaco 14.10 (94) Claremont Oval (crowd: 3,722)

Preliminary final

Preliminary final
Sunday, 16 September (2:15 pm) Subiaco 25.14 (164) def. South Fremantle 10.9 (69) Subiaco Oval (crowd: 5,511)

Seventeen-year-old rover Daniel Rich dominates around the ground to crush the Bulldogs, who kick only 3.5 (23) to 17.9 (111) after half-time.[13]

This was also the last preliminary final held at Subiaco Oval From 2008 it was moved to the loser of the major semi final.

Grand Final

Main article: 2007 WAFL Grand Final
2007 WAFL Grand Final
Sunday 23 September Claremont def. by Subiaco Subiaco Oval (crowd: 19,541) [14]
0.0 (0)
5.2 (32)
7.4 (46)
 9.8 (62) 		Q1
Q2
Q3
 Final 		4.4 (28)
8.5 (53)
13.8 (86)
 15.13 (103) 		Umpires: Gavin Statham, Todd Keating, Greg Bandy
Simpson Medal: Brad Smith (Subiaco)
Chad Jones 3, Anthony Jones 2, Rudeforth, Matson, Browne Crabb Goals Brad Smith 7, Pickett 2, Rich 2, Larkins 2, Nicoski, Marty smith
Crabb, Browne, Wilkes, Schammer, Franz, Rudeforth Best Brad Smith, Pickett, Nicowski, Rumble, Rich, Webb, Hall
Injuries Broughton (hamstring)
Webb (head)

Two medals in the Grand Final cap an amazing comeback for Brad Smith and give Subiaco a thoroughly deserved premiership.[2]

References

  1. ^ History Timeline: Subiaco Football Club
  2. ^ a b Reid, Russell; ‘Two Medals Cap Goal Ace Smith’s Big Comeback’; in The Game, pp. 6-7; from The West Australian; 24 September 2007
  3. ^ "WAFL Footy Facts: South Fremantle Consecutive Wins Against". Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  4. ^ "WAFL Footy Facts: South Fremantle v Subiaco". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  5. ^ WAFL Footy Facts:Consecutive Games Won Archived 2014-04-15 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ a b WAFL Footy Facts: Won from Half-Time Deficit Archived 2013-10-29 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Peel Thunder: Lowest Scores Conceded
  8. ^ "WAFL Footy Facts: Swan Districts Consecutive Losses by 100+ Points". Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  9. ^ Perth: Most Inaccurate Scores
  10. ^ "WAFL Footy Facts: Peel Thunder Lowest Winning Scores". Archived from the original on 11 October 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  11. ^ Peel Thunder: Highest Aggregate Scores
  12. ^ East Fremantle: Highest Scores
  13. ^ Townsend, John; ‘Rich Kid Leads Slaughter’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian; 17 September 2007
  14. ^ Reid, Russell; ‘Short and Tall Lead Mighty Lions’ Roar’; in The Game, pp. 6-7; from The West Australian; 24 September 2007

External links

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