| Clubname: | West Perth |
| Color1: |
|
| Color2: |
|
| Color3: | solid blue |
| Fullname: | West Perth Football Club |
| Nicknames: | Falcons, Cardinals, Garlic Munchers |
| Motto: | "Does Your Heart Beat True?" |
| Afterfinals: | Premiers |
| Home&Amp;Away: | 1st |
| Topgoalkicker: | Tyler Keitel (38 goals) |
| Colours: | Red Blue |
| President: | Neale Fong[1] |
| Capacity: | 16,000 |
| Pattern B1: | _bluesashright2 |
| Pattern So1: | _hoops_blue |
| Body1: | FF0000 |
| Shorts1: | 0000FF |
| Socks1: | FF0000 |
The West Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Falcons, is an Australian rules football club located in Joondalup, Western Australia. West Perth competes in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) and WAFL Women's (WAFLW) and is the oldest existing Australian rules football club in Western Australia.[2] Originally located at Leederville Oval, the team was relocated in 1994 to Arena Joondalup, a sports complex in the northern suburbs of Perth. The team's club song is "It's a Grand Old Flag" and its traditional rivals are East Perth.
The Victorian Football Club was established at a meeting on 2 May 1885. The new team was to play its games at the Recreation Ground (now Esplanade Reserve) and wear the colours cardinal and navy.[3] Two weeks after the establishment of the new club it formed the WAFA together with Rovers and Fremantle. The three clubs, along with High School (now Hale School) were to play out the 1885 season, however High School dropped out after just two rounds.[4]
The West Australian Football Club was established in 1886 and were admitted to the competition for the 1887 season.[5] At a meeting of the two clubs on 16 April 1889, it was unanimously decided to amalgamate the two clubs – West Australian and Victorians – into a single club known as the Metropolitan Football Club for the 1889 season. The West Australian colours of black and red were to be maintained for the new club.[6] In 1891, a meeting of footballers was held to form a new team, to be called West Perth, which embraced the members of the then-defunct Metropolitan Football Club.[7] [8] The new club was immediately granted entry into the WA Football Association (later called the WA Football League) and won its first premiership in 1897.
In 1915 the team became the original tenant of the newly built Leederville Oval where it would remain based until 1993, at which time the team moved to Joondalup to play games at Arena Joondalup from the 1994 season onwards. Since relocating, the Falcons have enjoyed relative success with five premierships from nine grand finals, the most recent flag coming in 2022.
In 2022 the club became the seventh active club to participate in the WAFL Women's (WAFLW), the premier state-based competition for female footballers.[9]
Since joining the WAFLW competition, the club celebrated real success with a Preliminary Final appearance in just their third season in the competition. Marking West Perth Football Clubs' Women's WAFLW side as the most successful expansion side since the WAFLW began.
West Perth Football Clubs' Rogers Cup side (U19s competition) is amongst some of the most successful teams in Australian sporting history. Winning the flag in an undefeated season in 2021, this was backed up by 2-undefeated seasons in 2023 and 2024, culminating in a further 2 premierships for the club. As at August 2024, the Rogers Cup team sit at 34 wins in a row - An impressive undefeated streak.
"(Sung to the tune of "You're a Grand Old Flag")"
It's a grand old flag it's a high flying flag,
It's the emblem for me and for you,
It's the emblem of the team we love,
The team of the red and the blue,
Every heart beats true for the red and the blue,
And we sing this song to you,
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the red and the blue!
| Premierships | |||
| Competition | Level | Wins | Years won |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAFL | Seniors | 20 | 1897, 1899, 1901, 1905, 1932, 1934, 1935, 1941, 1942, 1949, 1951, 1960, 1969, 1971, 1975, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2013, 2022 |
| WAFL Reserves | Reserves | 7 | 1927, 1930, 1947, 1956, 1960, 2014, 2019 |
| WAFL Colts | Colts (U19) | 2 | 1968, 1990 |
| WAFLW Womens | Seniors | 0 | |
| Rogers Cup | Colts (U19) | 3 | 2021, 2023, 2024 |
| Other titles and honours | |||
| Rodriguez Shield | Multiple | 4 | 1960, 1999, 2002, 2022 |
| State Premiership (1904–1924) | Seniors | 1 | 1905 |
| Finishing positions | |||
| WAFL | Minor premiership | 10 | 1897, 1899, 1901, 1905, 1942, 1948, 1960, 1975, 1993, 2022 |
| Runners Up | 20 | 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1898, 1903, 1906, 1911, 1922, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1952, 1953, 1973, 1993, 1998, 2002, 2015, 2018 | |
| Wooden spoons | 11 | 1895, 1918, 1919, 1930, 1938, 1939, 1964, 1974, 1990, 1991, 1992 | |
Sandover Medallists: (12 total)
1927: Jim Craig
1930: Ted Flemming
1940: Terence O'Keefe
1942: Laurie Bowen
1946: John Loughridge
1951: Fred Buttsworth
1959: Brian Foley
1992: Robert West
1993: Neil Mildenhall
2014: Aaron Black
Simpson Medallists: (11 total)
1946: John Loughridge
1949: Jack Larcombe
1951: Don Porter
1960: Brian Foley
1969: Bill Dempsey
1971: Shane Sheridan
1975: Mel Whinnen
1995: Darren Harris
1999: Christian Kelly
2003: Brent LeCras
2013: Mark Hutchings
Bernie Naylor Medalists: (20 total)
1894: Bill Duffy (15)
1898: Herb Loel (N/A)
1899: Herb Loel (50)
1900: Albert Daly (30)
1901: Herb Loel (45)
1902: Herb Loel (35)
1903: Tom McNamara (32)
1911: William Bellion (30)
1925: Ted Flemming (50)
1930: Frank Hopkins (79)
1932: Ted Tyson (96)
1936: Ted Tyson (126)
1942: Ted Brunton (94)
1945: Bill Baker (91)
1951: Ray Scott (141)
1955: Ray Scott (83)
1963: Ron Evans (97)
1973: Phil Smith (84)
2018: Andrew Strijk (51)
2019: Tyler Keitel (50)
All-Australians:
1961: Ray Gabelich
1972: Alan Watling
300 games
Mel Whinnen (371)
Bill Dempsey (343)
200 games:
Alan Watling (284)
Les Fong (284)
Paul Mifka (283)
Ray Scholfield (277)
Wally Price (256)
Peter Menaglio (236)
E J (Ted) Flemming (229)
Bill Rainoldi (228)
E A (Ted) Tyson (228)
Ken Ashdown (218)
Jason Salecic (212)
Norm McDiarmid (210)
Max Tetly (210)
Chris Keunen (209)
Jim Craig (203)
Brian Foley (202)
Len Harman (201)
Eddie Wylde (200)(*) Indicates current listed players
Highest score:
Round 10, 1981, 37–17 (239) vs. East Fremantle at Leederville Oval
Round 10, 1987, 37–17 (239) vs. South Fremantle at Leederville Oval
Lowest score:
Round 1, 1912, 0.3 (3) vs. Subiaco at WACA
Most games:
Mel Whinnen 367[10] (1960–1977)
Highest goal kicker (season):
E. Tyson 143 goals (1934)
R. Scott 143 goals (1953)
Highest goal kicker (game):
E. Tyson 17 goals v. Swan Districts (1934)
Highest goal kicker (career):
E. Tyson 1196 goals
Longest serving captain:
Les Fong, 7 Seasons (1980–1986)
Longest serving coach:
Bill Monaghan, 10 Seasons (2009 – 2018)
Most club champion awards won:
Mel Whinnen, 9
Record home attendance:
Round 21, 1978, 24,567 vs. East Perth at Leederville Oval
Record finals attendance:
1975 Grand Final, 52,322 vs. South Fremantle at Subiaco Oval
West Perth players who have been inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame:
| Player | Year inducted | |
|---|---|---|
| Fred Buttsworth | 2004 | |
| Bill Dempsey | 2004 | |
| Brian Foley | 2004 | |
| Barney Grecian | 2004 | |
| Stan Heal | 2004 | |
| Fred McDiarmid | 2004 | |
| Ray Schofield | 2004 | |
| Ray Scott | 2004 | |
| Max Tetley | 2004 | |
| Ted Tyson | 2004 | |
| Mel Whinnen | 2004 | |
| Jim Craig | 2005 | |
| Les Fong | 2006 | |
| Brian France | 2006 | |
| Jim Gosnell | 2007 | |
| Alan Watling | 2009 | |
| Wally Price | 2010 | |
| Don Marinko, Sr. | 2011 | |
| Frank Hopkins | 2013 | |
| John Wynne | 2015 | |
| Derek Kickett | 2017 | |
| John Loughridge | 2019 |
1897:
1899:
1901:
1905: West Perth 4–7 (31) def East Fremantle 3–9 (27)
1932: West Perth 18–9 (117) def East Perth 11–8 (74)
1934: West Perth 11–7 (73) def East Fremantle 5–9 (39)
1935: West Perth 11–8 (74) def Subiaco 7–9 (51)
1941: West Perth 14–14 (98) def East Fremantle 10–17 (77)
1942: West Perth 19–16 (130) def Claremont 11–13 (79)
1949: West Perth 16–13 (109) def Perth 12–7 (79)
1951: West Perth 13–10 (88) def South Fremantle 12–13 (85)
1960: West Perth 17–13 (115) def East Perth 12–11 (83)
1969: West Perth 21–21 (147) def East Perth 10–14 (74)
1971: West Perth 14–17 (101) def East Perth 9–15 (69)
1975: West Perth 23–17 (155) def South Fremantle 7–9 (51)
1995: West Perth 21–11 (137) def Subiaco 12–9 (81)
1999: West Perth 14–13 (97) def South Fremantle 11–6 (72)
2003: West Perth 13–9 (87) def Subiaco 9–10 (64)
2013: West Perth 20–11 (131) def East Perth 12–10 (81)
2022: West Perth 10-9 (69) def Claremont 8-9 (57)
1919: Paddy Willoughby
1920–21: Tony Tyson
1921–22: Tom Soutar
1923: Archie Herd
1923–24: Jack Leckie
1925: Bert Taylor
1926–27: Tom Soutar
1928–30: Harold Boyd
1931: Sam Tyson
1932–33: Jack Cashman
1934–35: Johnny Leonard
1936: Jack Cashman
1937: Johnny Leonard
1938–39: Max Tetley
1940–41: Ross Hutchinson
1942–45: Joe Brooker
1946: Ross Hutchison
1947–52: Stan Heal
1953–54: Peter O'Donohue
1955: Don Scott
1956–57: Frank Sparrow
1958: Ray Schofield
1959: Don Marinko, Jr.
1960–63: Arthur Olliver
1964: Clive Lewington
1965–67: Bob Spargo
1968–71: Graham Farmer
1972: Peter Steward
1973–74: Dennis Jones
1975–77: Graham Campbell
1978–79: Percy Johnson
1979–81: Graham Campbell
1982–84: Dennis Cometti
1985–86: John Wynne
1987–88: Bruce Monteath
1989–91: George Michalczyk
1992–94: Jeff Gieschen
1995–99: John Dimmer
2000–01: Andrew Lockyer
2002–05: Darren Harris
2006–08: Todd Curley
2009–17: Bill Monaghan
2018–21: Geoff Valentine
2022- Darren Harris
1885–86: Alexander Rankin
1887: Horace Wilson
1888: Harry Sadler
1889: Frederick McDonough
1890: Jack Kneale
1891: Ken McKenzie
1892: Alfred Newlands
1893–94: George Sykes
1895: James Morgan
1896: Jack Coward and David DeCoit
1897–1900: Barney Grecian
1901: Les Jones and Billy Plunkett (1)
1902: Herbert Loel (1)
1903: Herbert Loel (2) and Bundy McNamara
1904: Billy Plunkett (2)
1905: Billy Plunkett (3) and Shooter Ford (1)
1906: Shooter Ford (2)
1907: Gerald Balme (1)
1908: Frederick Strickland
1909: Jim Everett
1910–11: Gerald Balme (2)
1912: Gerald Balme (3) and Bill Mose
1913–14: Samuel Rowe
1915–16: Anthony Austin
1917: Samuel Jeffery
1918: Jack O'Dea
1919: Paddy Willoughby
1920: Tony Tyson
1921–22: Tom Soutar (1)
1923–24: Harold Boyd
1925: Bert Taylor
1926: Tom Soutar (2)
1927: Donald Sinclair
1928: Bill McRae, Jim Gosnell, Jim Craig (1), and Jack McDiarmid
1929: Ernest Moyle
1930: Jim Craig (2)
1931: Ted Flemming (1)
1932–33: Jack Cashman
1934–35: Don Marinko, Sr.
1936: Bill Benton
1937: Ted Flemming (2) and Wally Buttsworth
1938–39: Max Tetly
1940–41: Dick Hill
1941: Spike Pola (1)
1942–43: Len Harman
1944: Fred Buttsworth
1945: Spike Pola (2)
1946: Ross Hutchinson
1947–51: Stan Heal
1952: Ray Schofield (1)
1953–54: Peter O'Donohue
1955: Don Scott
1956: Frank Sparrow
1957–58: Ray Schofield (2)
1959–60: Don Marinko, Jr.
1961–64: Brian Foley
1965–67: Bob Spargo
1968–71: Graham Farmer
1972: Peter Steward
1973–76: Bill Dempsey
1977: Mel Whinnen
1978: Arthur Duckworth
1979: Geoff Taylor
1980–86: Les Fong
1987–89: Peter Menaglio
1990: Paul Hasler
1991: David Palm
1992–94: Craig Nelson
1995–96: Darren Harris
1997–98: Brendan Barrows
1999–2000: Kim Rigoll (1)
2001–03: Steve Trewhella
2004: Kim Rigoll (2)
2005: Todd Curley
2006–07: Clayton Lasscock
2008–13: Jason Salecic
2014–15: Jay van Berlo (1) and Luke Tedesco
2016–17: Jay van Berlo (2)
2018-: Aaron Black
As of October 2022:
1 Aaron Black
2 Luke Meadows
3 Ben Johnson
4 Tyson Moulton
5 Nathan Alexandre
6 Dylan Yem
7 Keegan Knott
8 Mark Hutchings
9 Trent Manzone
10 Zac Guadagnin
11 Mitchell Antonio
12 Liam Tedesco
13 Dean Munns
14 Shane Nelson
15 Aidan Lynch
16 Mitchell Dobson
17 Blake Wilhelm
18 Scott Nelson
19 Sam Rotham
20 Anton Hamp
21 Tristan Hobley
22 Kellen Johnson
23 Conal Lynch
24 Thomas O'Donnell
25 Mitchell Peirce
26 Troy Yukich
27 Nathan Murray
28 Zac Patterson
29 Alec Johnson
30 Callum Johnson
31 Michael Mallard
32 Rudy Riddoch
33 Koopah Todd
34 Ryan Hudson
35 Logan Foley
36 Mark Hamilton
37 Tyler Keitel
38 Noah Pegoraro
39 Rowan Garlett
40 Benjamin Delaporte
41 Sasha Kernutt
42 Thomas Boyes
43 Lochlan Paton
44 Joshua Munns
45 Corey Rundle
46 Darcy Dixon
47 Lachlan Cox
48 Rohan Scurria
49 Zachary Fleiner
50 Luke Reilly
51 Connor Klemke
52 Joseph Hinder
53 Jack Burke
55 Brock Lewis
56 Jared Cole
This is a list of West Perth players who have played at AFL/VFL level: