1936 WANFL season

The 1936 WANFL season was the 52nd season of the Western Australian National Football League. The most conspicuous features were the rise of Claremont to their first finals appearance since entering the WAFL ten years beforehand after having won only forty (plus two draws) of its first 183 games,^[1] and the thrilling finals series in which East Perth rose to their first premiership for nine years after holding on to a thrilling struggle for fourth position where all eight clubs were in the running well into August,^[2] then winning two finals by a solitary point. In the process the Royals set a record for the most losses by an eventual premiership club in major Australian Rules leagues,^[a] but won their last open-age premiership until 1956. The Royals overcame much adversity to win the premiership, including a crippling injury toll and a schedule modified to allow them to tour Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania between 4 July and the first week of August.

1936 WAFL season
Teams	8
Premiers	East Perth 8th premiership
Minor premiers	East Fremantle 22nd minor premiership
Sandover Medallist	George Moloney (Claremont)
Bernie Naylor Medallist	George Doig (East Fremantle)
Matches played	84
← 1935 1937 →

George Moloney, famous as a prolific goalscorer, aided Claremont's rise in his new role as a centreman and won the club's fourth Sandover Medal in five seasons, whilst former West Perth key forward Frank Hopkins took Moloney's place at the goalfront to great effect.

The Cardinals, who had won three premierships during the previous four seasons, began a short but extraordinarily steep decline this season, not returning to the finals until 1941 (when they won another premiership) and suffering two wooden spoons and twenty-seven consecutive losses.

Victoria Park, wooden spooners in 1935, reverted to the club's traditional name of 'Perth' after Parliament failed to pass an Act to allow them to acquire Raphael Park to develop a new oval.^[3] After a poor beginning the Redlegs improved, but were not again to contest open-age finals until they began three decades of only briefly interrupted success in 1947.

Off the field, 1936 saw the WANFL establish permanent headquarters at Subiaco Oval,^[4] whilst the Grand Final was the first game with a new grandstand at the ground.

Home-and-away season

Round 1 (Labour Day)

	Round 1
Saturday, 2 May (2:45 pm)	South Fremantle 13.15 (93)	def. by	Swan Districts 18.16 (124)	Fremantle Oval	[5]
Saturday, 2 May (2:45 pm)	Claremont 12.14 (86)	def.	East Fremantle 9.15 (69)	Claremont Oval	[6]
Saturday, 2 May (2:45 pm)	East Perth 21.20 (146)	def.	Perth 15.7 (97)	Perth Oval	[7]
Monday, 4 May (2:45 pm)	Subiaco 12.19 (91)	def.	West Perth 9.8 (62)	Subiaco Oval	[8]
Claremont immediately show they will be much stronger with the return of George Moloney and the recruitment of several players from other WANFL clubs.

Round 2

	Round 2
Saturday, 9 May (2:45 pm)	East Fremantle 20.18 (138)	def.	Perth 12.14 (86)	Fremantle Oval	[9]
Saturday, 9 May (2:45 pm)	Claremont 10.10 (70)	def. by	East Perth 12.15 (87)	Claremont Oval	[10]
Saturday, 9 May (2:45 pm)	West Perth 15.7 (97)	def. by	South Fremantle 16.23 (119)	Leederville Oval	[11]
Saturday, 9 May (2:45 pm)	Swan Districts 16.12 (108)	def.	Subiaco 12.9 (81)	Bassendean Oval	[12]

Round 3

	Round 3
Saturday, 16 May (2:45 pm)	Swan Districts 13.7 (85)	def.	Claremont 10.11 (71)	Bassendean Oval	[13]
Saturday, 16 May (2:45 pm)	South Fremantle 10.15 (75)	def.	East Fremantle 8.15 (63)	Fremantle Oval	[14]
Saturday, 16 May (2:45 pm)	Perth 8.16 (64)	def. by	West Perth 18.11 (119)	WACA	[15]
Saturday, 16 May (2:45 pm)	East Perth 5.13 (43)	def. by	Subiaco 7.4 (46)	Perth Oval	[16]
In a round of vigorous play despite favourable conditions, Subiaco inflict the injury-depleted Royals' first loss and the reigning premiers gain their first win.

Round 4

	Round 4
Saturday, 23 May (2:45 pm)	East Fremantle 18.21 (129)	def.	Swan Districts 10.6 (66)	Fremantle Oval	[17]
Saturday, 23 May (2:45 pm)	West Perth 10.13 (73)	def. by	East Perth 11.14 (80)	Leederville Oval	[18]
Saturday, 23 May (2:45 pm)	Subiaco 8.8 (56)	def. by	Perth 13.10 (88)	Subiaco Oval	[19]
Saturday, 23 May (2:45 pm)	Claremont 13.7 (85)	def.	South Fremantle 11.13 (79)	Claremont Oval	[20]
In a round of upsets, Perth convincingly defeats the Maroons with Bert Gook scoring eight goals

Round 5

	Round 5
Saturday, 30 May (2:45 pm)	East Perth 11.11 (77)	def.	East Fremantle 11.10 (76)	Perth Oval	[21]
Saturday, 30 May (2:45 pm)	Perth 4.19 (43)	def. by	Claremont 17.9 (111)	WACA	[22]
Saturday, 30 May (2:45 pm)	West Perth 13.14 (92)	def.	Swan Districts 10.16 (76)	Leederville Oval	[23]
Saturday, 30 May (2:45 pm)	South Fremantle 11.22 (88)	def. by	Subiaco 15.14 (104)	Fremantle Oval	[24]
East Perth wins a thriller in wet conditions in a match notable for East Fremantle beginning the game two players short.

Round 6 (Foundation Day)

	Round 6
Monday, 1 June (2:45 pm)	Claremont 9.18 (72)	def.	West Perth 8.8 (56)	Claremont Oval	[25]
Monday, 1 June (2:45 pm)	South Fremantle 15.12 (102)	def.	East Perth 7.15 (57)	Fremantle Oval	[26]
Monday, 1 June (2:45 pm)	Swan Districts 16.14 (110)	def.	Perth 14.12 (96)	Bassendean Oval	[27]
Monday, 1 June (2:45 pm)	Subiaco 10.7 (67)	def. by	East Fremantle 13.7 (85)	Subiaco Oval	[28]
In extremely wet conditions with 48.5 millimetres (1.91 in) of rain in Perth,[29] South Fremantle gain their third win with a 5.1 (31) to 1.3 (9) last quarter into a strong northwesterly wind.

Round 7

	Round 7
Saturday, 6 June (2:45 pm)	East Fremantle 13.10 (88)	def.	West Perth 12.13 (85)	Fremantle Oval	[30]
Saturday, 6 June (2:45 pm)	Subiaco 12.14 (86)	def. by	Claremont 21.12 (138)	Subiaco Oval	[31]
Saturday, 6 June (2:45 pm)	East Perth 20.16 (136)	def.	Swan Districts 14.10 (94)	Perth Oval	[32]
Saturday, 6 June (2:45 pm)	Perth 21.13 (139)	def.	South Fremantle 15.16 (106)	WACA	[33]
East Fremantle come back from thirty-eight points behind after an early last quarter goal by Ted Tyson to snatch victory over the Cardinals. With Gook kicking ten and moving to only four behind George Doig, Perth convincingly beat South Fremantle.

Round 8

	Round 8
Saturday, 13 June (2:45 pm)	Perth 9.18 (72)	def. by	East Perth 11.10 (76)	WACA	[34]
Saturday, 13 June (2:45 pm)	West Perth 19.15 (129)	def.	Subiaco 4.7 (31)	Leederville Oval	[35]
Saturday, 13 June (2:45 pm)	Swan Districts 8.14 (62)	def. by	South Fremantle 11.13 (79)	Bassendean Oval	[36]
Saturday, 13 June (2:45 pm)	East Fremantle 13.14 (92)	def.	Claremont 10.11 (71)	Fremantle Oval	[37]
Tyson kicks twelve goals, five behinds as West Perth rebound in spectacular fashion over Subiaco, who do not goal after midway through the first quarter.

Round 9

	Round 9
Saturday, 20 June (2:45 pm)	Subiaco 16.10 (106)	def.	Swan Districts 15.11 (101)	Subiaco Oval	[38]
Saturday, 20 June (2:45 pm)	South Fremantle 8.12 (60)	def. by	West Perth 18.9 (117)	Fremantle Oval	[39]
Saturday, 20 June (2:45 pm)	East Perth 15.17 (107)	def.	Claremont 12.16 (88)	Perth Oval	[40]
Saturday, 20 June (2:45 pm)	Perth 13.18 (96)	def.	East Fremantle 12.17 (89)	WACA	[41]
West Perth continue their return to top form, whilst Perth cling to a seven-point lead for the last few minutes against a strong-finishing Old Easts outfit.

Round 10

	Round 10
Saturday, 27 June (2:45 pm)	East Fremantle 14.14 (98)	def.	South Fremantle 13.8 (86)	Fremantle Oval	[42]
Saturday, 27 June (2:45 pm)	West Perth 14.18 (102)	def.	Perth 13.12 (90)	Leederville Oval	[43]
Saturday, 27 June (2:45 pm)	Subiaco 17.14 (116)	def.	East Perth 10.13 (73)	Subiaco Oval	[44]
Saturday, 27 June (2:45 pm)	Claremont 15.19 (109)	def. by	Swan Districts 20.11 (131)	Claremont Oval	[45]
Subiaco wins well over league leaders East Perth, so depleted that coach Jerry Dolan was forced to play.

Round 11

	Round 11
Saturday, 4 July (2:45 pm)	East Perth 6.10 (46)	def. by	West Perth 13.10 (88)	Perth Oval	[46]
Saturday, 4 July (2:45 pm)	South Fremantle 14.12 (96)	def.	Claremont 11.20 (86)	Fremantle Oval	[47]
Saturday, 4 July (2:45 pm)	Swan Districts 9.20 (74)	def.	East Fremantle 9.16 (70)	Bassendean Oval	[48]
Saturday, 4 July (2:45 pm)	Perth 8.16 (64)	def. by	Subiaco 13.8 (86)	WACA	[49]
West Perth continue their surge to move to second position after a wasteful first half by both teams, with Max Tetley and Ted Flemming impregnable in defence. Swan Districts come back to beat East Fremantle for the first time in their three seasons in the WANFL. In the reserves (then called the 'Association'), however East Fremantle, playing as 'North East Fremantle', kick an astonishing 52.20 (332),[50] which remains the record for any grade of WANFL football.[51]

Round 12

	Round 12
Saturday, 11 July (2:45 pm)	Swan Districts 10.16 (76)	def.	West Perth 9.10 (64)	Bassendean Oval	[52]
Saturday, 11 July (2:45 pm)	East Fremantle 13.14 (92)	def.	East Perth 12.13 (85)	Fremantle Oval	[53]
Saturday, 11 July (2:45 pm)	Claremont 16.14 (110)	def.	Perth 15.7 (97)	Claremont Oval	[54]
Saturday, 11 July (2:45 pm)	Subiaco 14.22 (106)	def.	South Fremantle 7.16 (58)	Subiaco Oval	[55]

Interstate match

	Interstate match
Saturday, 18 July (2:45 pm)	Western Australia	def.	South Australia	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 20,000)	[56]
	2.9 (21) 8.13 (61) 12.17 (89) 15.22 (112)	Q1 Q2 Q3 Final	2.1 (13) 5.7 (37) 5.11 (41) 8.18 (66)	Umpires: Val Sparrow
Doig 4, McDiarmid 3, Truscott 2, Marinko 2, Hooper 2, Gook 2		Goals	Tully 2, Schultz 2, Dermody, Munro, Johnston, Quinn
Marinko (best on ground), Clarke, Lou Daily, Birmingham, Tetley, Krepp, Gook		Best	Tully, Biggs, Burton, Quinn, Reval, Dermody
Western Australia's greater speed and dash assures it of an easy victory in perfect conditions over the visitors.[57]

Round 13

	Round 13
Monday, 29 June (2:45 pm)	South Fremantle 20.3 (123)	def.	East Perth 14.14 (98)	Subiaco Oval	[58]
Saturday, 25 July (2:45 pm)	East Fremantle 15.16 (106)	def.	Subiaco 15.12 (102)	Fremantle Oval	[59]
Saturday, 25 July (2:45 pm)	West Perth 17.21 (123)	def.	Claremont 7.18 (60)	Leederville Oval	[60]
Saturday, 25 July (2:45 pm)	Perth 13.14 (92)	def.	Swan Districts 8.11 (59)	WACA	[61]
The match between South Fremantle and East Perth was uniquely played on a working day afternoon to allow the Royals' tour of the eastern States. South Fremantle kick the most accurate score in WANFL history to that point despite very windy conditions, beating 13.2 (80) by West Perth against Perth in 1902.[62] In the later games, East Fremantle take top place from the Royals whilst the latter lose by ten points to a combined Tasmanian team.[63]

Round 14 (Labour Day)

	Round 14
Monday, 4 May (2:45 pm)	Swan Districts 12.12 (84)	def. by	East Perth 14.18 (102)	Bassendean Oval	[64]
Saturday, 1 August (2:45 pm)	Claremont 9.11 (65)	def. by	Subiaco 13.9 (87)	Claremont Oval	[65]
Saturday, 1 August (2:45 pm)	West Perth 9.4 (58)	def. by	East Fremantle 12.17 (89)	Leederville Oval	[66]
Saturday, 1 August (2:45 pm)	South Fremantle 4.8 (32)	def. by	Perth 8.12 (60)	Fremantle Oval	[67]
The match at Bassendean was put forward to allow East Perth's tour of the eastern States. In wet conditions, East Fremantle overwhelm a West Perth side with 9.7 (61) to 3.1 (19) in the second half to take top spot from East Perth, who lose their last tour match by thirteen points to a North Tasmanian team.[68]

Round 15

	Round 15
Saturday, 8 August (2:45 pm)	Claremont 13.13 (91)	def.	East Fremantle 12.7 (79)	Claremont Oval	[69]
Saturday, 8 August (2:45 pm)	South Fremantle 13.13 (91)	def. by	Swan Districts 17.10 (112)	Fremantle Oval	[70]
Saturday, 8 August (2:45 pm)	East Perth 15.10 (100)	def. by	Perth 17.11 (113)	Perth Oval	[71]
Saturday, 8 August (2:45 pm)	Subiaco 18.9 (117)	def.	West Perth 11.14 (80)	Subiaco Oval	[72]
Claremont, after six losses in seven games, rebound to defeat East Fremantle in an exceptional standard game. The round's results remarkably leave only three wins separating the eight clubs with five matches remaining, and have Swan Districts in the box seat for a maiden finals berth in its third season.[2]

Round 16

	Round 16
Saturday, 15 August (2:45 pm)	Claremont 12.9 (81)	def.	Swan Districts 7.12 (54)	Claremont Oval	[73]
Saturday, 15 August (2:45 pm)	East Perth 12.15 (87)	def. by	Subiaco 15.13 (103)	Perth Oval	[74]
Saturday, 15 August (2:45 pm)	East Fremantle 11.17 (83)	def.	South Fremantle 9.8 (62)	Fremantle Oval	[75]
Saturday, 15 August (2:45 pm)	Perth 7.10 (52)	def. by	West Perth 7.13 (55)	WACA	[76]
Longtime leader East Perth falls out of the four, whilst Claremont defeat and displace Swan Districts – both seeking a first finals appearance.

Round 17

	Round 17
Saturday, 22 August (2:45 pm)	Perth 14.5 (89)	def.	Subiaco 7.18 (60)	WACA	[77]
Saturday, 22 August (2:45 pm)	Swan Districts 9.7 (61)	def. by	East Fremantle 15.10 (100)	Bassendean Oval	[78]
Saturday, 22 August (2:45 pm)	East Perth 12.7 (79)	def.	West Perth 5.15 (45)	Perth Oval	[79]
Saturday, 22 August (2:45 pm)	South Fremantle 5.7 (37)	def. by	Claremont 7.14 (56)	Fremantle Oval	[80]
Greater accuracy allows East Perth to rebound from six consecutive losses in a fiery match. With eight straight goals in the second half, Perth move off the bottom and loosen Subiaco's hold on the double chance.

Round 18

	Round 18
Saturday, 29 August (2:45 pm)	East Fremantle 21.11 (137)	def.	East Perth 7.12 (54)	Fremantle Oval	[81]
Saturday, 29 August (2:45 pm)	Subiaco 16.17 (113)	def.	South Fremantle 13.8 (86)	Subiaco Oval	[82]
Saturday, 29 August (2:45 pm)	Claremont 15.17 (107)	def.	Perth 11.6 (72)	Claremont Oval	[83]
Saturday, 29 August (2:45 pm)	West Perth 16.19 (115)	def.	Swan Districts 14.5 (89)	Leederville Oval	[84]
With George Doig kicking eleven goals, East Fremantle produce the finest display of the season to displace the Royals from the four due to a poor percentage.

Round 19

	Round 19
Saturday, 5 September (2:45 pm)	West Perth 11.15 (81)	def. by	Claremont 12.13 (85)	Leederville Oval	[85]
Saturday, 5 September (2:45 pm)	East Fremantle 14.10 (94)	def.	Subiaco 13.7 (85)	Fremantle Oval	[86]
Saturday, 5 September (2:45 pm)	East Perth 15.19 (109)	def.	South Fremantle 10.11 (71)	Perth Oval	[87]
Saturday, 5 September (2:45 pm)	Perth 22.14 (146)	def.	Swan Districts 11.5 (71)	WACA	[88]
Claremont secure their first WANFL finals berth with a thrilling win over West Perth in a match with many missed opportunities at the finish – and with Subiaco's loss in a tough match gain a strong chance of claiming second position.

Round 20

	Round 20
Saturday, 12 September (2:45 pm)	West Perth 11.11 (77)	def. by	East Fremantle 14.13 (97)	Leederville Oval	[89]
Saturday, 12 September (2:45 pm)	Subiaco 8.9 (57)	def. by	Claremont 12.18 (90)	Subiaco Oval	[90]
Saturday, 12 September (2:45 pm)	South Fremantle 8.6 (54)	def. by	Perth 11.22 (88)	Fremantle Oval	[91]
Saturday, 12 September (2:45 pm)	Swan Districts 9.11 (65)	def.	East Perth 8.15 (63)	Bassendean Oval	[92]
Claremont beat Subiaco in a match that determined who took second position and the double chance in the finals. An East Fremantle rally in the third quarter ensures East Perth remain in the top four despite kicking 2.8 (20) with the wind in the second quarter and failing to catch Swan Districts in the last.

Ladder

1936 ladder

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	D	PF	PA	PP	Pts
1	East Fremantle	20	14	6	0	1874	1544	121.4	56
2	Claremont	20	12	8	0	1732	1618	107.0	48
3	Subiaco	20	11	9	0	1700	1734	98.0	44
4	East Perth (P)	20	10	10	0	1705	1755	97.2	40
5	West Perth	20	9	11	0	1718	1561	110.1	36
6	Perth	20	9	11	0	1744	1787	97.6	36
7	Swan Districts	20	9	11	0	1702	1916	88.8	36
8	South Fremantle	20	6	14	0	1597	1857	86.0	24

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
Saturday, 19 September (2:45 pm)	Subiaco 5.16 (46)	def. by	East Perth 6.11 (47)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8,133)
After Subiaco take the lead despite scoring only two goals in three-quarters, East Perth rebound for a stirring victory.[93]

Second semi-final

	Second semi-final
Saturday, 26 September (2:45 pm)	East Fremantle 9.20 (74)	def. by	Claremont 11.13 (79)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 11,482)
George Doig misses a late shot that could have drawn the match, and Claremont win their first final.[94]

Preliminary final

	Preliminary final
Saturday, 3 October (2:45 pm)	East Fremantle 14.13 (97)	def. by	East Perth 14.14 (98)	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 10,079)
Herb Screigh wins a third successive thrilling final with a goal after the siren. East Fremantle were leading by thirteen points with five minutes remaining.[95]

Grand final

Main article: 1936 WANFL Grand Final

	1936 WANFL Grand Final
Saturday, 10 October (2:45 pm)	Claremont	def. by	East Perth	Subiaco Oval (crowd: 20,874)	[96]
	1.2 (8) 5.2 (32) 6.5 (41) 9.6 (60)	Q1 Q2 Q3 Final	6.2 (38) 6.3 (39) 7.3 (45) 11.5 (71)	Umpires: Sparrow
Hopkins 3, Boys 2, Cook 2, Hooper, Robert Moloney		Goals	Dolan 4, Screaigh 2, Mussman 2, Parry, Cronin, Lockyer
Clarke, Headon, Birmingham, Reeves, George Moloney, Batt		Best	Hall, Miller, Graham, Crow, Starr, Parry
Hooper (shoulder)		Injuries
Despite kicking only 1.1 in the second and third quarters, East Perth win another exciting match with a fine last quarter into a strong breeze.

Notes

^a Since equalled by East Fremantle in 1965, Glenelg in 1986 and Adelaide in 1998