West Perth Football Club

History

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. 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.

The West Australian Football Club was established in 1886 and were admitted to the competition for the 1887 season. 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. 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. 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.

In February 2024, the City of Joondalup asked the football club to consider changing their name to the 'Joondalup Football Club' or 'Northern Football Club,' considering they have resided in Joondalup for 30 years. The football club and the City of Joondalup are yet to agree on a naming deal.

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.

Club song

:"It's a Grand Old Flag" :"(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!

Honours

Club honours

Individual honours

Sandover Medallists: (12 total) : 1922: Harold Boyd : 1924: Jim Gosnell : 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 : 2022: Luke Meadows

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) : 2021: Tyler Keitel (64) : 2023: Tyler Keitel (57) : 2024: Tyler Keitel (56) : 2025: Tyler Keitel (52)

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

Club records

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 (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

WA Football Hall of Fame

West Perth players who have been inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame:

Premierships

Grand finals

: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)

Last premiership team

Club coaches

: 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 : 2022-23 Darren Harris : 2024-25 Jason Salecic : 2025-26 Paul Sanzone

Club captains

: 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) : 2018–21: Aaron Black : 2022-23: Aaron Black and Dean Munns : 2024: Dean Munns : 2025-: Luke Meadows

Current squad

As of October 2022: : 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 Toddles : 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

Team of the Century

AFL/VFL players (including rookies)

This is a list of West Perth players who have played at AFL/VFL level:

• Blake Acres (St Kilda, Fremantle and Carlton)
• Marcus Adams (Western Bulldogs and Brisbane Lions)
• Oscar Allen (West Coast)
• Ian Anderson (Essendon)
• Horrie Bant (1882–1957) (St Kilda and Essendon)
• Liam Baker (Richmond and West Coast)
• Laurie Bellotti (West Coast)
• Bill Benton (1906–1979) (Richmond)
• Jack Beveridge (1907–1986) (Collingwood)
• Darren Bewick (Essendon)
• Rohan Bewick (Brisbane Lions)
• Aaron Black (footballer, born 1992) (West Coast)
• Ashley Blurton (West Coast and Richmond)
• Kepler Bradley (Essendon and Fremantle)
• Phil Bradmore (Footscray)
• Bruce Bridges (1917–1999) (Fitzroy)
• Steven Browne (Carlton)
• Jeff Bruce (Fitzroy)
• Bill Burns (1884–1955) (Geelong and Richmond)
• Ronnie Burns (Geelong and Adelaide)
• Fred Buttsworth (Essendon)
• Wally Buttsworth (1917–2002) (Essendon)
• Adam Campbell (Fremantle)
• Jack Cashman (1906–1982) (Fitzroy and Carlton)
• Callum Chambers (West Coast and Carlton)
• Heath Chapman (Fremantle)
• Kevin Clarke (1931–2009) (Melbourne and Carlton)
• Ernie Coward (1916–1985) (Essendon)
• Phil Cronan (St Kilda and Footscray)
• Todd Curley (Collingwood and Footscray/Western Bulldogs)
• Jack Darling (West Coast)
• Bill Davern (1883–1952) (Geelong)
• Jim Davies (1926–2010) (Carlton)
• Barry Day (Essendon)
• Ian Downsborough (West Coast, Port Adelaide and Adelaide)
• Billy Duckworth (Essendon)
• John Duckworth (Fitzroy)
• Max Duffy (Fremantle)
• Russell Ellen (Essendon)
• Neil Evans (Essendon)
• Ron Evans (1939–2007) (Essendon)
• Brian Falconer (Hawthorn)
• Graham Farmer (Geelong)
• Brendon Fewster (West Coast and Fremantle)
• Vic Fisher (1924–1999) (Essendon)
• Shane Fitzsimmons (Melbourne)
• Dan Foley (Richmond)
• Arthur Ford (1881–1953) (Carlton)
• Peter Freeman (St Kilda)
• Ray Gabelich (1933–2000) (Collingwood)
• John Gastev (West Coast and Brisbane Bears)
• Barney Grecian (1872–1919) (Essendon)
• Ralph Green (1911–1991) (Carlton)
• Chris Groom (Adelaide, Fremantle and North Melbourne)
• Brad Gwilliam (West Coast and Richmond)
• Derek Hall (West Coast and Geelong)
• Len Halley (Essendon)
• Jack Heal (1919–1988) (Melbourne)
• Stan Heal (1920–2010) (Melbourne)
• Trevor Heath (Essendon)
• Col Hebbard (Essendon)
• Bradley Hill (Hawthorn, Fremantle and St Kilda)
• Stephen Hill (Fremantle)
• Ray Holden (Melbourne)
• Mark Hutchings (West Coast)
• Jordan Jones (West Coast)
• Derek Kickett (North Melbourne, Essendon and Sydney Swans)
• Sean King (West Coast)
• Steven Koops (Fremantle and Western Bulldogs)
• Dean Laidley (West Coast and North Melbourne)
• Ken Leahy (1906–1985) (Geelong)
• Brent LeCras (North Melbourne)
• Mark LeCras (West Coast)
• Teddy Lockwood (1872–1953) (Geelong and Collingwood)
• Justin Longmuir (Fremantle)
• Troy Longmuir (Melbourne, Fremantle and Carlton)
• Ray Lucev (South Melbourne)
• Quinten Lynch (West Coast and Collingwood)
• Tom Marinko (1941–1981) (St Kilda)
• Josh Mellington (Fremantle)
• Mark Merenda (Richmond and West Coast)
• Paul Mifka (West Coast)
• Neil Mildenhall (Fremantle)
• Digby Morrell (North Melbourne and Carlton)
• Ray Niven (1910–1992) (Fitzroy and Melbourne)
• Darren O'Brien (Melbourne)
• Peter O'Donohue (1923–2012) (Hawthorn)
• David Palm (Richmond)
• Michael Pettigrew (Port Adelaide)
• Len Phillips (1890–1968) (St Kilda and Essendon)
• Jaxon Prior (Brisbane Lions and Essendon)
• Andrew Purser (Footscray)
• Bert Renfrey (1879–1940) (St Kilda)
• George Renwick (1886–1945) (Carlton)
• Arthur Retell (1906–1978) (St Kilda)
• Laurie Richards (Fitzroy)
• Mike Richardson (Collingwood, Essendon and Brisbane Bears)
• Jon Riggs (St Kilda)
• Austin Robertson Sr. (1907–1988) (South Melbourne)
• Nick Robertson (Brisbane Lions)
• Bob Robinson (1914–2001) (Fitzroy)
• Warren Roper (Collingwood)
• Brian Sampson (1941–2012) (Essendon)
• Don Scott (South Melbourne)
• Paul Shanahan (1948–2011) (Fitzroy)
• Wayde Skipper (Western Bulldogs)
• Josh Smith (North Melbourne)
• Phil Smith (1946–2010) (Geelong)
• Craig Smoker (Melbourne)
• Bob Spargo (Footscray)
• Darren Stanley (Footscray)
• Roan Steele (Collingwood)
• Peter Steward (North Melbourne)
• Andrew Strijk (West Coast)
• Paul Symmons (West Coast)
• John Towner (Essendon)
• Craig Turley (West Coast and Melbourne)
• Bill Valli (Collingwood and Essendon)
• Jay van Berlo (Fremantle)
• Nathan van Berlo (Adelaide)
• Robert Warnock (Fremantle and Carlton)
• Connor West (West Coast)
• Robbie West (West Coast and Footscray)
• Martin Whitelaw (Fremantle)
• Ike Whittaker (Footscray)
• Andrew Williams (West Coast and Collingwood)
• Don Williams (1935–1995) (Melbourne)
• Frank Williams (1884–1939) (St Kilda)
• Tom Williams (1876–1938) (Essendon)
• Troy Wilson (West Coast)
• Fred Wimbridge (1893–1977) (South Melbourne)

References and notes

References

1. "West Perth – Part One: 1885 to 1944". AustralianFootball.com.
2. (5 May 1885). "Sporting". West Australian.
3. [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2998292 FOOTBALL.] – ''[[The West Australian]]''. Published Wednesday, 13 May 1885. Retrieved from Trove, 1 July 2012.
4. [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article76213527 NEWS OF THE DAY.] – ''[[Daily News (Perth, Western Australia). The Daily News]]''. Published Saturday, 17 July 1886. Retrieved from Trove, 27 June 2012.
5. [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32718116 FOOTBALL.] – ''[[Western Mail (Western Australia). Western Mail]]''. Published Saturday, 27 April 1889. Retrieved from Trove, 27 June 2012.
6. [https://thewest.com.au/sport/wafl/falcons-target-birthday-victory-ng-ya-104047] ''[[The West Australian]]''. Published Friday, 15 April 2016.
7. Cowan, Sean (18 April 2015). "Historian debunks West Perth claim". The West Australian.
8. Eliza Reilly. (23 January 2022). "West Perth league debut, rivalries and finals headline WAFLW fixture release". The West Australian.
9. This tally refers to premiership (home-and-away and finals matches) only.