In contrast, Swan Districts – who had at the beginning of the decade risen from a long period as a chopping block to a hat-trick of premierships – fell to become the first WANFL team to win only one match in a season since they themselves did so in 1951,[1] owing to extreme weakness in the ruck[3] where expected top follower Dave Dalgarno moved to QAFL club Western Districts under an ANFC coaching scheme without playing a league match,[4] major injuries to key players Ken Bagley, John Turnbull and Peter Manning,[5] and the retirement of numerous key players of between 1961 and 1965.
However, in the most uneven season in a major Australian Rules league,[a] they won all 12 games against the four teams that missed the finals, but lost all 9 matches against the three Perth clubs that finished above them on the ladder.
[19] The Demons’ desire and toughness, along with West Perth’s careless shooting and the use of Farmer in defence to compensate for the loss of Brian France, ensures the black and reds stay unbeaten.
East Perth record a second on-the-siren victory over Subiaco, this time after the Maroons took the lead after having been forty-five points behind early in the final quarter, only to see Vic Evans produce a fine snap out of a pack.
By putting himself on the ball with Cable and Jenzen, Perth captain-coach Mal Atwell leads a superb comeback as the Demons score the final eight goals for a convincing victory in a physically tough match.