It saw South Fremantle break Subiaco’s dynasty that had seen the Lions a kick shy of a perfect season in 2008, winning their last ten games after the early part of the season was the most evenly contested since the nine-club competition began in 1997.
Peel Thunder, with Dean Buszan back, at one point looked like they might achieve their first season with more wins than losses, but returned to their old ways, losing their last ten games by an average of sixty-two points, whilst East Fremantle did not build upon their excellent finish to 2008.
Swan Districts record their biggest with fewer scoring shots, and the biggest in the WAFL since 1994[2] The Bassendean Oval draw produced the first season since 1969 with multiple drawn games; indeed the first time since 1970 when consecutive WANFL/WAFL/WASFL/Westar Rules draws had ever been closer apart than one season.
A wasteful 1.7 (13) in the last quarter kicks Swan Districts out of a second straight Grand Final berth.
[4] Subiaco fail to farewell retiring stars Stenglein, Fletcher, Smith, Maplestone and Pickett with a fourth successive flag, owing to the power of the Bulldogs’ “engine room”.