East Fremantle Football Club

History

The East Fremantle Football Club was formed in 1898 and has won 29 league premierships in the West Australian Football League, making the club the second most successful in Australia, after Port Adelaide in the SANFL.

East Fremantle has a fierce rivalry with its Port cousin, South Fremantle, and the Foundation Day Derby between the two sides is a much anticipated highlight of the local football calendar. East Fremantle's success has thus far eclipsed that of South Fremantle, who (as of 2009) have won just 13 WAFL premierships.

Up until 1987, Western Australia was immersed in WAFL culture and East Fremantle enjoyed a strong following. In 1987, a Perth-based club – the West Coast Eagles – joined an expanded Victorian Football League. West Coast's initial squad included many East Fremantle players and they were coached by former East Fremantle premiership player and coach, Ron Alexander. Interest in the semi-national competition saw attendances at WAFL games start to fall, with severe consequences for the club's support base and finances. By the middle 2000s, East Fremantle was in severe trouble on and off the field, winning only nineteen of eighty matches between 2003 and 2006 and suffering severe financial difficulties, though since then the clubs has substantially recovered without winning a thirtieth premiership.

The Sharks once pulled on average 10,000 people to a home game. Now – in 2007 – 2,000 people to a home game is considered a strong attendance.

Club Song

The East Fremantle Football Club team song is sung to the tune of "Notre Dame Victory March".

Cheer, Cheer the Blue and the WhiteHonour the Sharks by day and by nightLift that loyal banner highShake out the thunder from the skyWhether the odds be great or be smallWe'll go out and win over allWhile our players keep on fightingOnwards to victory

Club

West Australian Football League

Premiers (29): 1900, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1906, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1914, 1918, 1925, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1937, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1957, 1965, 1974, 1979, 1985, 1992, 1994, 1998

Runners-up (29): 1899, 1901, 1905, 1907 1912, 1916, 1917, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1923, 1924, 1934, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1944, 1954, 1955, 1958, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1977, 1984, 1986, 1997, 2000, 2012

West Australian State Premiership (4): 1904, 1906, 1909, 1910

Reserves Premierships (13): 1926, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1950, 1951, 1962, 1970, 1989, 1993, 1994, 2001, 2008

Colts Premierships (10): 1962, 1966, 1969, 1973, 1981, 1987, 1992, 1998, 2001, 2010

Fourths Premierships (2): 1972, 1974

Rodriguez Shield (6): 1957, 1977, 1985, 1996, 1997, 1998

Wooden Spoons (3): 1898, 2004, 2006

Individual honours

Sandover Medallists: (12 total) 1931: Lin Richards, 1950: Jim Conway, 1957: Jack Clarke, 1961 & 1963: Ray Sorrell, 1971: David Hollins, 1974: Graham Melrose, 1977: Brian Peake, 1985: Murray Wrensted, 1995: Craig Treleven, 1998: Adrian Bromage, 2013: Rory O'Brien

Simpson Medallists: (8 total) 1945: Alan Ebbs, 1957: Frank Conway, 1962: Ray Sorrell, 1964: Norm Rogers, 1965: Dave Imrie, 1979: Kevin Taylor, 1992: Clinton Browning, 1994: Mark Amaranti, 1998: Adrian Bromage

Bernie Naylor Medallists: (13 total) 1923: Dinney Coffey (36), 1933: George Doig (106), 1934: George Doig (152), 1935: George Doig (113), 1936: George Doig (109), 1937: George Doig (144), 1941: George Doig (141), 1949: George Prince (82), 1966: Bob Johnson (92), 1979: Kevin Taylor (102), 1989: Neil Lester-Smith (90), 1999: Rod Tregenza (57), 2000: Rod Tregenza (86)

Prendergast Medallists: (9 total) 1954: Bill Taggart, 1977: Joe Angel, 1978: Kevin Taylor, 1994: Jon Stagg, 2002: Leigh Willison, 2007: Morgan Cooper, 2008: Conor Davidson, 2010: James Murray, 2011: Timothy Viney

Jack Clarke Medallists: (5 total) 1985: Mark Amaranti, 1989: Graham Ralph, 2000: Matthew Cremin, 2001: Andrew Green, 2013: Jacob Green

Chesson Medallists: (2 total) 1972: Greg Brown, 1973: Doug Winning

All Australians: 1953, 1956, 1958 & 1961: Jack Clarke, 1958: Alan Preen, 1958: Norm Rogers, 1958 & 1961: Ray Sorrell, 1979 & 1980: Brian Peake, 1979: Tony Buhagiar, 1983: Kevin Taylor, 1986: Peter Wilson

Tassie Medallists: (1 total) 1979: Brian Peake

Records

Highest Score: Round 17, 1944 – 33.23 (221) vs. South Fremantle at Fremantle Oval

Lowest Score: Round 13, 1898 – 1.2 (8) vs. West Perth at WACA

Greatest Winning Margin: Round 17, 1944 - 201 points vs. South Fremantle at Fremantle Oval

Greatest Losing Margin: Round 10, 1981 - 178 points vs. West Perth at Leederville Oval

Most games: Brian Peake 304 (1972-1981 & 1985-1989)

Most goals: George Doig 1111

Record Home Attendance: Round 3, 1979 – 21,317 vs. South Fremantle

Record Finals Attendance: 1979 Grand Final – 52,781 vs. South Fremantle at Subiaco Oval

Most consecutive victories: 35, between 28 July 1945 (Round 13) and 17 May 1947 (Round 3), including the 1945 and 1946 premierships

Most consecutive losses: 13

1. between 18 May 1968 (Round 7) and 17 August 1968 (Round 19)
2. between 11 April 1970 (Round 2) and 11 July 1970 (Round 14)

Hall of Fame

On Saturday 2 June 2012 the East Fremantle Football Club inducted 52 individuals into the inaugural East Fremantle Football Club Hall of Fame. 9 inductees were also given 'Legend' status. Only Players, Officials and Volunteers that served the club between 1898 and 1986 were deemed worthy to be inducted. See: East Fremantle Football Club Hall of fame

Team of the Century

In 1997 the East Fremantle Football Club named its Team of the Century, to coincide with the club centenary celebrations. The team includes many names that have become synonymous with East Fremantle.

Fremantle Team of Legends

In 2007 the East Fremantle and South Fremantle Football Clubs came together to select the Fremantle Team of Legends. The Team consisted of players from East and South Fremantle that had played at least 100 WAFL games for either Fremantle club.

AFL/VFL players (including Rookies)

There is a list of past and present East Fremantle players who have played at AFL/VFL:

Roll of honour

Former East Fremantle Football Club players killed in action include:

Corporal Percy Sutherland MOFFLIN (10th Light Horse), KIA, Gallipoli, 16 June 1915

Private Roy James 'Nugget' WRIGHTSON (11th Battn), KIA, Armentières, 30 May 1916

Private John Alexander Robertson 'Hooky' DOIG (44th Battn), KIA, Messines, 31 July 1917

Gunner John 'Jack' McCARTHY (36th Heavy Artillery), KIA, Ypres, 4 October 1917

Private Arthur Henry 'Cock' WRIGHTSON (48th Battn), KIA, Passchendaele, 12 October 1917