South Fremantle Football Club

History

The Fremantle Football Club (originally known as Unions and unrelated to either an earlier club and the current AFL club of the same name) had won ten premierships in the fourteen years that they were in the WA Football Association (now known as the West Australian Football League). By 1899, however, the club suffered from financial problems that caused the club to disband. The South Fremantle Football Club was formed to take their place following an application to the league by Griff John, who would be appointed secretary of the new club, with Tom O'Beirne the inaugural president. Most players, however, were from the defunct Fremantle club.

The new club did well in its first year, finishing runners-up. However, over the next three seasons the performance fell away badly and, in April 1904 a Fremantle newspaper confidently reported that South Fremantle would not appear again. However, the club decided to carry on and centreman Harry Hodge took over as skipper, but the season was a disaster. The club won only one game.

They won their first premiership in 1916 and went back-to-back in 1917, both times defeating their local rivals, East Fremantle in the final and challenge final. The 1930s were not as successful, marred by the death of the 23-year-old captain-coach Ron Doig as a result of injuries sustained in a match. After World War II, South experienced their greatest era, with the arrival of future Hall of Fame members Steve Marsh, Bernie Naylor, John Todd and Clive Lewington. Between 1945 and 1956 they would win six premierships, be runners-up three times and make the finals in every season. Since then, however, they have won five more premierships, in 1970, 1980, 1997, 2005 and 2009.

South Fremantle was the first WAFL club to have won 10 grand finals since World-War II. Four of their 13 premierships were won against the club's traditional rivals, East Fremantle.

In 2009 South Fremantle's League and Reserves sides won their respective Grand Finals. This was the first time the club had taken the Premiership double since 1954.

Fremantle Derby

The Fremantle Derby, is traditionally one of the biggest game of the year on the WAFL calendar. The derbies still have a great following but have decreased in importance compared to the Western Derby, the match between WA's two AFL teams.

The Foundation Day derby on the first Monday in June (a public holiday to mark the Foundation of Western Australia in 1829) is commonly the highest attended game of the home and away season. To the end of the 2006 season the two clubs had met 344 times with South Fremantle winning 156 to East Fremantle's 184 wins, 4 Draws have occurred between the two sides.

Club guernsey & colours

South Fremantle's Guernsey (shown right) used for all WAFL matches is all white with a red V in the centre of the guernsey. During the 1990s they also introduced the reverse of the traditional guernsey with a white V on a red jumper. The South Fremantle colours of red & white stem from the first Fremantle based team who wore red and white in the mid-1880s.

Supporters

South Fremantle are one of the most supported clubs in the WAFL.

South hold three notable WAFL Grand Final attendance records, 1979 v East Fremantle, 52,781, the highest ever attendance at a WAFL Grand Final, 1975 v West Perth, 52,322, the second highest ever Grand Final attendance and 1989 v Claremont, 38,198, the highest ever Grand Final attendance in the post AFL period.

On Foundation Day v East Fremantle at East Fremantle Oval, South played in front of the biggest crowd of the 2009 WAFL home and away season 11,300.

Souths average attendance at home and away fixtures is 3000, which is amongst the highest for the WAFL.

Club song

"We're the Bulldogs" is the theme song of the South Fremantle Football Club, played as the league team comes to the field at home and away games, and after a victory.

We are the mighty bulldogsAlways fighting onWith victory and flag our goalWith guts and determinationWe put the rest to shameBecause our fighting spirit wins the game.We're the bulldogs (yes we are)And we're the greatest (yes we are)The mighty red 'v' which stands for victoryThe rough tough bulldogs (yes we are)South Fremantle (yes we are)The southerners for ever moreDown by the port of FremantleWe hit them really hardWith true grit and courage we winSo come on Souths let's show themHow to play the game to winSouth Fremantle for ever moreWe're the bulldogs (yes we are)And we're the greatest (yes we are)The mighty red 'v' which stands for victoryThe rough tough bulldogs (yes we are)South Fremantle (yes we are)The southerners for ever more.

Club honours

WAFL Premierships: (13 total) 1916, 1917, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1970, 1980, 1997, 2005, 2009

WAFL Runners-up: (16 total) 1914, 1927, 1929, 1930, 1940, 1945, 1951, 1956, 1975, 1979, 1981, 1989, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2006

WAFL Minor Premiers: (12 total) 1906, 1915, 1947, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1983, 1997, 1999, 2009

WAFL Wooden Spoons: (12 total) 1904, 1920, 1925, 1936, 1943, 1944, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1972, 1987

Reserves Premierships: (10 total) 1936, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1985, 1986, 1991, 1992, 2004, 2009

Colts Premierships: (9 total) 1970, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 2002, 2003, 2011, 2012

Rodriguez Shield: (6 total) 1983, 1984, 1992, 2001, 2004, 2009

Individual honours

Sandover medallists: (10 total) 1928: Jack Rocchi, 1937: Frank Jenkins, 1947: Clive Lewington, 1952: Steve Marsh, 1955: John Todd, 1980: Stephen Michael, 1981: Stephen Michael, 1986: Mark Bairstow, 1989: Craig Edwards, 2005: Toby McGrath

Tassie Medallists: (3 total) 1983: Stephen Michael, 1984 & 1986: Brad Hardie

All Australians: (6 total) 1953: Steve Marsh, 1956: John Gerovich & Cliff Hillier, 1961: John Todd, 1972: Brian Ciccotosto, 1983: Stephen Michael 1983

Bernie Naylor Medallists: (21 total) Harvey (Duff) Kelly (50) 1905; George (Snowy) Thomas (31) 1910; Bonny Campbell (47) 1922; Sol Lawn (75) 1928 & (96) 1929; Bernie Naylor (131) 1946, (108) 1947, 91 (1948), (147) 1952, (167) 1953, (133) 1954; John Gerovich (74) 1956, (101) 1960 & (74) 1961; Ray Bauskis (108) 1977 & (82) 1978; Craig Edwards (54) 1992; Jon Dorotich (88) 1996 & (114) 1997; Zane Parsons (65) 2002; Ben Saunders (66) 2012 & (59) 2014 & (52) 2016

Records

Highest Score: Round 21, 1981 – 40.18 (258) vs. West Perth at Fremantle Oval

Lowest Score: Round 5, 1904 – 0.4 (4) vs. East Fremantle at Fremantle Oval

Greatest Winning Margin: Round 3, 1999 – 195 points vs. Peel at Fremantle Oval

Greatest Losing Margin: Round 1, 1944 – 256 points vs. East Perth at Perth Oval

Most Games: Marty Atkins 266

Most Goals: Bernie Naylor 1,023 (1941, 1946–1954)

Longest winning streak (league): 17 games from Round 2, 1953 to Round 18, 1953

Longest losing streak (league): 18 games from Round 4, 1987 to Round 21, 1987

Most goals in a season: 167 by Bernie Naylor in 1953

Most goals in a game: 23 by Bernie Naylor vs. Subiaco in 1953

Record Home Attendance: Round 10, 1979 – 23,109 vs. East Fremantle

Record Finals Attendance: 1979 Grand Final – 52,781 vs East Fremantle at Subiaco Oval [ Highest Ever WAFL Game Attendance Record]

Australian Football Hall of Fame

Seven former South Fremantle players are inducted in the Australian Football Hall of Fame. Stephen Michael was the first to be inducted in 1999. Steve Marsh and Peter Matera were both in inducted in 2006 followed by Glen Jakovich in 2008, Hassa Mann in 2013 and Peter Bell in 2015. John Todd was inducted in the coaches category in 2003.

West Australian Football Hall of Fame

With the exception of Hassa Mann, each of the South Fremantle players in the Australian Football Hall of Fame is also an inductee in the West Australian Football Hall of Fame, with Marsh and Todd awarded legends status.

Inaugural inductees (2004): Nashy Brentnall, Mal Brown, Bonny Campbell, John Gerovich, Brad Hardie, Ross Hutchinson, Frank Jenkins, Clive Lewington, Steve Marsh, Stephen Michael, Bernie Naylor, Maurice Rioli, Ray Sorrell, John Todd, John Worsfold

2005 Inductee: Peter Sumich

2006 Inductees: Peter Matera, Charlie Tyson

2008 Inductees: Dave Ingraham, Glen Jakovich, George Grljusich

2009 Inductee: Nicky Winmar

2010 Inductees: Mark Bairstow, Frank Treasure

2012 Inductee: Barry White

2013 Inductees: Ray Richards, Peter Bell

South Fremantle Football Club Hall of Fame

The South Fremantle Hall of Fame was inaugurated in 2011 with an initial induction of 45 players, coaches, administrators and staff from the club's inception in 1900 to 1979. A further induction will occur in 2016 covering the more recent years.

South Fremantle Indigenous Team of the Century

During NAIDOC Week in 2009, South Fremantle celebrated their long and extensive link to Indigenous Australians by naming an Indigenous Team of the century from the 78 Indigenous players that had played for them since Jimmy Melbourne first played in 1902. Selected by former club captain and chief executive Brian Ciccotosto, premiership coach Mal Brown and journalist Ray Wilson. Four of the players selected, Stephen Michael, Maurice Rioli, Nicky Winmar and Peter Matera, were also selected in the Australia-wide Indigenous Team of the Century.