2002 WAFL season

Subiaco’s acquisition of David Sierakowski, David Haynes and Josh Wooden due to the end of the host club scheme helps it come back from five goals down to beat the two-time premiers.^[1]

• Despite losing Brett Cousins and key defender Phil Smith, and kicking two goals to half-time, West Perth recover to maintain a perfect record against Peel.^[9]
• East Perth become the first team to win after being goalless at half-time since Perth, with an identical first-half score of 0.6 (6), beat Swan Districts 5.11 (41) to 3.12 (30) in 1973. The Royals’ win was the more remarkable for lacking Troy Butcher, Devan Perry, Judd Lalich and Michael Prior.^[10]

Swan Districts win their only game after a fifty-metre penalty to Craig de Corsey for an off-the ball incident not seen by the crowd gives them an easy goal.^[11]

• Nine goals from Zac Parsons and a superb effort from rangy follower-turned winger Daniel Gilmore ensures South Fremantle win at Wickepin in the Wheatbelt.^[12]
• A depleted East Perth comes from 33 points behind to beat an accurate Peel with only Todd Ridley as a recognised forward.^[13]

Swan Districts kick their lowest score against Subiaco, beating out 4.10 (34) from 1964.^[14]

Swans hit the front late in the third quarter, but waste opportunities before East Fremantle kick 8.5 (53) to nothing in the last.^[15]

• Peel beat West Perth for the first time, so that the Thunder had now beaten all their eight rivals at least once.^[16]
• The Falcons’ score was the lowest against Peel to that point, beating 7.15 (57) by Swan Districts in 2001.^[17]

Peel went within two minutes of becoming the first senior WAFL team to score no goals in a match since West Perth did so against soon-defunct Midland Junction in the opening round of 1916.^[18] Brandon Hill kicked the Thunder’s only goal from a long shot 23 minutes into the last quarter.^[19]

Big Shark ruckmen Aaron Sandilands and Simon Eastaugh give East Fremantle a win that essentially ends Perth’s finals hopes, despite a second-half fadeout that sees them kick only 4.2 (26) to 10.11 (71).^[5]

After an appalling first half in fine weather, East Fremantle kick 5.5 (35) to 2.3 (15) into the breeze to move to second and end a second team’s finals hopes.^[20]

Claremont record the third lowest aggregate score in their history and the lowest since 1966.^[21]

• A burst of six goals in eight minutes during the last quarter wins West Perth the match and prepares them for the finals.^[22]
• Bulldog veteran Marty Atkins produces an astonishing left foot torpedo punt goal as the Bulldogs led by 44 points before a remarkable Tiger comeback sees them 11 points ahead into time-on, before two Bulldog goals win.^[23]

Two goals each to Todd Curley and Corey Johnson snatch the game after the Falcons were nineteen points down entering time-on in the last quarter.^[24]

The switch of Adam Curley into attack proved decisive for the Falcons who overpowered Subiaco in the last quarter.^[25]

Tony Micale wins his fourth premiership in five years (he won with East Fremantle in 1998) as West Perth are strangled completely up forward before rain affects the second half and the Royals coast.