2009 WAFL season

The 2009 WAFL season was the 125th season of the West Australian Football League in its various incarnations. 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.

2009 WAFL season
Teams9
PremiersSouth Fremantle
13th premiership
Minor premiersSouth Fremantle
12th minor premiership
Sandover MedallistRoss Young (Perth)
Bernie Naylor MedallistChad Jones (Claremont)
Matches played94
← 2008
2010 →

In the end, however, the top four was the same as in 2008. 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. 2008 wooden spooners East Perth turned out the biggest threat to the top four with seven wins from eight matches[1] but failed in their last match against Subiaco.

Home-and-away season

Round 1

Round 1
Friday, 20 March (7:40 pm)Subiaco 10.21 (81)def.Claremont 10.6 (66)Leederville Oval (crowd: 2276)
Friday, 20 March (7:40 pm)South Fremantle 15.14 (104)def.Swan Districts 13.9 (87)Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3354)
Saturday, 21 March (2:15 pm)East Fremantle 15.7 (97)def.Peel Thunder 14.5 (89)East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2011)
Saturday, 21 March (2:15 pm)West Perth 16.7 (103)def.East Perth 14.12 (96)Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2557)
Bye
Perth

Round 2

Round 2
Friday, 27 March (6:30 pm)East Perth 5.16 (46)def. byEast Fremantle 13.15 (93)Leederville Oval (crowd: 1508)
Saturday, 28 March (2:15 pm)West Perth 17.12 (114)def.South Fremantle 16.11 (107)Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1986)
Saturday, 28 March (2:15 pm)Peel Thunder 16.13 (109)def.Perth 16.10 (106)Rushton Park (crowd: 1569)
Saturday, 28 March (2:15 pm)Swan Districts 14.17 (101)def.Subiaco 15.7 (97)Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2406)
Bye
Claremont

Round 3

Round 3
Friday, 3 April (7:40 pm)South Fremantle 5.19 (49)def. byPerth 13.12 (90)Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2881)
Friday, 3 April (7:40 pm)Subiaco 20.9 (129)def.West Perth 13.10 (88)Leederville Oval (crowd: 2576)
Saturday, 4 April (2:15 pm)Claremont 10.14 (74)def. byEast Perth 19.8 (122)Claremont Oval (crowd: 1702)
Saturday, 4 April (2:15 pm)Swan Districts 13.12 (90)def. byPeel Thunder 18.15 (123)Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1935)
Bye
East Fremantle

Round 4 (Easter weekend)

Round 4
Thursday, 9 April (7:40 pm)Subiaco 13.7 (85)def. bySouth Fremantle 21.14 (140)Leederville Oval (crowd: 2533)
Saturday, 11 April (2:15 pm)East Fremantle 13.20 (98)def.Claremont 12.13 (85)East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2058)
Monday, 13 April (2:15 pm)Perth 11.8 (74)def.Swan Districts 9.13 (67)Lathlain Park (crowd: 3921)
Monday, 13 April (2:15 pm)East Perth 10.12 (72)def. byPeel Thunder 10.15 (75)Leederville Oval (crowd: 2130)
Bye
West Perth

Round 5

Round 5
Saturday, 18 April (2:15 pm)Claremont 14.11 (95)def. bySouth Fremantle 16.16 (112)Albany (crowd: 2394)
Saturday, 18 April (2:15 pm)East Fremantle 18.7 (115)def.West Perth 13.12 (90)East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2396)
Saturday, 18 April (2:15 pm)East Perth 14.8 (92)def.Perth 12.11 (83)Leederville Oval (crowd: 2054)
Sunday, 19 April (3:15 pm)Peel Thunder 16.9 (105)def. bySubiaco 17.11 (113)Rushton Park (crowd: 1966)
Bye
Swan Districts

Round 6 (Anzac Day weekend)

Round 6
Saturday, 25 April (1:30 pm)South Fremantle 11.14 (80)def.East Fremantle 11.8 (74)Fremantle Oval (crowd: 5484)
Saturday, 25 April (2:15 pm)Swan Districts 13.18 (96)def.Claremont 11.11 (77)Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2334)
Sunday, 26 April (2:15 pm)Perth 13.8 (86)def. byWest Perth 15.15 (105)Lathlain Park (crowd: 3651)
Monday, 27 April (2:15 pm)Subiaco 10.13 (73)def. byEast Perth 10.16 (76)Leederville Oval (crowd: 3670)
Bye
Peel Thunder

Round 7

Round 7
Friday, 1 May (7:45 pm)West Perth 12.9 (81)def. bySwan Districts 17.15 (117)Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2562)
Saturday, 2 May (2:15 pm)Claremont 16.13 (109)def. byPeel Thunder 17.11 (113)Claremont Oval (crowd: 1219)
Sunday, 3 May (2:15 pm)East Fremantle 17.9 (111)def. byPerth 20.4 (124)East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2262)
Sunday, 3 May (2:15 pm)East Perth 7.10 (52)def. bySouth Fremantle 22.18 (150)Leederville Oval (crowd: 2370)
Bye
Subiaco

Round 8

Round 8
Saturday, 9 May (2:15 pm)Subiaco 15.17 (107)def.East Fremantle 8.9 (57)Leederville Oval (crowd: 1890)
Saturday, 9 May (2:15 pm)Perth 10.10 (70)def. byClaremont 13.21 (99)Lathlain Park (crowd: 2453)
Saturday, 9 May (2:15 pm)Swan Districts 18.12 (120)def.East Perth 12.9 (81)Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2783)
Saturday, 9 May (2:15 pm)Peel Thunder 12.8 (80)def. byWest Perth 19.16 (130)Rushton Park (crowd: 1601)
Bye
South Fremantle

Round 9

Round 9
Saturday, 16 May (2:15 pm)Subiaco 25.15 (165)def.Perth 9.9 (63)Leederville Oval (crowd: 1887)
Saturday, 16 May (2:15 pm)East Fremantle 7.7 (49)def. bySwan Districts 20.9 (129)East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2070)
Saturday, 16 May (2:15 pm)West Perth 15.12 (102)def.Claremont 12.13 (85)Arena Joondalup (crowd: 1952)
Saturday, 16 May (2:15 pm)South Fremantle 23.16 (154)def.Peel Thunder 13.15 (93)Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1499)
Bye
East Perth

Round 10 (Foundation Day)

Round 10
Saturday, 30 May (2:15 pm)Peel Thunder 15.22 (112)def. bySwan Districts 19.11 (125)Rushton Park (crowd: 2006)
Monday, 1 June (2:15 pm)East Fremantle 18.7 (115)def.South Fremantle 17.12 (114)East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 11,051)
Monday, 1 June (2:15 pm)West Perth 12.15 (87)def.East Perth 13.7 (85)Arena Joondalup (crowd: 3996)
Monday, 1 June (2:15 pm)Claremont 11.12 (78)def. bySubiaco 17.14 (116)Claremont Oval (crowd: 2367)
Bye
Perth

Round 11

Round 11
Saturday, 6 June (2:15 pm)Perth 11.9 (75)def. byPeel Thunder 17.11 (113)Lathlain Park (crowd: 2010)
Saturday, 6 June (2:15 pm)West Perth 12.10 (82)def.Subiaco 11.10 (76)Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2271)
Saturday, 6 June (2:15 pm)Swan Districts 15.11 (101)def.South Fremantle 12.11 (83)Bassendean Oval (crowd: 4265)
Saturday, 6 June (2:15 pm)East Perth 9.11 (65)def. byClaremont 18.13 (121)Leederville Oval (crowd: 1701)
Bye
East Fremantle

Round 12

Round 12
Saturday, 13 June (2:15 pm)Perth 15.19 (109)def.East Perth 8.13 (61)Lathlain Park (crowd: 2425)
Saturday, 13 June (2:15 pm)Peel Thunder 10.13 (73)def. byEast Fremantle 15.20 (110)Rushton Park (crowd: 1888)
Saturday, 13 June (2:15 pm)Subiaco 16.14 (110)def.Swan Districts 13.11 (89)Leederville Oval (crowd: 3244)
Saturday, 13 June (2:15 pm)South Fremantle 21.19 (145)def.West Perth 10.4 (64)Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2130)
Bye
Claremont

Round 13

Round 13
Saturday, 20 June (2:15 pm)Claremont 11.17 (83)def.East Fremantle 10.9 (69)Claremont Oval (crowd: 1412)
Saturday, 20 June (2:15 pm)Swan Districts 18.7 (115)def.Perth 8.21 (69)Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2022)
Saturday, 20 June (2:15 pm)South Fremantle 10.14 (74)def. bySubiaco 15.12 (102)Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2025)
Saturday, 20 June (2:15 pm)East Perth 16.12 (108)def.Peel Thunder 10.12 (72)Margaret River (crowd: 1948)
Bye
West Perth

Swan Districts record their biggest with fewer scoring shots, and the biggest in the WAFL since 1994[2]

Round 14

Round 14
Saturday, 27 June (2:15 pm)Perth 10.10 (70)def. bySouth Fremantle 16.13 (109)Lathlain Park (crowd: 2639)
Saturday, 27 June (2:15 pm)Claremont 12.11 (83)def.West Perth 10.9 (69)Claremont Oval (crowd: 1232)
Saturday, 27 June (2:15 pm)East Fremantle 4.12 (36)def. byEast Perth 12.13 (85)East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1152)
Saturday, 27 June (2:15 pm)Subiaco 26.14 (170)def.Peel Thunder 9.9 (63)Leederville Oval (crowd: 1327)
Bye
Swan Districts

Round 15

Round 15
Saturday, 4 July (2:15 pm)West Perth 16.7 (103)def. byPerth 21.12 (138)Arena Joondalup (crowd: 3226)
Saturday, 4 July (2:15 pm)Swan Districts 24.14 (158)def.East Fremantle 8.12 (60)Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2317)
Saturday, 4 July (2:15 pm)South Fremantle 25.11 (161)def.Claremont 12.11 (83)Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1807)
Saturday, 4 July (2:15 pm)East Perth 13.5 (83)def.Subiaco 10.18 (78)Leederville Oval (crowd: 2373)
Bye
Peel Thunder

Round 16

Round 16
Friday, 10 July (6:40 pm)South Fremantle 17.16 (118)def.East Perth 11.5 (71)Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1373)
Saturday, 11 July (2:15 pm)Perth 16.15 (111)def.East Fremantle 11.8 (74)Lathlain Park (crowd: 2272)
Saturday, 11 July (2:15 pm)Swan Districts 16.13 (109)drew withWest Perth 16.13 (109)Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2967)
Saturday, 11 July (2:15 pm)Peel Thunder 17.10 (112)def. byClaremont 20.11 (131)Rushton Park (crowd: 1417)
Bye
Subiaco

Round 17

Round 17
Saturday, 18 July (2:15 pm)Claremont 11.8 (74)def. byPerth 14.15 (99)Claremont Oval (crowd: 1379)
Saturday, 18 July (2:15 pm)East Fremantle 9.9 (63)def. bySubiaco 13.16 (94)East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1512)
Saturday, 18 July (2:15 pm)West Perth 12.13 (85)def.Peel Thunder 5.14 (44)Corrigin (crowd: 1900)
Saturday, 18 July (2:15 pm)East Perth 20.13 (133)def.Swan Districts 13.11 (89)Leederville Oval (crowd: 1943)
Bye
South Fremantle

Round 18

Round 18
Friday, 24 July (6:30 pm)Subiaco 11.12 (78)def. bySouth Fremantle 14.11 (95)Leederville Oval (crowd: 2128)
Saturday, 25 July (2:15 pm)Peel Thunder 11.9 (75)def. byEast Perth 19.8 (122)Rushton Park (crowd: 1226)
Bye
Claremont, East Fremantle, Perth, Swan Districts, West Perth

Round 19

Round 19
Saturday, 1 August (2:15 pm)Perth 13.14 (92)def. bySubiaco 18.11 (119)Lathlain Park (crowd: 2527)
Saturday, 1 August (2:15 pm)Claremont 9.11 (65)def. bySwan Districts 23.14 (152)Claremont Oval (crowd: 2933)
Saturday, 1 August (2:15 pm)West Perth 22.14 (146)def.East Fremantle 7.14 (56)Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2007)
Saturday, 1 August (2:15 pm)Peel Thunder 10.15 (75)def. bySouth Fremantle 28.9 (177)Anniversary Park (crowd: 2241)
Bye
East Perth

Round 20

Round 20
Saturday, 8 August (2:15 pm)Perth 8.10 (58)def. byEast Perth 28.8 (176)Lathlain Park (crowd: 2183)
Saturday, 8 August (2:15 pm)East Fremantle 19.10 (124)def.Claremont 14.12 (96)East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1403)
Saturday, 8 August (2:15 pm)Subiaco 14.18 (102)def.Swan Districts 13.11 (89)Leederville Oval (crowd: 2629)
Saturday, 8 August (2:15 pm)South Fremantle 9.20 (74)def.West Perth 10.7 (67)Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1623)
Bye
Peel Thunder

Round 21

Round 21
Friday, 14 August (7:40 pm)South Fremantle 8.19 (67)def.East Fremantle 7.9 (51)Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2394)
Saturday, 15 August (2:15 pm)Swan Districts 13.13 (91)drew withPerth 13.13 (91)Bassendean Oval (crowd: 1537)
Saturday, 15 August (2:15 pm)Peel Thunder 8.9 (57)def. byClaremont 15.15 (105)Rushton Park (crowd: 932)
Saturday, 15 August (2:15 pm)East Perth 12.17 (89)def.West Perth 11.7 (73)Leederville Oval (crowd: 2289)
Bye
Subiaco

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.[3]

Round 22

Round 22
Saturday, 22 August (2:15 pm)Perth 24.19 (163)def.Peel Thunder 6.7 (43)Lathlain Park (crowd: 1771)
Saturday, 22 August (2:15 pm)Claremont 21.9 (135)def.West Perth 11.9 (75)Claremont Oval (crowd: 1405)
Saturday, 22 August (2:15 pm)East Fremantle 9.6 (60)def. bySwan Districts 19.23 (137)East Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1401)
Saturday, 22 August (2:15 pm)East Perth 8.14 (62)def. bySubiaco 11.13 (79)Leederville Oval (crowd: 2295)
Bye
South Fremantle

Round 23

Round 23
Saturday, 29 August (2:15 pm)Claremont 11.8 (74)def. byPerth 10.16 (76)Claremont Oval (crowd: 1660)
Saturday, 29 August (2:15 pm)West Perth 15.7 (97)def.Subiaco 14.6 (90)Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2537)
Saturday, 29 August (2:15 pm)Swan Districts 12.8 (80)def. bySouth Fremantle 22.11 (143)Bassendean Oval (crowd: 3427)
Saturday, 29 August (2:15 pm)Peel Thunder 11.13 (79)def. byEast Fremantle 23.6 (144)Rushton Park (crowd: 1330)
Bye
East Perth

Ladder

2009 ladder
PosTeamPldWLDPFPAPPPts
1South Fremantle (P)20155022561647137.060
2Subiaco20137020641663124.152
3Swan Districts20117221421823117.548
4West Perth2010911870193996.442
5East Perth201010017771766100.640
6Perth2091011847194994.838
7East Fremantle2081201656199383.132
8Claremont2071301818196992.328
9Peel Thunder2051501705238671.520
Source: WAFL Footy Facts
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals

First semi-final

First semi-final
Saturday, 5 September (2:15 pm)Swan Districts 16.14 (110)def.West Perth 10.13 (73)Bassendean Oval (crowd: 5,150)

Second semi-final

Second semi-final
Saturday, 5 September (2:15 pm)South Fremantle 19.21 (135)def.Subiaco 10.5 (65)Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3,646)

Preliminary final

Preliminary final
Saturday, 12 September (2:15 pm)Subiaco 13.11 (89)def.Swan Districts 9.16 (70)Leederville Oval (crowd: 5,831)

A wasteful 1.7 (13) in the last quarter kicks Swan Districts out of a second straight Grand Final berth.[4]

Grand Final

2009 WAFL Grand Final
South Fremantledef.SubiacoSubiaco Oval (crowd: 22,738)[5]
5.3 (33)
8.8 (56)
15.10 (100)
 17.11 (113)
Q1
Q2
Q3
 Final
3.4 (22)
5.8 (38)
7.11 (53)
 13.17 (95)
Umpires: Stuart Parry, Craig Hendrie, Gavin Statham
Simpson Medal: Ashton Hams (South Fremantle)
Wilson 5, Wilkie 2, Mugambwa 2, Theo Adams 2, Kyle Hams, Bell, Graham, Siegert, Head, FarmerGoalsDennis-Lane 4, Fletcher 2, Keevers 2, Pickett, Broadhurst, Newick, Cossom, Adamson-Holmes
Ashton Hams, Bell, Kyle Hams, Wilson, Miller, HuntBestFletcher, Stenglein, Keevers, Pickett, Hildebrandt, Webb

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”.

References