1937 WANFL season

{{Infobox Australian rules football season

| competition = wafl

| year = 1937

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| teams = 8

| premiers = {{WAFL|EF}}

| count = 18

| minor premiers = {{WAFL|Cla}}

| mpcount = 1

| matches = 88

| attendance =

| highattend =

| top goal scorer = George Doig ({{WAFL|EF}})

| sandover medal = Frank Jenkins ({{WAFL|SF}})

| prevseason = 1936

| nextseason = 1938

}}

The 1937 WANFL season was the 53rd season of the Western Australian National Football League. The season saw numerous notable highlights, including:

Five players{{ref label|Doig|a|a}} kicked 100 goals, a number equalled in the major leagues of VFL/AFL, VFA/VFL, or SANFL, only in the 1939 VFA season.{{ref label|Hawkins|b|b}}
Frank "Scranno" Jenkins won the Sandover Medal in his debut season of senior football with a record high under the 3-2-1 voting system of 34 votes.
In the second round, East Fremantle broke their own 21-year-old record for the highest score in league history.
East Perth drew three games in one season, a feat equalled in major Australian Rules Leagues only by VFA club Moorabbin in 1958 and West Perth in 1960. The Royals could easily have drawn a fourth game but for crowd acclamation preventing umpires from hearing the bell against Subiaco on Foundation Day.‘League Football – Swan Districts in Front; Claremont Beaten; Lower Sides Improve’; The West Australian, 8 June 1937, p. 16 No senior Australian Rules team at any level is known to have tied four matches in a season, but Geelong’s Under-19s did so in 1971.See VFL Football Record, 1971 First Semi-Final (4 September 1971)
Swan Districts, with Ted Holdsworth kicking at least six goals in each of the first ten games, reached their first finals series in only their fourth WANFL season. Holdsworth was to reach his 100 goals in two fewer games than George Doig took in his 152-goal 1934 season,‘League Football – Position Altered: Claremont Leads; West Perth’s Setback’; The West Australian; 12 July 1937, p. 12 but concussion and a broken hand‘Holdsworth’s Hand Broken: May Not Play Again This Year’; The West Australian; 25 August 1937, p. 7 eliminated the prospect of a new record.

Claremont, following on from their maiden finals campaign in 1936, won their first minor premiership, but were again beaten in the grand final, leading them to recruit returning West Perth coach Johnny Leonard (who led them to a hat-trick of premierships). East Fremantle, after three unsuccessful finals series, recovered to win their Eighteenth WANFL premiership, whilst Subiaco in falling from third after the 1936 home-and-away season to their first wooden spoon since 1916 with only three victories after the opening round, began thirty years as an almost perennial cellar-dweller.

Off the field, a minor dispute with the Perth City Council over the use of Leederville and Perth Ovals caused a delay in making the fixture list;‘Problem of Grounds – Meeting of Perth City Council Today’; The West Australian, 26 April 1937, p. 7 however unlike what was to happen in 1940 when those grounds were off limits to the WANFL all season the dispute was quickly resolved by a return to the £750 rental fee.See Potter, Harry; ‘Many Injuries but Few Were Serious’; The Daily News; 27 April 1937, p. 6

Home-and-away season

=Round 1=

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 24 April (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|EP}}|14.13 (97)|D|{{WAFL|Cla}}|13.19 (97)|Perth Oval||‘An Exciting Tie – Claremont’s Early Superiority’; The West Australian, 26 April 1937, p. 7}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 24 April (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Per}}|10.12 (72)|A|{{WAFL|EF}}|15.17 (107)|WACA||‘A Triumph for Team-Work – East Fremantle Wins Well’; The West Australian, 26 April 1937, p. 7}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 24 April (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|SF}}|14.15 (99)|A|{{WAFL|WP}}|19.8 (122)|Fremantle Oval||‘Strong Finishing Effort; Tyson Kicks 11 Goals’; The West Australian, 26 April 1937, p. 7}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 24 April (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Sub}}|16.11 (107)|H|{{WAFL|SD}}|11.17 (83)|Subiaco Oval||‘Subiaco Better Balanced: Chances Missed by Swan Districts’; The West Australian, 26 April 1937, p. 7}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=East Perth come back from twenty-nine points down at half-time for the first WANFL draw since Round 20, 1934 when the Royals drew with Subiaco.}}

=Round 2=

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 1 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|WP}}|10.19 (79)|H|{{WAFL|Per}}|9.11 (65)|Leederville Oval||‘Clase Contest at Leederville’; The West Australian, 4 May 1937, p. 15}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 1 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|EF}}|28.23 (191)|H|{{WAFL|SF}}|16.14 (110)|Fremantle Oval||“East Fremantle’s Big Score”; in The West Australian, 4 May 1937, p. 15}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 1 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Cla}}|18.14 (122)|H|{{WAFL|SD}}|13.8 (86)|Claremont Oval||‘Claremont Wins Well’; The West Australian, 4 May 1937, p. 15}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 1 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|EP}}|20.15 (135)|H|{{WAFL|Sub}}|7.7 (49)|Perth Oval||‘Changed Subiaco Side Overwhelmed’; The West Australian, 4 May 1937, p. 15}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=East Fremantle kick the highest score to that point in WANFL history, beating their own record of 27.22 (184) against the defunct Midland Junction from 1916. George Doig kicks a phenomenal 13.12 (90).}}

=Round 3 (Labour Day)=

{{AFLGame|Monday, 3 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Sub}}|10.13 (73)|A|{{WAFL|WP}}|12.7 (79)|Subiaco Oval||‘West Perth’s Close Call – Subiaco Goes Down Fighting’; The West Australian, 4 May 1937, p. 15}}

{{AFLGame|Monday, 3 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|SD}}|13.17 (95)|H|{{WAFL|SF}}|11.15 (81)|Bassendean Oval||‘Condition Tells: Swan Districts Successful’; The West Australian, 4 May 1937, p. 15}}

{{AFLGame|Monday, 3 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Cla}}|14.9 (93)|A|{{WAFL|EF}}|16.16 (112)|Claremont Oval||‘Last Quarter Recovery: East Fremantle Outplays Claremont’; The West Australian, 4 May 1937, p. 15}}

{{AFLGame|Monday, 3 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Per}}|11.10 (76)|A|{{WAFL|EP}}|25.27 (177)|WACA||‘A Runaway Victory – East Perth’s Fine Teamwork’; The West Australian, 4 May 1937, p. 15}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=East Perth set a WANFL record for best first quarter score with 10.11 (71). This was not beaten in open-age competition until Round 12 of 1955.{{Cite web |url=http://waflfootyfacts.net/QtrHalfRecords.html |title=WAFL Footy Facts: Most Points by One Team in First Quarter |access-date=19 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104071109/http://waflfootyfacts.net/QtrHalfRecords.html#2 |archive-date=4 November 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}}}

=Round 4=

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 8 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|SD}}|15.12 (102)|H|{{WAFL|EF}}|14.12 (96)|Bassendean Oval||‘A Brilliant Victory – Swan Districts’ Achievement’; The West Australian, 10 May 1937, p.}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 8 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|EP}}|8.3 (51)|D|{{WAFL|WP}}|7.9 (51)|Perth Oval||‘Fast and Willing – Exciting Tie at Perth Oval’; The West Australian, 10 May 1937, p.}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 8 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|SF}}|12.12 (84)|A|{{WAFL|Cla}}|15.10 (100)|Fremantle Oval||‘Claremont’s Steadiness; Challenge by South Fremantle’; The West Australian, 10 May 1937, p.}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 8 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Per}}|15.12 (102)|H|{{WAFL|Sub}}|13.12 (90)|WACA||‘Perth Greatly Improved – Good Form against Subiaco’; The West Australian, 10 May 1937, p.}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=East Perth’s two draws in four matches is the second-closest pair of draws by any club in WAFL history, behind West Perth’s two consecutive drawn games in 1960.[http://waflfootyfacts.net/streaks_all_teams.html#MostGamesBetweenDraws WAFL Footy Facts: Least Consecutive Games Between Successive Draws] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415054014/http://waflfootyfacts.net/streaks_all_teams.html#MostGamesBetweenDraws |date=April 15, 2014 }}}}

=Round 5 (Coronation Day)=

{{AFLGame|Wednesday, 12 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Sub}}|10.6 (66)|A|{{WAFL|Cla}}|12.13 (85)|Subiaco Oval||‘Superiority in Attack: Hopkins Kicks Seven Goals’; The West Australian, 13 May 1937, p. 14}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 15 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|WP}}|12.11 (83)|H|{{WAFL|EF}}|11.14 (80)|Leederville Oval||‘Won in Last Half-Minute – Desperate Effort by West Perth’; The West Australian, 17 May 1937, p. 7}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 15 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|SF}}|17.17 (119)|H|{{WAFL|Per}}|11.10 (76)|Fremantle Oval||‘South Fremantle’s First Win: Perth Badly Beaten’; The West Australian, 17 May 1937, p. 7}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 15 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|SD}}|12.9 (81)|H|{{WAFL|EP}}|11.7 (73)|Bassendean Oval||‘Pace and Stamina Prevail: Swan Districts’ Third Success’; The West Australian, 17 May 1937, p. 7}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=*The Claremont v Subiaco match was played on a public holiday for the coronation of King George VI.

West Perth stay undefeated via a goal by Bunting after he was interfered with by the man on the mark.
Holdsworth kicks ten of Swan Districts’ twelve goals in heavy rain to stay ahead on the goalkicking.
South Fremantle end their longest losing streak in open-age competition until 1987, having last won in the twelfth game of 1936.{{Cite web |url=http://waflfootyfacts.net/Teams/SouthFremantle/SouthFrem_streaks.html#ConsecutiveGamesLost |title=WAFL Footy Facts: South Fremantle Consecutive Games Lost |access-date=26 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029204648/http://waflfootyfacts.net/Teams/SouthFremantle/SouthFrem_streaks.html#ConsecutiveGamesLost |archive-date=29 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}}}

=Round 6=

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 22 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Per}}|11.15 (81)|A|{{WAFL|SD}}|14.14 (98)|WACA||‘Swan Districts’ Recovery – Perth’s Disastrous Lapse’; The West Australian, 24 May 1937, p. 15}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 22 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|EP}}|15.13 (103)|H|{{WAFL|SF}}|10.7 (67)|Perth Oval||‘Victory for East Perth: South Fremantle Fades Away’; The West Australian, 24 May 1937, p. 15}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 22 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|WP}}|11.8 (74)|A|{{WAFL|Cla}}|15.14 (104)|Leederville Oval||‘Claremont’s Strong Finish: West Perth Overwhelmed’; The West Australian, 24 May 1937, p. 15}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 22 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|EF}}|21.12 (138)|H|{{WAFL|Sub}}|12.20 (92)|Fremantle Oval||‘Subiaco Overshadowed: East Fremantle’s Impressive Play’; The West Australian, 24 May 1937, p. 15}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=*Claremont end West Perth’s unbeaten run under 1934 and 1935 premiership coach Leonard with a 5.5 (35) to 0.2 (2) last quarter.

Swan Districts recover from seven goals behind early in the second quarter to defeat Perth, with Holdsworth maintaining his average of eight goals a game.}}

=Round 7=

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 29 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|SF}}|17.14 (116)|H|{{WAFL|Sub}}|11.9 (75)|Fremantle Oval||‘Determined Teamwork – Victory for South Fremantle’; The West Australian, 31 May 1937, p. 7}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 29 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|SD}}|11.14 (80)|H|{{WAFL|WP}}|11.11 (77)|Bassendean Oval||‘Won with the Last Kick: Swan Districts Again Succeed’; The West Australian, 31 May 1937, p. 7}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 29 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|EP}}|18.11 (119)|H|{{WAFL|EF}}|10.8 (68)|Perth Oval||‘East Perth Well-Balanced – Marked Superiority in Second Half’; The West Australian, 31 May 1937, p. 7}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 29 May (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Cla}}|25.18 (168)|H|{{WAFL|Per}}|8.10 (58)|Claremont Oval||‘Perth Outclassed – Claremont’s Fine Form’; The West Australian, 31 May 1937, p. 7}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=*Swan Districts win a fifth successive close match to move into the top four.

Frank Hopkins kicks ten goals as Claremont record easily their biggest win in their twelve-year WA(N)FL history,[http://australianfootball.com/clubs/biggest_wins/Claremont/80 Claremont’s Biggest Wins] beating 68 points against the Demons from the previous season.}}

=Round 8=

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 5 June (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|WP}}|12.17 (89)|H|{{WAFL|SF}}|10.15 (75)|Leederville Oval||‘Superior in Attack: West Perth’s 14-Point Victory’; The West Australian; 7 June 1937, p. 5}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 5 June (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Cla}}|15.19 (109)|H|{{WAFL|EP}}|15.11 (101)|Claremont Oval||‘Claremont’s Good Form: Convincing Win from East Perth’; The West Australian; 7 June 1937, p. 5}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 5 June (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|SD}}|16.16 (112)|H|{{WAFL|Sub}}|7.10 (52)|Bassendean Oval||‘Subiaco Outclassed: Swan Districts too Strong’; The West Australian; 7 June 1937, p. 5}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 5 June (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|EF}}|16.26 (122)|H|{{WAFL|Per}}|18.11 (119)|Fremantle Oval||‘Perth’s Improvement: East Fremantle Hard-Pressed’; The West Australian; 7 June 1937, p. 5}}

=Round 9 (Foundation Day)=

{{AFLGame|Monday, 7 June (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|SF}}|16.15 (111)|H|{{WAFL|EF}}|14.17 (101)|Fremantle Oval||‘South Fremantle’s Success – Late Rally by East Fremantle’; The West Australian, 8 June 1937, p. 16}}

{{AFLGame|Monday, 7 June (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|SD}}|14.12 (96)|H|{{WAFL|Cla}}|12.17 (89)|Bassendean Oval||‘Strenuous to the End; Thrilling Game at Bassendean’; The West Australian, 8 June 1937, p. 16}}

{{AFLGame|Monday, 7 June (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Sub}}|16.11 (107)|A|{{WAFL|EP}}|16.12 (108)|Subiaco Oval||‘Excitement at Subiaco: East Perth Scrapes Home by a Point’; The West Australian, 8 June 1937, p. 16}}

{{AFLGame|Monday, 7 June (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Per}}|12.12 (84)|A|{{WAFL|WP}}|14.11 (95)|WACA||‘West Perth Wins – Perth’s Gallant Fight’; The West Australian, 8 June 1937, p. 16}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=*Swans move to the top with their seventh consecutive victory.

East Perth gather the winning point after the noises of a pro-Subiaco crowd prevent any of the umpires from hearing the bell.}}

=Round 10=

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 12 June (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|EF}}|20.20 (140)|H|{{WAFL|Cla}}|16.14 (110)|Fremantle Oval||‘Control of Key Positions – East Fremantle’s Improvement’; The West Australian, 14 June 1937, p. 17}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 12 June (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|SD}}|14.11 (95)|H|{{WAFL|SF}}|14.9 (93)|Bassendean Oval||‘A Stirring Finish: South Fremantle Narrowly Beaten’; The West Australian, 14 June 1937, p. 17}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 12 June (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|WP}}|17.13 (115)|H|{{WAFL|Sub}}|4.14 (38)|Leederville Oval||‘Subiaco Outclassed: West Perth Wins Easily’; The West Australian, 14 June 1937, p. 17}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 12 June (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|EP}}|11.11 (77)|A|{{WAFL|Per}}|11.16 (82)|Perth Oval||‘Perth’s Strong Rally: East Perth Loses by Five Points’; The West Australian, 14 June 1937, p. 17}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=*Swan Districts win their eighth game on end, a feat they were not to surpass until 1979/1980, with Holdsworth maintaining his remarkable average of 7.9 goals per game.{{Cite web |url=http://waflfootyfacts.net/Teams/Swans/Swans_streaks.html |title=WAFL Footy Facts: Swan Districts Consecutive Games Won |access-date=19 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020035051/http://waflfootyfacts.net/Teams/Swans/Swans_streaks.html |archive-date=20 October 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}

Regaining several key players from injury and with George Doig kicking ten, East Fremantle displace Claremont from top place and stay in contention for the top four.}}

=Round 11=

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 19 June (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|EF}}|18.18 (126)|H|{{WAFL|SD}}|14.15 (99)|Fremantle Oval||‘Swan Districts Beaten: East Fremantle’s Good Showing’; The West Australian, 21 June 1937, p. 7}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 19 June (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|WP}}|11.14 (80)|A|{{WAFL|EP}}|15.8 (98)|Leederville Oval||‘More Efficient in Attack – East Perth Overcomes West Perth’; The West Australian, 21 June 1937, p. 7}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 19 June (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Cla}}|22.13 (145)|H|{{WAFL|SF}}|15.10 (100)|Claremont Oval||‘Claremont’s Convincing Form – South Fremantle Fades Away’; The West Australian, 21 June 1937, p. 7}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 19 June (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Sub}}|10.14 (74)|H|{{WAFL|Per}}|9.13 (67)|Subiaco Oval||‘Subiaco’s Determined Finish – Seven Points Clear of Perth’; The West Australian, 21 June 1937, p. 7}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=8.7 (55) in the second quarter allows Old Easts to end Swan Districts’ winning streak, though East Perth’s win over the Cardinals ensures Swans remain on top.}}

=Round 12=

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 26 June (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Cla}}|8.11 (59)|A|{{WAFL|Sub}}|14.7 (91)|Claremont Oval||‘Claremont Outclassed: Subiaco’s Improved Display’; The West Australian, 28 June 1937, p. 8}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 26 June (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|EP}}|10.9 (69)|H|{{WAFL|SD}}|7.9 (51)|Perth Oval||‘Three Goals to Spare – East Perth’s Third Term Rally’; The West Australian, 28 June 1937, p. 8}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 26 June (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Per}}|17.21 (123)|H|{{WAFL|SF}}|7.8 (50)|WACA||‘Victory for Perth – Good Kicking in Bad Conditions’; The West Australian, 28 June 1937, p. 8}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 26 June (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|EF}}|14.12 (96)|H|{{WAFL|WP}}|11.9 (75)|Fremantle Oval||‘East Fremantle’s Recovery: West Perth Fails in Last Quarter’; The West Australian, 28 June 1937, p. 8}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=With Crow holding Holdsworth to one goal one on a ground waterlogged by {{convert|159.8|mm|in|2}} of rain over the past week,[http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_display_type=dataDGraph&p_stn_num=009034&p_nccObsCode=136&p_month=06&p_startYear=1937 Perth Regional Office (009034) June 1937 rainfall] East Perth knocks Swans from the top.}}

=Round 13=

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 3 July (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Sub}}|12.13 (85)|A|{{WAFL|EF}}|15.13 (103)|Subiaco Oval||‘Forward Below Form – East Fremantle Defeats Subiaco’; The West Australian, 5 July 1937, p. 8}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 3 July (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|SF}}|17.17 (119)|H|{{WAFL|EP}}|11.16 (82)|Fremantle Oval||‘Pace and Ruggedness – South Fremantle Wins Easily’; The West Australian, 5 July 1937, p. 8}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 3 July (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Cla}}|15.9 (99)|H|{{WAFL|WP}}|12.16 (88)|Claremont Oval||‘Claremont Well Tested – Strong Challenge by West Perth’; The West Australian, 5 July 1937, p. 8}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 3 July (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|SD}}|13.11 (89)|A|{{WAFL|Per}}|14.8 (92)|Bassendean Oval||‘Perth’s Close Call – Fight Back by Swan Districts’; The West Australian, 5 July 1937, p. 8}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=Holdsworth, on 94 goals, misses a simple shot and lowly Perth record a surprise win that sends East Fremantle to top place.}}

=Round 14=

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 10 July (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|WP}}|12.12 (84)|A|{{WAFL|SD}}|14.7 (91)|Leederville Oval||‘Swan Districts Succeed: Determined Rally in Third Term’; The West Australian, 12 July 1937, p. 12}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 10 July (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Sub}}|12.9 (81)|H|{{WAFL|SF}}|7.15 (57)|Subiaco Oval||‘Subiaco’s Superiority; Vain Rally by South Fremantle’; The West Australian, 12 July 1937, p. 12}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 10 July (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|EF}}|13.14 (92)|A|{{WAFL|EP}}|14.28 (112)|Fremantle Oval||‘East Fremantle Beaten – Rough Game against East Perth’; The West Australian, 12 July 1937, p. 12}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 10 July (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Per}}|14.17 (101)|A|{{WAFL|Cla}}|14.18 (102)|WACA||‘Last Point Wins Match: Claremont’s Hard Tussle with Perth’; The West Australian, 12 July 1937, p. 12}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=*Holdsworth kicks his 100th goal as Swan Districts relegate the Cardinals to six points out of the four.

Reeves snaps the winning point on the bell and Claremont gain two points to move half a game ahead of Old Easts, the Royals and the Swans.}}

=Round 15=

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 17 July (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|SF}}|9.10 (64)|A|{{WAFL|WP}}|14.9 (93)|Fremantle Oval||‘West Perth Untroubled: Poor Kicking by South Fremantle’; The West Australian, 19 July 1937, p. 7}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 17 July (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|EP}}|12.10 (82)|A|{{WAFL|Cla}}|15.14 (104)|Perth Oval||‘System and Pace Tell – Claremont too Good for East Perth’; The West Australian, 19 July 1937, p. 7}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 17 July (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Per}}|13.14 (92)|A|{{WAFL|EF}}|16.13 (109)|WACA||‘East Fremantle Vigorous; Perth Fail To finish On’; The West Australian, 19 July 1937, p. 7}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 17 July (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|SD}}|11.13 (79)|H|{{WAFL|Sub}}|7.14 (56)|Bassendean Oval||‘Swan Districts Win – Hard Game at Bassendean’; The West Australian, 19 July 1937, p. 7}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=Ted Holdsworth, decisively beaten by Lou Daily, suffers concussion late in the third quarter, which keeps him out of the WA State team.}}

=Round 16=

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 24 July (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|EF}}|20.13 (133)|H|{{WAFL|SF}}|14.20 (104)|Fremantle Oval||‘Successful Teamwork – East Fremantle’s 29-Point Margin’; The West Australian, 26 July 1937, p. 14}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 24 July (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|WP}}|18.6 (114)|H|{{WAFL|Per}}|14.11 (95)|Leederville Oval||‘Accurate Shooting: West Perth’s Early Superiority’; The West Australian, 26 July 1937, p. 14}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 24 July (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Sub}}|10.8 (68)|A|{{WAFL|EP}}|11.15 (81)|Subiaco Oval||‘East Perth Rallies: Strong Challenge by Subiaco’; The West Australian, 26 July 1937, p. 14}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 24 July (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|SD}}|9.13 (67)|A|{{WAFL|Cla}}|14.15 (99)|Bassendean Oval||‘An Overwhelming Finish: Claremont Wins Brilliantly’; The West Australian, 26 July 1937, p. 14}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=Claremont run away from Swans – minus Holdsworth – in the last quarter to stay on top, whilst with Tyson kicking 10.0 West Perth remain with a chance of displacing the black and whites.}}

=Round 17=

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 31 July (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|WP}}|22.18 (150)|H|{{WAFL|Sub}}|6.12 (48)|Leederville Oval||‘Suby Trounced: Outclassed by Wests’; The Sunday Times,; 1 August 1937, p. 2}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 31 July (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Per}}|13.18 (96)|A|{{WAFL|EP}}|19.11 (125)|WACA||‘Straight Shooting Wins Day for Royals’; The Sunday Times,; 1 August 1937, p. 2}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 31 July (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Cla}}|12.16 (88)|A|{{WAFL|EF}}|15.16 (106)|Claremont Oval||‘Claremont Conquered: East Fremantle’s Strong Finish’; The Sunday Times,; 1 August 1937, p. 2}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 31 July (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|SF}}|11.12 (78)|A|{{WAFL|SD}}|11.15 (81)|Fremantle Oval||‘Swans’ Close Call: Three-Point Win over South’; The Sunday Times,; 1 August 1937, p. 2}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=*Following this round, WANFL football was suspended for two weeks to accommodate the 1937 Perth Carnival.

Ted Tyson’s twelve goals means that for the first time three players pass 100 for the season.‘Record Goalkicking’; in The Sunday Times; 1 August 1937, p. 2}}

=Round 18=

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 21 August (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|WP}}|11.11 (77)|H|{{WAFL|EP}}|10.14 (74)|Leederville Oval||‘An Exciting Finish – East Perth’s Vain Rally’; The West Australian, 23 August 1937, p. 6}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 21 August (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Sub}}|12.10 (82)|A|{{WAFL|Per}}|14.16 (100)|Subiaco Oval||‘Perth Defeat Subiaco – Gook Establishes New Club Record’; The West Australian, 23 August 1937, p. 6}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 21 August (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|EF}}|12.15 (87)|A|{{WAFL|SD}}|16.18 (114)|Fremantle Oval||‘Swan Districts’ Success – East Fremantle Beaten Easily’; The West Australian, 23 August 1937, p. 6}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 21 August (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Cla}}|17.17 (119)|H|{{WAFL|SF}}|8.14 (62)|Claremont Oval||‘Victory for Claremont: South Fremantle Overwhelmed’; The West Australian, 23 August 1937, p. 6}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=*Swans record an unexpected win over East Fremantle in what would prove Holdsworth’s last match for the season.

Despite failing to score in the last quarter, West Perth displace East Perth from the four.}}

=Round 19=

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 28 August (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|EF}}|14.9 (93)|H|{{WAFL|WP}}|12.11 (83)|Fremantle Oval||‘Strenuous Last Quarter; East Fremantle Saves Game’; The West Australian, 30 August 1937, p. 16}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 28 August (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|EP}}|17.19 (121)|H|{{WAFL|SD}}|12.5 (77)|Perth Oval||‘East Perth Finishes Well: Swan Districts Badly Beaten’; The West Australian, 30 August 1937, p. 16}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 28 August (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Cla}}|16.15 (111)|H|{{WAFL|Sub}}|11.16 (82)|Claremont Oval||‘Claremont Avenged: Subiaco’s Improved Showing’; The West Australian, 30 August 1937, p. 16}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 28 August (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Per}}|23.18 (156)|H|{{WAFL|SF}}|6.13 (49)|WACA||‘Perth’s 107-Points Victory: South Fremantle Overwhelmed’; The West Australian, 30 August 1937, p. 16}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=*East Perth produce a critical win to regain a place in the four.

Perth’s crushing win ensures the South Fremantle v Subiaco match will determine the wooden-spooner. It was Perth’s biggest win over any opponent for twenty-one years and their biggest to that point over South Fremantle.[http://australianfootball.com/clubs/biggest_wins/Perth/189 Perth: Biggest Wins]}}

=Round 20=

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 4 September (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|SF}}|14.15 (99)|A|{{WAFL|EP}}|19.11 (125)|Fremantle Oval||‘Fierce Play: Big List of Casualties’; The West Australian, 6 September 1937, p. 7}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 4 September (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Cla}}|18.9 (117)|H|{{WAFL|WP}}|14.15 (99)|Claremont Oval||‘Superior Teamwork – Claremont’s Third-Quarter Brilliance’; The West Australian, 6 September 1937, p. 7}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 4 September (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Sub}}|12.10 (82)|A|{{WAFL|EF}}|12.25 (97)|Subiaco Oval||‘Subiaco’s Great Fight – East Fremantle Hard-Pressed’; The West Australian, 6 September 1937, p. 7}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 4 September (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|SD}}|14.8 (92)|H|{{WAFL|Per}}|11.14 (80)|Bassendean Oval||‘Swan Districts’ Success: Perth Beaten in Hard Game’; The West Australian, 6 September 1937, p. 7}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=West Perth’s loss, and East Perth’s win in a vicious match with eight players injured, seals the four with a round to play.}}

=Round 21=

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 11 September (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Per}}|13.17 (95)|A|{{WAFL|Cla}}|15.15 (105)|WACA||‘Perth’s Last Effort – Close Finish with Claremont’; The West Australian, 13 September 1937, p. 16}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 11 September (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|SD}}|22.7 (139)|H|{{WAFL|WP}}|12.15 (87)|Bassendean Oval||‘West Perth Overwhelmed – Swan Districts Win Again’; The West Australian, 13 September 1937, p. 16}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 11 September (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|EP}}|17.7 (109)|D|{{WAFL|EF}}|15.19 (109)|Perth Oval||‘Third Tie of Season – East Fremantle’s Fine Recovery’; The West Australian, 13 September 1937, p. 16}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 11 September (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|SF}}|14.10 (94)|H|{{WAFL|Sub}}|11.21 (87)|Fremantle Oval||‘Lowest Teams Opposed – South Fremantle Successful’; The West Australian, 13 September 1937, p. 16}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=*East Fremantle’s comeback to force a draw ensures they retain the double chance: East Perth’s better percentage would have put them second had the Royals won.

Subiaco’s 1.13 (19) to 7.4 (46) in the second and third quarters consigns it to a first wooden spoon in twenty-one seasons.}}

Ladder

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|title=1937 ladder

|section=Ladder

|loss_before_draw=true|for_against_style=points|use_goal_percentage=y

|winpoints=4|drawpoints=2

|team1=Cla|name_Cla={{WAFL|Cla}}|win_Cla=15|loss_Cla=5|draw_Cla=1|pf_Cla=2225|pa_Cla=1887

|team2=EF|name_EF={{WAFL|EF}}|win_EF=14|loss_EF=6|draw_EF=1|pf_EF=2306|pa_EF=2054|status_EF=P

|team3=SD|name_SD={{WAFL|SD}}|win_SD=14|loss_SD=7|draw_SD=0|pf_SD=1907|pa_SD=1850

|team4=EP|name_EP={{WAFL|EP}}|win_EP=12|loss_EP=6|draw_EP=3|pf_EP=2119|pa_EP=1759

|team5=WP|name_WP={{WAFL|WP}}|win_WP=11|loss_WP=9|draw_WP=1|pf_WP=1894|pa_WP=1763

|team6=Per|name_Per={{WAFL|Per}}|win_Per=6|loss_Per=15|draw_Per=0|pf_Per=1912|pa_Per=2123

|team7=SF|name_SF={{WAFL|SF}}|win_SF=5|loss_SF=16|draw_SF=0|pf_SF=1831|pa_SF=2272

|team8=Sub|name_Sub={{WAFL|Sub}}|win_Sub=4|loss_Sub=17|draw_Sub=0|pf_Sub=1585|pa_Sub=2071

|status_text_P=Premiers

|col_Q=#CCFFCC|text_Q=

|result1=Q|result2=Q|result3=Q|result4=Q

|class_rules = 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.

|update=complete

|source=[http://waflfootyfacts.net/season/games/results.php?Season=1937#Ladder WAFL Footy Facts]

}}

Finals

=First semi-final=

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 18 September (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|SD}}|11.7 (73)|A|{{WAFL|EP}}|13.9 (87)|Subiaco Oval|11,000}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=East Perth win a disappointing game in wet and windy conditions to eliminate Swan Districts in their first WANFL final.‘Football Semi-Final – East Perth’s Success; Swan Districts Eliminated’; The West Australian; 20 September 1937, p. 13}}

=Second semi-final=

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 25 September (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|Cla}}|13.10 (88)|H|{{WAFL|EF}}|10.14 (74)|Subiaco Oval|12,000}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=An excellent last quarter into the breeze ensures Claremont reaches its second successive grand final.‘Football Semi-Final – Claremont Superior; East Fremantle’s Defeat’; The West Australian, 27 September 1937, p. 17}}

=Preliminary final=

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 2 October (2:45 pm)|{{WAFL|EF}}|11.12 (78)|H|{{WAFL|EP}}|6.19 (55)|Subiaco Oval|12,000}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=East Fremantle’s impressive defence and clever centreline, with McGlinn dominant, ensures a rematch with Claremont.‘Football Final – East Fremantle Triumphs: Superior Play in Second Half’; The West Australian; 4 October 1937, p. 14}}

Grand final

{{AFLGameDetailed

|title = 1937 WANFL Grand Final

|date = Saturday, 9 October (2:45 pm)

|home team = {{WAFL|Cla}}

|home Q1 = 3.1 (19)

|home Q2 = 7.2 (44)

|home Q3 = 12.8 (80)

|home final = 13.9 (87)

|home super =

|home goals = Hopkins 5, Boys 3, Compton 2, Hooper, Lawn

|home best = Reeves (best on ground), Hopkins, Batt, Clarke (until injured), Syd Moloney, Boys

|home injuries = Clarke (knee)

|home reports =

|home substitute=

|winner = A

|away team = {{WAFL|EF}}

|away Q1 = 4.0 (24)

|away Q2 = 8.5 (53)

|away Q3 = 10.9 (69)

|away final = 14.13 (97)

|away super =

|away goals = George Doig 5, Truscott 3, Martiensen 3, McGlinn 2, Wendt

|away best = Seubert, McGlinn, Clark, Kingsbury, Hutchinson, Fordham, Briggs

|away injuries =

|away reports =

|away substitute=

|venue = Subiaco Oval

|crowd = 16,460

|report = ‘Football Premiership – East Fremantle’s Win; Game Fight by Claremont’; The West Australian, 11 October 1937, p. 17

|umpires = George Owens

|BOG award =

|BOG winner =

|broadcast =

|anthem =

|notes = In one of the best grand finals seen for some years, East Fremantle gain the upper hand in the last quarter and eventually overcome a dogged Claremont defence.}}

Notes

{{note label|Doig|a|a}}The five were George Doig with 144, Ted Tyson with 124, Frank Hopkins with 120, Ted Holdsworth with 109 and Albert Gook with 107. Bert Chandler of South Fremantle was to score 120 goals in 1938, so that only Subiaco and East Perth of the eight WANFL clubs did not have a century goalkicker in their ranks during this period.
{{note label|Hawkins|b|b}}The five were George Hawkins (Prahran) with 164, “Soapy” Vallence (Williamstown), Harold Jones (Brunswick), Lance Collins (Coburg) and Laurie Nash (Camberwell) .

References

External links

[https://www.wafl.com.au/fixtures-and-results/1937/undefined Official WAFL site]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20131020034656/http://australianfootball.com/seasons/season/WAFL/1937 Western Australian National Football League (WANFL) 1937]

Category:West Australian Football League seasons

WANFL season