# 1931 WANFL season

The 1931 WANFL season was the 47th season of the Western Australian National Football League and the first under that moniker, having been called the West Australian Football League (WAFL) until 1930.
The season saw East Fremantle win its fourth consecutive premiership for the second time, having already done so between 1908 and 1911. It also saw a major revival by East Perth, who had fallen to a clear last in 1929. The Great Depression and consequent search for work saw the beginning of the first major drain of Western Australian players to powerful VFL clubs, with the loss of George Moloney to Geelong, Ron Cooper to Carlton and Keith Hough to South Melbourne, where Hough never played a single match due to the WANFL's refusal to grant the VFL Swans a clearance.
Subiaco, a power since 1924, lost star rover Johnny Leonard to country Victoria but, despite four consecutive losses mid-season, won eight straight to reach the Second-Semi and Grand Finals only to face a much larger player drain than seen so far in the WANFL.

## Home-and-away season
### Round 1 (Labour Day)

| | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | |
| Saturday, 2 May (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 11.14 (80) | def. by | Subiaco 15.11 (101) | Fremantle Oval |
| Saturday, 2 May (2:45 pm) | East Perth 17.17 (119) | def. | Claremont-Cottesloe 8.10 (58) | Perth Oval |
| Monday, 4 May (2:45 pm) | West Perth 14.12 (96) | def. | South Fremantle 7.10 (52) | Leederville Oval |
| | Bye Perth | Bye Perth | Bye Perth | |

### Round 2

| | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | |
| Saturday, 9 May (2:45 pm) | Claremont-Cottesloe 5.10 (40) | def. by | Perth 11.12 (78) | Claremont Oval |
| Saturday, 9 May (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 8.8 (56) | def. by | South Fremantle 8.16 (64) | Subiaco Oval |
| Saturday, 9 May (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 12.19 (91) | def. | West Perth 9.4 (58) | Fremantle Oval |
| | Bye East Perth | Bye East Perth | Bye East Perth | |

### Round 3

| | Round 3 | Round 3 | Round 3 | |
| Saturday, 16 May (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 9.14 (68) | def. | Perth 4.9 (33) | Subiaco Oval |
| Saturday, 16 May (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 15.18 (108) | def. | Claremont-Cottesloe 10.10 (70) | Fremantle Oval |
| Saturday, 16 May (2:45 pm) | West Perth 14.11 (95) | def. | East Perth 11.11 (77) | Leederville Oval |
| | Bye East Fremantle | Bye East Fremantle | Bye East Fremantle | |

### Round 4

| | Round 4 | Round 4 | Round 4 | |
| Saturday, 23 May (2:45 pm) | Perth 12.20 (92) | def. | West Perth 7.12 (54) | WACA |
| Saturday, 23 May (2:45 pm) | East Perth 8.5 (53) | def. by | Subiaco 7.14 (56) | Perth Oval |
| Saturday, 23 May (2:45 pm) | Claremont-Cottesloe 8.10 (58) | def. by | East Fremantle 12.10 (82) | Claremont Oval |
| | Bye South Fremantle | Bye South Fremantle | Bye South Fremantle | |
| Bill Faul takes a decisive mark of a long shot to win a thrilling match and leave Subiaco as the early pacesetter. ||||||

### Round 5

| | Round 5 | Round 5 | Round 5 | |
| Saturday, 30 May (2:45 pm) | West Perth 12.18 (90) | def. | Claremont-Cottesloe 7.8 (50) | Leederville Oval |
| Saturday, 30 May (2:45 pm) | Perth 11.7 (73) | def. by | East Fremantle 17.20 (122) | WACA |
| Saturday, 30 May (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 18.15 (123) | def. | East Perth 6.13 (49) | Fremantle Oval |
| | Bye Subiaco | Bye Subiaco | Bye Subiaco | |
| South Fremantle show they will challenge for the premiership with a fine display led by a dominant centreline where R. Doig is outstanding. ||||||

### Round 6 (Foundation Day)

| | Round 6 | Round 6 | Round 6 | |
| Monday, 1 June (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 11.8 (74) | def. by | West Perth 12.10 (82) | Subiaco Oval |
| Monday, 1 June (2:45 pm) | East Perth 13.7 (85) | def. | Perth 10.10 (70) | Perth Oval |
| Monday, 1 June (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 5.8 (38) | def. by | East Fremantle 4.28 (52) | Fremantle Oval |
| | Bye Claremont-Cottesloe | Bye Claremont-Cottesloe | Bye Claremont-Cottesloe | |
| East Fremantle gave one of the worst displays of goalkicking in WA(N)FL history, kicking 4.28 (52) in fine conditions, but still take top position from their derby rivals. ||||||

### Round 7

| | Round 7 | Round 7 | Round 7 | |
| Saturday, 6 June (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 9.18 (72) | def. | East Perth 4.7 (31) | Fremantle Oval |
| Saturday, 6 June (2:45 pm) | Perth 9.15 (69) | def. by | South Fremantle 10.12 (72) | WACA |
| Saturday, 6 June (2:45 pm) | Claremont-Cottesloe 10.11 (71) | def. by | Subiaco 19.13 (127) | Claremont Oval |
| | Bye West Perth | Bye West Perth | Bye West Perth | |
| Despite some of the most brilliant marking seen in WA(N)FL football by centre half-back Lawn, East Perth, unable to use the wind in the second quarter, lose the advantage in the last. ||||||

### Round 8

| | Round 8 | Round 8 | Round 8 | |
| Saturday, 13 June (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 10.14 (74) | def. by | East Fremantle 14.11 (95) | Subiaco Oval |
| Saturday, 13 June (2:45 pm) | Claremont-Cottesloe 16.8 (104) | def. | East Perth 13.9 (87) | Claremont Oval |
| Saturday, 13 June (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 13.19 (97) | def. | West Perth 11.12 (78) | Fremantle Oval |
| | Bye Perth | Bye Perth | Bye Perth | |
| With captain-coach Gepp kicking ten goals, Claremont-Cottesloe recorded its first win of the season. ||||||

### Round 9

| | Round 9 | Round 9 | Round 9 | |
| Saturday, 20 June (2:45 pm) | Perth 12.18 (90) | def. | Claremont-Cottesloe 13.9 (87) | WACA |
| Saturday, 20 June (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 12.16 (88) | def. | Subiaco 9.17 (71) | Fremantle Oval |
| Saturday, 20 June (2:45 pm) | East Perth 11.7 (73) | def. | West Perth 9.12 (66) | Perth Oval |
| | Bye East Fremantle | Bye East Fremantle | Bye East Fremantle | |
| With Doug Oliphant kicking eight goals, Perth come back in the last quarter to record a thrilling win. ||||||

### Round 10

| | Round 10 | Round 10 | Round 10 | |
| Saturday, 27 June (2:45 pm) | Claremont-Cottesloe 8.10 (58) | def. | South Fremantle 6.10 (46) | Claremont Oval |
| Saturday, 27 June (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 9.25 (79) | def. | West Perth 6.11 (47) | Fremantle Oval |
| Saturday, 27 June (2:45 pm) | Perth 8.19 (67) | def. | Subiaco 6.11 (47) | WACA |
| | Bye East Perth | Bye East Perth | Bye East Perth | |
| On a day of heavy rain after a cold and dry June, Claremont-Cottesloe surprise South Fremantle to leave the three-time premiers three games clear on top, whilst Perth displace West Perth from the four and leave Subiaco's place in jeopardy after three straight defeats. ||||||

### Round 11

| | Round 11 | Round 11 | Round 11 | |
| Saturday, 4 July (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 11.16 (82) | def. | Claremont-Cottesloe 5.19 (49) | Fremantle Oval |
| Saturday, 4 July (2:45 pm) | West Perth 11.11 (77) | def. | Perth 11.9 (75) | Leederville Oval |
| Saturday, 4 July (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 9.12 (66) | def. by | East Perth 9.14 (68) | Subiaco Oval |
| | Bye South Fremantle | Bye South Fremantle | Bye South Fremantle | |
| A five-goal third quarter sees East Perth – seemingly out of touch at half-time – take a narrow lead from the Maroons and hold on in a goalless final quarter, with the result leaving Subiaco ahead of only Claremont-Cottesloe. ||||||

### Round 12

| | Round 12 | Round 12 | Round 12 | |
| Saturday, 11 July (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 9.20 (74) | def. | Perth 6.10 (46) | Fremantle Oval |
| Saturday, 11 July (2:45 pm) | East Perth 12.12 (84) | def. | South Fremantle 8.11 (59) | Perth Oval |
| Saturday, 11 July (2:45 pm) | Claremont-Cottesloe 9.11 (65) | def. | West Perth 8.9 (57) | Claremont Oval |
| | Bye Subiaco | Bye Subiaco | Bye Subiaco | |
| Claremont-Cottesloe's third and last win is marred by a severe injury to captain-coach Gepp – who continues to direct the team when being carried off. ||||||

### Round 13

| | Round 13 | Round 13 | Round 13 | |
| Saturday, 18 July (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 8.13 (61) | def. by | East Fremantle 9.17 (71) | Fremantle Oval |
| Saturday, 18 July (2:45 pm) | West Perth 9.8 (62) | def. by | Subiaco 16.22 (118) | Leederville Oval |
| Saturday, 18 July (2:45 pm) | Perth 9.9 (63) | def. by | East Perth 13.13 (91) | WACA |
| | Bye Claremont-Cottesloe | Bye Claremont-Cottesloe | Bye Claremont-Cottesloe | |

### Round 14

| | Round 14 | Round 14 | Round 14 | |
| Saturday, 25 July (2:45 pm) | East Perth 11.8 (74) | def. | East Fremantle 5.11 (41) | Perth Oval |
| Saturday, 25 July (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 12.9 (81) | def. | Claremont-Cottesloe 7.8 (50) | Subiaco Oval |
| Saturday, 25 July (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 15.10 (100) | def. | Perth 11.12 (78) | Fremantle Oval |
| | Bye West Perth | Bye West Perth | Bye West Perth | |
| In a fierce match with numerous brawls on a wet afternoon, East Perth end Old Easts' run of ten victories with a superb display of skill, led by Cronin who controlled the centre and a fine defence. ||||||

### Round 15

| | Round 15 | Round 15 | Round 15 | |
| Saturday, 1 August (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 9.25 (79) | def. | West Perth 11.7 (73) | Fremantle Oval |
| Saturday, 1 August (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 13.10 (88) | def. | East Fremantle 10.14 (74) | Subiaco Oval |
| Saturday, 1 August (2:45 pm) | East Perth 16.8 (104) | def. | Claremont-Cottesloe 13.18 (96) | Perth Oval |
| | Bye Perth | Bye Perth | Bye Perth | |
| South Fremantle defeated West Perth despite kicking two goals fewer than its opponent, the first time this had occurred in a senior game since 1920. ||||||

### Round 16

| | Round 16 | Round 16 | Round 16 | |
| Saturday, 8 August (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 6.14 (50) | def. by | Subiaco 8.19 (67) | Fremantle Oval |
| Saturday, 8 August (2:45 pm) | West Perth 13.10 (88) | def. by | East Fremantle 15.19 (109) | Leederville Oval |
| Saturday, 8 August (2:45 pm) | Claremont-Cottesloe 11.11 (77) | def. by | Perth 15.10 (100) | Claremont Oval |
| | Bye East Perth | Bye East Perth | Bye East Perth | |

### Round 17

| | Round 17 | Round 17 | Round 17 | |
| Saturday, 15 August (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 13.13 (91) | def. | Perth 8.10 (58) | Subiaco Oval |
| Saturday, 15 August (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 10.22 (82) | def. | Claremont-Cottesloe 9.11 (65) | Fremantle Oval |
| Saturday, 15 August (2:45 pm) | West Perth 10.12 (72) | def. by | East Perth 12.23 (95) | Leederville Oval |
| | Bye East Fremantle | Bye East Fremantle | Bye East Fremantle | |
| The top four was clearly decided with four rounds to play as a result of West Perth's loss. ||||||

### Round 18

| | Round 18 | Round 18 | Round 18 | |
| Saturday, 22 August (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 13.11 (89) | def. | East Perth 13.9 (87) | Subiaco Oval |
| Saturday, 22 August (2:45 pm) | Perth 14.22 (106) | def. | West Perth 12.8 (80) | WACA (crowd: 300) |
| Saturday, 22 August (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 23.14 (152) | def. | Claremont-Cottesloe 15.15 (105) | Fremantle Oval |
| | Bye South Fremantle | Bye South Fremantle | Bye South Fremantle | |
| Roy McGlinn kicks ten goals for Old Easts, whilst a high-class thriller between the Maroons and Royals ultimately gives Subiaco the "double chance" in the new Page System of finals. ||||||

### Round 19

| | Round 19 | Round 19 | Round 19 | |
| Saturday, 29 August (2:45 pm) | East Perth 14.8 (92) | def. | South Fremantle 9.7 (61) | Perth Oval |
| Saturday, 29 August (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 21.12 (138) | def. | Perth 7.8 (50) | Fremantle Oval |
| Saturday, 29 August (2:45 pm) | West Perth 16.11 (107) | def. | Claremont-Cottesloe 7.13 (55) | Leederville Oval |
| | Bye Subiaco | Bye Subiaco | Bye Subiaco | |
| Ted Tyson, later to become the second most prolific goalkicker in WANFL history, kicks nine goals for the Cardinals, leaving him level with Oliphant as leading goalkicker (though having played an extra game). ||||||

### Round 20

| | Round 20 | Round 20 | Round 20 | |
| Saturday, 5 September (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 19.14 (128) | def. | South Fremantle 10.9 (69) | Fremantle Oval |
| Saturday, 5 September (2:45 pm) | West Perth 10.6 (66) | def. by | Subiaco 13.16 (94) | Leederville Oval |
| Saturday, 5 September (2:45 pm) | Perth 11.12 (78) | def. by | East Perth 12.14 (86) | WACA |
| | Bye Claremont-Cottesloe | Bye Claremont-Cottesloe | Bye Claremont-Cottesloe | |

### Round 21

| | Round 21 | Round 21 | Round 21 | |
| Saturday, 12 September (2:45 pm) | Claremont-Cottesloe 9.4 (58) | def. by | Subiaco 13.16 (94) | Claremont Oval |
| Saturday, 12 September (2:45 pm) | East Perth 3.12 (30) | def. by | East Fremantle 17.8 (110) | Perth Oval |
| Saturday, 12 September (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 9.17 (71) | def. | Perth 8.8 (56) | Fremantle Oval |
| | Bye West Perth | Bye West Perth | Bye West Perth | |
| East Fremantle kicked 9.1 (55) with the breeze in the third quarter after East Perth had kicked 0.6 (6) with it in the second. ||||||

## Ladder

1931 ladder :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |
| 1 | East Fremantle (P) | 18 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 1652 | 1140 | 144.9 | 60 |
| 2 | Subiaco | 18 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 1462 | 1206 | 121.2 | 48 |
| 3 | East Perth | 18 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 1385 | 1379 | 100.4 | 44 |
| 4 | South Fremantle | 18 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 1320 | 1313 | 100.5 | 40 |
| 5 | West Perth | 18 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 1348 | 1481 | 91.0 | 24 |
| 6 | Perth | 18 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 1282 | 1460 | 87.8 | 24 |
| 7 | Claremont-Cottesloe | 18 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 1216 | 1686 | 72.1 | 12 |

## Finals

Starting from this season, the league adopted the Page–McIntyre system of finals, in the same year as was done in the VFL. It eliminated the need for a challenge final and the uncertainty about the number of finals matches to be played, involving a fixed four finals matches exclusive of draws. This year, the first semi-final was drawn and this ensured the latest ever finish to a season, which reached as late as mid-October.

### First semi-final

| | First semi-final | First semi-final | First semi-final | |
| Saturday, 19 September (2:45 pm) | East Perth 10.19 (79) | drew with | South Fremantle 12.7 (79) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8,694) |
| East Perth waste numerous chances in a dour second half, kicking 3.13 (31) to 3.5 (23) ||||||

### First semi-final replay

| | First semi-final replay | First semi-final replay | First semi-final replay | |
| Saturday, 26 September (2:45 pm) | East Perth 9.18 (72) | def. | South Fremantle 10.10 (70) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 10,958) |
| East Perth, in a remarkably similar game to the draw, played excellent football in the second quarter but this time just held off South Fremantle. ||||||

### Second semi-final

| | Second semi-final | Second semi-final | Second semi-final | |
| Saturday, 3 October (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 12.11 (83) | def. | Subiaco 7.13 (55) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 11,538) |
| East Fremantle's direct game ensures it stays ahead of a disappointing Subiaco, despite the Maroons having won their previous eight matches and Old Easts having only seventeen men on the field in the second half. ||||||

### Preliminary final

| | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | |
| Saturday, 10 October (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 7.14 (56) | def. | East Perth 7.13 (55) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8,115) |
| East Perth just failed to make up a 23-point deficit with a strong southerly wind. ||||||

### Grand Final

| | 1931 WANFL Grand Final | 1931 WANFL Grand Final | 1931 WANFL Grand Final | | |
| Saturday, 17 October | East Fremantle | def. | Subiaco | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 10,859) | |
| | 1.4 (10) 5.9 (39) 6.13 (49) 9.13 (67) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 3.1 (19) 3.5 (23) 5.7 (37) 7.7 (49) | Umpires: Frank O‘Connor | Umpires: Frank O‘Connor |
| Kingbury 4, Glass 2, W. James, Taylor, Bee | Kingbury 4, Glass 2, W. James, Taylor, Bee | Goals | Pengel 2, Mackay, F. Brophy, Ballantyne, Diggins, Stewart Daily | Pengel 2, Mackay, F. Brophy, Ballantyne, Diggins, Stewart Daily |
| W. James, Richards, Jarvis, Munro, Glass, McGlinn, Dolan | W. James, Richards, Jarvis, Munro, Glass, McGlinn, Dolan | Best | Faul, Fitch, Bowe, Lou Daily, Calcutt, Diggins | Faul, Fitch, Bowe, Lou Daily, Calcutt, Diggins |
| Butcher (leg cramp) | Butcher (leg cramp) | Injuries | Lou Daily (leg cramp) | Lou Daily (leg cramp) |
| Subiaco's weakness in attack on a perfect day for football ensures it cannot threaten Old Easts' hold on the WA(N)FL premiership. ||||||