The 1947 WANFL season was the 63rd season of senior football in Perth, Western Australia. With the background of war completely removed, 1947 saw the WANFL begin a golden age of growth[1] dominated by the two Fremantle clubs, West Perth and Perth, who made the league for the following nine seasons a de facto hierarchy[2] led by South Fremantle and West Perth, who respectively won 128 and 121 of their 159 home-and-away matches between 1947 and 1954.[3]Zones with vastly different populations[4] and large unzoned areas[note 1] allowed these more successful and financially secure clubs to monopolise the leading player talent.
The red and whites won their first premiership for thirty seasons – ironically under the leadership of former Cardinal captain-coach Ross Hutchinson who transferred for this season. Perth, in the doldrums with only three finals appearances and three seasons with more wins than losses since 1918, began thirty years of prominence during which they won six premierships. In contrast, Subiaco, after two promising postwar seasons were beset by poor recruiting and conflicts over coaching,[5] so that they lost their first eleven games and fell from third to last. The Maroons were not to again win more than five matches in a season until 1956, nor finish above any rival except Swan Districts until 1957. During the nine seasons beginning with this year Subiaco would win just 32 games out of 179, or a winning rate of 17.88 percent. East Fremantle, after their record undefeated season in 1946, fell to fourth place. Old Easts toured Sydney and Canberra in August during the Carnival, defeating a Canberra team by 77 points at Manuka Oval on 9 August,[6] and a New South Wales state team by 23 points on 10 August.[7]
For the first time the WANFL allowed payments to players in the form of a "Provident Fund" accessed after each player's retirement and totalling 15 shillings per match – increased to 30 shillings in 1956.[8]
South Fremantle’s brilliant win over West Perth stakes their claim to challenge Old Easts and remained their biggest victory over the Cardinals until 1979.[17]
A WANFL record home-and-away crowd[26][note 2] who paid £973[27] saw South Fremantle inflict East’s first defeat since 21 July 1945, ending a WANFL record run of thirty-five straight victories.
East Perth lodged a protest against Subiaco for playing Bill Ralph,[note 3] who had resided in East Perth’s district before moving to Goomalling,[40] but the protest has no effect because the Maroons lose their eighth consecutive match.
Ten goals by Naylor allows South Fremantle to retain their undefeated record in a brilliant match in front of another huge crowd after West Perth looked like winning during the last quarter.
East Perth end a long South Fremantle winning run in a thrilling game where the Royals held the ascendancy before a late red and white rally give them the lead – only for Matson to kick the winning goal.
In equalling their record low score against Perth from the previous season, Swan Districts kick the lowest score at Bassendean Oval until 1964 and still the second-lowest ever there.[57]
In a round of thrilling matches in "wretched" weather with 41.4 millimetres (1.63 in) of rain[66] and deep mud, Perth and East Fremantle manage thrilling victories to be two games play 20 percent clear in fourth with six rounds to play.
Perth gain a critical win after Subiaco – in their first match for four weeks after three straight wins – kick 6.6 (42) to 1.2 (8) in the last quarter and pound the Redleg backs who nonetheless manage to hold.
Perth, who had coped successfully with the loss of Merv McIntosh during the Hobart Carnival with a swollen hand[88] are in danger of losing their seemingly secure finals berth as a depleted South Fremantle runs over them in the first half. Naylor kicks fourteen goals and South Fremantle’s centreline and rovers are breathtaking.
Old Easts’ inaccuracy gives the less experienced Redlegs, led by McIntosh and former St. Kilda defender Marcel Hilsz, an upset win as they dominate after quarter-time.
In a match marred by the collapse of the wall onto Roberts Road under pressure from the crowd[99] South Fremantle take advantage of the Cardinals’ poor kicking in very windy conditions to claim their first premiership since 1917 – and begin a WANFL dynasty.
Notes
^Pressure from some WANFL board members to eliminate zoning existed as late as 1955.
^Atkinson, Brian. It’s a Grand Old Flag: a History and Comprehensive Statistical Analysis of the West Perth Football Club 1885-2007. p. 103. ISBN9781921361395.