The Road To The 1927 Premiership

By Bill Forrest

The 1927 premiership was only won after several strenuous matches with other League teams. The football produced during the season was of the highest order. Of the seven teams who took part during the season, all, with the exception of Claremont-Cottesloe, exhibited such a high standard of football that would have entitled them to a position in the final four, but fate decreed that East Perth, East Fremantle, South Fremantle and Subiaco should share the honour. So well did East Perth play during the season, losing only four games,  that it was successful in winning the Minor Premiership, and this honour was a deciding factor which enabled the club to win the premiership.

East Perth drew to play Subiaco in the second semi-final at Leederville Oval. It was the consensus of all football critics that the Subiaco team would test the capabilities of East Perth to the utmost. This sentiment was the outcome of the three games staged by the two clubs during the season in which East Perth were the victors  by the narrow margins of ten points, two points and one point respectively. Quite early in the semi-final the Subiaco team had the misfortune to lose two of their champions, Alf Smith and “Snowy” Hamilton, through injuries. This severe handicap was too much for the Subiaco team, and East Perth were comfortable victors. The final score.

East Perth: 2-2  3-8  7-9  11-11 (77)
Subiaco: 0-4  0-7  3-10 6-15  (51)

South Fremantle, having disposed of East Fremantle in the first semi-final, earned the right to play off for the premiership. The grand final match was staged at Subiaco Oval and after a magnificent game South Fremantle were the victors.

Result:

South Fremantle: 2-3  4-6  9-8  12-9 (81)
East Perth: 3-3  6-4  8-9   9-12 (66)

Goals: Campbell 4, Gepp 4, W ‘Digger’Thomas 1.

Best: Fletcher, Gepp, Glew, Campbell

East Perth exercised the right of challenge, by virtue of having won the minor premiership and met South Fremantle in the challenge match played at Subiaco Oval, on October 8 1927.

East Perth team:

Backs:   Jim Armstrong  William Glew “Nashy’ Brentnall
H/Back: Charlie Mitchell Wally Fletcher Jerry Clune
Centre:  Jim Dobson  ‘Brum’ O’Meara  Jackie Guhl
H/Fwd:  ‘Nugget’ Gepp  W ’Digger’ Thomas  Jack Walsh
Fwd:      W ’Billy’ Thomas  ‘Bonny’ Campbell  Val Sparrow
Ruck:     ‘Staunch’ Owens  Alby Western  Larry Duffy

The 1927 challenge match is regarded as a memorable game and is more meritorious when it realised that in winning the club suffered two severe casualties. ‘Jerry’ Clune, the brilliant young player from New Norcia, who was specially brought down from the country to play in the challenge match, collided heavily with one of the players of the opposing side early in the first quarter, and sustained a broken rib. Although suffering excruciating pain he battled manfully through the first half. He again took the field after half-time strongly against the advice of the club doctor, but another severe collision at the commencement of the third quarter rendered him helpless, and to his utter disappointment he was helped off the field, leaving his seventeen team mates to battle against the odds.  No sooner had he left the ground when Wally Fletcher was seen to be in difficulties with a severe injury to his shoulder. At three quarter time the prospect of victory did not appear too bright. With only a twelve-point lead, and the last quarter to be played against the wind, most spectators proclaimed an East Perth defeat. Inspired by their coach , Phil Matson, and capably led by their captain, ‘Nugget’ Gepp the team rallied  and played like the champions they had proved themselves to be. Over the concluding stages of the game they did not give the South Fremantle players a chance, and notwithstanding the fact that the last quarter was played against the breeze, their lead was increased to twenty one points before the final bell.

As the final whistle blew the curtain was rung down on the 1927 season, and East Perth had won their seventh premiership in nine years.

Final Score:

East Perth:  3-4  4-6  8-8  10-12 (72)
South Fremantle: 1-1  4-6  6-8  7-9 (51)

Goals: Campbell 5, ‘Digger’ Thomas, Western, Owens, Sparrow, Fletcher

Best: O’Meara, Dobson, Glew, Campbell, Fletcher, Duffy.