1936 Preliminary Final

October 3, 1936: East Perth v East Fremantle

Match report from The West Australian, 5th October, 1936

Last Kick Wins Match

Beating the bell only by a second or two, H. Screaigh kicked a goal and won for East Perth the final of the West Australian National Football League's premiership competition at Subiaco Oval on Saturday, after one of the most thrilling matches seen here for years. East Perth's one-point victory over East Fremantle was nothing short of amazing. Five minutes before the end of the game East Fremantle supporters were jubilant, the side having a lead of 2.1 and playing strongly, and spectators, anticipating a win by that team, were leaving the ground. As the players later confessed, the East Perth team had almost given up all hope of success. Then followed a remarkable succession of incidents which had the crowd roaring itself hoarse and left East Perth partisans breathless and the East Fremantle supporters dumbfounded.

East Perth. attacked desperately, for it had seen East Fremantle lose its lead and brilliantly regain it. The strong East Fremantle defence was penetrated and Screaigh was unlucky to hit the post with a difficult shot. The same player tried again and kicked a behind. East Perth threw caution to the winds and everything into a last desperate onslaught. A free-kick enabled it to add a goal. Back to the centre the ball was taken for the bounce and it was swiftly kicked down again by East Perth. East Fremantle cleared and the odds against East Perth scoring another goal in the last minute seemed hopeless. Still, the players tried. A half-back cleared and Cronin swung the ball high towards the goal. The veteran Dolan was unable to beat anxious opponents for the mark and all seemed over. In a flash the nippy Screaigh had the ball again and breaking away from the pack, he raced towards the goal-mouth. Taking care to bounce the ball as required, Screaigh had an open goal before him and he scored a goal to turn imminent defeat by five points into a one-point victory - 14.14 to 14.13.

Scenes reminiscent of big matches years ago were re-enacted. Spectators, wild with excitement, jumped the fence and streamed on to the oval. Congratulations were bountiful among the East Perth men and Screaigh was carried off the ground shoulder high, as was his colleague, Parry. Enthusiastically, women supporters of East Perth took up a collection for Screaigh and they met with a ready response;

Bitter defeat

East Fremantle players, officials and supporters were alike left dulled, unable to realise that they had lost the match. It was a bitter experience for a team which had lost the semi-final and the right to play in the grand final by only five points to have success snatched from its grasp in such a manner. East Fremantle had deserved to win by reason of its great fight back in the last quarter and it had failed.

Undoubtedly it was a stirring contest. East Fremantle kicked with the wind in the first quarter and established a good lead, in spite of good play by East Perth. In the second term East Perth reduced its deficit to four points. On many occasions East Fremantle has won its matches in the third quarter and when it increased its lead to only 2.2, fighting as it bad to against a fast, determined side, it appeared to have thrown away its chances of premiership success. In quick time East Perth added two goals in the last quarter and looked the winner. Then East Fremantle made its magnificent recovery but all to no avail, as events proved. Both teams were, on the day, evenly matched and the play was fast and exhilarating. Small men on East Perth's side improved and East Fremantle, though a little unbalanced in defence, played better than in the semi final.

It has been a remarkable second round. East Perth, after scraping into the final four, eliminated Subiaco by only one point, and Claremont beat East Fremantle in the second semi-final by five points. Next Saturday Claremont and East Perth will meet in the grand final and another close struggle should take place.

Claremont has had time to patch up its injured players, but East Perth may be weakened next Saturday. A. Hall, its plucky wingman, was hurt in the last quarter, and it is feared that his collarbone might, be broken. It will be learnt today how serious the injury is but, in any case, it seems certain that another wing man will have to be found to take his place. Graham, the ruckman, is suffering from a bruised leg, but the injury does not seem likely to keep him out of the grand final.

The gate receipts on Saturday amounted to about £750 and the attandance was estimated at between 11,000 and 12,000.

The teams were:

EAST PERTH

Backs: M. Ryan, J. King, Fogarty

Half-backs: Thomas, Starr, Crow

Centres: Miller, Guhl, Hall

Half-forwards: Cronin, Dolan, Broom

Forwards: Mussman, Lockyer, H. Screaigh

Ruck: Graham, Garnaut, Parry (rover)

Nineteenth man: Ward (did not play)

EAST FREMANTLE

Backs: N. Doig, Kenny, Skeahan

Half-backs: Fordham, C. Jarvis, J. Munro

Centres: Migro, Hutchinson, W. Doig

Half-forwards: C. Doig, Daniell, Truscott

Forwards: W. James, G. Doig, Butcher

Ruck: Martienen, Donegan, McGlinn (rover)

Nineteenth man: Zinnecker (replaced N. Doig)

Umpire: L.McComish

Game details including full match scores, goalkickers and team lists: 1936 Preliminary Final: East Perth v East Fremantle