1997 Westar Rules season

December 2017 December 2017 westar_rules 1997 9 SF 11 SF 10 94 Jon Dorotich (SF) Brady Anderson (EP) 1996 (WAFL) 1998 The 1997 Westar Rules season was the 113th season of senior football in Perth, Western Australia. It featured a number of dramatic changes to a competition whose popularity had been dramatically reduced by the drain of players to the Eagles and Dockers of the AFL. The competition's name was changed from the prosaic "West Australian Football League" to "Westar Rules" in an attempt to update the local competition for a more sophisticated audience.Devaney John Full Points Footy's WA Football Companion 96 9780955689710 However, this change became regarded as unsuccessful and was reversed as per recommendations of the "Fong Report"Barker Anthony J. Behind the Play: A History of Football in Western Australia 358-360 0975242709 after four seasons. West Perth also changed their name to "Joondalup" to recognise their location in Perth's growing northwestern suburbs, but changed back after the ninth round. More significantly, after intense debate for a number of years about whether to expand or contract the competition,See Casey Kevin 1995 The Tigers' Tale: the origins and history of the Claremont Football Club 201 0646264982 a new team, PT, was added, despite requests from Peel's licence holders that they not be required to enter before 1998.See Lewis Ross Margin Could Cost Falcons The Game 11 The West Australian 11 August 1997 This was the first change to the number of teams in the WA(N)FL for sixty-three years. In their first eighteen seasons, Peel won only seventy-three matches out of 354 for a winning percentage of 20.6%, never had a winning season, and finished with nine wooden spoons. Along with occasional serious financial difficulties,http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/peels-300k-shortfall-exposed/story-e6frg243-1111117719163 WAFL club Peel Thunder found to have $300,000 loss Pike Chris 10 October 2008 PerthNow West Australian Newspapers Limited this produced serious criticism of their admission in subsequent years, but Peel qualified for the finals for the first time in 2015, and won the premiership the following season. A proposal to limit Westar to players under 25 and a few older veterans in order to allow a better flow of players to the AFLLewis Ross Pair Show Virtues of Age The Game 11 The West Australian 18 August 1997 was made during the season but rejected. Affected badly by the erratic availability of a number of AFL-listed players,Stocks Gary Part-Time Tigers Make a Difference The Game 11 The West Australian 16 June 1997 reigning premiers Claremont had their worst season since 1975 and equalled East Fremantle's decline in 1980 from premiers to only five wins, whilst Swan Districts, brilliant but erratic during 1996, began with nine wins in their first ten matches before losing eight of their next nine to miss the finals for the third successive season. On a more positive side, the season saw SF win its first premiership in seventeen years in a thrilling comeback Grand Final win over traditional rivals East Fremantle, and Per, after a disastrous opening, have its only winning season between 1989 and 2024, culminating in its last finals appearance until 2020. Home-and-away season Round 1 Round 1 Saturday, 29 March Per 2.5 (17) A SD 11.9 (75) Lathlain Park 1317 Sunday, 30 March PT 8.4 (52) A SF 25.10 (160) Rushton Park 5781 Monday, 31 March Cla 11.7 (73) A EP 11.18 (84) Claremont Oval 2686 Monday, 31 March Joondalup 11.9 (75) A EF 11.15 (81) Arena Joondalup 2841 Sub *Playing during an unseasonal thunderstorm,March 1997 rainfall Perth Metro http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_display_type=dataDGraph&p_stn_num=009225&p_nccObsCode=136&p_month=03&p_startYear=1997 Climate Data Online Australian Bureau of Meteorology 28 June 2025 https://archive.today/20130927100344/http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_display_type=dataDGraph&p_stn_num=009225&p_nccObsCode=136&p_month=03&p_startYear=1997 27 September 2013 Perth kick its lowest score since 1952 and second-lowest since 1919.Australian Football http://australianfootball.com/clubs/lowest_scores/Perth/189 Perth: Lowest Scores Its two goals were both from free kicks for ruck infringements, the first at the twenty-minute mark of the third quarter and the other in time-on of the last.Lague Steve Swans' Five Steal Show The Game 8 The West Australian 31 March 1997 The sole lower score Swan Districts have ever held an opponent to is Claremont's 1.7 (13) the previous season; the previous lowest by the Demons against the Swans was a winning score of 5.11 (41) after being goalless at half-time in 1973. Injury-plagued ruckman Travis Edmonds dominates along with forward Bernard Carney, Brendan Retzlaff, Troy Ugle and Stewart Kestrel who had not been together in 1995 and 1996 Debutant Peel kick the first goal against the Bulldogs and are in front until early in the second quarter before being overwhelmedLague Steve Strong South Spoil Celebrations The Game 8 The West Australian 31 March 1997 Round 2 Round 2 Saturday, 5 April EF 15.18 (108) H PT 7.9 (51) East Fremantle Oval 1448 Saturday, 5 April SF 11.13 (79) A Sub 16.11 (107) Fremantle Oval 1779 Saturday, 5 April Cla 6.10 (46) A Per 13.8 (86) Claremont Oval 1138 Saturday, 5 April SD 20.19 (139) H Joondalup 8.5 (53) Bassendean Oval 2107 EP Following their shocker against Swans, Perth coach Wayne Blackwell punished his side with a five-hour Tuesday training session and they respond with an excellent win in slippery conditions.Lague Steve Horror Session Stops Rot The Game 8 The West Australian 7 April 1997 Round 3 Round 3 Saturday, 12 April SD 15.14 (104) H Cla 11.7 (73) Bassendean Oval 2183 Saturday, 12 April Sub 27.20 (182) H PT 5.5 (35) Subiaco Oval 1531 Saturday, 12 April Joondalup 8.14 (62) A EP 14.13 (97) Bunbury 2212 EF, Per, SF *Subiaco had their biggest ever win in open-age WAFL football, beating their famous record from the 1959 first semi-final, though they have beaten the record several times during their 2000s WAFL dynasty.Australian Football https://australianfootball.com/clubs/biggest_wins/Subiaco/238 Subiaco Football Club: Biggest Wins Troy Ugle does two brilliant shepherds and two difficult snap shots to derail a comeback by Claremont that threatened to give the Tigers their first win.Ugle Leads Swans from Brink The Game 11 The West Australian 14 April 1997 Round 4 Round 4 Friday, 18 April (7:30 pm) SF 17.14 (116) H EF 11.9 (75) Fremantle Oval 5328 Saturday, 19 April Per 11.13 (79) H EP 5.12 (42) Lathlain Park 2603 Saturday, 19 April PT 9.9 (63) A SD 26.18 (174) Rushton Park 2006 Saturday, 19 April Joondalup 15.13 (103) H Sub 8.9 (57) Arena Joondalup 2202 Cla For the first time, a night match is played at Fremantle Oval, and the experiment is an instant success that later led to lights at most league venues.Lague Steve Lights Attract Fans The Game 11 The West Australian 21 April 1997 Round 5 (Anzac Day) Round 5 Friday, 25 April Sub 8.8 (56) A Per 25.11 (161) Subiaco Oval 1413 Friday, 25 April EP 17.12 (114) A SF 19.11 (125) Perth Oval 2324 Saturday, 26 April Joondalup 27.23 (185) H PT 9.11 (65) Arena Joondalup 1383 Saturday, 26 April EF 16.11 (107) H Cla 14.14 (98) East Fremantle Oval 1638 SD *The Subiaco v Perth game was curtain-raiser to an AFL game between and , an experiment regarded as a success but not supported by Westar Rules' clubs.Reid Russell Westar Fine for Starters The Game 12 The West Australian 28 April 1997 Peel defender Scott Simister kicks an amazing 85-metre goal after a 50 metre penalty on the final siren against Joondalup.Lague Steve Simister Steals Joondalup's Thunder The Game 11 The West Australian 28 April 1997 Round 6 Round 6 Saturday, 3 May Cla 15.7 (97) A SF 16.13 (109) Claremont Oval 1347 Saturday, 3 May Sub 9.15 (69) H EP 10.8 (68) Subiaco Oval 1889 Saturday, 3 May Per 10.11 (71) A Joondalup 13.9 (87) Lathlain Park 2156 Saturday, 3 May EF 14.13 (97) A SD 18.7 (115) East Fremantle Oval 2076 PT *The return of "Spider" Burton helps the Lions contrive a win by the narrowest of margins after being nineteen points behind with less than ten minutes remaining. East Perth's errors cost it severely.Stocks Gary Shawcross, Burton Turn Lions Around The Game 11 The West Australian 5 May 1997 Former Falcon forward Troy Wilson is moved to defence and Joondalup beat the Demons due to his power.Reid Russell Wilson Moves Back to the Forefront The Game 11 The West Australian 5 May 1997 Round 7 Round 7 Saturday, 10 May Per 13.10 (88) H EF 11.8 (74) Lathlain Park 1443 Saturday, 10 May SF 26.17 (173) H PT 8.7 (55) Fremantle Oval 1700 Saturday, 10 May Cla 13.18 (96) H Sub 7.12 (54) Claremont Oval 1467 Sunday, 11 May SD 20.11 (131) H EP 17.10 (112) Bassendean Oval 2656 Joondalup *Peel Thunder set a WAFL record of four consecutive losses by over 100 points. Despite continued woeful on-field performances the Thunder have never equalled this debut-season ignominy.http://waflfootyfacts.net/streaks_all_teams.html WAFL Footy Facts Consecutive Losses by 100+ 31 August 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20140415054014/http://waflfootyfacts.net/streaks_all_teams.html#ConsecutiveLossesOver100 15 April 2014 Jon Dorotich kicks 9.8 (62) as South Fremantle kick eleven goals to one after Peel showed some improvement for three quarters.Reid Russell Thunder Stilled by Growling Bulldogs The Game 11 The West Australian 12 May 1997 Aided by five AFL discards, reigning premiers Claremont win its first game for 1997, with ruckman Greg Egan defeating a higher-profile relegation from the AFL in "Spider" Burton.Lague Steve Mitchell Burst Gets Tigers off Mark The Game 11 The West Australian 12 May 1997 Round 8 Round 8 Saturday, 17 May EP 9.10 (64) A EF 15.9 (99) Perth Oval 1862 Saturday, 17 May SF 23.14 (152) H Per 10.7 (67) Fremantle Oval 2204 Reid Russell Late Changes Lead to Easy Bulldogs Win The Game 11 The West Australian 19 May 1997 Saturday, 17 May Joondalup 18.12 (120) H SD 10.12 (72) Arena Joondalup 2734 Saturday, 17 May Cla 14.11 (95) A PT 14.14 (98) Anniversary Park 1005 Sub *Peel Thunder win one of only two games during their first three seasons, beating the reigning premiers in a match played to celebrate the centenary of the satellite town of Rockingham.Peel Upholds Local Pride The Game 11 The West Australian 19 May 1997 Their first "home" win was not until 2000, and ironically was also against the Tigers. The extremely small size of Anniversary Park prevented the running game that had made the Thunder look third-rate from establishing itself. Jon Dorotich kicks 13.2 for South Fremantle in their big win over Perth. Fremantle-listed ruckman Matthew Whitelaw thrashes Sandover hopeful Travis Edmonds as Joondalup end Swans' unbeaten start by kicking the last twelve goalsLague Steve Whitelaw Rises to Occasion The Game 11 The West Australian 19 May 1997 Round 9 Round 9 Saturday, 24 May Sub 10.10 (70) A SF 18.17 (125) Subiaco Oval 1399 Saturday, 24 May SD 16.15 (111) H Per 7.10 (52) Bassendean Oval 1938 Reid Russell Edmonds Looks Sandover Material The Game 11 The West Australian 25 May 1997 Saturday, 24 May Cla 8.11 (59) A Joondalup 14.12 (96) Claremont Oval 1119 Saturday, 24 May PT 11.5 (71) A EP 12.22 (94) Rushton Park 1858 EF *East Perth discard Spiro Mallis effectively ends the reigning premiers' finals hopes with a superb display on the wing.Lague Steve Mallis Pivotal in Killing off Tiger Hopes The Game 11 The West Australian 25 May 1997 An inaccurate East Perth hold out Peel in windy conditions but lose key ruckman Jeremy Crough and forward Brady Anderson to injuries, leaving the previous season's grand finalists appearing troubled.Duffield Mark Victory Is Costly for Royals The Game 11 The West Australian 25 May 1997 Round 10 (Foundation Day) Round 10 Saturday, 31 May Sub 22.15 (147) H PT 6.11 (47) Subiaco Oval 981 Monday, 2 June EF 14.13 (97) H SF 8.12 (60) East Fremantle Oval 5531 Monday, 2 June WP 14.8 (92) A EP 19.14 (128) Arena Joondalup 2298 Cla, Per, SD West Perth discarded "Joondalup" and return to their long-established club name during the week before this round. Round 11 Round 11 Saturday, 7 June SD 33.8 (206) H PT 7.9 (51) Bassendean Oval 1844 Saturday, 7 June EF 10.5 (65) A WP 18.11 (119) East Fremantle Oval 2035 Saturday, 7 June Per 18.9 (117) H Sub 17.7 (109) Lathlain Park 1886 Saturday, 7 June EP 16.8 (104) H Cla 14.12 (96) Perth Oval 2154 SF Swan Districts kick the second most accurate score in WAFL history, with Aboriginal forward Troy Ugle kicking twelve,http://waflfootyfacts.net/Teams/Swans/Swans_vsgamer.html WAFL Footy Facts Swan Districts v Each Opponent 18 August 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130930062827/http://waflfootyfacts.net/Teams/Swans/Swans_vsgamer.html 30 September 2013 which despite the Thunder's continued ineptitude remains a record by one player against themhttp://waflfootyfacts.net/Teams/Peel/Peel_vsgamer.html WAFL Footy Facts Peel Thunder 12 September 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131031053301/http://www.waflfootyfacts.net/Teams/Peel/Peel_vsgamer.html 31 October 2013 Round 12 Round 12 Saturday, 14 June SF 9.6 (60) A WP 14.10 (94) Fremantle Oval 2341 Saturday, 14 June Cla 14.6 (90) H EF 12.12 (84) Claremont Oval 1233 Saturday, 14 June SD 19.20 (134) H Sub 16.4 (100) Bassendean Oval 2252 Saturday, 14 June PT 6.7 (43) A Per 17.19 (121) Rushton Park 1363 EP Claremont, aided by the return of AFL discards Tony Delaney, Michael Gardiner and Anthony Jones, record a fine win over the eventual Grand finalists. Round 13 Round 13 Saturday, 21 June WP 17.23 (125) H Sub 5.10 (40) Arena Joondalup 2057 Saturday, 21 June Per 14.12 (96) H SF 9.11 (65) Lathlain Park 1887 Saturday, 21 June EF 14.7 (91) H EP 9.10 (64) East Fremantle Oval 1785 Sunday, 22 June SD 10.6 (66) A Cla 17.12 (114) Bassendean Oval 2407 PT *West Perth thrash Subiaco as a tribute to Wayne "Terror" Dayman, who died in an industrial accident on the Monday, despite losing five players to state dutyLewis Ross Spirit of "Terror" Sustains Falcons' Charge The Game 11 The West Australian 23 June 1997 East Perth fade out against a depleted Shark team after leading 7.8 (50) to 1.3 (9) entering time-on in the second quarter.Stocks Gary More Questions than Answers for Royals The Game 11 The West Australian 23 June 1997 Round 14 Round 14 Saturday, 28 June EP 24.14 (158) H PT 7.8 (50) Perth Oval 1418 Saturday, 28 June SF 16.12 (108) H SD 8.8 (56) Fremantle Oval 2282 Saturday, 28 June Per 11.18 (84) A Cla 13.13 (91) Lathlain Park 1739 Sunday, 29 June Sub 8.7 (55) A EF 28.15 (183) Subiaco Oval 1347 WP East Fremantle record their biggest ever win over Subiaco, and also their biggest away win over any opponent.http://waflfootyfacts.net/Teams/EastFremantle/EastFrem_vsgamer.html#7 WAFL Footy Facts East Fremantle v Subiaco – Game Records 31 August 2013 28 September 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130928075347/http://waflfootyfacts.net/Teams/EastFremantle/EastFrem_vsgamer.html#7 Round 15 Round 15 Saturday, 5 July Cla 8.9 (57) a WP 14.10 (94) Claremont Oval 1520 Saturday, 5 July EP 13.13 (91) H SD 12.9 (81) Perth Oval 2751 Saturday, 5 July PT 7.4 (46) A SF 18.14 (122) Rushton Park 1249 Saturday, 5 July EF 10.15 (75) A Per 13.7 (85) East Fremantle Oval 1559 Sub *Perth coach Wayne Blackwell is reported for disputing a decision on the sideline, but his team move into the four by breaking down East Fremantle attacks very efficiently.Reid Russell Demons Turn Up the Heat The Game 11 The West Australian 7 July 1997 South Fremantle coach John Todd blasts Peel as uncompetitive in a spiteful game with six reports.Lewis Ross Lague Steve Todd Blasts Thunder The Game 11 The West Australian 7 July 1997 Round 16 Round 16 Saturday, 12 July Sub 14.9 (93) H Cla 9.12 (66) Subiaco Oval 1184 Saturday, 12 July WP 14.8 (92) A Per 18.9 (117) Arena Joondalup 2207 Saturday, 12 July SF 12.11 (83) D EP 12.11 (83) Fremantle Oval 2670 Saturday, 12 July PT 12.8 (80) A EF 22.11 (143) Rushton Park 1351 SD In an all-day thriller South Fremantle and East Perth played the second and last WASFL/WAFL/Westar Rules draw of the 1990s. The previous drawn match was 406 games ago in April 1993 between the Royals and Claremont.http://waflfootyfacts.net/Teams/All/draws.php WAFL Footy Facts Drawn Matches https://web.archive.org/web/20140513010548/http://waflfootyfacts.net/Teams/All/draws.php 13 May 2014 Dorotich kicked 8.2 in a superb display, but East Perth rover Shawn Colbin was penalised for holding the ball on the siren within range when it appeared he may have got rid of the ball.Lewis Ross "Apples" Bears Fruit in a Thriller The Game 11 The West Australian 14 July 1997 Round 17 Round 17 Saturday, 19 July WP 10.5 (65) A EF 23.18 (156) Arena Joondalup 2338 Saturday, 19 July Cla 9.11 (65) A EP 13.13 (91) Claremont Oval 2088 Saturday, 19 July SF 13.10 (88) A Sub 17.9 (111) Fremantle Oval 1841 Saturday, 19 July PT 11.15 (81) A SD 22.17 (149) Rushton Park 2085 Per Round 18 Round 18 Saturday, 26 July SD 9.9 (63) A EF 24.9 (153) Bassendean Oval 1919 Saturday, 26 July EP 14.10 (94) H Sub 8.8 (56) Perth Oval 1952 Saturday, 26 July Per 23.18 (156) H PT 8.12 (60) Lathlain Park 1267 Saturday, 26 July WP 7.15 (57) A SF 15.15 (105) Arena Joondalup 1569 Cla Round 19 Round 19 Saturday, 2 August Sub 18.9 (117) H WP 9.9 (63) Subiaco Oval 1499 Saturday, 2 August SD 11.9 (75) A Per 28.10 (178) Bassendean Oval 2418 Saturday, 2 August Cla 22.15 (147) H PT 3.17 (35) Claremont Oval 853 Saturday, 2 August EF 14.15 (99) H EP 14.6 (90) East Fremantle Oval 2480 SF *Brett Spinks and Jermaine David kick seven each in a crushing Demon win, whilst Winston Abraham stars in the back pocket.Lague Steve Demons Blast Swans out of Water The Game 11 The West Australian 4 August 1997 In the best game of the season to date, East Fremantle take top position with a fine win under great pressure.Stocks Gary Sharks Raise Hopes of Centenary Premiership The Game 11 The West Australian 4 August 1997 Round 20 Round 20 Saturday, 9 August SF 13.21 (99) H Cla 3.11 (29) Fremantle Oval 1153 Saturday, 9 August EP 14.10 (94) H SD 4.6 (30) Perth Oval 1523 Saturday, 9 August PT 6.5 (41) A WP 8.12 (60) Rushton Park 1109 Sunday, 10 August Sub 10.9 (69) A Per 11.23 (89) Subiaco Oval 1675 EF *Claremont fail to goal after quarter-time for the second time in three seasons; having done so against West Perth in 1995Australian Football http://australianfootball.com/clubs/lowest_scores/Claremont/80 Claremont: Lowest Scores Crippled by injuries and off-field dissent about who will coach in 1998,Lague Steve Swans' Season Sinks in Mire The Game 11 The West Australian 11 August 1997 Swan Districts kick their lowest score for 29 yearshttp://australianfootball.com/clubs/lowest_scores/Swan%2BDistricts/243 Swan Districts: Lowest Scores Australian Football Perth move to top position despite kicking ten behinds without the ball moving out of their attacking fifty-metre arc.Perth Gets Points for Persistence The Game 11 The West Australian 11 August 1997 Round 21 Round 21 Saturday, 16 August EF 14.13 (97) H Sub 13.11 (89) East Fremantle Oval 1554 Saturday, 16 August WP 12.18 (90) H Cla 5.14 (44) Arena Joondalup 1551 Saturday, 16 August SD 14.10 (94) A SF 18.12 (120) Bassendean Oval 1453 Saturday, 16 August Per 19.19 (133) H PT 7.7 (49) Lathlain Park 1437 EP Perth win six consecutive games for the only time since 1977, but lose key forward Brett Spinks to an injury that affects their competitiveness in the following two key matches.Lague Steve Spinks Injury Sours Demons' Win The Game 11 The West Australian 18 August 1997 Round 22 Round 22 Saturday, 23 August Sub 18.8 (116) H SD 14.11 (95) Subiaco Oval 1217 Saturday, 23 August EF 11.18 (84) H Cla 8.6 (54) East Fremantle Oval 1569 Saturday, 23 August EP 19.9 (123) H WP 11.3 (69) Perth Oval 4709 Saturday, 23 August Per 10.15 (75) A SF 15.15 (105) Lathlain Park 3122 PT *Dorotich kicks eight goals to reach the century, becoming the oldest player to achieve the feat in WAFL/WANFL/Westar history.Lague Steve Dorotich Helps Himself to a Piece of History The Game 11 The West Australian 25 August 1997 Subiaco's win over Swans seals the top four with West Perth having the last round bye. Round 23 Round 23 Saturday, 30 August PT 5.17 (47) A Sub 22.23 (155) Rushton Park 1461 Saturday, 30 August Cla 11.11 (77) A SD 21.17 (143) Claremont Oval 1304 Saturday, 30 August EP 18.9 (117) H Per 9.10 (64) Perth Oval 3708 Saturday, 30 August (6:30 pm) SF 14.6 (90) H EF 10.14 (74) Fremantle Oval 7688 WP Peel Thunder lose by 100 points or more for the tenth time in their debut season. Ladder main WDL 1997 Westar Rules ladder Ladder true points y 4 2 SF EF Per EP SD WP Sub Cla PT 14 5 1 2144 1549 P 13 7 0 2042 1611 13 7 0 1936 1593 12 7 1 1912 1585 11 9 0 2113 1870 11 9 0 1801 1694 9 11 0 1852 1912 5 15 0 1567 1805 1 19 0 1120 2868 SF EF Per EP SD WP Sub Cla PT Premiers #CCFFCC Q Q Q Q 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for. complete 1997 Ladder http://waflfootyfacts.net/season/games/results.php?Season=1997#Ladder WAFL Footy Facts Finals series Semi-finals First semi-final Saturday, 6 September (11:20 am) Per 17.12 (114) H EP 6.11 (47) Subiaco Oval 8,918 The return of centre half-forward Brett Spinks helps Perth reverse their previous loss to East Perth with a crushing victory in windy conditions, led by 100 gamer Toby Jackson.Lague Steve Happy Jackson Marks Milestone The Game 11 The West Australian 8 September 1997 Second semi-final Saturday, 6 September SF 7.5 (47) A EF 10.12 (72) Subiaco Oval 8,918 *Since the two semi-finals were played at the same venue on the same day, the attendance figure is the same. Damian Condon demolishes veteran Dorotich in windy conditions to leave East Fremantle little trouble defeating their neighbours, who score just 3.2 (20) after quarter-time.Reid Russell Condon Leads Sharks' Revival The Game 11 The West Australian 8 September 1997 Preliminary final Preliminary final Sunday, 14 September SF 19.13 (127) H Per 14.6 (90) Subiaco Oval 7,585 Clem Michael's ruck dominance allows the strong Bulldog midfield to dominate during an eight-goal second quarter burst that Perth never counter.Lague Steve Bulldogs Bubble in a Champagne Spell The Game 11 The West Australian 15 September 1997 Grand Final 1997 Westar Rules Grand Final 1997 Westar Rules Grand Final Saturday, 19 September EF 5.4 (34) 8.6 (54) 10.10 (70) 11.13 (79) O'Brien 3, Dodd 2, Mellody 2, Willison, Bromage, Stockden Bilcich Bromage, Condon, Mellody, Kilmartin, Roser, Dodd Scott Spalding for striking Jess Sinclair (SF) A SF 3.1 (19) 6.2 (38) 8.5 (53) 13.7 (85) Rioli 4, Hart 2, Campbell 2, Dorotich, Bootsma, Pears, Worsfold, Johnson Hynes, Porter, Michael, Hart, Rioli, Pears, Black Peter Sumich (thigh) Subiaco Oval 32,371 Trevor Garrett, Adam Binks, Wayne French Simpson Medal David Hynes (SF) References 3 External links 1997 Fixtures and Results https://www.wafl.com.au/fixtures-and-results/1997/undefined Official WAFL website Australian Football https://archive.today/20130818132824/http://australianfootball.com/seasons/season/WAFL/1997 Westar Rules Season 1997 Category:West Australian Football League seasons Westar Rules