1986 WA Footballer of the Year Award - full listing of top 41 vote-getters (many great players on this list escaped The Eagles' grasp and many missed VFL/AFL altogether)

A great place to watch football and the traditional WAFL ground which is perhaps closest to how it was in the 1980s: Lathlain Park for Perth v Swan Districts, 2/7/2011. The picture was taken from the concrete terracing in front of the can bar where there is a good atmosphere at PFC home games. You can almost see the ghostly figure of Murray Couper in the forward pocket (or Mick Rea depending how old you are!) leading out in the direction of a pinpoint Robert Wiley pass. Wiley came fifth in the 1986 WA Footballer of the Year Award.

1986 WA Footballer of the Year Award

Laurie Keene (WCE jersey), 10/10/09 

Final Results: Laurie Keene (S) – 45 votes; Paul Harding (EF) – 37 votes; Peter Sartori (37 votes); Mark Bairstow (SF) – 34 votes; R Wiley (P) – 33 votes; P Featherby (S) – 32 votes; B Peake (EF) – 31 votes; Steve Malaxos (C) – 29 votes; B Taylor (S) – 28 votes; S Goulding (C) – 24 votes; C Bewick (WP) – 24 votes; W Matera (SF) – 23 votes; C Starcevich (EP) – 22 votes; P Wilson (EF) – 22 votes; D Panizza (C) – 20 votes; N Taylor (S) – 19 votes; P Bradmore (WP) – 18 votes; M O’Connell (C) – 17 votes; W Dean (S) – 17 votes; A Montgomery (P) – 17 votes; A Ischenko (EP) – 16 votes; M Watson (P) – 16 votes; D Laidley (WP) – 16 votes; L Fong (WP) – 25 votes; S Da Rui (EP) – 14 votes; G Neesham (EF) – 14 votes; D Rankin (EF) – 14 votes; M Mitchell (C) – 13 votes; C Mainwaring (EF) – 13 votes; M Wrensted (EF) – 13 votes; J Santostefano (P) – 13 votes; D Holmes (SD) – 13 votes; J Worsfold (SF) – 13 votes; B Cousins (P) – 12 votes; D Langsford (SD) – 12 votes; D Lamb (S) – 12 votes; B Yorgey (P) – 11 votes; P Mifka (WP) – 11 votes; R Dennis (EP) – 10 votes; C Edwards (SF) – 10 votes; K Taylor (SD) – 10 votes.

Mark Bairstow - Sandover Medal but fourth here

All West Perth FC vote getters: D Foley – 9 votes; P Menaglio – 8 votes; S King, C Barnes 6 votes; B Bell, D Warwick – 5 votes; J Gastev – 4 votes; C Nelson, D Bewick 3 votes; D Martin 1 vote.

Source: The West Australian, Monday, 28 August, 1986 [picture caption and archival research by Jack Frost].