Round 11, 1976: West Perth 14.17 (101) d Subiaco 4.6 (30) (includes Facebook comments)

During the premiership drought years of the late-1970s and 1980s West Perth could beat anyone on sunny winter's days like this one at Leederville Oval with the passionate home crowd roaring their support. However, the club found it very hard to win at venues like Bassendean Oval and the two Fremantle grounds even in years such as 1976-78, 1982, and 1985 when it made the finals.

Memories of my first WAFL match? It was Round 11 1976 (Saturday 19 June). West Perth had won the 1975 premiership under the coaching of former Fitzroy rover Graham Campbell but to many people's surprise West Perth was won 3 and lost 7 after 10 rounds in 1976. However, the team's good percentage of 91.43% suggested it might have been unlucky. Final football was looking unlikely unless WP improved quickly and started winning games. I was 7-years-old and my father took me to Leederville Oval for Round 11, WP v Subiaco (of course that was a WP home game in those days). It was a terrible day with non-stop heavy rain. We were able to get a seat behind the fence in front of the tin shed in the north-west corner of the ground (see the second picture below). People helped us squeeze in there because I was just a young fellow. We ended up talking to the mother of the then WP back-pocket player Ian Kent (or at least a close female relative of Ian Kent). Due to the rain we left at half-time but I was hooked on WAFL football. Final score: West Perth 14.17 (101) d Subiaco 4.6 (30), attendance 5,175 (sourced from WAFL official website). This day was the start of a WP resurgence and the club made the final four at season's end. However, Perth won the 1976 premiership after comfortably beating WP in the first semi-final. I remember this day in Round 11 the colourful WP jumpers standing out in front of the grey and depressing background. Attendance of the round: 16,785 at Perth Oval to see East Perth easily beat Claremont [by Kieran James, 2 June 2016, first posted in "Say NO to any AFL Clubs in the WAFL" Facebook group.].

This post generated the following Facebook comments (all comments used with permission):

Adrian Gibson (Perth supporter): Such a good memory you have for someone who was so young at the time and the year 1976 was one of the best for me with Perth winning the flag but I was surprised how West Perth was going that year after the way they thrashed South Freo the year before [1975 Grand Final].

Kieran James: I did a bit of research and from 1975-89 WP performed well in their first year with a new coach and then performance declined in each case (Campbell in 1975-77, Percy Johnson in 1978-mid 1979, Cometti in 1982-84, Wynne in 1985-86, and Michalczyk in 1989-91).

Adrian Gibson: Wow you did do your research, I never thought of that but now I’m thinking about it looking at those names you are so right. With coaches at Perth we just start bad and go downhill after that.

Kieran James: I was talking about West Perth but Perth may have been the same. Another interesting fact is the trainload of players who travelled between P and WP in those years. I think P did best out of the trades in total but it was close.

Adrian Gibson: It was strange they did get rid of Campbell so soon after that flag. I remember a couple of games at Lathlain Park when we played West Perth. The first was 73: Barry Cable was on fire, we were in front 4.4 to 1.4, then he got injured and they just ran over the top of us. I also remember another game when a car went a bit fast in the car park and hit me on the leg. They took me to the West Perth change rooms to see if I was OK. I remember being a wide eyed kid of about 12 or 13 and I saw Polly Farmer, Mel Whinnen, and Bill Dempsey up so close it blew me away.

Tin shed and Tech School beyond, Leederville Oval, July 2011

Kieran James: Great memories you shared there. Campbell stayed until end of 77, I don’t know why he left; maybe his family missed Melbourne. I don’t think he was pushed out. WP made finals every year from 1975-77 under Campbell and then in 1978 under Percy Johnson. Johnson was fired mid-season 1979, and Campbell replaced him and stayed until the end of 1981. However, Campbell could only walk on water once and the club missed finals from 1979-81.

Adrian Gibson: I even think I may be wrong but I thought he coached Fitzroy in the VFL at one stage.

Kieran James: Yes he did and they won a night flag under him I think [yes, 1978]. He also coached Glenelg in 1963-84 and ex-West Perth player Ross Gibbs was part of that team.

Adrian Gibson: Yes Ross Gibbs, I remember him; he was such a great mark for someone his size. Now his son plays for Carlton and it makes me feel old lol. I know Leederville was a very hard place to win at. We used to leave there with a 10 goal hiding no matter how good a side we had.

Kieran James: Yes, WP could beat anyone on a sunny day at Leederville, with the crowd behind them, ladder placings didn’t matter, but away from home they were often shocking especially at Bassendean and both Fremantle grounds.

Adrian Gibson: Yes, it was hard for most teams at those grounds. My best mate was an East Perth supporter so we used to go to the footy in turns one week his team and then mine. I also used to do the scoreboard at Lathlain which was fun. Home ground advantage used to be a lot stronger in those days and the West Perth Cheer Squad used to be very loud.

View from Can Bar @ Lathlain Park, P v SD, 2/7/2011

Kieran James: Adrian, who was P’s greatest rival then and how was WP viewed? My memory is WP and P were on fairly friendly terms. … The drawn WP v P game in Round 1, 1986 was a big match. WP had high hopes of doing well in 1986 but Perth was emerging fast under Browny [Mal Brown] and you took over from us in the final four that year (we made it in 1985).

Adrian Gibson: I think East Perth was our greatest rival. I mean we beat them in four grand finals; they were the Collingwood of the WAFL. They lost 66, 67, and 68 to us; 69 and 71 to you; and then 76 to us and they only won in 72 and 78 (which still hurts also). I wasn’t very fond of South Freo either.

Kieran James: And the 78 win was due to Ian Miller and Barry Cable switching sides and Murray Couper and John Quartermaine being out of the Perth team. Those EP defeats were very enjoyable.

Adrian Gibson: Yes and when we kicked with the wind that day [1978 grand final versus EP], it poured down and when they kicked with it there was no rain at all. Miller wanted to come back to Perth but they were so up themselves and had just won the flag so they said they didn’t need him. That made me so angry, I thought it would bite them in the backside which it did. He played really well that day; Buzz [Peter Bosustow] nearly got us over the line but we really missed Couper and Quartermaine that day.

Discussion turned to the 1982 Final Round Series as West Perth supporter Andrew Henryon joined the chat.

Andrew Henryon (West Perth supporter): East Fremantle and Claremont have always been our nemesis. As [John] Dimmer used to say: “If we can win at Shark Park, we can win the GF!” We should’ve won the flag in 1982.

Can Bar crowd, Lathlain Park, P v SD, 2/7/2011

Adrian Gibson: Yes, I remember 82. I thought it would be Claremont and West Perth in the grand final but Swans came from nowhere to win it. [Dennis] Cometti had a good side that year.

Kieran James: And West Perth found Claremont hard to beat but did well against Swans from 1982-84 so it was unfortunate we met Claremont in the preliminary final. In fact in Swans’ premiership years [1982-84] we won 5 out of the 9 home-and-away games against them. [Note: Doubters can verify the accuracy of this statement by checking the old results year by year at the WAFL’s official website.] I remember the 82 preliminary final, watching it from the middle-tier of the three-tier stand and seeing Ray Holden being outclassed by Warren Ralph. I had high hopes in 1985 too; we were good against East Fremantle that year but we didn’t meet them in the finals.

Andrew Henryon: The David Palm suspension from the 1982 1^st semi-final thrashing of East Perth did not help. Shame because 1982 was our year and it got away, like what happened to the Dockers in 2013.

We went on to a discussion of the 1985 final round series:

Kieran James: East Fremantle was our nemesis in every year except for 1985 when WP beat EF in two out of the three home-and-away games including the last minute Subiaco Oval win when the late Chris Mainwaring missed at the end. (In the video on YouTube I can be seen at 2:53-54 congratulating the West Perth players after the siren, I was a tall and skinny 16-year-old guy, black hair, light-blueish check flannel shirt, jeans, and WP jumper tied around the waist.)

Andrew Henryon: The Mainwaring miss. … We were never a chance in 85 under John Wynne, I’m not going there.

Can Bar Crowd, Lathlain Park, P v SD, 2/7/2011

Kieran James: As a young fan I remember having hope in 85 but of course was unaware of any goings on at the club. 1986 was a huge disappointment.

Then there was some mention of 1978, another year that got away for both Perth and West Perth.

Andrew Henryon: Have a look at the 1978 home-and-away. In Round 21 EP 5^th to 2^nd, WP 2^nd to 4^th after EP beat us in round 21 at Leedy in front of 24000! Real bizarre events and EP came from nowhere to win the flag. Unbelievable destiny!

Adrian Gibson: Yes, I remember that last game in 78. East Perth was on a winning streak of 7 or 9 games or something and had to win to make the four and the other results went their way and they ended up 2^nd and played us in the 2^nd semi-final but the crowd was so amazing at that game.

Kieran James: It was too bad that Perth came so close to repeating their hat-trick of flags exactly one decade later but failed (66-67-68 and nearly 76-77-78).

[A special thanks to Adrian Gibson and Andrew Henryon for their kind permission in allowing me to share their comments here. We should write down our memories of the WAFL Golden Era while there are still some of us left. Someone who was 6-years-old when the West Coast Eagles was formed will be 35-years-old today. People of this age and below have no personal memory of the pre-Eagles environment in Western Australia. If people don’t care about the WAFL Golden Era today there may come a time when they will care again.]

TRIBUTE: Croatian All Stars South Fremantle Dream Team

South Fremantle Cheer Squad (formed 2002) @ Fremantle Oval northern end goals.  Patrick Mirosevich is second on the left (waving flag) while Wayne is first on the right (wearing sleeveless SFFC jersey and red cap). You can read my interview with Patrick Mirosevich on this website.

Croatian all-stars Bulldogs dream team (From full-back)

Backs: Jon Dorotich, Darren Gaspar, Travis Gaspar

HB: Damien Gaspar, Glen Jakovich, Danny Civich

Centres: Rod Grijusich, Tony Parentich, Otto Santich

HF: Eric Sarich, Tom Grijusich, Allen Jakovich

Forwards: Peter Sumich, John Gerovich, Scott Watters

Ruck: Jack Sumich, Mathew Pavlich, Jack Rocchi

INT: Ivan Glucina, George Grijusich, Tony Begovich, Dean Ercegovich

Emergencies: Don, Mark, Andy & Ross Grijusich; Ivan Bartul; Matt & Mark Sambrailo; Budi, Laurie & Joe Sumich: Murray Bogunovich; Branko & Craig Civich; Joe & Nick Silich; David & Terry Lucich; Kym Zubrinich; Frank Lendich; Bob Bucat; Gary Cukrov; Jason, Surjan & Dennis Novak; John Pavlovic; Gary Jakovich.

Coach: Mal Brown, and I'm sure he won't apologize for not being Croatian.

Source: http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/the-old-suburban-vfl-afl-grounds.903508/page-5 [accessed 17 August 2015].

George Grljusich - a legendary radio commentator of Croatian heritage famous for his Saturday morning sports programme on 6PR during the 1990s. To the amazement of many he later reinvented himself as a competent commentator of Perth Glory home games. A real character who is sorely missed by those who knew him and by those who didn't but who loved his programme. You can read my tribute to George on this website.

NEW INTERVIEW: WORKING CLASS CULTURE AND MECHANICAL HARE RACING IN SYDNEY - Max Solling speaks with Rex Walsh, 15/3/2015

Glebe Town Hall. This photograph is copyright Max Solling (used with permission).

Max Solling

WORKING CLASS CULTURE AND MECHANICAL HARE RACING IN SYDNEY

An Interview with historian and author Max Solling conducted by Rex Walsh

Max Solling is one of Australia’s leading urban and sports historians.

Born in Sydney, Max Solling has been a resident of Glebe since 1960. He was educated at Newington College (1955-1959) and the University of Sydney where he was awarded a University Sporting Blue in boxing and was Australian Universities boxing champion. In 1972 he completed his MA on the development of nineteenth-century Glebe and he was a founding editor of the Leichhardt Historical Journal. He is a qualified and practicing solicitor.

Publications

• Town and Country A Historical of the Manning Valley Halstead Press ISBN 9781920831561
• Grandeur and Grit: A History of Glebe (2007), Halstead Press, ISBN 1-920831-38-X
• The Boatshed on Blackwattle Bay (1993), Glebe Rowing Club, ISBN 0-646-14811-7
• Leichhardt: On the Margins of the City (1997) with Peter Reynolds, Allen & Unwin. (A social history of Leichhardt and the former municipalities of Annandale, Balmain and Glebe.)
• Contributor, Oxford Companion to Australian Sport
• Contributor, Oxford Companion to Australian Cricket

Awards

• Australian Sports Medal as a local sporting historian (2000) ^[3]
• Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community, particularly through researching, recording and publishing the history of Glebe.

Max Solling is working on his latest book with a focus on: Working Class Culture and Mechanical Hare Racing in Sydney.  I spoke with Max regarding this latest project.

Rex Walsh: Max, what drew you to do a project on Mechanical Hare Racing?

Max Solling: It is closely connected to my passionate area of working class culture and this is why I decided to write my next book [on this topic]. Writing a history of mechanical hare racing is very much a cultural, social, economic and political enterprise. And it is closely connected with the circumstances and values of ordinary people during the inter-war years. The racing tracks were in inner city Sydney and offered a chance to win a wage from gambling and a night out for ordinary working class residents. These areas were occupied by residents, transients, boarding and lodging house populations. These years represented a time of militant trade union and working class mobilisation.

Working class men who breed greyhounds for racing were able to adopt an affordable hobby and way to earn a little more money.  Times were tough!

At the heart of the worker militancy and class consciousness lay a striving for order and predictability within a world that offered the working class very little. These activities helped to sustain close-knit communities amid the alienation of modern industrial society.

Mechanical Hare Racing represented an exciting and dramatic cheap form of entertainment that could easily be reached in the evening after work. “Going to the dogs” was distinctly working class. The high levels of unemployment (30 per cent in 1932) and a general fall in working hours only added to the popularity. The low and irregular wages of manual workers would ensure that people remained in their position in society.

The local rag, The Referee told readers that mechanical hare racing provides remarkable opportunities for small owners to achieve both fame and fortune on the track (4 March, 1931, p. 10). Greyhounds provided an opportunity for working class people to participate in a way that was not possible with other forms of racing such as horse racing. They could be breeders, owners, trainers and punters expressing their individuality and collective solidarity. Greyhounds became symbols of their owners' skill and ability and made those who raced and owned them sporting heroes.

[By Rex Walsh].

Rex Walsh

Rex Walsh Bio: 

Rex Walsh has qualifications in Business, Law and Education. He has been fortunate to work across many universities and has also taught in most units within his disciplines of Business and Law. He finds that this assists him greatly in his teaching of all units and in his ability to provide additional support to his students.

His particular areas of research interest involve ethics and contemporary issues in accounting particularly social and environmental reporting. He also works in industry and he is currently working for a community legal service and undertaking professional consultancy work.

As a very passionate teacher Rex Walsh has been fortunate enough to have his lecturing honored with several awards. He has been the recipient of the Curtin Excellence Award, CPA award, received several Commendations from Curtin for teaching excellence, and received commendations from Notre Dame University and nominations for excellence with CQU.

This photograph is copyrighted Max Solling (used with permission)

NEW INTERVIEW: My interview with Mark Whiting (East Fremantle supporter), 13/5/2015, by Kieran James

West Perth cheer squad at northern (city) end goals at Moss Street ground versus East Fremantle, 8 August 1981. Moss Street was always a hostile and intimidating place for away fans and West Perth fans put in a great effort to bring such numbers and passion to Moss Street this late in the 1981 season, a season when neither side made the final-four. The final score this day was: East Fremantle 21.17 (143) defeated West Perth 16.11 (107) and the attendance was 5,175 (source: WAFL Online). 

Kieran James: Thanks for agreeing to do this interview. I know you said to me modestly that "you are only a fan" but this is a website for the supporters and the view of a supporter is very important to us (although apparently not to the WAFL). First of all, can you tell me how you first became an East Fremantle supporter.

Mark Whiting ready for a beer

1) In 1992 I started following East Fremantle as my WAFL club for a few reasons. Main reason was the South African side of my family was mainly Natal Sharks (South African rugby) and that was the main sport I followed before Aussie Rules. East Fremantle also being nicknamed the Sharks and the closest ground I decided to have an interest in them.  However, it was only in 1997 that I decided to act on that interest and started attending matches and closely follow the Sharks.

KJ2: Do you also follow AFL and if yes do you have a favourite team?

2) Only a slight interest in the AFL.  I used to support Fremantle until they briefly aligned themselves with East Fremantle's port rival South Fremantle (around the turn of the millenium). I just couldn't support the Dockers at all, in fact gave away all my dockers gear. So I went looking for the club with the biggest East Freo contingent which at the time happened to be Hawthorn (6 players - Michael Collica, Craig Trelevan, Jonathon Hay, Brendan Krummel, Daniel Chick, Luke McPharlin,  plus the coach, Ken Judge). Remained Hawthorn ever since.

But my interest is only slight. WAFL has the true football feel. You feel like a part of a club, not just another bum on the seat. Go onto the ground at the breaks. No glorified prima donnas, just rough, old style football. And it's cheaper too.

KJ3: The East Fremantle culture of success (and gentlemanly success without rule-bending or excessive violence behind the play) has been an amazing constant factor for the past 100 years and it is remarkable how it still gets instilled in people in these days of the WAFL as a nursery for young players. Growing up in East Fremantle territory in the 1970s we were only too aware of the aura and power that surrounded the club. Even supporters of other clubs gave unconditional respect. In Jack Lee's East Fremantle history book years such as 1975 (when the club finished fifth) were regarded as terrible failures whereas at West Perth fifth spot was not seen as a disgrace or a catastrophe. What are your comments about this?

3) That statement is very true. I believe that amongst fans, officials, and players brought up in the district generally have the notion ingrained that anything less than finals is disappointing for the club. That and the huge investment of time and money put into East Fremantle's football district.

KJ4: What do you think of the move to return to the vertical panels or strips jersey similar to that worn in the 1977 and 1979 Grand Finals? It is now slightly confusing for outsiders at least as to whether the vertical or the horizontal stripes should be seen as the "classic" or "traditional" strip.

4) Going back to the three vertical stripes was a brilliant move. It was originally only intended for a clash strip in the Foxtel Cup. However it proved extremely popular with the fans, so much so that some were forking out $200 to buy one.

I believe that reintroducing it has started some of the younger fans into looking at the history of the club which is great as the more they read into the club's history the more passion they will feel for the club. In addition, the more of the younger generation passionately involved the more chance there is of long-term survival and not only that but the nostalgic feel for the older fans might rekindle some of their lost passion.

KJ5: What caused the current proposed move back to Fremantle Oval (a traditional home ground for Old Easts which is so traditional that no-one alive today can even remember them playing there)? I'm not an Old Easts supporter but I am a little worried that the literal fear that the Moss Street ground engendered in opposition players and fans will be lost. I always associate Moss Street with those bleak grey farm-style sheds at both ends of the ground, grey skies, cold and piercing ocean winds, and of course large defeats at the hands of the host club. What do you think of the move?

5) From what I hear both the City of Fremantle and the South Fremantle Football Club are both in favour of East Fremantle moving back. The City of Fremantle I believe is willing to invest money into the redevelopment of the oval and facilities should East Fremantle decide to move. At the moment there is a feasibility study being done and it should be out in May 2015. East Fremantle will look at it and then decide whether or not to progress. By progress meaning not accepting straight away, but looking further into it, possible vote on the matter, etc.

Personally, I am in favour of the move back to Fremantle Oval. Even though it will be sad to see us leave Moss Street, I believe there is not much of a future left there.

Scoreboard bank at Moss Street

Ground sharing will reduce maintainence costs, and I strongly believe the rivalry between the two port clubs will only get stronger.

Being in a busier area rather than stuck in the middle of an outer suburb will mean more exposure for East Fremantle to the general public, creating more interest and potentially better crowds and sales. Plus with the markets, pubs and restaurants nearby it will be more inviting for fans to attend the footy as a bigger day experience.

KJ6: Here is an important question which few people are asking. It is often said, usually cynically by AFL supporters online, that only the over-35s or over-40s are still passionate WAFL fans. How can we get more under-35s, such as yourself, to passionately support WAFL teams and regularly attend games?

6) I believe the key lies in the parents and other older family members of the under 35s telling them of who they barracked for in the WAFL, past WAFL memories, any family members playing for a team, showing any football memorabilia, but above all must show they have still have an interest in the WAFL and take the under 35s to games.

I am also a strong believer in leaving all public holidays for WAFL matches. That is no AFL matches in WA played on Good Friday, Anzac Day,  Foundation / WA Day. WAFL clubs have more to benefit from public holiday matches than either WA AFL club.

KJ7: What do you think explains East Fremantle's lack of success in the 21st century? Is it due to the suburban zone being trapped by South Fremantle in the south, Perth in the east, and the Swan River to the north plus an aging demographic in many areas in the East Fremantle zone? 

7) I believe it is partially to do with that reason. But as a whole, I am struggling to find an answer.

KJ8: Have you watched any of the premiership DVDs from the WAFL's Golden Era of the 1970s and 1980s?

8) No. I haven't watched any of the premiership DVDs. I might get around to it someday.

KJ9: What does the Fremantle Derby (the only real West Australian football derby) mean to you and to local supporters of both clubs? Accept no imitators.

9) The derby is always a big day for most. It is for most more than just a home and away game but also a chance to get one up on the old foe. The hatred between the two may have waned somewhat over the years but the importance of beating them still remains. It's the whole game day atmosphere of a derby that excites me, especially when it is in Fremantle with the pubs, restaurants, and surrounding streets flooded with people wearing their team colours.

KJ10: Have you got any comments about WAFL Golden Era website?

10) What I enjoy most about this page is that the information researched and topics discussed are unique. Chris Egan's article about the eastern suburbs and sport is a prime example.

KJ11: Thanks so much for the interview and your very insightful responses.

11) Thanks once again for the opportunity.

Another picture of West Perth cheer squad @ Moss Street northern end goals, 8 August 1981.

This picture shows supporters in the famous can bar at Lathlain Park during the last quarter of a Perth versus Swan Districts match, 2 July 2011. The fact that only the guy with the black hair and black-and-grey hoodie in the exact middle of this picture is probably an under-35 points to a problem with the demographic mix of WAFL supporters. What will happen to the WAFL in the future if it cannot attract the Under-35s to the grounds on a regular basis?

ARTICLE: North Adelaide supporter Stanley Hart emerges as a person of interest in the 1973 Adelaide Oval abduction case, 12/3/2015

ARTICLE: FRESH leads in the 41-year-old Adelaide Oval abduction cold case put a key suspect at the ground on the day of the crime and link him to an abandoned Prospect home with an underground bunker. 

 

Major Crime police have confirmed they are assessing details of Stanley Arthur Hart’s link to the Prospect property, provided to them by The Advertiser last month.

Hart’s family also say the known paedophile, whose former Mid-North property was extensively searched by police as recently as December, would “almost certainly” have been at Adelaide Oval on ­August 25, 1973, when Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon were abducted.

Hart died in 1999.

Cold case detectives are working on a full summary of the Adelaide Oval abduction investigation, they have told Joanne’s sister Suzie Wilkinson.

As SA Police continue a 13-week State’s Most Wanted Cold Case Unit campaign to try to bust some of the state’s 110 unsolved murders, strongly backed by media channels, ­Detective Superintendent Des Bray has reassured the public that police will throw all they have at solving these crimes.

Ms Wilkinson has also been given a personal guarantee that “no stone will be left unturned” as Major Crime detectives look for answers to the abduction of Joanne, 11, and Kirste, 4.

 

“Major Crime detectives are assessing information recently received in relation to a Prospect address,” was all police would say yesterday.

Ms Wilkinson yesterday called for police to take the infor­mation seriously and “investigate it properly”.

“If  it  means  they  have  to go in there and dig up the backyard to check it out, then that’s what should be done,” she said.

SA Police investigating the 1973 disappearance of Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon have been re-examining sites in the state’s mid-north

 

“If they’re not going to investigate it properly, then I’ll get it done.”

The Prospect property has been identified as the childhood home of Hart — a man who was at the top of the police persons-of-interest list in the case as recently as late last year, when police extensively searched his former Yatina property, including excavating two wells.

For a year from March 1973, Hart had unrestricted and unmonitored access to the abandoned home, which featured a large underground bunker, The Advertiser can reveal.

 

The bunker, an air-raid shelter with two entrances and large enough to fit at least four adults, was described as “very good” by Hart’s sister, Ella. It is understood to have been filled in some time before 1975, after the disappearance of the girls.

The homeowners have told The Advertiser there has been no police interest in the property in their 40 years of ownership, but they would fully co-operate should police believe the link needed investigating.

Hart’s family has said that although he did not attend the Adelaide Oval final between arch rivals North and Norwood on August 25, 1973, with them, the North Adelaide Football Club fan “rarely missed a Roosters footy match”. [Jack Frost note: Actually the game was a regular season home-and-away match although the two clubs did meet in a final-round contest later that same year.]

Convicted paedophile family member Mark Marshall, in a 2007 confession to the Mullighan Inquiry into children in state car, also suggests his “Poppa Stan” had taken a hat and a coat from “grandad’s house” to wear at the footy that day.

Identikit images of the suspect closely resemble Hart’s appearance at the time.

Private investigators have suggested the abductor could have taken the girls out of the parklands on a Red Hen train from the North Adelaide train station.

The last reported sighting of the girls, with their abductor, was by a young unnamed man who said he saw them near Port Road in an area only a short distance from North Adelaide station about 5pm.

Police confirmed Hart was a key figure in their investigation of the case last year. Over a number of days in October and December, they searched his Yatina property and excavated two deep wells for clues in the cold case.

Despite nothing being found in the search, police have not ruled Hart out of the investigation.

Further investigations by The Advertiser have found Hart, a former army clerk turned part-time butcher, was “assisted” in a move from Adelaide to Yatina in a bid to curb his recidivist paedophile activity, but was still registered as living at a Parkside address when Joanne, 11, and Kirste, 4, disappeared.

It is understood the Parkside address also has never been searched for clues in the case.

NEW LEADS IN INVESTIGATION

The Advertiser has also passed on to police investigators a number of other leads from private investigators and members of the public that suggest:

A KNOWN child abuser revealed, a decade after their disappearance, that he saw Joanne and Kirste with their abductor;

THE same man was an avid North fan, lived close to Prospect Oval and had the shell of a car buried in his backyard to which access tunnels were regularly dug;

AN anonymous caller to The Advertiser, using voice distortion, says a Prospect address is a place of interest in the Adelaide Oval case and that US Airforce fuel barrels are reportedly buried at a location in Adelaide’s north and contain evidence in the case.

A pair of butcher’s pants removed from the Yatina property.

 

Major Crime detectives on August 25 last year, the 41st anniversary of the abduction, asked Advertiser Investigations Editor Bryan Littlely to share with them information he and a team of private investigators believed they had uncovered on the case.

The Advertiser, last month, advised police of the link to the Prospect property and the bunker immediately.

A number of items — including a butcher’s apron and pants — reportedly belonging to Hart and removed from the Yatina property by a third party before police searches commenced there in 2009 also have been handed to police and are understood to be getting tested to check for clues [from The Adelaide Advertiser, 12/3/2015].

Source: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/cold-case-fresh-leads-in-1973-adelaide-oval-abduction-links-key-suspect-to-abandoned-prospect-home-with-an-underground-bunker/story-fni6uo1m-1227259178710 [accessed 27 April 2015]. 

OPINION: "My Western Australian State Team, 1976-86, excluding players who played VFL/AFL", by Kieran James (revised version, 14/4/2015)

Malcolm Gregory "Mal" Brown - my choice as WA state team coach. A controversial choice as state coach of my team ahead of John Todd and Haydn Bunton Junior but I want excitement and flamboyance!

My Western Australian State Team, 1976-86, excluding players who played VFL/AFL

Ron Boucher in his glory years!

Backs: Steve Curtis (EP / Port Adelaide), Tom Mullooly (SD), Ross Gibbs (WP / Glenelg)

Half-backs: Stephen Green (EF), Joe McKay (SF), Ross Prunster (P / WP)

Centres: Darrell Panizza (C / Woodville), Mel Whinnen (WP), Keith Narkle (SD)

Half-forwards: Chris Stasinowsky (WP / SF / P / South Adelaide), Brian Adamson (WP / Norwood), Stephen Sells (S / West Geelong (VFA))

Forwards: Ed Blackaby (SD), Ray Bauskis (SF), Stephen Michael (SF)

Followers: Ron Boucher (SD), Peter Menaglio (WP), Les Fong (WP)

Interchange: Phil Lamb (S), Benny Vigona (SF), Joe Santostefano (P), Stan Nowotny (SD), Neil Taylor (S), George Michalczyk (EP / WP).

Coach: Mal Brown (SF / P)

Captain: TBA!

Comments:

This is the team I posted to the "Lost WAFL" Facebook group last year. I received a huge amount of (mostly) constructive feedback. As a result I made two changes to the original team. I replaced Doug Green at centre-half-back (because he had played for Sydney Swans) with Joe McKay whom I shifted from the half-back-flank. I then added Doug Green's unrelated namesake from East Fremantle Stephen Green into the team at half-back-flank to take McKay's former position. I also carelessly omitted Benny Vigona (South Fremantle) from the original team which was just an oversight and in no way deliberate. I have kept Mel Whinnen (West Perth) in the centre and added Vigona as first interchange. As Mel was in his second last season by 1976, if he tired out he could be replaced by Vigona in my make-believe fantasy match.

Ross Gibbs (WP / Glenelg)

As my team aroused much discussion and even hostility when it was first posted I will explain again that it is my personal favourite team and not a literal "best" team in any sort of objective sense. I chose players based on flair and class, as I wanted it to be a team I would want to watch (on a fine Saturday afternoon whilst standing on the old concrete terraces on the Roberts Road wing at Subiaco Oval). There is an emphasis on showy players who were mired by inconsistency and arguably never achieved their best form for more than a few matches at a time. The late Chris Stasinowsky (RIP) and Joe Santostefano would fit into this category. On their day both were brilliant players to watch. Ross Gibbs is perhaps the most "unknown" of my chosen players from a Western Australian fan's perspective. However, he clearly proved himself by any objective standards by being a member of Glenelg's strong 1985-86 premiership teams in that pre-AFL era in South Australia[1]. Interestingly, the coach of Glenelg in 1983-84 was none other than Graham Campbell who earlier had coached Gibbs at West Perth[2]. Campbell's unsuccessful second stint at West Perth proved indeed that he could walk on water only once!

The picture that speaks a thousand words

Furthermore, it is obvious that West Perth gets more than its fair share of players in my team and I copped some flak over this (great to see old WAFL rivalries rekindled although obviously the true "enemies" of WAFL football clubs today are the WAFC and AFL.) How can I justify (sorry, I mean explain) myself here? Firstly, I wanted to be honest to myself and being a West Perth supporter during this era I knew West Perth players better than those of other clubs. Secondly, I believe West Perth had some genuine stars in this era (especially Peter Menaglio and Les Fong) who failed to get the respect and recognition they deserved during those years when Perth (1976-78), South Fremantle (1979-81), Claremont (1981-83), Swan Districts (1980-84), East Fremantle (1977-79 and 1984-86), and Subiaco (1985-86) were the pacesetters. I would have chosen Phil Bradmore at centre-half-forward over Brian Adamson but the former opened his career with a handful of games at Footscray (VFL/AFL). Thirdly, West Perth was always competitive and at times brilliant during the 1976-86 period, especially on warm sunny days at its then home ground Leederville Oval. It finished in the top four in 1976-78 and then finished third in 1982 and fourth in 1985. The club was able to beat Swan Districts five times out of nine in home-and-away games during Swans' triple-premiership years of 1982-84, which was a truly remarkable but unheralded feat. I did some archival research on this and found that West Perth had the strange record of beating the eventual premiers two or three times out of three in the majority of years 1976-86[3]. However, it often suffered horrific defeats at the hands of lowly-placed teams when the team was not motivated enough.

Ross Gibbs in young days at WP c 1982

A few other comments should be made here. I was only seven-years-old in 1976 and so my knowledge of players from the 1970s, as compared to the 1980s, was probably weak and superficial. Therefore, for that era, I stuck closely to players who generally made state teams on a consistent basis during those years such as Steve Curtis (East Perth), Joe McKay (South Fremantle), Ray Bauskis (South Fremantle), and Stephen Green (East Fremantle). I also gave considerable weight to objective statistics such as Ray Bauskis' excellent goal-kicking tallies.

Perth supporter Gavin Caudle argued on "Lost WAFL" that my team should have included more players from the 1976-78 East Perth and Perth grand final teams. These two clubs contested both the 1976 and 1978 Grand Finals. This is a good comment. Chris Mitsopoulos (Perth) was unlucky to miss out by a whisker from the support rovers Ed Blackaby (Swan Districts) and Neil Taylor (Subiaco). Perth's famed "team-within-a-team" in defence in 1976-78 deserves the greatest respect and commendation. However, arguably, it worked best as a unit with its whole being far more than the sum of its parts. I am unsure whether Lofts and/or Inman and/or Day and/or Quartermaine would have been better than any or all of my selected team. However, full marks to Perth's defence from that era and I wish I could find a way to include them. I did include Ross Prunster, who (like so many players of that era) lined up at various times for both Perth and West Perth. As for East Perth's 1978 premiership team, I regard it as over-rated as it won by a meager two points on a rainy day when Murray Couper and John Quartermaine were both absent from Perth's line-up. Also, East Perth's best players all played in the VFl/AFL at some point such as Barry Cable, Ian Miller, Wayne Otway, Ross Glendinning, and Kevin Bryant. Steve Curtis (EP) was a part of some fearsome and legendary Port Adelaide Magpies teams and I did include him in his customary back-pocket position. I can remember standing up on the concrete terraces at Alberton Oval in the pouring rain watching Port Adelaide play Central District. That game was played on Monday 21 May 1984 and Curtis was in Port's team that day [see match report on this website]. Archie Duda (East Perth) and Murray Couper (Perth) were both narrowly beaten for the full-forward position in my team by Ray Bauskis and deserve honourable mentions. 

A surprise choice, Stephen Sells

As for coach, I guess the obvious choice was John Todd (or Haydn Bunton Junior or Ken Armstrong perhaps) but I do respect Browny for what he achieved at SF and also at Perth when he brought a basket-case team up from last in 1984 (the year prior to his taking over the coaching job) to finish third in 1986. In my opinion, this was the last great coaching feat of the pre-AFL era in WA football. (This is another feat largely forgotten today since even at the time it was overshadowed by the hype associated with the formation of West Coast in late-1986 / early-1987.) Because it is MY team I will annoy people still further by picking Browny over Todd. After all I want excitement and controversy! I am sure that Stazza (back from the dead), Stephen Michael, and Benny Vigona in particular will appreciate Browny's position at the helm. Please comment further on this team. As moderator I will approve all comments except for the abusive and the spam! If you are still upset please send me your own team and I promise to publish it here (email: Kieran.JKames@uws.ac.uk) [by Kieran James, 14 April 2015].

A literary classic, search for it on eBay

Notes: [1]. Ross Gibbs played 97 games for West Perth from 1979-83 and 253 games for Glenelg from 1984-94. He was inducted into the Glenelg Hall of Fame in 2006.
[2] Wikipedia lists Graham Cambpell's VFL and SANFL coaching record as follows: Fitzroy (1974) 0 wins, 3 losses; Fitzroy (1978) 8 wins, 14 losses; and Glenelg (1983-84) 27 wins, 20 losses. He coached West Perth from 1975-77 and mid-season 1979-end of 1981.
[3] West Perth often defeated the eventual premier team twice in a season during home-and-away rounds, including Perth in 1977 (two wins), East Perth in 1978 (two wins), Swan Districts in 1982 (two wins) and 1984 (two wins), and East Fremantle in 1985 (two wins). If anyone is interested to do some internet research all of these facts can be checked in the "Fixtures & Results" section of the WAFL Online (WAFL official website). Once you are inside "Fixtures  Results", simply use the pull-down menu to choose the season(s) you want to access. This remains a strong record for the West Perth teams of that era but it is also clearly a case of potential unfulfilled. In some of those final-rounds from 1976-86 you had the classic "paper-scissors-rock" scenario (for example, Team A can beat Team B which can beat Team C which can beat Team D but Team D can beat Team A). For example, in 1982, West Perth could usually beat Swan Districts but had a lot of trouble with Claremont whereas Swans could beat Claremont. Also, in 1985, Swan Districts could beat West Perth and we saw that both East Fremantle and Subiaco were very likely to beat Swans. However, interestingly, West Perth could be expected to beat East Fremantle. Furthermore, West Perth could usually beat East Fremantle but failed badly against Subiaco, yet the victors in the East Fremantle-Subiaco contests were always very hard to predict. Such paper-scissors-rock scenarios only added to the high drama which the WAFL supporters enjoyed in this era.

WA State Team 1983. Photo courtesy Lost WAFL Facebook group.

The legendary Ron Boucher (SD) pictured here in 2009 when he was working for Busselton Council. Our West Perth cheer squad had a verbal confrontation with Ron at the Round 14, 1984 match at the northern end goals at Leederville Oval [see match report on this website]. 

South Fremantle's aboriginal greats. Left to Right: Benny Vigona, Willie Roe, and Maurice Rioli (RIP).

South Fremantle's 1984 Hong Kong tour (courtesy Lost WAFL).