WA Day Foundation Derby Countdown – 13 days to go

THE Foundation Derby on WA Day is always the biggest occasion of any WAFL season outside of finals and South Fremantle is guaranteed of heading into the clash with East Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on top of the ladder.

The Sharks could very well be second too depending on what happens this weekend while the Bulldogs have the bye leading into the clash.

We are going to countdown to the Foundation Derby on WA Day, which falls on Monday June 6 by taking a look at 15 of the greatest wins by South Fremantle over East Fremantle on the famous occasion.

NUMBER 15 – 1978
South Fremantle 21.13 (139) defeated East Fremantle 14.14 (98) 

NUMBER 14 – 2006
South Fremantle 35.13 (223) defeated East Fremantle 9.12 (66) 

NUMBER 13 – 1959, 1960, 1961
1959 – South Fremantle 12.17 (89) defeated East Fremantle 11.12 (78)
1960 – South Fremantle 11.7 (73) defeated East Fremantle 10.12 (72)
1961 – South Fremantle 7.15 (57) defeated East Fremantle 7.8 (50)

In the space of three years, South Fremantle and East Fremantle played out three classic Foundation Day Derbies. And in all three years it was South Fremantle that would record tight, hard fought victories - overcoming big deficits and their own goal kicking woes. 

The 1959 Foundation Day Derby highlighted what was to come in the following two years as South Fremantle was forced to claw its way back from a heavy early deficit.

Trailing by five goals at half-time, it took a stunning third quarter turnaround to see South Fremantle capture an unlikely three quarter-time lead. With inaccuracy plaguing the side, South Fremantle was forced to sweat out a tight final quarter before recording an 11-point win. 

The 1960 encounter might have been the best of the three battles as South Fremantle at home were forced to come from nearly five goals down at three quarter-time to record an unlikely win.

In an epic last quarter South Fremantle worked its way to the front late recording a famous one-point win. 

Then in 1961 it would be another tight one. This time it was South Fremantle that held sway most of the day holding off every challenge from Old Easts. Inaccuracy would hurt the Bulldogs from recording a more comfortable victory, ultimately winning the match by seven points.

What made these three derby wins in consecutive years even more special was the fact that in all of these years East Fremantle had the stronger side over the whole season.

In 1959, South Fremantle would finish seventh while East Fremantle would finish the season second.

In 1960, South Fremantle was knocked out of the finals in a first semi-final loss to East Fremantle while in 1961, South Fremantle finished with the wooden spoon as East Fremantle played finals football.

This ability to be up for the special Foundation Day match was a cherished part of the rivalry for followers of the Mighty Red V in what were some lean years for supporters of the club.