WA Day Foundation Derby Countdown – 12 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) 

NUMBER 12 – 1907
South Fremantle 6.8 (44) defeated East Fremantle 4.9 (33)

The first ever derby contest on Foundation Day would become one of the most memorable as South Fremantle captured an unlikely back to the wall win.

East Fremantle had been the dominant team of the era, having just captured the 1906 premiership and starting the 1907 season unbeaten through the first four rounds to sit on top of the ladder. It would have been expected that they keep that undefeated season intact after Foundation Day.

It was not to be, though, as South Fremantle recorded a famous hard fought win.

Despite trailing at half and three quarter-time, South Fremantle would finish the strongest recording the unlikely 11-point win. 

East Fremantle would end up finishing the 1907 season on top losing just three games, two of those at the hands of South Fremantle.

The Mighty Red V went on to win the Round 12 fixture between the two sides as well. South Fremantle qualified for finals finals in 1907 with a fourth placed finish after the home and away season but were narrowly beaten by Perth in a semi-final. 

What was interesting about the WAFL fixture at that time was teams played three games in seven days at the start of June.

Clubs would play a regular fixture on the Saturday of the long weekend, would have to front up just two days later to play on Foundation Day, before contesting a third match five days later on the next Saturday.

Imagine the outcry that would have come from modern footballers about three games in seven days.