WA Day Foundation Derby Countdown – 3 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) 

NUMBER 11 – 2007
South Fremantle 15.15 (105) defeated East Fremantle 13.13 (91) 

NUMBER 10 – 2008
South Fremantle 18.11 (119) defeated East Fremantle 14.6 (90) 

NUMBER 9 – 2003
South Fremantle 13.9 (87) defeated East Fremantle 13.8 (86)  

NUMBER 8 – 1990
South Fremantle 12.13 (85) defeated East Fremantle 11.6 (72) 

NUMBER 7 – 1992
South Fremantle 12.19 (91) defeated East Fremantle 10.11 (71) 

NUMBER 6 –2011
South Fremantle 12.16 (88) defeated East Fremantle 11.5 (71) 

NUMBER 5 – 1993
South Fremantle 15.10 (100) defeated East Fremantle 14.9 (93) 

NUMBER 4 – 2015
South Fremantle 15.13 (103) defeated East Fremantle 14.14 (98)

NUMBER 3 – 1999
South Fremantle 13.8 (86) defeated East Fremantle 12.10 (82)

There are some eerie similarities from this 1999 clash to the 2016 Foundation Derby on WA Day that awaits in 2016.

Back in 1999 South Fremantle sat on top of the WAFL ladder with East Fremantle third just as it is today. As it was back in 1999, it is Subiaco sandwiched between the two Fremantle teams. 

In the club's centenary year, South Fremantle started the year strongly winning seven of eight along with a hefty percentage in excess of 180. That one loss had come at the hands of East Fremantle in the season-opener on Easter Monday. 

South Fremantle would show its hunger early in this derby though kicking five goals to three in the first quarter and maintained that two-goal advantage to half-time.

After another tight quarter in the third, South Fremantle still managed to build the lead and turned for home 16 points in front.

East Fremantle would challenge in the final quarter but could not find the decisive goal to take the lead as a staunch final quarter defensive effort by South Fremantle saw the Bulldogs hold on for a memorable four-point win. 

In an even goal kicking spread, Brad Bootsma, Justin Longmuir, Peter Worsfold and Daniel Schell all kicked two goals. Notable players in that South Fremantle side included future premiership captain and Sandover Medal winner Toby McGrath, and future Bernie Naylor Medalist Zane Parsons. 

This match is notable for being one of only two games since the inception of the Fremantle Dockers to draw an attendance of over 10,000 fans with this being the highest Fremantle Oval crowd for the past 20 years. 

South Fremantle would lose only two games throughout the 1999 home and away season to finish on top, one game clear of West Perth.

South Fremantle’s form would hold true in the second semi-final winning a tight contest over West Perth to book another grand final berth.

However, it was not to be in 1999 as West Perth turned the tables in the decider to record a four-goal win. 

Interestingly in the coaching box for West Perth that day was John Dimmer.

He was in the middle of a two-time premiership stint with the Falcons and he would soon become one of South Fremantle's all-time most successful coaches with premierships in 2005 and 2009, and finals in eight of his nine seasons in charge up until the end of 2011.