Our brightest stars: East Fremantle District

Western Australia has a proud history of developing elite football talent, with many of the game’s brightest stars beginning their careers at local junior football clubs right across the State.

In a series of articles highlighting the rich talent pool in WA over the years, Lenny Fogliani takes a closer look at the best current and former WAFL and AFL players to emerge from junior clubs in WA’s regions and districts.

This article focusses on junior clubs in East Fremantle Football Club's metropolitan district.

Photo: Simon Black

To find your nearest junior community club click here

A host of prominent WAFL and AFL footballers have come from the East Fremantle District. Below are some of the more notable players who have originated from this particular district.

EAST FREMANTLE METRO DISTRICT

The East Fremantle District has a rich history of producing outstanding WAFL and AFL talent.

Within the East Fremantle metropolitan District, there are currently fifteen Junior Clubs – Applecross-Mount Pleasant JFC, Attadale JFC, Booragoon JFC, Bullcreek-Leeming JFC, Canning Vale JFC, East Fremantle Power JFC, Forrestdale JFC, Melville JFC, Palmyra JFC, Piara Waters JFC, Riverton JFC, Rossmoyne JFC, Rostrata JFC, Willetton JFC and Winnacott JFC.

Below are some of the notable players to have come from the East Fremantle District.

NEIL BALME – APPLECROSS–MOUNT PLEASANT JFC

The brother of former Richmond players Ian and Craig, Neil Balme has put together a fantastic career in football. He played a total of 176 games across 14 seasons (159 games with Richmond, 13 with Norwood, and 4 with Subiaco). He was a member of Richmond’s 1969 U19s Premiership team and was also a key member of the Tigers’ senior premierships in 1973 (12 possessions, 5 marks and 2 goals) and 1974 (11 possessions and 2 goals). After his playing career, Balme went on to become an outstanding senior coach. Between 1980 and 1990, he coached 270 games at Norwood in the SANFL where he led them to two premierships in 1982 and 1984. In 1991, he became the inaugural coach of Woodville-West Torrens, and in 1993 he became the Senior Coach of Melbourne. After leaving the Demons in 1997, Balme went on to make a name for himself as an excellent football administrator. He was Collingwood’s Football Operations Manager between 1998 and 2006. He was Geelong’s Football Operations Manager during their golden reign from 2007 to 2013. Between 2014 and 2016, he went back to Collingwood where he served as the Club’s Director of Coaching. At the end of 2016, Balme became the General Manager of Football at Richmond, where he is presiding over their current golden reign.

BRAD SHEPPARD – ATTADALE JFC

The cousin of Australian cricketers Shaun and Mitch Marsh, Sheppard has become one of the best general defenders in the AFL – rated ninth best in this role prior to the 2020 AFL season. Across 11 seasons, Sheppard has played 179 games and currently averages 16 possessions and 5 marks. He has five top-ten placings in a Best and Fairest count (2015: 6th, 2016: 9th, 2017: 10th, 2018: 8th, 2019: 3rd). He has a reputation for being a big-game player, highlighted by his 2015 Player of the Finals Award and 2019 Glendinning-Allan Medal. He represented the All Stars in the 2020 State of Origin for Bushfire Relief Match.

SIMON BLACK – BULLCREEK–LEEMING JFC

A member of Brisbane’s “Fab Four,” Black was one of the premier midfielders of the modern era. He has played the most games ever by a Brisbane Lion with 322 games across 16 seasons. He was a key member of the Lions’ premiership three-peat between 2001 and 2003, highlighted by his 2003 Norm Smith Medal performance against Collingwood (39 possessions – 25 contested – 9 tackles, 9 clearances, 7 inside 50s and a goal). He won the Brownlow Medal in 2002 after he averaged 23 possessions (12 contested), 6 clearances, 5 inside 50s and 5 tackles. He had a further seven top-ten placings in the Brownlow (2001: 9th, 2003: 9th, 2004: 5th, 2006: 10th, 2007: 2nd, 2008: 2nd, 2009: 4th). He also won three Best and Fairest Awards (2001, 2002, 2006) and three All-Australian guernseys (2001, 2002, 2004). He is one of only two players, along with Geelong’s Jimmy Bartel, to have played over 300 games, won a Brownlow Medal and won a Norm Smith Medal.

LUKE MCPHARLIN – BULLCREEK–LEEMING JFC

Nicknamed “Woosh,” McPharlin is arguably Fremantle’s greatest defender. He played 244 games for the Dockers (fourth-most by a Docker) and also kicked 112 goals across 14 seasons. He had six top-ten placings in the Best and Fairest (2006: 7th, 2007: 3rd, 2008: 3rd, 2011: 4th, 2012: 5th, 2015: 10th), won All-Australian selection in 2012 (full-back), won Fremantle Life Membership in 2010, was named centre-half back in Fremantle’s 25 since 95 team, and won the 2005 Alex Jesaulenko Mark of the Year for his spectacular flying chest mark against West Coast. Prior to Fremantle, McPharlin played 12 games for Hawthorn between 2000 and 2001.

SHANE WOEWODIN – BULLCREEK–LEEMING JFC

Of Ukrainian heritage, Woewodin was a star for both Melbourne and Collingwood. In total he played 200 AFL games (138 with Melbourne and 62 with Collingwood) across nine seasons. He is best remembered for winning the 2000 Brownlow Medal, ahead of the Western Bulldogs’ Scott West, becoming just the third Melbourne player to win the Brownlow. In 2000, he also won Melbourne’s Best and Fairest after he kicked 20 goals and averaged 22 possessions, 5 inside 50s, 5 clearances and 4 marks across 25 games. Despite Melbourne losing to Essendon in the 2000 AFL Grand Final, Woewodin was one of the Demons’ better players with 20 possessions and 6 inside 50s. After his playing career, Woewodin was appointed the Senior Coach of East Fremantle, and then became the Offensive Skills Coach of the Brisbane Lions and later was Head Coach of the Lions’ NEAFL team.

DANIEL KERR – MELVILLE JFC

The son of former East Fremantle and Port Adelaide player Roger Kerr, Daniel was a hard-running inside midfielder who played 220 AFL games across 13 seasons for the West Coast Eagles. His 220 games place him fifteenth for most games played by an Eagle, and his 122 goals place him twentieth for most goals kicked by an Eagle. Throughout his career, Kerr was in five top-five finishes in his Club’s Best and Fairest (2001: 5th, 2002: 2nd, 2003: 4th, 2004: 5th, 2007: 5th), had three top-three placings in the Brownlow (2005: 2nd, 2006: 3rd, 2007: 2nd), won All-Australian selection in 2007 (ruck-rover), represented the Dream Team in the 2008 Hall of Fame Tribute Match, represented Australia in the 2002 International Rules Series, won the 2001 AFLPA Best First Year Player Award and finished second in the 2001 NAB AFL Rising Star Award. He was also a key player in West Coast’s 2006 Grand Final triumph over Sydney with 20 possessions (11 contested), 6 clearances, 5 tackles and 4 inside 50s.

ANDREW SWALLOW – ROSSMOYNE JFC

The older brother of Gold Coast’s David, Andrew Swallow was an inspiring midfielder for North Melbourne between 2006 and 2017. Across 12 seasons, Swallow played 224 games (16th most by a Kangaroo) and averaged 21 possessions (11 contested), 7 tackles and 5 clearances. He was the North Melbourne Captain between 2012 and 2016, in which he captained 89 games, 60 of which were victories. He won three Best and Fairest Awards (2009, 2011, 2012) and had a further four top-ten Best and Fairest placings (2010: 2nd, 2013: 8th, 2015: 5th, 2016: 9th). In 2011, he represented Australia in the International Rules Series, and in 2008 he was a member of the North Ballarat Roosters’ VFL Premiership team. He also had four top-fifteen placings in the Brownlow (2010: 12th, 2011: 10th, 2012: 12th, 2013: 12th). He is currently an Assistant Coach with Gold Coast’s AFLW team.

JASON JOHANNISEN – WILLETTON JFC

Born in Johannesburg, Johannisen has quickly become a fan favourite of the Western Bulldogs. He is best known for winning the Norm Smith Medal after a stellar performance in the 2016 Grand Final that saw him finish with 33 possessions, 9 inside 50s, 7 rebounding 50s and 7 marks. In his career to date, Johannisen has five top-ten placings in a Best and Fairest count (2015: 6th, 2016: 10th, 107: 2nd, 108: 7th, 2019: 4th), won the 2015 Tony Liberatore Most Improved Award and was also a key member of the Western Bulldogs’ 2014 VFL premiership. Prior to this season, he was rated as the Western Bulldogs’ sixth best player and second-best general defender.

List of notable players to have hailed from the East Fremantle District.