East Fremantle to celebrate the heroes of 1943

1943 premierships players will be honoured by the East Fremantle Football Club at the first home game of the 2013 season versus Swan Districts.

In 1943 'Old Easts' were victors over the Swans 17.15 (117) to 11.11 (77).

There will be six of the eight living members of the team at the opening game of the 2013 season, marking 70 years since their premiership victory.  These are Jack Sheedy, Merv Cumbers, Bob Mason, Graham Teague, Terry Bourke and Dave Cole.

Apologies were received from Ray Gabrielson and Roy Ralph.

This is the report from the West Australian on Monday October 11th, 1943:

EAST FREMANTLE PREMIERS

Giving an outstanding exhibition of the national code of which it has been the leading exponent this year, East Fremantle easily defeated Swan Districts in the Grand Final of the WANFL competition at Subiaco Oval on Saturday and deservedly won the 1943 premiership. It was East Fremantle’s 19^th premiership.

Swan Districts disappointed its admirers and failed to reproduce the good form which carried it from a low position on the list to the grand final game. However the club has completed its most successful season in the league and did well to be runner-up.

The Teams

East Fremantle: Bathurst, Bourke, Clark, Cole, Conway,(Capt), Cumbers, Gabrielson, Hinkley, Jarvis, Johanson, Mason, Murray, Ralph, Richardson, Sheedy, Smith, Teague, Travers and Robertson (19^th)

Swan Districts: Aitken, Bamford, Bowen (Capt), Davies, Dobson, Doig, Jeffery, P and R. Latham, Padbury, Patterson, Pearce, Porter, Radiach, Riley, Ritchie, Roberts, Summerton and Holding (19^th)

The Play

Swan Districts kicked first to the city end favoured by a cross-wind which blew diagonally from the scoreboard into the members stand. Despite this advantage the eastern suburbs team was slow into stride and Aitken found himself called upon to defend. Within a couple of minutes Cumbers goaled. Soon afterwards Summerton replied. Until the end of the term both teams scored goal for goal. Sheedy making a clever run just before the bell to score a goal which kept East Fremantle within one point of its opponent’s score.

First quarter scores:

Swan Districts 4.3 (27 points): East Fremantle 4.2 ( 26 points)

That Swan Districts should have done better when kicking to the east was shown by the use East Fremantle made of the breeze in the second term. Playing clever concerted football it added 7.6 to 1 goal. This burst gave East Fremantle a firm grip on the game. At this stage Swans was not playing as if such a large deficit would be within its compass in the second half against such a strong team.

Half time scores:

East Fremantle 11.8 (76): Swan Districts 5.3 ( 33)

East Fremantle continued to dominate the game on the resumption and gave a clever display in the forward area. Sheedy, following and forward, and Conway, repeatedly put the side into attack. With the tall Ralph, centre-forward and Hinkley and Jarvis, half-forwards, playing cleverly, five goals were added against the wind while only one point was scored. Bowen transferred from centre to the forward lines but Swan Districts was held down to 2.6 for the term. Considering the lack of opportunities Summerton did well in front of goals for Swans.

Third quarter scores:

East Fremantle  16.9 (105); Swan Districts 7.9 (51)

With a lead of nine goals and the wind advantage, East Fremantle, even if not intentionally, played leisurely in the last quarter and its kicking deteriorated. In its usual style Swan Districts began to play strongly in the last quarter and some of its best flashes of football were unfolded while 4.2 was added to its somewhat meagre score. The gap in the scores however always appeared too great for Swans to bridge and a somewhat disappointing game ended with East Fremantle 40 point in the lead.

Final scores:

East Fremantle 17.15 (117); Swan Districts 11.11 (77)

Goalkickers:—

East Fremantle; Ralph 4, Cumbers, Sheedy, Hinkley, Murray, Conway 2 each; Jarvis, Cole and Bathurst 1.

Swan Districts; Summerton 4, Porter, Radiach, Ritchie 2 each and R. Latham 1.

Best Players:--

East Fremantle; Sheedy, Conway, Bourke, Mason, Jarvis, Murray, Cole and Gabrielson.

Swan Districts; Summerton, Bowen, Porter, Radiach, Aitken, Ritchie and Padbury.

Umpire: L. Mosey.