From rags to riches: Claremont 1964
1964 WANFL Grand Final: Claremont v East Fremantle
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After two decades in the doldrums, Claremont enjoyed a sudden and meteoric rise in 1964 under the astute and determined coaching of former East Fremantle rover and 1950 Sandover Medallist, Jim Conway, who replaced Peter Pianto in the role, and who enjoyed the hitherto unheard of privilege of being the team's sole selector. In 1963, under Pianto, the Tigers had won just four out of 21 matches, and finished last, as indeed they had also done in 1962. Nevertheless, with players like Les Mumme, John Dethridge, John McIntosh, Lorne Cook, Wayne Harvey, and 'Mr. Claremont' himself, Kevin Clune, at his disposal there is little doubt that Conway had many of the raw ingredients necessary for success; all that was needed was to find the right mix. With former club stalwart Gordon 'Sonny' Maffina, like Conway a former Sandover Medal winner, as his assistant, Conway ensured that, if nothing else, his side hit the track each week fit, determined and focused. In what was roller coaster ride of a season, Claremont enjoyed some stunning successes mixed with inexplicable and sometimes embarrassing reversals, but in the end, by winning the final two home and away matches of the year, did just enough to scrape into the finals in fourth place, with 12 wins and nine losses, a win clear of 5th placed West Perth.[1]
Old Easts meanwhile secured the minor premiership half a win ahead of Perth before coasting to their third successive grand final with a 19.12 (126) to 11.17 (83) victory in the second semi final. The hapless Redlegs then faltered badly in the following week's preliminary final, losing by nine points against a Claremont side that had already made many people sit up and take notice with a hard fought two-goal defeat of Subiaco in the opening match of the finals. The Tigers would make many more people 'sit up and take notice' before the end of one of the most vibrant, unpredictable and thoroughly exhilarating Grand Finals in top level Australian football history.
1st Quarter
20 secs Claremont, kicking with the aid of a 3 to 4 goal breeze, win the ball out of the centre. Wayne Harvey, having collected the ball just behind the true centre half forward position, spins around onto his favoured right foot and picks out John Parkinson, who has led into space some 30 metres from goal directly in front. Having marked cleanly, Parkinson lines up a shot for goal with great deliberation, and coolly splits the centre, much to the evident delight of the Tiger cheer squad behind the goals. Claremont 1.0; East Fremantle 0.0
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3 mins Con Regan's kick-in after a Claremont behind is marked in spectacular fashion at centre half forward by Tiger ruck-rover John Dethridge, who, making light of the fact that his left thigh is heavily strapped, leaps high over the waiting pack of players, taps the ball away, and then catches it 'slips fashion' as he is tumbling back to earth. His drop kick travels to the teeth of the goal square where the ball spills off hands and is collected almost on the goal line by Les Mumme, who has the easiest of tasks to turn around and tap it over for full points. Claremont 2.2; East Fremantle 0.0
12 mins Claremont continue to dominate the game. From a boundary throw-in on left centre wing for the Tigers Mycock deftly palms the ball to Dethridge, who initiates a chain of handballs involving Wilson, then Edwards, and finally Clune, who has sufficient time and space to run on, steady, and sink his boot into a perfect spiral punt that travels all of 60 metres over the heads of the goal line pack and through for a morale-boosting major score. Claremont 3.5; East Fremantle 0.0
20 mins After Old Easts finally open their account with a behind, Grieve's atrocious grubber of a kick-in travels straight to Lang, who hurriedly throws the ball onto his boot before being sent sprawling. Lang's kick travels almost as far vertically as it does horizontally, but fortunately for East Fremantle it lands safely in the arms of captain-coach Bob Johnson, who from less than 20 metres out almost directly in front is never going to miss. Claremont 3.6; East Fremantle 1.1
25 mins Ian Brewer's high, hopeful punt kick from the vicinity of centre half forward travels to the front of the goal square where Harvey, despite being opposed by both Terry O'Brien and Con Regan, judges the flight of the ball to perfection and marks strongly on the chest before calmly bringing up 2 flags from the goal umpire. Claremont 4.8; East Fremantle 1.1
When the siren sounds 4 minutes later to bring to an end a quarter of football almost entirely dominated by Claremont, both sides have added a further behind to their respective tallies so that the scoreboard reads: QUARTER TIME: Claremont 4.9 (33); East Fremantle 1.2
2nd Quarter
2 mins John Fairbrass, having been awarded a free kick at centre half back for Claremont, steers a drop kick in the direction of Dethridge at left centre wing, but Biffin races in to intercept and, despite the ball bouncing off his chest, manages to knock it ahead of himself and into the path of team mate Michael Regan. As Biffin shepherds for him, Regan runs on and sends a wobbly looking punt kick goalwards; Grieve on the goal line stretches high but is unable to get a touch on the ball and it sails through for a goal. Claremont 4.9; East Fremantle 2.2
9 mins McIntosh, midway between the centre circle and the true centre half back position, marks on his chest and sends a low drop kick in the direction of Brewer at centre half forward. The former Collingwood star cleverly thumps the ball forward some 15 metres into the path of Mann who gathers and feeds off to Parkinson who immediately relays the ball to Fairclough, and the speedy wingman, one of the famous 'Flying Tigers' (see footnote 1), has no difficulty in steering the ball through for full points. Claremont 5.9; East Fremantle 2.2
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13 mins Attempting to mark at centre half forward, Brewer is unable to get a handle on the ball and is brought clattering to earth by Rogers, who chases after the loose ball, collects it, and thumps a high kick towards half forward right where John McIntosh, misjudging the flight of the ball completely, leaves Laurie Watson unattended to mark easily on the chest. The lightly built half forward plays on immediately, running some 20 metres and bouncing the ball twice before kicking truly from 35 metres. Claremont 5.9; East Fremantle 3.4
16 mins With Old Easts having now achieved almost the same measure of control as Claremont enjoyed in the opening term, Lawrence hurtles off the half back line and along right centre wing, bouncing the ball 3 times, before kicking high towards centre half forward where Bob Johnson, one out with Grieve, marks strongly overhead. His low, raking left foot kick splits the centre. C laremont 5.9; East Fremantle 4. 4
18 mins Harry Neesham, from near the centre of the ground, propels a low, spearing drop kick deep into the right forward pocket where Grieve intercepts for the Tigers. Before he can get boot to ball, however, Johnson manages to get a firm grip on him from behind, and the ball spills loose. First upon it is Cormack, who initiates a sequence of lightning handpasses involving himself, Watson and Johnson, and finally Cormack again, who makes a nonsense of the tight 75 degree angle and effortlessly snaps truly. Claremont 5.9; East Fremantle 5.4
22 mins Neesham's perfectly weighted pass hits Biffin on the chest just in front of right centre wing as that player is sprinting towards goal. Without breaking stride, Biffin unfurls a majestic looking drop kick that sails high to within about 25 metres of goal where Johnson, with clever use of the body, dislodges Grieve and takes a powerful overhead mark. As he moves back to take his kick, Johnson is clumsily tripped by Mycock, whereupon umpire Montgomery promptly awards him a 15 yard penalty. The goal which would have probably ensued from 25 metres becomes inevitable from just over 10 and Old Easts hit the front for the first time in the match. East Fremantle 6.4; Claremont 5.9
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23 mins East Fremantle's advantage is almost immediately erased as McIntosh's powerful, 25 metre thump forward from the ensuing centre bounce is soccered onwards by Brewer, who races after the ball, collects it, and prods a short kick forward to Harvey, who just manages to evade the attentions of Con Regan before registering a 6 pointer with a curling, left foot snap. Claremont 6.9; East Fremantle 6.4
25 mins A boundary throw-in takes place at half forward right for East Fremantle which sees the ball elude both ruckmen before being squeezed forward out of the ensuing scrimmage straight into the path of Tony Casserly. Spying Lawrence running past, Casserly handballs to that player, and after running on his full measure Lawrence's in truth somewhat flaccid looking goalbound kick just eludes the desperate goal line lunge of Grieve to restore Old Easts' advantage. East Fremantle 7.5; Claremont 6.9
After dominating play for all bar the first 5 minutes or so of the term, East Fremantle have justifiably jumped right back into contention and suddenly it is the Tigers who seem to have all the problems.
HALF TIME: East Fremantle 7.5 (47); Claremont 6.9 (45)
3rd Quarter
2 mins Using his characteristically deliberate, almost choreographed, version of the drop punt, John Parkinson restores Claremont's lead from a set shot 30 metres from goal directly in front. Claremont 7.9; East Fremantle 7.5 6 mins Ken Holt kicks towards half forward left for East Fremantle where Johnson is once more too good in the air for Grieve, marking strongly, before sending a low drop kick to the front of the goal square. For some reason, the waiting pack of players seems to assemble too deep, leaving Laurie Watson completely unattended and able to mark with no difficulty just 15 metres form goal. He kicks truly. East Fremantle 8.5; Claremont 7.9
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11 mins Con Regan's kick-in after a Claremont behind is ill directed, and is marked at centre half forward for the Tigers by John McIntosh. Further indignity is inflicted on the East Fremantle full back when his opponent, Wayne Harvey, uses him as the proverbial step ladder to soar high and mark McIntosh's resultant kick on his chest, before registering full points. (Harvey's tendency to mark on the chest where possible in this match is explained by the fact that he is suffering from a broken finger.) Claremont 8.10; East Fremantle 8.5
12 mins After an indeterminate ruck contest at the centre bounce following Harvey's goal, Cormack snatches up the ball and kicks forward, only to see Brayshaw come in and intercept at centre half back for Claremont. After playing on, however, Brayshaw's kick is smothered by Holt, who is just able to squeeze a left foot kick away before being pushed over by Brayshaw. The kick floats high towards the left forward pocket where Johnson, one out with Grieve, briefly gets fingers to the ball before being bundled over - illegally so, in the opinion of umpire Montgomery. Despite being on something like a 75 degree angle, Johnson has no difficulty whatsoever in 'threading the needle'. East Fremantle 9.5; Claremont 8.10
15 mins Fairclough picks up the ball just ahead of centre and, as Mann shepherds for him, has sufficient time to pick out Les Mumme at half forward right, whom he hits on the chest with a perfect stab pass. Mumme's kick travels to within 20 metres of goal where Harvey, in the face of stern opposition from both Regan and O'Brien, marks strongly overhead, before converting. Claremont 9.10; East Fremantle 9.5
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27 mins At a boundary throw-in deep in Claremont's left forward pocket East Fremantle ruckman Banks beats McIntosh to the tap, but only succeeds in directing the ball straight into the path of Mumme who, in one swift motion, collects the ball and throws it onto his left boot, steering it through the empty goal square and across the line for a goal. Claremont 10.12; East Fremantle 9.6
29 mins Mycock's drop kick from the left back pocket for Claremont spins off the side of his boot and only travels about 25 metres. At first it seems as if the Tigers will be fortunate in that Fairbrass appears to be in prime position to mark, but at the last moment Lewis comes hurtling in and, after enjoying a classical ride on his opponent's shoulders, marks superbly, before propelling a high drop kick in the direction of his captain, Bob Johnson, at full forward. Johnson manages to get his hands on the ball briefly, but then is blatantly pushed in the back by an increasingly desperate John Grieve. As Grieve cavorts around on the mark like a man possessed, the three quarter time siren sounds. Meanwhile Johnson, seemingly oblivious to both these occurrences, nonchalantly steers home a low, left foot drop punt, to bring his team back to within seven points.
THREE QUARTER TIME: Claremont 10.13 (73); East Fremantle 10.6
4th Quarter
2 mins East Fremantle open the scoring in the final term courtesy of another goal from the increasingly rampant Bob Johnson. Claremont 10.13; East Fremantle 11.6
9 mins After totally dominating play since East Fremantle's goal, the Tigers finally manufacture a breakthrough themselves after Harvey is illicitly interfered with by Regan during a marking contest, and kicks truly from 12 metres out more or less straight in front. Claremont 11.14; East Fremantle 11.6
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14 mins As Claremont continue to dominate, Edwards kicks towards the goal square where Harvey and Regan contest yet again, with the Old Easts defender on this occasion managing to get a fist to the ball, sending it scuttling towards the boundary deep in the left back pocket. Harvey, however, recovers more quickly than his opponent, and manages to intercept the ball before it goes out of play before firing a low left foot kick across his body and into the goal square, where it is caught by Mumme. Judging that the ball has not travelled 10 yards, umpire Montgomery immediately cries "play on!" whereupon Mumme is firmly claimed from behind by Rogers, with the result that the ball spills loose. Following up perfectly, however, Kevin Clune is in an ideal position to soccer the ball the necessary 3 or so metres to register a goal. Claremont 12.16; East Fremantle 11.6
16 mins In an effort to lift his side, Bob Johnson has moved downfield as far as centre half forward where, despite the strenuous attentions of John Grieve, he manages to mark strongly before kicking high towards the goal square. As the members of the waiting pack jostle for position they succeed only in maneuvering themselves under the flight of the ball, providing an unmarked Ken Holt, who is standing virtually on the goal line, to gather the ball and claim probably one of the easiest goals of his career. Claremont 12.17; East Fremantle 12.6
18 mins Suddenly it is the Old Easts players who are consistently first to the ball, with Claremont looking increasingly ragged and tired, and after Bob Johnson yet again outmarks John Grieve at centre half forward before kicking accurately to reduce the margin to just 5 points, Tigers coach Jim Conway responds by moving John McIntosh, who has been in superb form, particularly overhead, onto him. Claremont 12.17; East Fremantle 13.6
20 mins East Fremantle's ploy of kicking long down the corridor at every opportunity again pays off as Mike Regan's thumping punt kick to the goal square sees Johnson and McIntosh spoiling one another, leaving the ball to spill right into the lap of Laurie Watson almost on the goal line. He has as little difficulty in registering full points as had Ken Holt 4 minutes earlier, and after playing 'catch up' football for over a quarter, Old Easts are finally in front. East Fremantle 14.6; Claremont 12.17
22 mins After taking a towering, finger tip mark in which his horizontally outstretched arms are about half a metre higher than the leaping Con Regan's head, Wayne Harvey misses to the right to level the score. East Fremantle 14.6; Claremont 12.18
23 mins A rushed behind restores East Fremantle's single point advantage. East Fremantle 14.7; Claremont 12.18
26 mins A boundary throw-in takes place immediately adjacent to East Fremantle's left forward pocket behind post. John McIntosh beats Bob Johnson to the tap, but the ball is sharked by Bert Thornley who, without properly getting a grip on it, manages nevertheless to steer it onto his left boot, and his quasi-soccer style kick scuds through to seemingly - at least as far as the TV commentary team is concerned - secure the flag for his side. East Fremantle 15.8; Claremont 12.18
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28 mins As Claremont push forward desperately, centre half forward Ian Brewer evades the attentions of his shadow, Norm Rogers, for one of the few times in the game to run, unattended, into the goal square and mark John Parkinson's long, hopeful tumble punt and fire home from point blank range. Sensing that there can only be moments left in the match, the crowd is at fever pitch. East Fremantle 15.8; Claremont 13.18
30 mins The Tigers are living up to their nickname by fighting tenaciously for every possession, whilst moving the ball forward by any means at their disposal. As a scrimmage forms near the centre of the ground, John Fairbrass comes careering out of the backlines, scattering the bodies of friend and foe alike before gathering possession and kicking high towards half forward left where a large pack forms. Scouting the pack, Dale Edwards times his run exquisitely, sharking the ball off hands and delivering a low stab pass forward in one sweeping motion. The pass is perfectly executed, too, hitting the suddenly elusive Ian Brewer firmly on the chest, deep in the left forward pocket. The angle is by no means easy, but with the wind having dropped appreciably since early in the game, Brewer's job is somewhat easier than it might have been; to a crescendo of noise from the Claremont cheer squad behind the goals, Brewer's kick never deviates as it sails right through the centre. Claremont 14.18; East Fremantle 15.8
A minute and a half later, as Cormack's desperate kick travels towards East Fremantle's full forward area, the siren sounds to bring to an end arguably the greatest WANFL grand final of the 1960s. Claremont have enjoyed the lion's - or should that be tiger's? - share of the possession, and at times had looked like running away with the game, but Old Easts' aerial superiority (they took something like half as many marks again as their opponents), coupled with the greater efficiency of their more direct, long kicking style, enabled them to stay in touch and, overall, be considered somewhat unfortunate to have lost. In hindsight, the loss during the game through injury of state players Tony Casserly, who struggled on for twenty minutes with a broken leg, and Frank Coulson might well be said to have cost Old Easts the flag, but injuries have always been a part of football, and the last thing a proud club like East Fremantle would ever do is wallow in excuses. For Bob Johnson and his players, their time would come, and soon, but for now the glory, the accolades and the premiership belonged to Jim Conway's 'rags to riches' brigade of tough, courageous and highly talented footballers.
FINAL SCORE: Claremont 14.18 (102); East Fremantle 15.8 (98)
Match Summary
1st | 2nd | 3rd | FULL TIME | |
Claremont | 4.9 | 6.9 | 10.13 | 14.18 (102) |
East Fremantle | 1.2 | 7.5 | 10.6 | 15.8 (98) |
BEST
Claremont: Harvey, McIntosh, Edwards, Fairclough, Mycock, Mumme
East Fremantle: Johnson, Rogers, Watson, Thornley, Banks
GOALS
Claremont: Harvey 5; Brewer, Clune, Mumme, Parkinson 2; Fairclough
East
Fremantle:
Johnson 8; Watson 3; Holt, Lawrence, M.Regan, Thornley
SIMPSON MEDAL (best on ground): Norm Rogers (East Fremantle)
ATTENDANCE: 45,120 at Subiaco Oval
Footnotes
1. In 1963, Claremont initiated a scheme whereby some of its key players, notably Alan Mycock, Brian Fairclough, Vern Orr, Ian Brayshaw and Des Leo were flown to Perth from various country centres each Saturday. The scheme endured for several years and undoubtedly made an important contribution to the club's 1964 premiership win.
The Tigers' success was all the more remarkable given that its best player from previous seasons, Denis Marshall, transferred to Geelong in late 1963. In one of footy's 'hard luck' stories, Marshall had signed with Geelong but held on for one last season at Claremont (1963) before transferring to the Cat's after a protracted clearance battle in 1964. He thus missed out on the Tiger flag by one season, and the Cats' flag by one season, a scenario repeated by Ross Glendinning in 1977/8.
Comments
William Pougher 3 January 2017
No mention of the clear (but not paid) mark taken by Lawrie Watson in the goal square before Brewer's final goal.
Norm Rogers was down with cramp as Brewer goaled, too.
One of the worst days of my life.
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