Australian Football

In dry conditions, there were few if any full forwards of the 1980s to equal Warren Ralph, who amassed 666 goals in 158 games in the nation’s three top football competitions. He commenced in 1980 with Claremont, having played previously with amateur club Floreat Park as well as with Dalwallinu of the Mortlock Football League. In his first season he totalled 87 goals to finish second on the WAFL list behind Simon Beasley of Swan Districts.

Between 1981 and 1983, as Claremont posted numerous scoring records, Ralph helped himself to tallies of 127, 115 and 128 goals to head the league goal kicking charts each year. He also played in the Tigers’ 1981 premiership team.

Not surprisingly, Victorian clubs were quick to take an interest, and the 1984 season saw him at Carlton where, after a spectacular start, it would be fair to suggest that he failed to enhance his reputation. A combination of injuries, effective opposition tactics and inimical weather conditions restricted Ralph’s effectiveness, and he ended up spending more time in the reserves than the seniors. His three season stint with the Blues saw him play 21 VFL games and kick 72 goals which included a club list-topping tally of 55 in his first season.

In 1987 Ralph resumed at Claremont where he quickly rediscovered something approximating to his best form. Clearly, the drier conditions in Perth favoured his fast leading style of play. He totalled 75 goals which included a bag of 10 in the second semi final defeat of Subiaco. The season ended in the best way imaginable with a grand final annihilation of the hapless Lions.

Ralph spent the 1988 season playing for SANFL club Glenelg but just as in Melbourne conditions were not conducive to his style of play and he managed just 30 goals in 14 appearances.

Returning for one last stint with Claremont in 1989 Ralph rounded off his career by helping gthe club to another premiership. His entire WAFL career with the Tigers saw him register 564 goals in 123 matches.

Author - John Devaney