1947

The Annual General Meeting was held attended by delegates from the 14 existing clubs, North Fremantle, University, Palmyra, Midland Junction, Mosman Park, East Fremantle, Bayswater, Fremantle CBC, South Perth, Belmont, Wembley, Mt Hawthorn, Maylands and Claremont with representation of new clubs affiliated Teachers College, Swanbourne, Interbanks, Victoria Park and Mt Lawley.

Mr C.J.B Veryard was re-elected as President, Mr. H.B Grosvenor as Secretary/Treasurer, Mr F. Breen elected as Assistant Secretary. Mr W.R Orr was re-appointed as the Patron.

Messrs Walsh, Robson, Sandover, Henkel, Touhy, Gibson, Jotterdell, Steen, Bennett were elected as Vice-Presidents.

A Protests & Disputes Committee of Messrs Moffatt, Henkel & Dolan were elected, while Mr. Robson was elected as the 3rd member of the Umpires Board.

A Grounds & Fixtures comprising Messrs O’Grady, Bennett & Brosnan were elected to the Executive Committee representing the ‘A’ division & Messrs Kenneally & Breen the ‘B’ division.

Affiliation fees for each club each match be set at $1.0.0 ($2).

A Sub-Committee comprising the President, Secretary, Messrs Miller, Robson & Bennett was formed to deal with the requirements necessary to conform with affiliation with the Australian Amateur Football Association. The President & Secretary nominated to attend the AAFC meeting in Adelaide & report that confirmation that the 2948 Carnival was to be held in Perth & was to be conducted by the WAAFA, providing the umpires & the using of “Burley” footballs.

All participating members of the Council were to play under existing rules, although the need for uniformity would require all members to recognise Rule 25 of the AAFC which dealt with & allowed the central umpire the power to order certain players from the field for breaches of the rules.

To help with financial support for the visiting teams, a tentative guarantee had been given by WAAFA, that the gate receipts would be no less than $500 ($1000).

It was decided that a Carnival Committee be formed with a representative from each club to help to raise funds for the holding of the Carnival.

Each club was asked to raise $12.10.0 ($24.50) by the end of the season, with an additional $12.10.0 ($ 24.50) by the end of July 1948.

The Young Sports Temperance League were again, as was the case in 1946, given permission to play as preliminary games, before some of our matches, but must agree to finish on time.

Clubs were still being fined for breaches involving not telephoning scores through, late starting, not supplying boundary flags, no bell or non-attendance at delegates meetings without apology.

As a Sportsmen’s Organising Committee had proposed establishing a fund to provide assistance for Carnival teams in all branches of amateur sport, Messrs Hunt & Miller were appointed to represent the WAAFA as their delegates at any of their meetings & be able to report back on any developments.

In view of the varied performances by the umpires, an umpires coach, Mr L McComish was appointed & all reports provided to him. Because of the results from his lectures & the definite improvement shown in umpiring during the progress of the season, the honorarium of $3.3.0 ($6.30) promised was raised to $10.10.0 ($20.20).

Life membership was bestowed on Mr C.J.B Veryard and Mr H.B Grosvenor, for their great service provided to the association.

Many clubs sought permission to make trips during or after the season; University to Tasmania to attend an Inter-Variety contest, Bayswater to visit Margret River, Claremont – Nedlands to visit Narrogin, Midland Junction to visit Katanning, Mosman Park to visit Kellerberrin, East Perth to visit Toodyay, Swanbourne to visit Pingelly & North Fremantle to visit Donnybrook.

The Interbanks Football Club were sold the 14 guernseys held by the association for $5 ($10).

Mr Buchanan was elected to fill a vacancy that had occurred on the Executive Committee.

The umpire’s fees for the finals were set – the central umpire to receive $1.10.0 ($2.10) for the finals and $2.0.0 ($4) for the Grand Final and the boundary & goal umpires 15/- ($1.50) for any final.

A donation to the St John Ambulance Brigade for their continued services were made - $5.5.0 ($10.50) to the Perth division, $3.3.0 to the Fremantle division and $1.1.0 each to the Midland Junction & Maylands divisions.

With the 22 affiliated clubs taking part in the competition, there were 986 registered players, the largest number of players actively associated with the association to date.

New clubs Swanbourne, East Perth, Victoria Park, Osborne Park, Teachers College & Mt Lawley were welcomed & the competition was conducted in three divisions. In the ‘A’ division, North Fremantle went Premiers, defeating Mosman Park in the Grand Final. South Perth were the Premiers in the ‘B’ division, joining a select band of clubs who have gone through a season undefeated.

In the ‘C’ division where all clubs were making their initial appearance in the association, Swanbourne proved to be the best-balanced side & were Premiers defeating East Perth in the Grand Final.

A premiership ball was held at the end of the season and in addition to the trophies for the winning teams, premiership pennants had been organised for the winning clubs in each division.

PREMIERS, LADDERS & MEDALLISTS

SEASON STATS

Clubs: 21
Teams: 22
Registered Players: 986

*new club