The 1936 WANFL season was the 52nd season of the Western Australian National Football League. The most conspicuous features were the rise of Claremont to their first finals appearance since entering the WAFL ten years beforehand after having won only forty (plus two draws) of its first 183 games,[1] and the thrilling finals series in which East Perth rose to their first premiership for nine years after holding on to a thrilling struggle for fourth position where all eight clubs were in the running well into August,[2] then winning two finals by a solitary point. In the process the Royals set a record for the most losses by an eventual premiership club in major Australian Rules leagues,[a] but won their last open-age premiership until 1956. The Royals overcame much adversity to win the premiership, including a crippling injury toll and a schedule modified to allow them to tour Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania between 4 July and the first week of August.
George Moloney, famous as a prolific goalscorer, aided Claremont's rise in his new role as a centreman and won the club's fourth Sandover Medal in five seasons, whilst former West Perth key forward Frank Hopkins took Moloney's place at the goalfront to great effect.
The Cardinals, who had won three premierships during the previous four seasons, began a short but extraordinarily steep decline this season, not returning to the finals until 1941 (when they won another premiership) and suffering two wooden spoons and twenty-seven consecutive losses.
Victoria Park, wooden spooners in 1935, reverted to the club's traditional name of 'Perth' after Parliament failed to pass an Act to allow them to acquire Raphael Park to develop a new oval.[3] After a poor beginning the Redlegs improved, but were not again to contest open-age finals until they began three decades of only briefly interrupted success in 1947.
Off the field, 1936 saw the WANFL establish permanent headquarters at Subiaco Oval,[4] whilst the Grand Final was the first game with a new grandstand at the ground.
In a round of vigorous play despite favourable conditions, Subiaco inflict the injury-depleted Royals' first loss and the reigning premiers gain their first win.
In extremely wet conditions with 48.5 millimetres (1.91 in) of rain in Perth,[29] South Fremantle gain their third win with a 5.1 (31) to 1.3 (9) last quarter into a strong northwesterly wind.
Tyson kicks twelve goals, five behinds as West Perth rebound in spectacular fashion over Subiaco, who do not goal after midway through the first quarter.
West Perth continue their return to top form, whilst Perth cling to a seven-point lead for the last few minutes against a strong-finishing Old Easts outfit.
West Perth continue their surge to move to second position after a wasteful first half by both teams, with Max Tetley and Ted Flemming impregnable in defence.
Swan Districts come back to beat East Fremantle for the first time in their three seasons in the WANFL. In the reserves (then called the 'Association'), however East Fremantle, playing as 'North East Fremantle', kick an astonishing 52.20 (332),[50] which remains the record for any grade of WANFL football.[51]
The match between South Fremantle and East Perth was uniquely played on a working day afternoon to allow the Royals' tour of the eastern States.
South Fremantle kick the most accurate score in WANFL history to that point despite very windy conditions, beating 13.2 (80) by West Perth against Perth in 1902.[62]
In the later games, East Fremantle take top place from the Royals whilst the latter lose by ten points to a combined Tasmanian team.[63]
The match at Bassendean was put forward to allow East Perth's tour of the eastern States.
In wet conditions, East Fremantle overwhelm a West Perth side with 9.7 (61) to 3.1 (19) in the second half to take top spot from East Perth, who lose their last tour match by thirteen points to a North Tasmanian team.[68]
Claremont, after six losses in seven games, rebound to defeat East Fremantle in an exceptional standard game.
The round's results remarkably leave only three wins separating the eight clubs with five matches remaining, and have Swan Districts in the box seat for a maiden finals berth in its third season.[2]
With George Doig kicking eleven goals, East Fremantle produce the finest display of the season to displace the Royals from the four due to a poor percentage.
Claremont secure their first WANFL finals berth with a thrilling win over West Perth in a match with many missed opportunities at the finish – and with Subiaco's loss in a tough match gain a strong chance of claiming second position.
Claremont beat Subiaco in a match that determined who took second position and the double chance in the finals.
An East Fremantle rally in the third quarter ensures East Perth remain in the top four despite kicking 2.8 (20) with the wind in the second quarter and failing to catch Swan Districts in the last.
Herb Screigh wins a third successive thrilling final with a goal after the siren. East Fremantle were leading by thirteen points with five minutes remaining.[95]