WA Day Foundation Derby Countdown – 8 days to go

THE Foundation Derby on WA Day is always the biggest occasion of any WAFL season outside of finals and South Fremantle is guaranteed of heading into the clash with East Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on top of the ladder.

The Sharks could very well be second too depending on what happens this weekend while the Bulldogs have the bye leading into the clash.

We are going to countdown to the Foundation Derby on WA Day, which falls on Monday June 6 by taking a look at 15 of the greatest wins by South Fremantle over East Fremantle on the famous occasion.

NUMBER 15 – 1978
South Fremantle 21.13 (139) defeated East Fremantle 14.14 (98) 

NUMBER 14 – 2006
South Fremantle 35.13 (223) defeated East Fremantle 9.12 (66) 

NUMBER 13 – 1959, 1960, 1961
1959 – South Fremantle 12.17 (89) defeated East Fremantle 11.12 (78)
1960 – South Fremantle 11.7 (73) defeated East Fremantle 10.12 (72)
1961 – South Fremantle 7.15 (57) defeated East Fremantle 7.8 (50) 

NUMBER 12 – 1907
South Fremantle 6.8 (44) defeated East Fremantle 4.9 (33) 

NUMBER 11 – 2007
South Fremantle 15.15 (105) defeated East Fremantle 13.13 (91) 

NUMBER 10 – 2008
South Fremantle 18.11 (119) defeated East Fremantle 14.6 (90) 

NUMBER 9 – 2003
South Fremantle 13.9 (87) defeated East Fremantle 13.8 (86)  

NUMBER 8 – 1990
South Fremantle 12.13 (85) defeated East Fremantle 11.6 (72)

Some of the best Foundation Day Derby wins came when least expected and 1990 was a prime example of that.

South Fremantle recorded an unlikely and famous win in front of a massive crowd of over 11,000 after being forced to come from behind at half-time. 

Going into the 1990 Foundation Day Derby, South Fremantle had lost three straight and after a promising start to the year was sitting outside the top four. East Fremantle, meanwhile, was sitting inside the top four.

South Fremantle was battling to get any momentum going in the first half and struggled to find the goals with an inaccurate first half return of 4.9 and trailing by 12 points at the break. 

It was a different South Fremantle that returned after half-time, though, as the Bulldogs slammed on six goals to one and turned the deficit into a handy lead.

Though threatened in the final quarter, the big third quarter was ultimately the difference as despite losing three of the four quarters, South Fremantle was able to record a famous 13-point win. 

It was a young Glen Jakovich who would turn the game for South Fremantle on this day, with his four goals proving pivotal in the final result.

Alongside Jakovich another pair of future West Coast players, Dean Irving and David Hart, were also important parts of the win.

As for big names, none were bigger than the Collards with Brad, Cliff and Derek all contesting the 1990 Foundation Day Derby.

Keeping the link to the modern day Bulldogs, current assistant coach, and two-time colts premiership coach, Arthur Maskos would also play in this derby.

This famous Foundation Day win would be the catalyst as South Fremantle played strong football over the second half of the season to end up making the finals in 1990.

In the first semi-final the Bulldogs would again face East Fremantle and would win by 19 points in a high-scoring affair at Subiaco Oval. 

South Fremantle’s season was to end a week later as eventual premiers Swan Districts overran a dogged South Fremantle team in the preliminary final despite the Bulldogs leading for the majority of the first three quarters.