1938 WANFL season
The 1938 WANFL season was the 54th season of the Western Australian National Football League, and saw Claremont, under champion coach Johnny Leonard who had transferred from West Perth,[1] win its first premiership after losing two Grand Finals and drawing the first one this season. The blue and golds were to win the following two premierships before a long period near the foot of the ladder after Claremont Oval was gutted by a fire in 1944.
1938 WAFL season | |
---|---|
Teams | 8 |
Premiers | Claremont (1st premiership) |
Minor premiers | East Fremantle (23rd minor premiership) |
Matches played | 85 |
Bernie Naylor Medallist | Ted Tyson (West Perth) |
Sandover Medallist | Haydn Bunton, Sr. (Subiaco) |
1938 also saw triple Brownlow Medallist Haydn Bunton senior, enticed by the offer of employment, move to Subiaco and win the first of three Sandovers in only four seasons in Perth; however his presence overshadowed the rest of the team and the Maroons were to advance only one place compared to 1937, being handicapped by the loss of champion defender Lou Daily to the Goldfields where he led Mines Rovers to several premierships. West Perth, who under Leonard and Jack Cashman had won three premierships earlier in the decade, had a disastrous time and finished the season with twelve consecutive losses despite the brilliant form of goalsneak Ted Tyson, who set numerous records in the final round and finished as leading goalkicker.
Swan Districts, in a last promising season before descending for two decades to the status of perennial easybeats,[2] achieved a notable feat in becoming the first club to hold George Doig and then Ted Tyson goalless during a match.
A number of notable club tours took place during July, with mid-table VFL club St. Kilda touring Albany, Kalgoorlie and Perth, whilst East Fremantle embarked on a lengthy tour of the Eastern States[3] and Perth made a shorter tour of rural Western Australia. Old Easts’ tour saw them lose narrowly to a team from Broken Hill[4] but convincingly defeat a local team from Sydney the following week[5] and a combined St. Kilda/Melbourne team by forty-three points in Victoria on the last Saturday of July.[6]
Home-and-away season
Round 1
Round 1 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 23 April (2:45 pm) | Perth 23.17 (155) | def. | West Perth 14.12 (96) | WACA | [7] |
Saturday, 23 April (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 17.10 (112) | def. | South Fremantle 10.5 (65) | Fremantle Oval | [8] |
Saturday, 23 April (2:45 pm) | Claremont 16.15 (111) | def. | Swan Districts 14.11 (95) | Claremont Oval | [9] |
Saturday, 23 April (2:45 pm) | East Perth 11.17 (83) | def. by | Subiaco 14.14 (98) | Perth Oval | [10] |
1937 wooden spooners Subiaco, despite Bunton still not having a clearance, beat perennial finalists East Perth, with Les Hardiman a matchwinner. |
Round 2
Round 2 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 30 April (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 13.18 (96) | def. | West Perth 12.9 (81) | Subiaco Oval | [11] |
Saturday, 30 April (2:45 pm) | East Perth 16.20 (116) | def. | Perth 6.8 (44) | Perth Oval | [12] |
Saturday, 30 April (2:45 pm) | Claremont 19.12 (126) | def. | East Fremantle 13.12 (90) | Claremont Oval | [13] |
Saturday, 30 April (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 13.7 (85) | def. by | Swan Districts 13.17 (95) | Fremantle Oval | [14] |
Perth lose century goalkicker Gook to a serious wrist injury as East Perth rebound from their Subiaco loss. |
Round 3
Round 3 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 7 May (2:45 pm) | Swan Districts 9.8 (62) | def. by | East Fremantle 10.19 (79) | Bassendean Oval | [15] |
Saturday, 7 May (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 27.19 (181) | def. | Claremont 15.20 (110) | Fremantle Oval | [16] |
Saturday, 7 May (2:45 pm) | West Perth 10.14 (74) | def. | East Perth 9.15 (69) | Leederville Oval | [17] |
Saturday, 7 May (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 18.12 (120) | def. | Perth 12.20 (92) | Subiaco Oval | [18] |
|
Round 4
Round 4 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 14 May (2:45 pm) | Claremont 15.14 (104) | def. | Subiaco 12.12 (84) | Claremont Oval | [21] |
Saturday, 14 May (2:45 pm) | East Perth 11.12 (78) | def. by | Swan Districts 13.12 (90) | Perth Oval | [22] |
Saturday, 14 May (2:45 pm) | Perth 20.18 (138) | def. | South Fremantle 16.14 (110) | WACA | [23] |
Saturday, 14 May (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 21.12 (138) | def. | West Perth 12.8 (80) | Fremantle Oval | [24] |
Claremont end Subiaco’s unbeaten run, whilst Perth, with Grigg taking the place of Gook and kicking eight, bring South Fremantle to earth. |
Round 5
Round 5 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 21 May (2:45 pm) | Swan Districts 15.10 (100) | def. | Perth 11.9 (75) | Bassendean Oval | [25] |
Saturday, 21 May (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 14.15 (99) | def. | East Perth 13.15 (93) | Fremantle Oval | [26] |
Saturday, 21 May (2:45 pm) | Claremont 19.18 (132) | def. | West Perth 17.10 (112) | Claremont Oval | [27] |
Saturday, 21 May (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 11.13 (79) | def. by | East Fremantle 12.14 (86) | Subiaco Oval | [28] |
East Fremantle hold off Subiaco (without Hardiman) in a brilliant match to move clear at the top of the table. |
Round 6
Round 6 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 28 May (2:45 pm) | East Perth 21.17 (143) | def. | Claremont 20.5 (125) | Perth Oval | [29] |
Saturday, 28 May (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 10.15 (75) | def. by | Swan Districts 13.19 (97) | Subiaco Oval | [30] |
Saturday, 28 May (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 20.25 (145) | def. | West Perth 13.14 (92) | Fremantle Oval | [31] |
Saturday, 28 May (2:45 pm) | Perth 12.17 (89) | def. | East Fremantle 10.11 (71) | WACA | [32] |
For the first time in WANFL history, both teams score twenty goals in a match, and East Perth’s first quarter of 10.5 (65) is enough to rebound from a poor start to the season.[a] |
Round 7
Round 7 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 4 June (2:45 pm) | West Perth 13.10 (88) | def. | Swan Districts 10.14 (74) | Leederville Oval | [33] |
Saturday, 4 June (2:45 pm) | East Perth 9.12 (66) | drew with | East Fremantle 9.12 (66) | Perth Oval | [34] |
Saturday, 4 June (2:45 pm) | Perth 17.9 (111) | def. | Claremont 13.12 (90) | WACA | [35] |
Saturday, 4 June (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 23.15 (153) | def. | South Fremantle 15.20 (110) | Subiaco Oval | [36] |
Round 8 (Foundation Day)
Round 8 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monday, 6 June (2:45 pm) | Swan Districts 13.17 (95) | def. | Claremont 9.10 (64) | Bassendean Oval | [37] |
Monday, 6 June (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 14.14 (98) | def. by | East Fremantle 14.15 (99) | Fremantle Oval | [38] |
Monday, 6 June (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 8.12 (60) | def. by | East Perth 16.10 (106) | Subiaco Oval | [39] |
Monday, 6 June (2:45 pm) | West Perth 13.9 (87) | def. | Perth 5.16 (46) | Leederville Oval | [40] |
|
Round 9
Round 9 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 11 June (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 15.12 (102) | def. | Claremont 13.16 (94) | Fremantle Oval | [42] |
Saturday, 11 June (2:45 pm) | Perth 12.13 (85) | def. | East Perth 11.15 (81) | WACA | [43] |
Saturday, 11 June (2:45 pm) | Swan Districts 25.24 (174) | def. | South Fremantle 14.18 (102) | Bassendean Oval | [44] |
Saturday, 11 June (2:45 pm) | West Perth 20.7 (127) | def. by | Subiaco 20.14 (134) | Leederville Oval | [45] |
|
Round 10
Round 10 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 18 June (2:45 pm) | East Perth 22.17 (149) | def. | West Perth 12.7 (79) | Perth Oval | [47] |
Saturday, 18 June (2:45 pm) | Claremont 13.18 (96) | def. | South Fremantle 12.12 (84) | Claremont Oval | [48] |
Saturday, 18 June (2:45 pm) | Perth 15.7 (97) | def. | Subiaco 13.16 (94) | WACA | [49] |
Saturday, 18 June (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 13.11 (89) | def. by | Swan Districts 14.15 (99) | Fremantle Oval | [50] |
|
Round 11
Round 11 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 25 June (2:45 pm) | West Perth 14.11 (95) | def. by | East Fremantle 14.13 (97) | Leederville Oval | [51] |
Saturday, 25 June (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 15.7 (97) | def. by | Claremont 23.9 (147) | Subiaco Oval | [52] |
Saturday, 25 June (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 17.15 (117) | def. | Perth 16.12 (108) | Fremantle Oval | [53] |
Saturday, 25 June (2:45 pm) | Swan Districts 7.16 (58) | def. by | East Perth 14.13 (97) | Bassendean Oval | [54] |
Ted Tyson kicks ten goals to begin a brilliant finish to the season, but East Fremantle just manage to overcome the struggling Cardinals. |
Round 12
Round 12 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 2 July (2:45 pm) | East Perth 17.14 (116) | def. | South Fremantle 11.12 (78) | Perth Oval | [55] |
Saturday, 2 July (2:45 pm) | West Perth 12.7 (79) | def. by | Claremont 18.17 (125) | Leederville Oval | [56] |
Saturday, 2 July (2:45 pm) | Perth 11.9 (75) | def. | Swan Districts 7.14 (56) | WACA | [57] |
Saturday, 2 July (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 11.12 (78) | def. | Subiaco 10.10 (70) | Fremantle Oval | [58] |
An umpires’ strike affects this round, but at one game players actually congratulate the replacements. |
Round 13
Round 13 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 9 July (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 13.20 (98) | def. | East Fremantle 10.12 (72) | Fremantle Oval | [59] |
Saturday, 9 July (2:45 pm) | Claremont 19.10 (124) | def. | Swan Districts 15.9 (99) | Claremont Oval | [60] |
Saturday, 9 July (2:45 pm) | Perth 16.14 (110) | def. | West Perth 9.8 (62) | WACA | [61] |
Saturday, 9 July (2:45 pm) | East Perth 12.10 (82) | def. | Subiaco 9.13 (67) | Perth Oval | [62] |
St. Kilda Tour Match
Western Australian Second XVIII v St. Kilda | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 16 July (2:45 pm) | Western Australia Second XVIII 20.16 (136) | def. | St Kilda 13.14 (92) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 15,322) | [63] |
Handicapped by injury, St. Kilda are no match for a West Australian Second Eleven, for whom Bunton and Shea of Subiaco shows their best form and Swans’ Zilko keeps Mohr quiet. |
Round 14 (Labour Day)
Round 14 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monday, 2 May (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 17.16 (118) | def. | East Perth 8.12 (60) | Subiaco Oval | [64] |
Saturday, 23 July (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 17.15 (117) | def. | Subiaco 15.12 (102) | Fremantle Oval | [65] |
Saturday, 23 July (2:45 pm) | Claremont 17.17 (119) | def. | Perth 6.14 (50) | Claremont Oval | [66] |
Saturday, 23 July (2:45 pm) | Swan Districts 11.18 (84) | def. | West Perth 7.9 (51) | Bassendean Oval | [67] |
|
Round 15 (Easter Monday)
Round 15 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monday, 18 April (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 22.15 (147) | def. | Perth 13.12 (90) | Fremantle Oval | [70] |
Saturday, 30 July (2:45 pm) | Swan Districts 11.21 (87) | def. | Subiaco 10.11 (71) | Bassendean Oval | [71] |
Saturday, 30 July (2:45 pm) | West Perth 13.12 (90) | def. by | South Fremantle 19.12 (126) | Leederville Oval | [72] |
Saturday, 30 July (2:45 pm) | Claremont 15.15 (105) | def. | East Perth 11.8 (74) | Claremont Oval | [73] |
To allow East Fremantle to tour the Eastern States, the game with Perth is moved to Easter Monday, a week before the normal beginning of the season. |
Round 16
Round 16 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 6 August (2:45 pm) | Claremont 12.7 (79) | def. by | East Fremantle 13.10 (88) | Claremont Oval | [74] |
Saturday, 6 August (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 21.7 (133) | def. | West Perth 15.10 (100) | Subiaco Oval | [75] |
Saturday, 6 August (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 12.13 (85) | def. | Swan Districts 9.9 (63) | Fremantle Oval | [76] |
Saturday, 6 August (2:45 pm) | East Perth 11.9 (75) | def. by | Perth 15.14 (104) | Perth Oval | [77] |
South Fremantle press for their first finals appearance since 1932 by beating Swan Districts at Fremantle for the first time since Swans entered the WANFL. |
Round 17
Round 17 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 13 August (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 14.18 (102) | def. | Claremont 8.10 (58) | Fremantle Oval | [78] |
Saturday, 13 August (2:45 pm) | East Perth 10.20 (80) | def. | West Perth 11.7 (73) | Perth Oval | [79] |
Saturday, 13 August (2:45 pm) | Swan Districts 8.11 (59) | def. by | East Fremantle 14.19 (103) | Bassendean Oval | [80] |
Saturday, 13 August (2:45 pm) | Perth 7.15 (57) | def. by | Subiaco 14.5 (89) | WACA | [81] |
|
Round 18
Round 18 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 27 August (2:45 pm) | South Fremantle 23.16 (154) | def. | Perth 9.20 (74) | Fremantle Oval | [83] |
Saturday, 27 August (2:45 pm) | Swan Districts 10.9 (69) | def. by | East Perth 21.15 (141) | Bassendean Oval | [84] |
Saturday, 27 August (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 16.14 (110) | def. by | Claremont 19.17 (131) | Subiaco Oval | [85] |
Saturday, 27 August (2:45 pm) | West Perth 10.5 (65) | def. by | East Fremantle 12.22 (94) | Leederville Oval | [86] |
|
Round 19
Round 19 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 3 September (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 21.12 (138) | def. | Subiaco 14.18 (102) | Fremantle Oval | [87] |
Saturday, 3 September (2:45 pm) | East Perth 15.17 (107) | def. | South Fremantle 9.10 (64) | Perth Oval | [88] |
Saturday, 3 September (2:45 pm) | West Perth 12.6 (78) | def. by | Claremont 20.20 (140) | Leederville Oval | [89] |
Saturday, 3 September (2:45 pm) | Perth 12.11 (83) | def. by | Swan Districts 18.14 (122) | WACA | [90] |
|
Round 20
Round 20 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 10 September (2:45 pm) | Subiaco 16.12 (108) | def. | South Fremantle 13.14 (92) | Subiaco Oval | [91] |
Saturday, 10 September (2:45 pm) | West Perth 18.7 (115) | def. by | Swan Districts 18.15 (123) | Leederville Oval | [92] |
Saturday, 10 September (2:45 pm) | Claremont 16.16 (112) | def. | Perth 12.14 (86) | Claremont Oval | [93] |
Saturday, 10 September (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 13.18 (96) | def. | East Perth 14.10 (94) | Fremantle Oval | [94] |
|
Ladder
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | East Fremantle | 20 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 1963 | 1670 | 117.5 | 62 |
2 | Claremont (P) | 20 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 2192 | 1960 | 111.8 | 52 |
3 | Swan Districts | 20 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 1801 | 1791 | 100.6 | 44 |
4 | East Perth | 20 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 1910 | 1652 | 115.6 | 42 |
5 | South Fremantle | 20 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 2112 | 2060 | 102.5 | 40 |
6 | Perth | 20 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 1769 | 2018 | 87.7 | 36 |
7 | Subiaco | 20 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 1942 | 2012 | 96.5 | 32 |
8 | West Perth | 20 | 3 | 17 | 0 | 1724 | 2250 | 76.6 | 12 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers.
Finals
First semi-final
First semi-final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 17 September (2:45 pm) | Swan Districts 9.11 (65) | def. by | East Perth 8.18 (66) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 9,618) | |
East Perth win a thrilling final with a succession of behinds into a strong wind.[98] |
Second semi-final
Second semi-final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 24 September (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 13.18 (96) | def. by | Claremont 17.19 (121) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 10,428) | |
Claremont run away in the third quarter and comfortably hold off Old Easts to reach their third consecutive grand final.[99] |
Preliminary final
Preliminary final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 1 October (2:45 pm) | East Fremantle 15.9 (99) | def. | East Perth 9.13 (67) | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 12,786) | |
In an extremely spiteful game with numerous clashes, East Fremantle kick 11.1 (67) to 1.8 (14) after half-time for a second successive showdown against Claremont.[100] |
Grand Final
1938 WANFL Grand Final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 8 October (2:45 pm) | Claremont | drew with | East Fremantle | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 19,104) | [101] |
4.2 (26) 9.6 (60) 10.12 (72) 13.16 (94) |
Q1 Q2 Q3 Final |
3.5 (23) 6.7 (43) 10.8 (68) 14.10 (94) |
Umpires: Owens | ||
Compton 4, O‘Reilly 4, Hooper, Menhennett, Heusler, Reeves, Lovegrove | Goals | George Doig 5, McGlinn 4, Wendt 2, Gabrielson 2, Daniell | |||
Gibson, Reeves, Sutherland, Lovegrove, O‘Neill, Compton | Best | Hutchinson (best on ground), McGlinn, George Doig, Briggs, Daniell, Gabrielson, Charlie Doig | |||
East Fremantle come back from nineteen points down midway through the last quarter to force a replay. It was the league’s second Grand Final draw, but the last senior WA(N)FL finals draw until 1989.[102] |
Grand Final replay
1938 WANFL Grand Final replay | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 15 October (2:45 pm) | Claremont | def. | East Fremantle | Subiaco Oval (crowd: 15,402) | [103] |
2.9 (21) 6.9 (45) 11.12 (78) 14.17 (101) |
Q1 Q2 Q3 Final |
0.1 (1) 6.12 (48) 9.13 (67) 11.13 (79) |
Umpires: Owens | ||
O‘Reilly 3, Serjeant 3, Compton 3, Reeves, Gibson, Hunter, Hooper, George Moloney | Goals | George Doig 5, Donegan 3, McPharlin, Daniell | |||
Reeves, George Moloney, Lovegrove, Reid, Syd Moloney, Headon, Hooper | Best | N. Doig, Charles Doig, Hutchinson, George Doig, Donegan | |||
Compton (leg) | Injuries | Kingsbury (leg) | |||
O‘Reilly for fighting with Daniell | Reports | Daniell for fighting with O‘Reilly | |||
Claremont’s dominance in the ruck and its greater pace and stamina allow it to win its first premiership at its fourth attempt. |
Notes
a Until the end of July, East Fremantle had played two extra games and East Perth and Perth one extra game to allow Old Easts to tour the eastern states that month.
References
- Devaney, John; Full Points Footy’s WA Football Companion; p. 173. ISBN 9780955689710
- Devaney; Full Points Footy’s WA Football Companion; p. 292.
- ‘Football Stars Begin Tour’; The Daily News, 9 July 1938, p. 1
- ‘East Fremantle Beaten’; The Sunday Times, 17 July 1938, p. 17
- ‘Old Easts Win’; The Sunday Times, 24 July 1938, p. 17
- ‘Football – East Fremantle’s Tour – Easy Victory in Melbourne’; The West Australian, 28 July 1938, p. 10
- ‘One-Sided Match: Perth Overwhelms West Perth’; The West Australian, 25 April 1938, p. 9
- ‘East Fremantle’s Success – Centre Line Works Smoothly’; The West Australian, 25 April 1938, p. 9
- ‘Claremont Wins Hard Game: Team-Work Beats Swan Districts’; The West Australian, 25 April 1938, p. 9
- ‘Subiaco Does Well: Victory over East Perth’; The West Australian, 25 April 1938, p. 9
- ‘Subiaco Successful – Hard-Pressed by West Perth’; The West Australian, 3 May 1938, p. 23
- ‘East Perth Wins: Injured Players Handicap Perth’; The West Australian, 3 May 1938, p. 23
- ‘Saturday’s Games – Claremont’s Strong Finish: East Fremantle Badly Beaten’; The West Australian, 3 May 1938, p. 23
- ‘A Keen Struggle – Swan Districts’ Good Effort’; The West Australian, 3 May 1938, p. 23
- ‘Leader’s Success – East Fremantle Finishes Well’; The West Australian, 9 May 1938, p. 16
- ‘Claremont Beaten: South Fremantle Impressive’; The West Australian, 9 May 1938, p. 16
- ‘West Perth’s First Win – Close Game at Leederville’; The West Australian, 9 May 1938, p. 16
- ‘Devastating Last Quarter – Subiaco Overwhelms Perth’; The West Australian, 9 May 1938, p. 16
- Atkinson, Graeme and Hanlon, Michael; 3AW Book of Footy Records: All the Great Players, Matches, Goals, Kicks, Brawls and Sensations from More Than 100 Years of Aussie Rules in Australia; p. 147. ISBN 1863210091
- South Fremantle: Highest Scores
- ‘Subiaco Beaten: Claremont Better in Team-Work’; The West Australian, 16 May 1938, p. 4
- ‘Exciting Last Quarter – Swan Districts’ Strong Finish’; The West Australian, 16 May 1938, p. 4
- ‘Perth Succeeds: South Fremantle Outstayed’; The West Australian, 16 May 1938, p. 4
- ‘System Prevails – East Fremantle’s Victory’; The West Australian, 16 May 1938, p. 4
- ‘Swan Districts Strong: Perth Outplayed at Bassendean’; The West Australian, 23 May 1938, p. 6
- ‘Last-Minute Victory – South Fremantle’s Success’; The West Australian, 23 May 1938, p. 6
- ‘Claremont Pressed: Good Showing by West Perth’; The West Australian, 23 May 1938, p. 6
- ‘A Strenuous Fight – East Fremantle Heads Subiaco’; The West Australian, 23 May 1938, p. 6
- ‘Claremont Outpaced: East Perth’s Second Victory’; The West Australian, 30 May 1938, p. 8
- ‘Swan Districts Wins: Too Strong for Subiaco’; The West Australian, 30 May 1938, p. 8
- ‘South Fremantle’s Success – Chandler Kicks Nine Goals’; The West Australian, 30 May 1938, p. 8
- ‘Perth’s Determined Effort: East Fremantle’s Setback’; The West Australian, 30 May 1938, p. 8
- ‘West Perth Successful – Several Players Return to Form’; The West Australian, 6 June 1938, p. 11
- ‘A Hard-Fought Draw: Stirring Finish at Perth Oval’; The West Australian, 6 June 1938, p. 11
- ‘Claremont Ragged: Perth’s Comfortable Win’; The West Australian, 6 June 1938, p. 11
- ‘Control of Key Positions – South Fremantle Beaten’; The West Australian, 6 June 1938, p. 11
- ‘A Strenuous Game – Swan Districts Win’; The West Australian, 7 June 1938, p. 19
- ‘Victory by a Point: Fremantle Teams’ Great Struggle’; The West Australian, 7 June 1938, p. 19
- ‘Weak Forward Play – Subiaco Easily Beaten’; The West Australian, 7 June 1938, p. 19
- ‘West Perth’s Success: Poor Performance by Perth’; The West Australian, 7 June 1938, p. 19
- "WAFL Footy Facts: Consecutive Games Lost". Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
- ‘Last Quarter Rally – East Fremantle Successful’; The West Australian, 13 June 1938, p. 17
- ‘Perth’s Narrow Victory: East Perth Beaten by Four Points’; The West Australian, 13 June 1938, p. 17
- ‘Heavy Scoring – E. Holdsworth’s 11 Goals’; The West Australian, 13 June 1938, p. 17
- ‘Subiaco Wins Well – West Perth’s Great Fight’; The West Australian, 13 June 1938, p. 17
- Swan Districts: Highest Scores
- ‘West Perth Outclassed – Eight Goals to R. Lawn’; The West Australian, 20 June 1938, p. 17
- ‘Claremont Solid – Victory over South Fremantle’; The West Australian, 20 June 1938, p. 17
- ‘Perth’s Strong Finish – Four-Point Win Against Subiaco’; The West Australian, 20 June 1938, p. 17
- ‘Last Quarter Rally – Swan Districts Successful’; The West Australian, 20 June 1938, p. 17
- ‘A Close Call – West Perth Fails by Two Points’; The West Australian, 27 June 1938, p. 8
- ‘Subiaco Outclassed: Runaway Victory for Claremont’; The West Australian, 27 June 1938, p. 8
- ‘Perth Beaten – A Thrilling Last Quarter’; The West Australian, 27 June 1938, p. 8
- ‘East Perth Wins Easily – Swan Districts’ Ragged Form’; The West Australian, 27 June 1938, p. 8
- ‘A Poor Display – Easy Victory for East Perth’; The West Australian, 4 July 1938, p. 15
- ‘Claremont’s Success – West Perth Overwhelmed’; The West Australian, 4 July 1938, p. 15
- ‘Swan Districts Defeated: Perth Wins Drab Match’; The West Australian, 4 July 1938, p. 15
- ‘East Fremantle Pressed – A Last-Quarter Rally’; The West Australian, 4 July 1938, p. 15
- ‘A Disappointing Game – East Fremantle Beaten’; The West Australian, 11 July 1938, p. 7
- ‘Claremont Wins Well: Too Strong for Swan Districts’; The West Australian, 11 July 1938, p. 7
- ‘Perth’s Rugged Display: West Perth Easily Outpointed’; The West Australian, 11 July 1938, p. 7
- ‘Subiaco Beaten Again – East Perth’s Powerful Finish’; The West Australian, 11 July 1938, p. 15
- ‘St. Kilda Is Outplayed by Local Team’; The Sunday Times, 17 July 1938, p. 17
- ‘A Comfortable Victory – East Perth Soundly Beaten’; The West Australian, 3 May 1938; p. 23
- ‘Souths Prevail Against Maroons’; The Sunday Times, 24 July 1938, p. 17
- ‘Claremont Thrashes Perth in One-Sided League Encounter: Home Team Always Much Superior’; The Sunday Times, 24 July 1938, p. 17
- ‘Last-Quarter Dash by Swans’; The Sunday Times, 24 July 1938, p. 17
- ‘Swans Victorious in Poor Game’; Mirror, 23 July 1938, p. 7
- ‘Bassendean Grandstand Opened’; in The West Australian 25 July 1938; p. 6
- ‘League Football: Opening of Season – Value of Teamwork: East Fremantle Beats Perth’; The West Australian, 19 April 1938, p. 16
- ‘Swans too Good for Subiaco’; The Sunday Times, 31 July 1938, p. 17
- ‘Souths’ Six-Goal Win over Wests’; The Sunday Times, 31 July 1938, p. 17
- ‘Claremont Finish All Over East Perth In Gruelling Spectacular Game – Match Close Until Final Term’; The Sunday Times, 31 July 1938, p. 17
- ‘Claremont Outplayed – East Fremantle’s Strong Finish’; The West Australian, 8 August 1938, p. 7
- ‘Accurate Kicking – Subiaco Not Fully Extended’; The West Australian, 8 August 1938, p. 7
- ‘Final Quarter Effort – Easy Victory for South Fremantle’; The West Australian, 8 August 1938, p. 7
- ‘Perth Beats East Perth – A Muddling Game’; The West Australian, 8 August 1938, p. 7
- ‘Claremont Outplayed – Victory to South Fremantle’; The West Australian, 15 August 1938, p. 7
- ‘Beaten in Last Quarter – West Perth Loses to East Perth’; The West Australian, 15 August 1938, p. 7
- ‘East Fremantle’s Superiority – Swan Districts Fades Out’; The West Australian, 15 August 1938, p. 7
- ‘Accurate Kicking – Subiaco Outclasses Perth’; The West Australian, 15 August 1938, p. 7
- ‘Football – Schoolboys’ Carnival’; The West Australian, 22 August 1938, p. 7
- ‘Perth Defeated – South Fremantle’s Strength’; The West Australian, 29 August 1938, p. 6
- ‘East Perth Wins: Poor Showing by Swan Districts’ The West Australian, 29 August 1938, p. 6
- ‘Claremont’s Brilliant Rally: Subiaco Beaten by 21 Points’ The West Australian, 29 August 1938, p. 6
- ‘West Perth’s Keen Fight – East Fremantle Not Worried’ The West Australian, 29 August 1938, p. 6
- ‘Goal Front Accuracy – East Fremantle’s Success’; The West Australian, 5 September 1938, p. 6
- ‘South Fremantle Fails: 33-Point Victory for East Perth’; The West Australian, 5 September 1938, p. 6
- ‘Claremont Untroubled – Uninspiring Game at Leederville’; The West Australian, 5 September 1938, p. 6
- ‘Perth Beaten: Swan Districts Wins Comfortably’; The West Australian, 5 September 1938, p. 6
- ‘South Fremantle’s Lapse – Display of System by Subiaco’; The West Australian, 12 September 1938, p. 7
- ‘Win for Swan Districts; Tyson (West Perth) Scores 17 Goals’; The West Australian, 12 September 1938, p. 7
- ‘Claremont Beats Perth – A Tame Match’; The West Australian, 12 September 1938, p. 7
- ‘Excitement at Fremantle – East Perth’s Narrow Defeat’; The West Australian, 12 September 1938, p. 7
- "WAFL Footy Facts: Most Combined Points in Fourth Quarter". Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
- Atkinson and Hanlon; 3AW Book of Footy Records; p. 138
- See WAFL Footy Facts: West Perth v Each Opponent Archived 17 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ‘Football Semi-Final – Stirring Last Quarter; East Perth Wins – Only a Point to Spare’; The West Australian, 19 September 1938, p. 17
- ‘Football Semi-Final – Claremont’s Strong Finish; East Fremantle’s Brief Rally’; The West Australian, 26 September 1938, p. 11
- ‘Football Final – East Fremantle’s Success; Spiteful Incidents; East Perth Fades Out’; The West Australian, 3 October 1938, p. 21
- ‘Exciting Draw – Football Grand Final; Claremont’s Lapse: Replay Next Saturday’; The West Australian, 10 October 1938, p. 17
- See WAFL Match Program and Results 1989 (archived)
- ‘Claremont’s Success – Premier Football Team; Pace and Teamwork: East Fremantle Outplayed’; The West Australian, 17 October 1938, p. 17