Our brightest stars: Perth district

Western Australia has a proud history of developing elite football talent, with many of the game’s brightest stars beginning their careers at local junior football clubs right across the State.

In a series of articles highlighting the rich talent pool in WA over the years, Lenny Fogliani takes a closer look at the best current and former WAFL and AFL players to emerge from junior clubs in WA’s regions and districts.

This article focusses on junior clubs in Perth Football Club’s metropolitan district.

Photo: Michael Johnson. AFL Media

PERTH DEMONS METRO DISTRICT

The Perth Demons metropolitan district is situated in Perth’s eastern and southern suburbs encompassing the cities of Belmont, Canning, Gosnells, South Perth, as well as the Town of Victoria Park.

There are currently twelve junior football clubs within the district – Belmont JFC, Gosnells JFC, Huntingdale JFC, Kenwick JFC, Lynwood-Ferndale JFC, Maddington JFC, Manning JFC, Queens Park JFC, Redcliffe JFC, South Perth JFC, Thornlie JFC and Victoria Park JFC.

To find your nearest junior community club, click here.

A host of prominent WAFL and AFL footballers have come from the Perth Demons District. Here are some of the more notable:

BRADY ANDERSON – BELMONT JFC

A small midfielder, Anderson went to become a star at WAFL level, as well as playing in several AFL seasons. He was originally drafted to Geelong in 1995, but was delisted at the end of 1996. In his first season back at East Perth, Anderson went on to win the Sandover Medal after winning a late invitation to the event. Subsequently he was re-drafted, this time by North Melbourne where he would play 28 games across three seasons, and would be a member of the 1998 Pre-Season Premiership team (Ansett Australia Cup). After his time at North Melbourne came to an end, Anderson would play a further 31 games with Swan Districts over two seasons.

CHRIS MAYNE – BELMONT JFC

A fan favourite, Mayne has played 218 games and booted 207 goals across 13 seasons with Fremantle (172 games) and Collingwood (46 games). His 172 games at Fremantle places him thirteenth for most games played by a Docker, and his 196 goals at Fremantle places him fifth in Fremantle’s all-time leading goalkickers. He has had five top-ten finishes in a Club Best and Fairest (2011: 10th, 2012: 2nd, 2013: 6th, 2015: 9th, 2016: 6th), and was Fremantle’s Leading Goalkicker in 2011 with 25 goals. He was awarded Life Membership of the Fremantle Football Club in 2015.

DION WOODS – BELMONT JFC

The cousin of former AFL players Ash, Cory and Toby McGrath, Dion Woods was a key member of the Dockers’ defence between 2001 and 2005. During this time, Woods played 59 games and had career averages of 13 possessions (5 contested), 4 marks and 3 rebounding 50s. In 2001, despite only playing eight games, he won Fremantle’s Best First Year Player Award after he averaged 11 possessions (5 contested), and 3 marks. He was also a member of the 2005 Indigenous All-Stars team. Woods also played 57 games for the Perth Demons between 2000 and 2006.

RYAN HARGRAVE – HUNTINGDALE JFC

The son of dual WAFL Premiership player Steve Hargrave, Ryan went on to become a strong contributor with the Western Bulldogs. Across eleven seasons, Hargrave played 203 games (ranked #23rd of games played by a Bulldog) and had career averages of 17 possessions, 5 marks, and 3 rebounding 50s. He won the Western Bulldogs’ Best First Year Player Award in 2002, after he averaged 10 possessions (5 contested) and 2 marks, and was nominated for the AFL Rising Star Award after a stellar performance against Fremantle (14 possessions and 2 goals).

GEMMA HOUGHTON – HUNTINGDALE JFC

The younger sister of former Fremantle player Joel Houghton, Gemma has quickly become a star for the Fremantle Dockers’ AFLW team. Since 2017, Houghton has played 24 games, booted 16 goals and currently has career averages of 10 possessions and 3 marks. She won All-Australian selection in 2019 (forward pocket) and in 2020 (centre half forward). She was also Fremantle’s Leading Goalkicker.

SHANE WOEWODIN – LYNWOOD-FERNDALE JFC

Of Ukrainian heritage, Woewodin was a star for both Melbourne and Collingwood. In total he played 200 AFL games (138 with Melbourne and 62 with Collingwood) across nine seasons. He is best remembered for winning the 2000 Brownlow Medal, ahead of the Western Bulldogs’ Scott West, becoming just the third Melbourne player to win the Brownlow. In 2000, he also won Melbourne’s Best and Fairest after he kicked 20 goals and averaged 22 possessions, 5 inside 50s, 5 clearances and 4 marks across 25 games. Despite Melbourne losing to Essendon in the 2000 AFL Grand Final, Woewodin was one of the Demons’ better players with 20 possessions and 6 inside 50s. After his playing career, Woewodin was appointed the Senior Coach of East Fremantle, and then became the Offensive Skills Coach of the Brisbane Lions and later was Head Coach of the Lions’ NEAFL team.

BRIAN PEAKE – MANNING JFC

The son of former East Fremantle player Laurie Peake and father of former Fremantle and St Kilda player Brett Peake, Brian Peake is arguably one of Western Australia’s greatest footballers and arguably East Fremantle’s greatest player. He was the second West Australian, behind only Barry Cable, to reach 400 games of senior league football – in total he played 403 games (305 with East Fremantle, 66 with Geelong, 10 with Perth and 22 with Western Australia). His 305 games with East Fremantle, place him number one for most games played by an East Fremantle player. During his time with East Fremantle, Peake served as Captain across five seasons (1979, 1980, 1981, 1986, 1987), won three Premierships (1974, 1979, 1985), six Best and Fairests (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1987) and the 1977 Sandover Medal. He also finished second in the Sandover Medal in 1976 and 1987. He also won three All-Australian guernseys (1979, 1980,1 986), twice as Captain (1979, 1986). In 2004, he was named in the WA Football Hall of Fame and in 2011 he was elevated to Legend status. In 2013 he was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

PETER SPENCER – MANNING JFC

The son of former East Perth player Jim Spencer, Peter Spencer is one of the Royals’ best ever players. In total, he played 185 games (19th most by a Royal and kicked 322 goals (8th most by a Royal) for East Perth across 10 seasons. During his time with the Royals, Spencer won two Sandover Medals (1976, 1984) and three Club Best and Fairests (1975, 1976, 1983). Spencer also had brief stints with North Melbourne (24 games and 32 goals), Subiaco (21 games and 47 goals) and Claremont (2 games and 4 goals). He also played seven games and kicked 11 goals for Western Australia in State or Origin between 1976 and 1982. After his playing career, Spencer went to become a sports commentator with the ABC, and also helped coach Aquinas College’s football team. In 2007 he was inducted into the WA Football Hall of Fame.

ANDREW McDOUGALL – SOUTH PERTH JFC

Affectionately known as “Doogs”, McDougall was a powerful key forward who played 43 games with the West Coast Eagles (38 games) and the Western Bulldogs (5 games) between 2001 and 2008. He finished second in West Coast’s Leading Goalkicker Award in 2004 when he booted 35 goals from 21 games. McDougall also played 108 WAFL games across 11 seasons with Perth (85 games) and Subiaco (23 games). He was a key member of Subiaco’s Grand Final triumph over East Perth in 2014 with 10 possessions and 18 hit-outs. He is now an AFL Player Manager at Corporate Sports Australia.

MICHAEL JOHNSON – VICTORIA PARK JFC

The former Clontarf Football Academy Member was a fan favourite of the Dockers between 2005 and 2018. Across 14 seasons, Johnson played 244 games (equal fourth most by a Docker), kicked 68 goals and had career averages of 17 possessions, 6 marks, and 3 rebounding 50s. He won All-Australian selection in 2013 (back pocket), Fremantle’s Best Clubman Award in 2009 and had six top-ten finishes in Fremantle’s Best and Fairest (2006: 2nd, 2008: 5th, 2012: 3rd, 2013: 3rd, 2014: 10th, 2017: 7th). He is currently Fremantle’s Indigenous and Multicultural liaison officer – the first person to perform this role.

List of notable players from the Perth Junior Football District.

PLAYER

JUNIOR CLUB

WAFL/WAWFL CLUB/S

AFL/AFLW CLUB/S

Brady Anderson

Belmont JFC

East Perth

Swan Districts

Geelong

North Melbourne

Chris Mayne

Belmont JFC

Perth Demons

Fremantle Dockers

Collingwood

Brennan Stack

Belmont JFC

Perth Demons

Western Bulldogs

Leno Thomas

Belmont JFC

Claremont

Fremantle Dockers

Dion Woods

Belmont JFC

Perth Demons

Fremantle Dockers

Roger Hayden

Gosnells JFC

South Fremantle

Fremantle Dockers

Domenic Cassisi

Huntingdale JFC

East Fremantle

Port Adelaide

Ryan Hargrave

Huntingdale JFC

Perth Demons

Western Bulldogs

Gemma Houghton

Huntingdale JFC

East Fremantle (WAWFL)

Fremantle Dockers (AFLW)

Joel Houghton

Huntingdale JFC

East Perth

Perth Demons

Swan Districts

Fremantle Dockers

Troy Cook

Kenwick JFC

Perth Demons

Fremantle Dockers

Sydney Swans

Bradd Dalziell

Lynwood-Ferndale JFC

East Fremantle

Brisbane Lions

West Coast Eagles

Steven Dodd

Lynwood-Ferndale JFC

East Fremantle

Fremantle Dockers

Brendan Logan

Lynwood-Ferndale JFC

West Perth

Adelaide

Shane Woewodin

Lynwood-Ferndale JFC

East Fremantle

Collingwood

Melbourne

Richard Kelly

Maddington JFC

Perth Demons

Carlton

West Coast Eagles

Quinton Narkle

Maddington JFC

Perth Demons

Geelong

Luke English

Manning JFC

Perth Demons

Richmond

Steve Hargrave

Manning JFC

Perth Demons

Footscray

Brian Peake

Manning JFC

East Fremantle

Perth Demons

Geelong

Deven Robertson

Manning JFC

Perth Demons

Brisbane Lions

Peter Spencer

Manning JFC

Claremont

East Perth

Subiaco

North Melbourne

Ashlee Atkins

Redcliffe JFC

East Fremantle (WAWFL)

West Coast Eagles (AFLW)

Jarrad Irons

South Perth JFC

Perth Demons

Port Adelaide

Ian “Bobby” Hill

South Perth JFC

Perth Demons

GWS Giants

Andrew McDougall

South Perth JFC

Perth Demons

Subiaco

West Coast Eagles

Western Bulldogs

Fraser McInnes

South Perth JFC

Perth Demons

West Coast Eagles

Sharrod Wellingham

South Perth JFC

East Perth

Perth Demons

Collingwood

West Coast Eagles

Winston Abraham

Thornlie JFC

Perth Demons

Fremantle

North Melbourne

Caitlyn Edwards

Thornlie JFC

East Fremantle (WAWFL)

Collingwood (AFLW)

Peter Quill

Thornlie JFC

East Fremantle

Footscray

Clem Smith

Thornlie JFC

Perth Demons

Carlton

Elijah Taylor

Thornlie JFC

Perth Demons

Sydney Swans

Reece Conca

Victoria Park JFC

Perth Demons

Fremantle Dockers

Richmond

Michael Johnson

Victoria Park JFC

Perth Demons

Fremantle Dockers

David Myers

Victoria Park JFC

Perth Demons

Essendon