The East Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Royals, is an Australian rules football club based in Leederville, Western Australia, current playing in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). Formed in 1902 as the Union Football Club, the club entered the WAFL in 1906, changing its name to East Perth. It won its first premiership in 1919, part of a streak of five consecutive premierships. Overall, the club has won 17 premierships, most recently in 2002. The club is currently based at Leederville Oval, which it shares with the Subiaco Football Club, having previously played home games at Wellington Square (from 1901 to 1909) and Perth Oval (formerly known as Loton Park) from 1910 to 1999. The current coach of East Perth is Jeremy Barnard and the current captains are Kyle Anderson and Patrick McGinnity.
From 2014 until 2018, East Perth served as the host club for the West Coast Eagles of the Australian Football League, the arrangement saw West Coast's reserves players playing in the WAFL for East Perth.
History[]
The club was actually founded in 1902 as Union Football Club (not to be confused with the defunct Unions club from Fremantle) and competed in the Perth Third Rate Association Competition (however an earlier ‘East Perth’ had formed in 1891). The club was successful and was promoted to the First Rate Association. After continuing to succeed at this level they applied to join the WAFL and hence became a member in April 1906. The club became known as East Perth in accordance with the WAFL’s policy of having each club represent a district in Perth.
After a relatively slow start – despite being competitive form its first season – East Perth after World War I went on to become one of the most powerful clubs in the West Australian league with the appointment of former Subiaco player Phil Matson as captain-coach. The club won five consecutive WAFL premierships between 1919 and 1923, and after a brief lapse due to Matson’s death in a truck crash recovered to contest the finals every year from 1931 to 1940, but won only one premiership – a frustrating record to be repeated in the 1970s.
Although the club garnered an undefeated premiership in the under-age WAFL competition in 1944, East Perth became very much a middle-of-the-road side after open-age WANFL football resumed until the emergence of champion ruckman Graham “Polly” Farmer in 1956. That year, despite being held to the lowest WAFL score between 1946 and 2002 by Perth in torrential rain and genuine darkness at the WACA, the Royals won fourteen of their nineteen games and beat South Fremantle twice in the finals. Under the coaching of Jack Sheedy, and aided by becoming the first WAFL club to play players formally, the club contested the following five grand finals for further premierships in 1958 and 1959 and a huge upset loss to Swan Districts in 1961.
The loss of Farmer, however, saw a decline in fortunes: in 1964 the club won only one of its first eighteen games and finished with its first wooden spoon since 1929, but with the recruitment of Kevin Murray the club returned to the top quickly. It returned to the finals in 1966 and played therein during every one of the next seventeen seasons except 1974. During these years East Perth won 246 and drew one of 388 games for a success rate of 63.5 percent: clearly the highest in a competition that – at least during the first half of this period – was extremely even and characterised by very rapid fluctuations in teams’ fortunes. By 1980, the club had made a submission to enter the VFL/AFL, however this was withdrawn, and from 1983 their fortunes declined abruptly: between 1985 and 1995 East Perth won only eighty and draw one of 235 games for a success rate of 34.26%. Indeed, between 1985 and 1989, the Royals actually won just 24 of 105 games for a success rate of 22.8% and did not finish above sixth, with a lowlight being the sacking of coach Greg Brehaut on 13 May 1986 that was followed by a walk-out of three managers from a reserves team that had won five matches out of seven.
In 1996 the Royals returned to prominence and took the minor premiership before losing narrowly to Claremont in its first grand final since 1978. However, the club returned to the lower reaches of the ladder in 1999, winning only five of twenty games. East Perth later acted as the host club for West Coast Eagles players recruited from interstate from 2000–2001 until the host club arrangement was abolished. This made them favoured for high honours in 2000 - which was achieved with five Eagles in the grand final side, though the Royals’ “old guard” made a much larger contribution than expected to the club’s first flag for twenty-two years. It repeated the dose emphatically in 2001, holding South Fremantle to 0.3 (3) after half time, and yet again in 2002, but fell off steadily in the following four seasons to win only six games in 2005. A partial recovery in 2007 saw the Royals finish fourth, but it returned to last in 2008 before again rebounding in 2009 to finish fifth.
Its first home ground was Wellington Square. It then moved to Perth Oval between 1910 and 2002, although it played games at the WACA from 1988–89. East Perth began playing its games at Leederville Oval from 2000, formerly the home of bitter rivals West Perth), but the club only officially moved there in 2003. They have since been joined at the ground by the Subiaco Football Club.
2010 season[]
The 2010 season of home and away matches ended on a high for the Royals, as they defeated minor premiers Clarement in a tense and physical round 23 encounter. The win enabled them to hold their fourth place in the top four, earning a first semi-final appearance against East Fremantle.
After a slow start where East Fremantle lead 7.2-3.2 at quarter time East Perth eventually overran the much more fancied Sharks by 14 points 15.12 (102) to East Fremantle 13.10 (88). West Coast Eagles listed player Ben McKinley lead the charge up forward with 6 goals while Zac Beeck and Zac Clarke dominated the ruck.
A week later East Perth met Swan Districts at Bassendean Oval for the chance to meet the top of the table Claremont in the Grand Final. This time it was East Perth who flew out of the blocks to lead at the first change 5.2 to 3.2 but after that they would manage only 4 goals for the rest of the match as Swans steamrolled their way past a valiant East Perth 15.11 (101) to 9.9 (63). Swan Districts then went on to win the 2010 WAFL Premiership defeating Claremont in one of the great Grand Finals by 1 point at Subiaco Oval 8 days later.
The Reserve grade team went one step further than the Seniors in 2010 going down to Claremont by 12 points 13.6 (84) to 10.12 (72) in the Grand Final.
Craig Wulff was finally rewarded with his first FD Book Medal as the Best & Fairest for season 2010.
Rivalries[]
East Perth's traditional and most bitter rivals are West Perth Football Club. Known as the Perth Derby, they have competed in many historic matches including Grand Finals in 1922, 1932, 1960, 1969, 1971, 2002, when East Perth defeated the Falcons by 60 points to complete a hat-trick of premierships, and 2013.
The East Perth vs Perth fixtures were a significant rivalry in the 1960s and 1970s, including the famous 1978 Grand Final. However its significance is somewhat muted compared to the former mentioned fixture, possibly due to Perth's lacklustre performances since the late 1970s.
Another newer rivalry is that with co-tenants Subiaco Football Club. East Perth had not beaten Subiaco since they began sharing the ground in 2004, until the 2007 season when East Perth came from over forty points behind at half time to win the game by three points. Recent games have become even more bitter with the transfer of players Travis Knights, Caine Hayes and Paul Ridley to Subiaco under controversial circumstances. It should be noted though that off the field the two clubs do have a good working relationship in regards to their ground sharing situation.
Club Song[]
East Perth Forever Boys is the theme song of the East Perth Football Club, played as the league team comes to the field at either a home game or final, and after a victory at a home game or final. It is sung to the tune of Anchors Aweigh The lyrics were written by John K. Watts, an ex-player of the club. He was also responsible for the club songs of Swan Districts Football Club and Geelong Football Club. The recording of the song used by the club was performed by Clem Grogan and the Blue Brass. Hobart Football Club also has a song sung to the tune of Anchors Aweigh. Its lyrics are very similar to East Perth Forever
Honours[]
Club honours[]
WAFL Premierships: (17 total) 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1926, 1927, 1936, 1944,[a] 1956, 1958, 1959, 1972, 1978, 2000, 2001, 2002
Runners-Up: (16 total) 1910, 1918, 1928, 1932, 1957, 1960, 1961, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1976, 1996, 2013, 2014
WAFL Wooden spoons: (7 total) 1911, 1913, 1929, 1964, 1985, 1989, 2008
Reserves Premierships: (13 total) 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1948, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1967 1976, 1978, 1981, 1983
Colts Premierships: (5 total) 1967, 1975, 1980, 2000, 2006
Fourths Premierships: (2 total) 1965, 1967
Rodriguez Shield: (9 total) 1958, 1959, 1961, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1976, 2000
Individual honours[]
Sandover Medallists: (18 total) 1923: William 'Digger' Thomas, 1925: George 'Staunch' Owens (1925), 1929: Billy Thomas, 1950: Frank Allen, 1956: Graham Farmer, 1957: Graham Farmer, 1958: Ted Kilmurray, 1960: Graham Farmer, 1969: Malcolm Brown, 1975: Alan Quartermaine, 1976: Peter Spencer, 1978: Phil Kelly, 1979: Phil Kelly, 1983: John Ironmonger, 1984: Peter Spencer, 1988: David Bain, 1997: Brady Anderson, 2001: Ryan Turnbull
Simpson Medallists: (7 total) 1958: Ned Bull, 1959: Graham Farmer, 1972: Ken McAullay, 1978: Ian Miller, 2000: Dean Cox, 2001: Ryan Turnbull, 2002: Ryan Turnbull
Bernie Naylor Medallists: (10 total) 1909: Sam Sloss (30), 1924: Bonny Campbell (67), 1926: Bonny Campbell (89), 1927: Bonny Campbell (87), 1944: Alan Watts (101), 1958: William Mose (115), 1959: Neil Hawke (114), 1967: Phil Tierney (119), 1990: Glen Bartlett (69), 2006: Troy Wilson (74), 2013: Josh Smith (62)
All Australians: 1956, 1958 & 1961: Graham Farmer, 1966: Kevin Murray, 1966: Keith Doncon, 1972: Mal Brown, 1972: Ken McAullay, 1979: Barry Cable
Tassie Medallists: (3 total) 1937: Mick Cronin, 1956: Graham Farmer, 1972: Ken McAullay
JJ Leonard Medallists: (1 total) 2014: Brian Dawson
F.D. Book Medallists
The F.D. Book Medal is awarded to the club's fairest and best player at the end of each season.
Records[]
Highest Score: Round 1, 1944 - 41.30 (276) vs. South Fremantle at Perth Oval
Lowest Score: Round 13, 1909 - 0.6 (6) vs. East Fremantle at Fremantle Oval
Greatest Winning Margin: Round 1, 1944 - 256 points vs. South Fremantle at Perth Oval
Greatest Losing Margin: Round 20, 1987 - 169 points vs. Claremont at WACA
Most Games: Craig Wulff 286 (2002–2016)
Most Goals: Phil Tierney 620 (1962–1972)
Record Home Attendance: Round 9, 1969 - 26,760 vs. West Perth at Perth Oval.
Record Finals Attendance: 1969 Grand Final - 51,385 vs. West Perth at Subiaco Oval.
Teams of the Century[]
With the launch of the East Perth history book in mid-2006, an expert panel from the club came up with two "teams of the Century". One pre-war team from 1906–1944, and the other from 1945–2005
Pre-war Team[]
| Pre-War Team | |||
| B: | Wally Fletcher | Harry Sherlock | Alby Western |
| HB: | Nashy Brentnall | Ray Star | Archie Herd |
| C: | Ike Allen | William 'Digger' Thomas | Jackie Guhl |
| HF: | Mick Cronin (c) | Paddy Hebbard | Bert Harrold |
| F: | William 'Billy' Thomas | Bonny Campbell | Harold Gepp |
| Foll: | George Owens | Val Sparrow | Larry Duffy |
| Int: | Herbie Screaigh | ||
| Coach: | Phillip Matson | ||
Post-war Team[]
| Post-War Team | |||
| B: | Stephen Curtis | John Watts | Mal Atwell |
| HB: | Ken McAullay | Ross Glendinning | Jim Washbourne |
| C: | Phil Kelly | Syd Jackson | Derek Chadwick |
| HF: | Ted Kilmurray | Malcolm Brown | Peter Spencer |
| F: | Ron Alexander | Phil Tierney | Keith Doncon |
| Foll: | Graham Farmer | Kevin Murray | Jack Sheedy (c) |
| Int: | Bradley Smith | Bob Graham | Tom Everett |
| Ryan Turnbull | |||
| Coach: | Jack Sheedy | ||
League Championship Cup[]
In 2010 the Australian Football League (AFL) announced plans to start a knockout competition featuring the best teams from the state leagues around Australia. 16 Teams would qualify based on their finishing position in their corresponding state leagues the previous years. Originally games were played primarily as curtain raisers for AFL games on a Saturday night and broadcast live on Fox Footy. In 2013 the games shifted to Tuesday night and the tournament comprised only 10 teams. The competition is sponsored by Foxtel and is known as Foxtel Cup.
East Perth have qualified for the tournament twice. In the competitions first year, 2011, the Royals defeated North Ballarat and NT Thunder to reach the semi final losing to eventual premiers Williamstown.
The Royals also gained qualification for the 2014 season. East Perth were big 50 point winners over Norwood in the quarter final but once again fell in the semi final to VFL side Williamstown who once again went on to win the title.
Honourboard[]
| Year | Place | Record | Coach | Captain | Best & Fairest (F. D. Book Medal) |
Leading goalkickers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1906 | 7th | 5–12 | W.Plunkett | John Woollard | - | Don McKinnon (11) |
| 1907 | 6th | 7–10 | J.Kennedy | J.Kennedy | - | Jack Oliver (19) |
| 1908 | 5th | 7–9–1 | J.Kennedy | I.Brown | - | Sam Sloss (31) |
| 1909 | 3rd | 10–8 | Henry "Ivo" Crapp | P.Wallish | - | Sam Sloss (30) |
| 1910 | R/Up | 14–5 | Bob Burns | Bob Burns | - | Sam Sloss (28) |
| 1911 | 7th | 2–10 | Bob Burns | Charles Hardisty | - | Bill Gagner (9) |
| 1912 | 5th | 5–11 | B.Wallish | Charlie McKenzie | - | Sam Sloss (20) |
| 1913 | 7th | 2–10 | P.Shea | Arthur Nash | - | Albert Oates (14) |
| 1914 | 5th | 7–7 | G.Sparrow | C.Morrissey | - | Ernie Sellars (22) |
| 1915 | 4th | 13–9 | G.Sparrow Hedley Tomkins |
Charlie McKenzie | - | Ernie Sellars (34) |
| 1916 | 5th | 4–8 | - | William 'Digger' Thomas | - | Jim Wallace (27) |
| 1917 | 5th | 4–8 | C.Waugh | Paddy Finlay | - | William Silverstone (20) |
| 1918 | R/Up | 14–3 | Phil Matson | William 'Digger' Thomas | - | George Owens (22) |
| 1919 | Premiers | 14–3 | Phil Matson | Chris Slattery | - | Harold Gepp (20) |
| 1920 | Premiers | 11–6 | Phil Matson | Charlie McKenzie Chris Slattery |
- | George Owens (17) |
| 1921 | Premiers | 11–7 | Phil Matson | Vern Harold Charlie McKenzie |
- | Paddy Hebbard (23) |
| 1922 | Premiers | 12–4 | Phil Matson | Vern Harold | - | Gus Giese (40) |
| 1923 | Premiers | 13–4 | Phil Matson | Vern Harold | - | Bert Harold (36) |
| 1924 | 3rd | 12–4 | Phil Matson | William 'Digger' Thomas | - | Bonny Campbell (67) |
| 1925 | 4th | 9–8 | Paddy Hebbard | Paddy Hebbard | - | Bonny Campbell (53) |
| 1926 | Premiers | 15–4–1 | Phil Matson | Harold Gepp | "Plum" Duffy | Bonny Campbell (89) |
| 1927 | Premiers | 16–5 | Phil Matson | Harold Gepp | Jim O'Meara | Bonny Campbell (87) |
| 1928 | R/Up | 12–8–1 | Phil Matson Paddy Hebbard |
W. Fletcher | Billy Thomas | Bonny Campbell (61) |
| 1929 | 7th | 2–16 | Val Sparrow | "Plum" Duffy | Billy Thomas | Bob Crow (33) |
| 1930 | 5th | 8–10 | Val Sparrow | Val Sparrow | Albert Davies | Ken O'Reilly (36) |
| 1931 | 3rd | 12–8–1 | Val Sparrow | Val Sparrow | Mick Cronin | Billy Thomas (30) |
| 1932 | R/Up | 11–10 | Val Sparrow | Val Sparrow | Herb Screaigh | Ken O'Reilly (51) |
| 1933 | 4th | 9–10 | - | Jackie Guhl | Herb Screaigh | Paul Lockyer (72) |
| 1934 | 4th | 13–8–1 | Jerry Dolan | Bob Bennett | Herb Screaigh | Herb Screaigh (45) |
| 1935 | 3rd | 13–7 | Jerry Dolan | Dick Lawn | Brian Ryan | Paul Lockyer (31) Herb Screaigh (31) |
| 1936 | Premiers | 13–10 | Jerry Dolan | Mick Cronin | Leo Graham | Frank McAllon (42) |
| 1937 | 3rd | 13–7–3 | Jerry Dolan | Mick Cronin | Herb Screaigh | Cecil Rowland (87) |
| 1938 | 3rd | 11–10–1 | Jerry Dolan | Mick Cronin | Ray Starr | Herb Screaigh (43) |
| 1939 | 3rd | 15–7 | Mick Cronin | Mick Cronin | Dave Miller Ritchie Thomas |
Austin Gardener (78) |
| 1940 | 4th | 13–8 | Herb Screaigh | Mick Cronin | Ritchie Thomas | Austin Gardener (40) |
| 1941 | 5th | 12–8 | Mick Cronin | Herb Screaigh | Max O'Loughlin | Max O'Loughlin (47) |
| 1942 Underage Comp |
3rd | 11–8 | Billy Thomas | Neil Reiger | John (Todge) Campbell | Ron Brentnall (38) |
| 1943 Underage Comp |
5th | 7–10 | Val Sparrow | Mick George | Ray Perry | John (Todge) Campbell (55) |
| 1944 Underage Comp |
Premiers | 21–0 | Cecil Rowland | Allan Watts | John (Todge) Campbell | Alan Watts (101) |
| 1945 | 6th | 9–11 | Cecil Rowland | Cecil Rowland | Harry Outridge | Cecil Rowland (62) |
| 1946 | 6th | 7–11–1 | Cecil Rowland | Jack Sweet | Jim Washbourne | Max O'Loughlin (53) |
| 1947 | 5th | 10–9 | Val Sparrow | Jack Sweet | Norm Gibney | Max O'Loughlin (41) |
| 1948 | 5th | 10–9 | Val Sparrow | Jack Sweet | Frank Sparrow | Jim Washbourne (41) |
| 1949 | 5th | 9–9 | Seff Parry | Don Matson Frank Sparrow |
Ray Perry | Jack Webb (34) |
| 1950 | 6th | 6–15 | Johnny Larcombe Colin Pestell |
Johnny Larcombe Colin Pestell |
Frank Allen | Jack Smith (42) |
| 1951 | 5th | 12–9 | Mick Cronin | Frank Sparrow | Ray Perry | Jack Smith (88) |
| 1952 | 4th | 13–8 | Mick Cronin | Jim Spencer | Frank Sparrow | Jack Smith (77) |
| 1953 | 5th | 8–13 | Mick Cronin | Jim Spencer | Jim Spencer | Jack Smith (72) |
| 1954 | 5th | 8–12 | Mick Cronin | Jim Spencer | Graham Farmer | Ted Kilmurray (61) |
| 1955 | 5th | 7–13 | Mick Cronin | Jim Spencer | Graham Farmer | Ted Kilmurray (68) |
| 1956 | Premiers | 16–5 | Jack Sheedy | Jack Sheedy | Graham Farmer | Ted Kilmurray (51) |
| 1957 | R/Up | 18–5 | Jack Sheedy | Jack Sheedy | Graham Farmer | Kevin McGill (52) |
| 1958 | Premiers | 18–6 | Jack Sheedy | Jack Sheedy | Ted Kilmurray | Bill Mose (115) |
| 1959 | Premiers | 20–3 | Jack Sheedy | Jack Sheedy | Graham Farmer | Neil Hawke (119) |
| 1960 | R/Up | 14–8–2 | Jack Sheedy | Jack Sheedy | Graham Farmer | Kevin McGill (52) |
| 1961 | R/Up | 20–3 | Jack Sheedy | Jack Sheedy | Graham Farmer | Ralph Rogerson (51) |
| 1962 | 5th | 11–10 | Jack Sheedy | Jack Sheedy Ted Kilmurray |
Don Marinko | Karl Bearman (48) |
| 1963 | 4th | 13–9 | Jack Sheedy | Don Marinko | Derek Chadwick | Karl Bearman (42) |
| 1964 | 8th | 3–18 | Jack Sheedy | Mal Atwell | Derek Chadwick | Ted Kilmurray (25) |
| 1965 | 6th | 10–11 | Kevin Murray | Kevin Murray | Kevin Murray | Phil Tierney (55) |
| 1966 | R/Up | 16–8 | Kevin Murray | Kevin Murray | Syd Jackson | Keith Doncon (50) |
| 1967 | R/Up | 18–6 | Derek Chadwick | Derek Chadwick | Hans Verstegen | Phil Tierney (119) |
| 1968 | R/Up | 15–9 | Derek Chadwick | Derek Chadwick | Jim Haines | Phil Tierney (106) |
| 1969 | R/Up | 18–5–1 | Jack Sheedy | Derek Chadwick | Mal Brown | Phil Tierney (74) |
| 1970 | 3rd | 13–10 | Mal Brown | Mal Brown | Mal Brown | Gary Bygraves (56) |
| 1971 | R/Up | 18–5 | Mal Brown | Mal Brown | Ken McAullay | Phil Tierney (105) |
| 1972 | Premiers | 17–6 | Mal Brown | Mal Brown | Mal Brown | Mal Brown (51) |
| 1973 | 3rd | 15–8 | Mal Brown | Mal Brown | Gary Malarkey | Archie Duda (71) |
| 1974 | 6th | 10–11 | Ray Giblett | Hans Verstegen | Ron Alexander | Archie Duda (74) |
| 1975 | 4th | 13–9 | Ray Giblett | Ron Alexander | Peter Spencer | Peter Spencer (34) |
| 1976 | R/Up | 17–6 | Graham Farmer | Brad Smith | Peter Spencer | Gary Bygraves (65) |
| 1977 | 4th | 13–9 | Graham Farmer | Brad Smith | Stephen Curtis | Archie Duda (106) |
| 1978 | Premiers | 15–9 | Barry Cable | Barry Cable | Kevin Bryant | Archie Duda (76) |
| 1979 | 4th | 13–9 | Barry Cable | Barry Cable | Phil Kelly | Paul Arnold (51) |
| 1980 | 3rd | 12–11 | Barry Cable | Ian Miller | Wayne Otway, Sr. | Paul Arnold (76) |
| 1981 | 4th | 11–11 | Grant Dorrington | John Hayes | Dean Turner | Grant Campbell (54) |
| 1982 | 4th | 13–9 | Grant Dorrington | John Hayes | Stephen Curtis | Grant Campbell (76) |
| 1983 | 5th | 9–12 | Greg Brehaut | John Dimmer | Peter Spencer | John Scott (67) |
| 1984 | 4th | 11–11 | Greg Brehaut | Greg Walsh | Grant Campbell | John Scott (63) |
| 1985 | 8th | 5–16 | Greg Brehaut | Kevin Bryant | Brett Stephens | Brett Stephens (69) |
| 1986 | 6th | 7–14 | Greg Brehaut Gerard McNeil |
Kevin Bryant Russel Sparks |
Craig Starcevich | Richard Dennis (32) |
| 1987 | 7th | 4–17 | Gerard McNeil | Chris Allen | George Giannakis | Grant Campbell (27) |
| 1988 | 7th | 5–16 | Gerard McNeil | Glen Bartlett | David Bain | Grant Campbell (58) |
| 1989 | 8th | 3–18 | Ian McCulloch | Glen Bartlett | George Giannakis | Glen Bartlett (41) |
| 1990 | 5th | 9–12 | Ian McCulloch | Glen Bartlett | Lucio Baroni | Glen Bartlett (69) |
| 1991 | 5th | 10–12 | Ian McCulloch | Glen Bartlett | Ryan Turnbull | Glen Bartlett (90) |
| 1992 | 3rd | 12–12 | Stan Magro | Craig McGrath | Peter Miller | Paul Peos (38) |
| 1993 | 7th | 9–11–1 | Stan Magro | Lucio Baroni | Ryan Turnbull | Paul Barnard (53) |
| 1994 | 7th | 6–15 | Robert Solin | Lucio Baroni | Dean Talbot | Darren Williams (47) |
| 1995 | 6th | 10–11 | Robert Solin | Stephen Hooper | Greg Jones | Scott Loving (36) |
| 1996 | R/Up | 15–8 | Kevin Worthington | Stephen Hooper | Paul Peos | Christopher Gerreyn (74) |
| 1997 | 4th | 12–8–1 | Kevin Worthington | Paul Peos | Peter Miller | Scott Loving (56) |
| 1998 | 4th | 11–10 | Kevin Worthington | Peter Miller | Aaron Marley | Wayne Otway, Jr. (31) |
| 1999 | 8th | 5–15 | Kevin Worthington | Greg Jones | Ryan Turnbull | Jeremy Barnard (21) |
| 2000 | Premiers | 17–3 | Tony Micale | Jeremy Barnard | Aaron Marley David Swan |
Ashley Hutchinson (51) |
| 2001 | Premiers | 16–4 | Tony Micale | Jeremy Barnard | Rod Wheatley | Dean Buszan (51) |
| 2002 | Premiers | 15–5 | Tony Micale | Jeremy Barnard Ryan Turnbull |
Paul Ridley | Paul Ridley (54) |
| 2003 | 3rd | 14–7–1 | Andy Lovell | Jeremy Barnard Ryan Turnbull |
Brent Cowell | Paul Ridley (71) |
| 2004 | 5th | 11–9 | Andy Lovell | Jeremy Barnard Ryan Turnbull |
Troy Wilson | Troy Wilson (54) |
| 2005 | 6th | 6–14 | Warren Mahoney | Dean Brennan | Andrew Merrington | Andrew Merrington (51) |
| 2006 | 5th | 7–13 | Warren Mahoney Paul Peos |
Michael Swan | Troy Wilson | Troy Wilson (74) |
| 2007 | 4th | 11–10 | Glen Bewick | Michael Swan | Frank Agostino | Ben McKinley (46) |
| 2008 | 9th | 6–14 | Glen Bewick | Michael Swan | Timothy Noakes | Andrew Merrington (44) |
| 2009 | 5th | 10–10 | Tony Micale | Craig Glancy Michael Swan |
Trevor Oliver | Mathew Seal (36) |
| 2010 | 3rd | 12–10 | Tony Micale | Craig Glancy Michael Swan |
Craig Wulff | Adam Prior (43) |
| 2011 | 7th | 6–14 | Tony Micale David Hynes |
Michael Swan | Brendan Lee | Josh Smith (47) |
| 2012 | 4th | 11–9–1 | Tony Micale | Michael Swan Craig Wulff |
Paul Johnson | Josh Smith (53) |
| 2013 | R/Up | 14–9 | Brian Dawson | Brendan Lee Craig Wulff |
Brendan Lee | Josh Smith (62) |
| 2014 | R/Up | 17-5 | Brian Dawson Russell Thompson |
Brendan Lee Craig Wulff |
Steven Payne | Josh Smith (41) |
| 2015 | 3rd | 13-10 | Brian Dawson | Brendan Lee Craig Wulff |
Paul Johnson | Craig Wulff (23) |
| 2016 | 5th | 10-11 | Jaymie Graham | Kyle Anderson Craig Wulff |
Mitchell Fraser | Jonathan Giles (22) |
| 2017 | 6th | 9-11 | Luke Webster | Kyle Anderson Patrick McGinnity |
Julian Ameduri Nathan Blee |
Tom Lamb (21) |
| 2018 | 5th | 8-11 | Luke Webster | Kyle Anderson Patrick McGinnity |
Matthew Allen Patrick McGinnity |
William Maginness (26) |
F. D. Book Medal[]
The East Perth Football Club's senior best and fairest player wins the F. D. Book Medal. Past winners of the award are listed below.
- 1925 – George Owens
- 1926 – Larry Duffy
- 1927 – James "Brum" O'Meara
- 1928 – Billy Thomas
- 1929 – Billy Thomas
- 1930 – Albert Davies
- 1931 – Mick Cronin
- 1932 – Herbie Screaigh
- 1933 – Herbie Screaigh
- 1934 – Herbie Screaigh
- 1935 – Brian Ryan
- 1936 – Leo Graham
- 1937 – Herbie Screaigh
- 1938 – Ray Starr
- 1939 – Dave Miller, Ritchie Thomas
- 1940 – Ritchie Thomas
- 1941 – Max O'Loughlin
- 1945 – Harry Outridge
- 1946 – Jim Washbourne
- 1947 – Norm Gibney
- 1948 – Frank Sparrow
- 1949 – Ray Perry
- 1950 – Frank Allen
- 1951 – Ray Perry
- 1952 – Frank Sparrow
- 1953 – Jim Spencer
- 1954 – Graham Farmer
- 1955 – Graham Farmer
- 1956 – Graham Farmer
- 1957 – Graham Farmer
- 1958 – Ted Kilmurray
- 1959 – Graham Farmer
- 1960 – Graham Farmer
- 1961 – Graham Farmer
- 1962 – Don Marinko
- 1963 – Derek Chadwick
- 1964 – Derek Chadwick
- 1965 – Kevin Murray
- 1966 – Syd Jackson
- 1967 – Hans Verstegen
- 1968 – Jim Haines
- 1969 – Mal Brown
- 1970 – Mal Brown
- 1971 – Ken McAullay
- 1972 – Mal Brown
- 1973 – Gary Malarkey
- 1974 – Ron Alexander
- 1975 – Peter Spencer
- 1976 – Peter Spencer
- 1977 – Stephen Curtis
- 1978 – Kevin Bryant
- 1979 – Phil Kelly
- 1980 – Wayne Otway
- 1981 – Dean Turner
- 1982 – Stephen Curtis
- 1983 – Peter Spencer
- 1984 – Grant Campbell
- 1985 – Brett Stephens
- 1986 – Craig Starcevich
- 1987 – George Giannakis
- 1988 – David Bain
- 1989 – George Giannakis
- 1990 – Lucio Baroni
- 1991 – Ryan Turnbull
- 1992 – Peter Miller
- 1993 – Ryan Turnbull
- 1994 – Dean Talbot
- 1995 – Greg Jones
- 1996 – Paul Peos
- 1997 – Peter Miller
- 1998 – Aaron Marley
- 1999 – Ryan Turnbull
- 2000 – David Swan, Aaron Marley, Rod Wheatley
- 2001 – Rod Wheatley
- 2002 – Paul Ridley
- 2003 – Brent Cowell
- 2004 – Troy Wilson
- 2005 – Andrew Merrington
- 2006 – Troy Wilson
- 2007 – Frank Agostino
- 2008 – Timothy Noakes
- 2009 – Trevor Oliver
- 2010 – Craig Wulff
- 2011 – Brendan Lee
- 2012 – Paul Johnson
- 2013 – Brendan Lee