DARREN MONCRIEFF
Monday, August 1, 2011
IT WAS the quarter of football that ushered in a new era and would convert almost an entire State.
None of the 23,897 people at Subiaco Oval and those crowded around television sets across Western Australia on Saturday, March 29, 1987, knew what to expect when the West Coast Eagles ran out to face Richmond in round 1 of the then VFL.
Here was a virtual State of Origin side against one of the 'Big Four' Victorian clubs in what was a far-sighted step in the league's earlier expansion plans.
This week, West Coast is finalising plans to celebrate its 25th year with pre-match, half-time and post-match activities in the lead-up to its AFL round 20 match with original foes, Richmond, at Subiaco Oval.
Making their debut in the VFL that day was a trio of Indigenous footballers.
Fresh-faced 18-year-old Chris Lewis started on the Eagles bench, while team-mate Wally Matera was thrown in the middle.
The helmeted Phil Narkle was an old hand at this VFL caper, having returned home to join West Coast after three seasons at St Kilda.
Staring them down in Tigers colours was the one that got away, West Australian Michael Mitchell, also in his first game in the VFL.
Victorian Phil Egan, in his sixth season at Tigerland, stood alongside Mitchell as did Maurice Rioli, who joined the club in 1982.
It was Matera, father of current Gold Coast Sun, Brandon, who stamped his class on the match, booting four goals in a quality display, the most kicked by an Eagles player.
Narkle booted two goals while Lewis gathered 14 disposals.
Mitchell amassed 17 quality possessions and finished the game with three goals. Rioli chipped in with two and Egan one.
Richmond looked to have the match sewn up by three-quarter-time and were ready to spoil the party.
The Tigers led at each break: 14 points at the first, four at half-time and a sizeable 33 points at the last.
Enter the quarter that changed the face of West Australian football.
A barnstorming final term with a strong breeze at their backs saw the Eagles kick nine goals to one to win by 14 points and begin a fairytale start to life in the big league.
Local sentiment was that WA had arrived with a bang and could beat the Victorians at their own game and on their terms.
You can be sure these and many other stories, which no doubt have gotten better with time, will be retold as Sunday's match draws near.
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 01/08/2011 16:15