A Timeline of History

The Perth Football Club fielded its first team in 1899, competing in the Perth First Rate Junior Competition. That same year, the club was invited to join the WA Football Association after the dissolution of the Rovers Football Club.

Nine former Rovers players joined the newly admitted Perth team, playing their first match on July 15, 1899, against Fremantle. In a titanic struggle, Fremantle held on to win by three points.

Based at the WACA Ground, the club, then known as the City Reds, made its first Grand Final appearance in 1904 but fell short against Fremantle.

Perth won its first WAFA premiership in 1907, defeating East Fremantle by one point. A controversial umpiring decision led to a protest, which resulted in the disallowing of an opposition goal after the halftime bell.

During the 1930s, the club was briefly known as Victoria Park Football Club before reverting to its original name.

Under the guidance of coach Austin Robertson Sr., Perth made a grand final appearance in 1949, setting the stage for a dominant era in the coming decades.

Led by Keith Harper, Perth defeated East Fremantle by two points in the Grand Final, securing its first premiership since 1907. This game also marked the farewell of club legend Merv McIntosh, a three-time Sandover Medallist.

Perth moved from the WACA Ground to Lathlain Park, gaining its own dedicated home ground after 60 years.

The Demons’ historic run started in 1966, a season where Perth finished second on the ladder with 15 wins from 21 games, setting up a showdown with top dogs East Perth. In front of a massive 46,779 strong crowd, the biggest for a WAFL Grand Final in years. The Demons edged out a thriller, 11.25 (91) to 10.15 (75), winning by 16 points despite wayward kicking. Captain/Coach Atwell was instrumental, booting goals and marshalling the troops, Barry Cable won the first of his string of three Simpson Medals, wingman Pat Dalton dazzled with his pace and delivery, ruck-rover Greg Brehaut provided grunt in the contests, and forward Gerry Iseger chipped in with timely majors. East Perth’s Phil Tierney was their main threat up front with multiple goals, but Perth’s backline, anchored by Bob Shields’ marking prowess, held firm in a tense final term to break an eight-year flag drought and kick off the dynasty.

Building on the momentum of a 1966 premiership, 1967 saw Perth storm to the minor premiership with 16 wins, their attack firing on all cylinders. The Grand Final rematch against East Perth drew 42,250 fans and delivered another nail-biter, with the Demons prevailing 18.12 (120) to 15.12 (102) securing their success by 18 points. Atwell and Cable (Atwell with 6 goals and Cable collecting Simpson Medal number two), again stared. Iseger, Dalton, Graham Jenzen and Pat Astone also hit the scoreboard, while Ian Miller’s tireless running across half-back shut down East Perth’s surges. The Royals fought hard, but Perth’s superior fitness and composure in the wet conditions sealed back-to-back glory, cementing their status as the team to beat.

By 1968, the Demons were unstoppable, topping the ladder again with just two losses in a season hailed as one of the most dominant in WAFL history. They capped it with a 24-point Grand Final romp (again) over East Perth, 16.14 (110) to 13.8 (86), in front of 40,621 spectators. Iseger, Greg Bennett, and Astone each booted three goals, with Miller adding three more in a spread of scoring that overwhelmed the Royals. Dalton’s elusiveness and Ross Millson’s ruck work were pivotal, while Shields and Laurie Pyke provided steel in defence. East Perth’s Tierney managed four goals and Gary Bygraves three, but it wasn’t enough against Perth’s relentless pressure and wind-assisted bursts. This third straight flag etched the Demons into folklore, a testament to Atwell’s tactical nous and a squad brimming with talent like Brehaut’s midfield mastery and Jenzen’s forward craft. These premiership teams were stacked with legends and were euphoric times for the Demons faithful, with parades through the streets, packed clubrooms, and a sense that the red and black empire was unbreakable. Though the hat-trick ended there, it remains a benchmark of dominance in WA footy, a reminder of when Perth owned the league and turned rivals green with envy. Go Demons!

On September 25, 1976, before a roaring crowd of 45,823 at Subiaco Oval, the Perth Demons produced one of the great Grand Final upsets, defeating the minor premiers East Perth Royals 13.14 (92) to 11.3 (69) to claim their sixth premiership and the first of back-to-back flags under coach Ken Armstrong. Finishing third on the ladder, Perth ended an eight-year premiership drought since 1968 by grinding through a classic arm-wrestle on a windy afternoon, absorbing pressure and then exploding with six goals in a decisive final quarter to win by 23 points, with Simpson Medallist Malcolm Day starring in a commanding midfield performance as the Demons’ defence, midfield grit and timely goals overcame East Perth’s costly inaccuracy, despite the Royals briefly leading at three-quarter time, while Murray Couper (4), Garry Gibellini (3), Chris Mitsopoulos (2) and a spread of contributors powered the surge that sealed a premiership remembered as a cornerstone of Demons lore, underdog belief, relentless fourth-quarter pressure and a triumph that launched Perth’s next golden run.

On September 24, 1977, before 44,381 fans at Subiaco Oval, the Perth Demons delivered one of the most dominant premiership performances in WA football history, annihilating the East Fremantle Sharks 26.13 (169) to 14.12 (96) in a 73-point Grand Final demolition to secure back-to-back flags under coach Ken Armstrong; blending blistering speed, skill and relentless pressure, Perth effectively ended the contest by half-time before turning the second half into a ruthless showcase, setting a then-record WANFL Grand Final score, with Murray Couper (6), Doug Farrant (4) and a fleet of small forwards running riot, while ruckman Wim Rosbender produced a commanding, all-round masterclass to claim the Simpson Medal, supported by standouts Wayne Currie, Ken Inman, Geoff Watt, Alan Johnson, Steve Hargrave and Malcolm Day, as East Fremantle, despite resistance from Ken Judge and others, had no answer to the Demons’ wave after wave of attack, a day etched forever in club folklore as the ultimate team performance and the crowning moment of Perth’s modern golden era.

Despite a courageous seven-goal performance by Peter Bosustow, Perth lost the 1978 Grand Final to East Perth by two points.

The introduction of the West Coast Eagles into the VFL dramatically altered WA football. Despite challenges, Perth continued to produce elite talent, including AFL stars like Buddy Franklin, Darren Glass, Troy Cook, and Chance Bateman.

The redevelopment of Lathlain Park into Mineral Resources Park was completed, with the West Coast Eagles moving into the precinct, fulfilling the vision of late club president Vince Pendal.

In 2019, the Perth Football Club unveiled a new crest, symbolising the club’s rich history and commitment to the future. This marked a fresh chapter as the club looked to restore its legacy and build towards sustained success.

Perth Football Club’s Reserves team capped off a memorable 2021 WAFL season by winning the Reserves Premiership, defeating Subiaco 7.9 (51) to 6.9 (45) in a thrilling Grand Final at Optus Stadium on October 2, 2021, marking the Demons’ first premiership in any grade this century and their first Reserves flag since 1996. Perth finished the home-and-away season in the middle of the ladder but hit top form in finals, beating Swan Districts in the qualifying final and Claremont in the second semi-final to advance undefeated into the decider. In the Grand Final, Conor McPartland was awarded the Merv McIntosh Medal as best on ground with 18 possessions and 11 tackles, while key contributors included Jacob Peletier, Corey Yeo, Jayden Quill, Brodie Gray and Mitch Browne, and Jack Steel kicked two goals. The victory was especially sweet for seasoned stalwarts Christian Eyres (113 games) and Matthew Rogers (161 games), who retired with premiership medallions, as the club’s theme song rang out at Optus Stadium to celebrate a significant milestone in our recent history.

The Perth Football Club made strides towards inclusivity and diversity by introducing its first women’s team, laying the foundation for the growth of women’s football at the club.

Our inaugural WAFLW season marked a truly historic moment for Perth Football Club, as we proudly took our place in the state’s elite women’s competition for the first time and opened a new chapter in the Demons’ story. In our debut year we celebrated our first ever WAFLW victory, showed steady growth across the season and laid strong foundations for the future, with a committed playing group and coaching staff driving standards from day one. More than results, the season was about creating pathways for women and girls in our community, building a culture to be proud of, and proving that Perth belongs in the WAFLW, making this first campaign a landmark moment in the club’s history.

Our 2025 WAFL season was a truly historic chapter in Perth Football Club’s long story, highlighted by a drought-breaking finals victory that delivered our first senior finals win in 28 years when we defeated East Fremantle 106-77 in the Elimination Final, bringing to an end a finals win drought that stretched all the way back to 1997. That breakthrough win not only gave everyone at Mineral Resources Park enormous belief in what our group can achieve, it also marked just the club’s second finals campaign this century, underlining how significant this moment was for the Demons. The result ignited huge excitement among players, staff and supporters alike, and set a strong foundation for the future as we continue to build toward consistent success in the WAFL.