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THE HISTORY OF REPRESENTATIVE / INTERSTATE FOOTBALL

WESTERN AUSTRALIA - UNIFORMS

THE TIMELINE
EVOLUTION OF THE JUMPER
SPONSOR PATCHES
THE TIMELINE

THE TIMELINE


(click on any image to see a full-sized version)

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1904
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1908
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1911
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1914
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1920-1923
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1924-1926 (v.1)

​NOTE - due to photographic development techniques widely used prior to the mid-1930s, the appearance of these dark jumpers
with light trim was often inverted in newspaper photos. This creates the illusion that the early WA jumpers were gold with green trim. Click here to read more about this phenomenon.

Picture
1924-1926 (v.2)
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1927-1932
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1927-1932 alternate
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1933
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1933 vs VIC
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1934

​NOTE - from 1904 to 1981 the official Western Australian uniform featured white shorts.

However, from 1927 to 1981 black shorts were worn in 39 of 47 games against Victoria plus a handful of games against other opponents (TAS 1927/56, SA 1928, NSW 1949, VFA 1958/65).

The black shorts gave a very different look to the WA uniform, and a full comparison of each version can be found here.
​
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1935
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1935 vs VIC
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1936
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1937
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1937 vs VIC
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1938

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1939 vs VIC
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1946
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1947-1949
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1948-1949 vs VIC
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1950-1951
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1950-1951 vs VIC

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1952-1955
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1952-1955 vs VIC
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1956-1957
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1956-1957 vs VIC
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1958-1963
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1958-1963 vs VIC

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1962-1963 (sleeveless)
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1962-1963 vs VIC
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1964-1966
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1965-1966 vs VIC
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1967-1969
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1968-1969 vs VIC

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1970-1976
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1971-1976 vs VIC
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1977 (May/July) vs SA
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1977 (June) vs VIC
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1977 (Oct)-1978 vs VIC
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1978 vs others

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1979 vs VIC
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1979 vs others
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1980-1981 vs VIC
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1980-1981 vs others
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1982
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1983-1984 new number font

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1985
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1986-1988 (March) Carnival
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1988 (May) vs SA
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1988 (July) vs VIC & VFA
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1988 (Oct) vs SA (exhibition match)
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1989

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1990
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1991
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1992 (May 12) Rep. vs SANFL
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1992 (May 26) Origin vs VIC
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1993 (May) Rep. vs SANFL
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1993 (June) Origin vs SA

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1994 (March) WAFL vs NM (exhibition match)
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1994 (June) Rep. vs SANFL
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1995 (June) Origin vs Allies
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1995 (July) Rep. vs QAFL
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1996 (June 2) Origin vs SA
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1996 (June 29) Rep. vs SANFL

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1997 (June 20) WA vs Allies
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1997 (June 21) WAFL vs TFL
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1998 (July 11) WA vs SA
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1998 (July 11) WAFL vs SANFL
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1999 vs TFL
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2000 vs SANFL

Picture
2002 vs QAFL / 2003 vs SANFL
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2004 vs VFL / 2005 vs QAFL
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2006 vs SANFL
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2007 vs VFL
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2008 vs QAFL / 2009 vs SANFL
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2010 vs VFL

Picture
2011 vs NEAFL North
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2012 vs SANFL
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2013 vs VFL
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2014 vs NEAFL
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2015 vs SANFL / 2016 vs TSL
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2017 vs VFL

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2018 vs SANFL
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2019 vs SANFL
EVOLUTION OF THE JUMPER
The inaugural Western Australian State jumper in 1904 featured a black swan, a symbol synonymous with the state as far back as its first Colonial flag in the 1800s. In well-over a century of representative football since, there have been just twelve seasons when the Western Australians took the field without a swan on their jumper.

Ironically, that 1977 to 1988 State of Origin era marked the most successful period in the State's history, beginning with a 94-point humbling of Victoria in October, 1977 and culminating with national titles in 1979, 1983, 1984 and 1986.

Picture
Various designs have come and gone including green jumpers (1904-34) and black jumpers (1958-63 / 1994-99) but the classic Western Australian gold jumper with a black swan - first introduced in 1935 - is still worn proudly today.
SPONSOR PATCHES

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE UNIFORMS HISTORY

Click on the tabs below to discover the story behind each design...
1904-1934
1935-1957
1958-1977
1977-1991
1992-1998
1999-pres.
SPONSORS

Written and researched by David Eastman
Artwork by Rob Meredith
First published 19/9/2017
Last updated 19/4/2020

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REPRESENTATIVE

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Unearthing
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Picture
The author is a proud member of the Australian Football Heritage Group (AFHG), which is dedicated to preserving Australian football's history.

​HOME

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© David Eastman 2013-2022. All rights reserved.
  • HOME
  • AFL
    • Gardiner Medal
    • Grand Final Sprint
    • Interclub Medals & Trophies
    • Night Series & Pre-Season Cup
  • VFA / VFL
    • AWARDS / MEDAL WINNERS >
      • J.J. Liston Trophy (Best & Fairest)
      • Frosty Miller Medal (Leading Goalkicker)
      • Norm Goss Medal (Grand Final B.O.G.)
      • Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal
      • Frank Johnson Medal (Rep. B.O.G.)
      • Seconds/Thirds
    • FINALS >
      • Grand Finals
      • Grand Finals - A History
      • Premiership Captains/Coaches
      • Premiership Tables
      • Finals Records
      • Minor Premiers... no GF
      • Grand Finals - Second Division
      • Challenge Finals
      • Drawn & Postponed Finals
      • Finals Systems
    • NON-PREMIERSHIP MATCHES >
      • Centenary Cup
      • Foxtel Cup
      • Lightning Premierships
      • NFL Night Series
      • Practice/Exhibition Matches
      • Pre-Season Cup
      • Premiers Cup (VSFL)
      • Promotion Playoffs
      • VFL-TFL Challenge
    • RECORDS
    • SECOND DIVISION
  • NON-PREM
    • NFL - 1976 WILLS CUP
    • NFL - 1977 ARDATH CUP
    • NFL - 1978 ESCORT CUP
    • NFL - 1979 ESCORT CUP
  • REPRESENTATIVE
    • STATE MATCHES >
      • 1870s
      • 1880s
      • 1890s
      • 1900s
      • 1910s
      • 1920s
      • 1930s
      • 1940s
      • 1950s
    • STATE UNIFORMS >
      • QLD Uniforms
      • SA Uniforms
      • WA Uniforms
    • VICTORIA >
      • VIC Matches
      • VIC Uniforms
    • VFA-VFL COMBINE >
      • VFA Rep. Awards
      • VFA Rep. Captains-Coaches
      • VFA Rep Matches
      • VFA Rep. Records
      • VFA Rep. Uniforms
  • DISCOVERIES
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