Passion For WAFL Inspires Numbers ManWednesday, June 8, 2022 - 11:59 AM - by Mark Readings

WHEN it comes to a one-stop-shop for WAFL statistics and information Ric Gauci is your man.

As the founder of WAFL FootyFacts, Gauci provides footy fanatics with a comprehensive range of player data, match results and records for the WAFL.

Gauci began collating player and match records more than a decade ago.

"Being a WAFL fan since I was a seven-year-old in 1980, I always had a keen interest in the history of the league," Gauci said.

"Around 2008 I went a step further and started gathering data for my beloved Swan Districts.

"From there, I decided to expand my research to include match scores for all teams. After noticing there was no online resource for WAFL stats other than final scores on the WAFL website at the time, I launched my own website."

WAFL FootyFacts is the equivalent of the AFL Tables website.

"I’ve always had a keen eye for stats, whether it be cricket, basketball or footy, so doing a stats website seemed a good idea even though I had no experience in web development," Gauci said.

WAFL fans who love the history of the competition are fully catered for. The website is based around sourcing match scores and team lists.

WAFL FootyFacts has scores for every league game ever played, all Reserves scores (since 1946), Colts (since 1957), WA state games as well as the old fourths competition (played 1965 -1974) and even National Football League scores when WAFL teams played in the 1970s and 1980s. 

The data includes every player for every game for Claremont, Swan Districts, Peel Thunder, and West Coast (WAFL), and from 1947 for all other teams.

There are also hundreds of different League records available, including highest and lowest scores, margins, and win/loss records.

Gauci does a power of work himself but has critical assistance.

"I source most of my information from the WAFL website, Trove, and my collection of Football Budgets, Register and other WAFL magazines," Gauci said.

"I’ve had an enormous amount of support from WAFL historians Steve Davies and Greg Wardell-Johnson, along with club historians Brad Willey (Swans) and Barry Butterworth (Claremont) who’ve  provided endless player data."

It’s a labour of love for a man who is passionate about grassroots footy.

“My website visitor numbers have grown over the years as more people become aware of the site," he said.

"The AFL will always be a bigger beast, but in my eyes real footy is played at state league level, the amateurs and in the country, so if I can play a small part in keeping WAFL history alive then why not?

"The competition doesn’t get enough praise for the talent that runs around each week and the quality of football played."

The website includes regular quizzes and a footy tipping competition to win cash prizes and two tickets to the 2022 WAFL Grand Final.

"I love the WAFL and want to do my best to help keep the WAFL relevant in the Australian Football landscape."

You can access WAFL FootyFacts online at https://waflfootyfacts.net  on Twitter and Facebook @waflfootyfacts.