▁Australian ▁National ▁Football ▁League ▁and ▁West ▁Australian ▁Football ▁League . ▁Mark ▁M ick an , ▁a ▁ 6 ' 5 " ▁( 1 9 6   cm ) ▁r uck man ▁rec ru ited ▁from ▁West ▁Ad ela ide , ▁was ▁appointed ▁captain ▁of ▁the ▁B ears ▁in ▁its ▁inaug ural ▁season . ▁ ▁Early ▁years ▁The ▁B ears ▁won ▁their ▁first ▁game ▁in ▁the ▁V FL ▁against ▁North ▁Melbourne ▁at ▁the ▁Melbourne ▁Cr icket ▁Gr ound ▁ 1 9 . 2 3 ▁( 1 3 7 ) ▁to ▁ 1 5 . 1 4 ▁( 1 0 4 ) ▁in ▁front ▁of ▁ 1 4 , 0 9 6 ▁fans , ▁and ▁also ▁won ▁its ▁second ▁game , ▁but ▁ultimately ▁fell ▁towards ▁the ▁bottom ▁of ▁the ▁lad der . ▁The ▁club ▁avoided ▁the ▁wooden ▁sp oon ▁by ▁be ating ▁ ▁in ▁the ▁final ▁round , ▁and ▁finished ▁with ▁six ▁wins . ▁The ▁club ▁attract ed ▁ 9 8 , 6 1 6 ▁fans ▁to ▁the ▁eleven ▁matches ▁at ▁Car r ara ▁O val , ▁an ▁average ▁of ▁ 8 , 9 6 5 ▁per ▁game , ▁which ▁was ▁the ▁lowest ▁in ▁the ▁competition ▁behind ▁Fitz roy ' s ▁ 1 1 , 4 9 8 . ▁By ▁contrast , ▁the ▁other ▁new ▁ 1 9 8 7 ▁team ▁the ▁West ▁Coast ▁E ag les , ▁with ▁Australian ▁rules ▁football ▁long ▁established ▁as ▁the ▁major ▁football ▁code ▁in ▁Per th , ▁attract ed ▁ 2 9 1 , 3 1 7 ▁to ▁their