1984 VFL grand final: Difference between revisions
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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It was a Grand Final rematch of the [[1983 VFL Grand Final|previous season's Grand Final]] in which Hawthorn defeated Essendon by a record 83 points. Essendon had come into the Grand Final having finished top of the ladder after the home and away rounds and on the back of a 28 goal performance in the Preliminary Final against Collingwood. They had not won a premiership since winning the [[1965 VFL Grand Final]]. |
It was a Grand Final rematch of the [[1983 VFL Grand Final|previous season's Grand Final]] in which Hawthorn defeated Essendon by a record 83 points. Essendon had come into the Grand Final having finished top of the ladder after the home and away rounds and on the back of a 28 goal performance in the Preliminary Final against Collingwood. They had not won a premiership since winning the [[1965 VFL Grand Final]]. Interestingly, Essendon won that flag in that year against [[St. Kilda Football Club|St. Kilda]] which was coached by [[Allan Jeans]], who was now coaching Hawthorn in this Grand Final. |
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==Match summary== |
==Match summary== |
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Revision as of 12:26, 27 July 2009
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essendon | 2.4 | 3.11 | 5.15 | 14.21 (105) |
| Hawthorn | 6.1 | 8.6 | 10.8 | 12.9 (81) |
The 1984 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Essendon Football Club and Hawthorn Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 29 September 1984. It was the the 88th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine the premiers for the 1984 VFL season. The match, attended by 92,685 spectators, was won by Essendon by a margin of 24 points, marking that club's 13th premiership victory.
Background
It was a Grand Final rematch of the previous season's Grand Final in which Hawthorn defeated Essendon by a record 83 points. Essendon had come into the Grand Final having finished top of the ladder after the home and away rounds and on the back of a 28 goal performance in the Preliminary Final against Collingwood. They had not won a premiership since winning the 1965 VFL Grand Final. Interestingly, Essendon won that flag in that year against St. Kilda which was coached by Allan Jeans, who was now coaching Hawthorn in this Grand Final.
Match summary
Hawthorn dominated the game early and kicked the first four goals on a cool day. Baker got one back for Essendon but Hawthorn continue to apply scoreboard pressure and 11 minutes into the second quarter they extend their lead to 33 points. Essendon, despite getting more possession, made little impact in front of goals but a goal, Essendon;s second for the match, to Billy Duckworth put them within 25 points at the half time break.
The third quarter was a low scoring affair, more notable for the changes to file positions that Essendon coach, Kevin Sheedy made in an attempt to stem the flow of Hawthorn goals. While common today, at the time, it was very unusual for a coach to make such radical changes such as shifting backline players to the forward line and vise-cersa. Essendon managed to get within three goals of the lead but Dermott Brereton kicked a late one for Hawthorn to give them a 23 point lead going into the final term.
Baker goaled for Essendon in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter giving Essendon the early momentum, and minutes later Peter Bradbury kicked a goal from the back of a pack. Essendon's charge continued when the ball made its way to Duckworth at half forward who passed the ball to an unmanned Mark Thompson who puts it through, 40 metres out and directly in front. The Bombers won the ball from the following centre bounce and Darren Williams kicked towards right half forward flank where it bounced favourably for Baker who evaded Hawks defender David O'Halloran to goal and give Essendon the lead nine minutes into the quarter.
Hawthorn were back in front when Peter Curran goaled from a 15 metre penalty but Essendon soon regained their advantage when Roger Merrett takes an uncontested mark in the goal square and makes no mistake.
Paul Weston extended Essendon's lead to 11 points minutes later and then Tim Watson goaled twice to seal the comeback win for Essendon. As of 2008, it is the last time that a team trailing at three quarter time has won the Grand Final.
The Norm Smith Medal was awarded to Duckworth for being judged the best player afield.
10 players from this game went on to become senior coaches.
Teams
Statistics
Goalkickers
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Essendon
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Hawthorn
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Attendance
- MCG crowd - 92,685
References
- Summary of the Grand Final on Full Points Footy
- The Official statistical history of the AFL 2004
- Ross, J. (ed), 100 Years of Australian Football 1897-1996: The Complete Story of the AFL, All the Big Stories, All the Great Pictures, All the Champions, Every AFL Season Reported, Viking, (Ringwood), 1996. ISBN 0-670-86814-0