Australian Football

Bombers surge home - 1984 VFL Grand Final - Hawthorn v Essendon

Essendon is a veritable giant among Australian football clubs, but in the 12 year period from 1969 to 1980 it was very much a sleeping giant, contesting the finals on only three occasions (bowing out in the first week every time), and managing an overall success rate of just 44.1%. The appointment of former Richmond player Kevin Sheedy (above right) as coach in 1981 is often regarded as the key factor in restoring the Bombers to their former glory. After contesting the finals for consecutive 5th place finishes in 1981-2 Essendon in 1983 gave signs of being close to the finished article, only to capitulate abysmally on the one day that mattered.

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The victorious Essendon players set off on a lap of honour after securing the '84 flag with a devastating last quarter burst of 9.4 to Hawthorn's 2.1.

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The Bombers' grand final vanquishers in '83, Hawthorn, had enjoyed a preceding decade or so which afforded a stark contrast to that endured at Essendon. Grand final contenders in 1971, '75, '76 and '78 the Hawks had been successful three times, in the process establishing a reputation as a ruthlessly efficient, innovative organisation both on and off the field. In 1983 they further enhanced this reputation when, on grand final day, they unleashed a spine-chilling display of power football to overwhelm the upstarts from Windy Hill by an all time record margin for a VFL premiership decider of 83 points. The bitter aftertaste of this defeat remained on Bomber lips (or, perhaps more to the point, wedged in Bomber throats) throughout a 1984 season which saw them lose both home and away confrontations as well as a tumultuous 2nd semi final to their newly acquired arch nemesis. The Hawks meanwhile had gone from strength to strength, averaging almost 124 points per game over the 22 matches of the home and away season whilst moving ominously into their best form of the year as September, and the all important finals, approached.

Melbourne on grand final day was breezy and cool in the wake of a heavy overnight hailstorm and the inclement nature of the weather undoubtedly contributed to the fact that the crowd of just 92,685 that turned up was the lowest for a grand final since 1957.

1st Quarter

30 secs After the opening centre bounce Brereton is awarded a free. He kicks directly ahead to centre half forward where the ball comes off the hands of the waiting pack straight to Hawk skipper Leigh Matthews who coolly goals. Hawthorn 1.0; Essendon 0.0

1 min 30 secs Once again the ball spills off the hands of a pack near the true centre half forward position for Hawthorn and Colin Robertson, in Gaelic football fashion, soccers ahead of himself before picking up the ball and running into an open goal. Hawthorn 2.0; Essendon 0.0

4 mins Wallace's clearing kick from left half back for Hawthorn eludes the inevitable pack at centre half forward and bounces into the path of Robertson. Showing great fleetness of foot the 1983 Norm Smith Medallist streaks away from two chasing opponents and kicks to a vacant goal square. The ball bounces over the goal line before any Essendon defenders can intervene. Hawthorn 3.0; Essendon 0.1

7 mins Judge wins a holding the ball decision on left centre wing for the Hawks and centres the ball to Clayton who plays on immediately and finds Schwab. The Hawthorn half back flanker quickly runs on into the space afforded him by Russo's shepherd and takes a shot at goal. His kick falls just short of the goal line and is contested in the air by Matthews and Duckworth. The ball goes to ground and Matthews, reaching it a split second ahead of his sandgroper opponent, is just able to squeeze out a handball to Loveridge, who goals with a round the corner left foot snap. Hawthorn 4.0; Essendon 0.1

8 mins After the ensuing centre bounce a massive all in brawl erupts, precipitated by an unpunished high tackle by Neagle on Wallace. As play is allowed to continue, umpire James, in Channel 7 commentator Peter Landy's words, "is writing an essay".

13 mins Essendon retain possession near goal for what seems an eternity without managing to find a player in space. Finally, however, Ezard feeds off a handball to Clarke 25 metres from goal directly in front. Clarke just has time to scramble off a kick which falls 5 metres short of goal, straight into the arms of Leon Baker. From a tight angle, to the right of goal, Baker's kick 'threads the eye of the needle', and the Essendon supporters at last have something to cheer. Hawthorn 4.1; Essendon 1.2

20 mins Dipierdomenico takes a free for out of bounds on the full midway between left centre wing and the left half forward flank for Hawthorn. His kick is strongly marked by Byrne 40 metres from goal on a 45 degree angle. Byrne's high kick travels toward the goal square where a huge pack of players has formed. Despite there being three players ahead of him in the pack it is Brereton who judges the flight of the ball best to pull down a superb mark. By running around slightly he improves his angle sufficiently to enable him to register full points with little difficulty. Hawthorn 5.1; Essendon 1.2

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25 mins Tuck (left) juggles a mark on Hawthorn's right half forward flank some 55 metres from goal but he is brought within range by umpire James after Matthews cons him into awarding a 15 metre penalty. Tuck's drop punt splits the centre of the goals. Hawthorn 6.1; Essendon 1.3

27 mins Bringing the ball back into play after an Essendon behind O'Halloran attempts a short pass but the ball goes straight to Bomber captain Terry Daniher. From a distance of 45 metres from goal just to the right of centre half forward the New South Welshman makes no mistake. Hawthorn 6.1; Essendon 2.4

The siren goes a couple of minutes later, bringing to an end a torrid opening term littered with spiteful altercations and 15 metre penalties. Essendon have matched the Hawks in general play but not on the scoreboard.

QUARTER TIME: Hawthorn 6.1 (37); Essendon 2.4 (16)

2nd Quarter

3 mins After Essendon have dominated the opening exchanges of the term Hawthorn mount a quick, decisive break to register the quarter's first goal. O'Halloran kicks in after a behind with a long torpedo punt that bounces off hands to Schwab who handballs to a running Dipierdomenico. The Hawthorn wingman looks to pick out Brereton on the left half forward flank but his kick eludes that player and bounces instead to Matthews. The Hawk veteran handballs in field to Judge who plays a perfect one-two with Wallace before splitting the centre with a well judged, low trajectory drop punt. A brief multi-player scuffle ensues in which Judge and Duckworth feature prominently but umpire James steps in quickly to restore order. Hawthorn 7.1; Essendon 2.7

11 mins The opposing ruckmen jostle one another out of position at a boundary throw in in the right forward pocket for the Hawks and the ball bounces straight to Matthews who just manages to get his boot to it despite being almost immediately grabbed from the side by Duckworth. The ball travels scarcely 20 metres before bouncing twice in the unguarded goal square and over the goal line for a highly fortuitous six points. Hawthorn 8.3; Essendon 2.7

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21 mins Despite intense opposition pressure, Essendon concoct the goal of the match so far, forcing the ball out of defence to right centre wing where Daniher (right) collects it. With a high looping handball Daniher finds Ezard 15 metres ahead of him and the red-haired rover manages to just evade an attempted tackle whilst simultaneously handballing 'blind' over his head to Williams. After swerving around McCarthy, Williams takes a bounce and handballs over the head of O'Halloran to Duckworth who, standing as he is just three metres from the goal line, completely unattended, is incapable of missing. Hawthorn 8.6; Essendon 3.11

The siren sounds after 29 minutes of play bringing to end a quarter in which Essendon's increasing superiority in general play has not yet transferred itself to the scoreboard.

HALF TIME: Hawthorn 8.6 (54); Essendon 3.11 (29) 

3rd Quarter

9 mins Judge is tripped near the boundary at half forward right. His free kick to the right forward pocket eludes a group of players and bounces to Matthews who shrugs off Clarke's attempted tackle, turns in field, and, despite being off balance, snaps truly with his left foot.  Hawthorn 9.7; Essendon 3.13

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15 mins Duckworth finds Baker 15 metres from goal and the Essendon number 4 is promptly scragged by Ayres (left). Umpire James has no hesitation in awarding a 15 metre penalty from which the Bomber utility has no difficulty in converting. Hawthorn 9.7; Essendon 4.14

18 mins Van Der Haar, having marked the ball just ahead of centre, plays on quickly with a kick towards the left forward pocket where Duckworth outmarks both O'Halloran and Ayres. From 30 metres out on a slight angle he registers full points with a slightly tentative looking drop punt. Hawthorn 9.7; Essendon 5.14

23 mins Judge runs through the centre of the ground, carrying the ball. He bounces twice before unloading from the front edge of the goal square. His low kick travels a good 55 metres to within a metre or so of the goal square where Brereton and Walsh contest. Brereton, with front position, and using his rear end to formidable effect, manages to get his hands to the ball first, leaving his opponent to flail desperately and ineffectually at fresh air. 'The Kid', who has only just returned to the ground after having a knee injury attended to, splits the centre despite appearing to kick the ball with the inside of his foot rather than the instep. Hawthorn 10.8; Essendon 5.14

The Bombers add one further behind before the siren sounds to end the term.

THREE QUARTER TIME: Hawthorn 10.8 (68); Essendon 5.15 (45)

4th Quarter

10 secs Madden wins the tap at the opening centre bounce of the quarter. The ball falls to Williams whose prodigious kick directly ahead comes off hands 30 metres from the Essendon goal and is picked up by Baker, who kicks truly with his left foot. Hawthorn 10.8; Essendon 6.15

2 mins Neagle launches a high left foot kick towards the Essendon full forward position. Daniher soars high but the ball eludes both him and a trio of waiting Hawthorn players, falling instead to Bradbury who turns and, outpacing O'Halloran, stabs a low kick straight through the goals. Hawthorn 10.8; Essendon 7.15

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8 mins On left centre wing for Hawthorn Loveridge's attempted kick is smothered by Watson (right), who picks up the ball, eludes an attempted tackle from McCarthy, and spears a low pass right onto the chest of Duckworth midway between half forward right and the right forward pocket for the Bombers. Duckworth, seeing Thompson standing unmarked 20 metres in field, quickly plays on and finds him, enabling the youngster to goal from a distance of 40 metres or so with no difficulty. Hawthorn 10.8; Essendon 8.15

9 mins From the ensuing centre bounce Hawthorn ruckman Byrne catches the ball but then drops it under pressure from Foulds. The loose ball is immediately pounced on by Williams who launches a high kick out towards the right half forward flank where it floats over the heads of Baker and Ayres before bouncing into the former's path. Baker skirts around O'Halloran by doing a graceful 180 degree clockwise turn and, with Ayres trailing in his wake, brings the house down by firing Essendon into the lead for the first occasion in the match. Essendon 9.15; Hawthorn 10.8

18 mins Curran marks between right centre wing and half forward right for the Hawks, some 55 metres from goal. As he falls to the ground after taking the mark the ball is knocked from his grasp by Heard before being slyly soccered away by Daniher. Umpire James quickly steps in and confers a 15 metre penalty on the Hawk half forward who, from a distance of 40 metres, just manages to avoid the left hand goal post to restore his team's advantage. Hawthorn 11.8; Essendon 9.18

23 mins From midway between Hawthorn's left half forward and left forward pocket regions Van Der Haar, having marked, sends a sharply swerving torpedo punt into the teeth of the goal square. Half a dozen players line up awaiting the ball but only Essendon's Merrett, third in line, appears to judge its flight correctly, and he marks uncontested. An easy goal follows and the Essendon supporters raise the roof. Essendon 10.19; Hawthorn 11.8

25 mins Essendon relay the ball the entire length of the ground to register the goal which, arguably, breaks the back of Hawthorn's resistance. The move starts when eventual Norm Smith Medallist Duckworth marks a limpid Dipierdomenico snap shot a dozen metres or so from the Hawthorn goal and transfers play to Bradbury on the left half back flank. In acres of space, Bradbury lazily allows the ball to bounce off his chest but he has plenty of time to recover before turning onto his left foot and propelling the ball towards an aerial contest at left centre wing featuring Merrett and McCarthy. The Essendon man out bodies his opponent and brings the ball to ground to his own advantage. He handballs 15 metres down field to Harvey who quickly lofts the ball to centre half forward where Van Der Haar and O'Halloran vie for possession. The 'Flying Dutchman' manages to get his left palm to the ball and sending it towards Weston who, almost in a single movement, leaps to the flight of the ball, grabs it, and throws it onto his left boot, sending it at a height of only a couple of metres to a vacant goal square where a single high bounce is enough to carry it over the goal line. Essendon 11.19; Hawthorn 11.8

26 mins With Hawthorn seemingly shell-shocked Essendon quickly add another goal straight from the centre bounce. Weston, who has been moved from full back to centre half forward for the last quarter, again features prominently, collecting the ball 50 metres from goal and handballing over the head of the approaching McCarthy to Watson, who nonchalantly goals. Essendon 12.19; Hawthorn 11.8

27 mins O'Halloran's kick in after an Essendon behind travels to the edge of the centre square, eludes a pack of players to hit the ground, and is picked up by Dunnell, who thumps a high kick back towards Essendon's centre half forward position where it bounces to Watson. Ignoring the impending high speed incursion into his body space of Eade, the Bomber champion deliberately straightens up, takes stock, and measures his goal bound kick to perfection. Essendon 13.20; Hawthorn 11.8

32 mins After taking a strong mark in the left forward pocket a disconsolate-looking Leigh Matthews adds a late consolation goal for the Hawks. Essendon 13.21; Hawthorn 12.9

34 mins Duckworth, still showing indefatigable determination, lunges atop the ball on the rear edge of the centre square and feeds Dunnell who swiftly transfers it to Hawker. The Bomber half forward outpaces Tuck before picking out Neagle, 45 metres directly ahead of him, with a perfectly weighted pass. Neagle's swift turn followed by a bounce of the ball takes him to half forward right from where his hefty drop punt just eludes the goal line pack to set a memorable seal on Essendon's courageous come from behind victory. Essendon 14.21; Hawthorn 12.9

Fittingly, the ball is in the hands of Bomber captain Terry Daniher when, moments later, the siren sounds to end the game. The final term has seen Essendon's gradually mounting superiority finally, and decisively, transferred to the scoreboard. Hawthorn have been gallant but, perhaps a little surprisingly given that they had enjoyed the 'easy route' to the grand final, they had finished the game looking considerably wearier than their opponents.

FINAL SCORE: Essendon 14.21 (105); Hawthorn 12.9 (81)

Match Summary

BEST
Essendon: Duckworth, Watson, Baker, Harvey, Heard, Clarke
Hawthorn: Loveridge, Ayres, Schwab, Wallace, Mew

GOALS
Essendon: Baker 4; Duckworth, Watson 2; Bradbury, Daniher, Merrett, Neagle, Thompson, Weston
Hawthorn: Matthews 4; Brereton, Robertson 2; Curran, Judge, Loveridge, Tuck

NORM SMITH MEDAL (best on ground): Bill Duckworth (Essendon)

ATTENDANCE: 92,685 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground