Australian Football

​Hafey's heroes march on - 1981 VFL First Semi Final

This article is taken from Jeff Dowsing's e-book, Collingwood's 50 Most Sensational Games, available through Smashwords .

The teams

Pre-match

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Fitzroy’s on-field fortunes saw a massive turnaround in 1981. At times the previous year’s wooden spooners could be mistaken for a genuine premiership threat. The Lions’ most prized scalps included reigning premier Richmond, eventual premier Carlton, and a barnstorming Essendon in the Elimination Final.

Adding more spice to this First Semi Final match-up was the recruitment by Collingwood of Fitzroy stars Graeme Allan and veteran Warwick Irwin for $80,000. In return, the Lions snaffled Leigh Carlson (below) and youngster Des Herbert. In retrospect, the contentious swap was neither here nor there - both Allan and Carlson gave just reasonable service to their new clubs, Irwin managed just one season before succumbing to injury, and Herbert’s career failed to ignite at Fitzroy.

Collingwood, with the addition of interstaters Mark Williams and Michael Taylor, improved its home and away consistency in 1981 and always appeared destined for yet another crack at the title. Thrashings of Richmond and Hawthorn at Victoria Park, a strong win at Princes Park, and a narrow win at home against the Blues were standouts.

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A disastrous 26-point defeat to Fitzroy in heavy conditions at Victoria Park saw the Magpies let top spot slip through their fingers. A 17-5 record and second place to Carlton on percentage resulted, and tellingly the sorely anticipated break did not eventuate. Whilst Geelong, due in no small part to a seven goal haul by John Mossop, comfortably accounted for the 'Pies in the Qualifying Final, shocking inaccuracy did Collingwood no favours. So the Magpies took the hard road once again, as they had the previous two campaigns.

The game

Stung by its comprehensive defeat to Geelong in the Qualifying Final, Collingwood began positively. Ricky Barham was at his dashing best, Rene Kink was ‘on’ (in a defensive role) and Irwin and Davis were key contributors early. The 'Pies shared the goals between Barham, Ray Shaw, Kink, Davis and Peter Daicos, establishing a 21-point lead at quarter time. Parish and Poynton kicked Fitzroy’s two.

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Daicos (right) relished a return to the centre, at the expense of highly rated Port Adelaide recruit Mark Williams. With Atkin holding his own in the ruck, Hafey also had the luxury of playing Moore at full forward. The inclusion of Craig Davis was a boon for Collingwood, his lively play and ability to find space in the forward line a constant headache for Fitzroy. Barham, Irwin and Taylor also caused the Lions issues.

Disaster struck at the 10-minute mark though, when Moore collapsed, clutching his right hamstring. Moore’s injury sparked a mini Fitzroy revival, Rendell and Francis being prime movers. Rendell and Lawrie’s goals brought the Lions back in the contest until the 'Pies lifted another gear - Tony Shaw, Brewer, Davis, Barham, Taylor and Irwin all gaining marks in the goal-scorers’ column. Despite promising defender Andrew Smith suffering a season-ending shoulder dislocation in addition to Moore’s hamstring, an unusually sluggish Fitzroy looked gone, 38 points in arrears at half time.

A second half Fitzroy revival was led by Mick Conlan (moved onto Barham) and David McMahon, who along with Rendell, booted two third quarter goals. Wilson and Smith also led the Lions’ charge alongside Quinlan and Murnane. Picken, Byrne and Davis continued their form and Daicos had several defenders clutching at air as he weaved a path to goal, but the momentum was with Fitzroy though, an uncomfortably close 14 points behind at the last change.

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McMahon (left) added another two goals in the final term, including the one that put the Lions in front, and the following one, which was almost the sealer. Daicos had already become the darling of Magpie supporters and his status was enhanced when he accepted a pass from Brewer on the half forward flank before slotting home a brilliant 50-metre goal under enormous pressure. Daicos then reduced the margin to two points at the 18-minute mark with a superb across-the-body snap 40 metres out, having roved to a centering kick by a determined Davis. The 'Roys answered straight away, with Les Parish’s clearance to the danger zone whereby Quinlan mopped up the spoils.

Then it was Collingwood’s turn to attack – the pressure now affected Fitzroy; indecision from an otherwise easy clearance led to a kick from Michael Taylor finding Davis in the pocket. An eye of the needle drop punt from the wrong side and the 'Pies were still in it. Picken held firm in defence and Daicos, too, worked hard. For Fitzroy, Alexander’s experience was proving too much for Atkin. The Lions kept coming - Parish ran the ball down the wing and found Lawrie who put through a relatively basic goal on the run. This appeared to be the first nail in Collingwood’s coffin marked '1981'.

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As the clock entered time-on, Fitzroy led by eight points. Ex-Magpie Des Herbert took a great mark in the forward pocket, his set shot drifting across but finding Rendell. His banana shot missed but the pressure on Collingwood’s defence was enormous. Carlson drove long again but missed. Magro and Picken repelled on several occasions and finally the 'Pies managed to move the ball forward via Davis’ determined play. From here, Brewer (right) pinpointed Daicos who goaled calmly from a 45-metre set shot to put the Woods back with another chance.

The Magpies forced the ball direct from the bounce to the goal square. Ross Brewer came in from the side and landed front and square of the pack. The ball hit the deck and sat up perfectly. An instinctive snap high over his head was true - Collingwood now held sway by two points. In an incredible see-sawing struggle, one final challenge seemed inevitable. Alexander punched the ball from the bounce to Murnane whose long shot was deflected through for a point. Despite the best efforts of Fitzroy, Hafey’s men held on bravely for another 90 seconds to escape victors by the barest of margins.

Moments that mattered

Deep into the last quarter Atkin thumped the ball forward from a centre bounce following Daicos’ goal which had put the Magpies within four points. Ray Shaw forced the ball forward to Davis who sent a mammoth torpedo towards the goal-square where a pack of players formed. The man of the moment, Ross Brewer, recounts his match winning goal:

“Craig Davis kicked it, and we flew for the ball. Laurie Serafini was my opponent, but it spilled from the contest and fell into my hands, and I screwed it over my shoulder.”

The cheer squad behind the goals and 50,000 others went up as one.

Aftermatch

This was a quality contest, a free-flowing high scoring final with major shifts in momentum. In fact much of the crowd lingered after the final siren, just taking it all in. Jubilation gave way to enormous relief. Fitzroy fans were left scratching their heads. Picken, as always, stood tall, as did Twomey and Daicos. Davis (nine marks) and Irwin were also influential with 17 kicks apiece, and Tony Shaw industrious with 24 possessions. McMahon and Wilson were prolific, each with 18 kicks for the Lions.

It was difficult to know what to make of the result. Collingwood had let a big lead slip but had the fighting qualities to keep going when defeat loomed large. In the Magpies’ defence, they did play without interchange in the second half and the loss of Moore was significant. The win buoyed the players’ spirits no doubt, evident in the Preliminary Final encounter the following week  against Geelong.

The Hero

Ross Brewer (Collingwood)
Brewer’s interesting football career began at Melbourne before finding his way to the club where older brother Ian had won the VFL goal-kicking, and been a part of Collingwood’s last triumph in 1958. Brewer was the type of forward, as the third ‘tall’, that could bob up and hurt a team that underestimated his ability. That he did, in his finest football moment, when he kicked the winning goal in the dying minutes of a cut-throat final. With 11 kicks and three goals, it was a fine day’s work for Brewer, who would later reflect on ‘an amazing game to be involved in.’

Match details

BEST
Collingwood: Picken, Twomey, Atkin, Barham, Taylor, Davis, Taylor, Byrne
Fitzroy: McMahon, Serafini, Smith, Alexander, Francis, Wilson, Lawrie

GOALS
Collingwood: Davis, Brewer, R Shaw, Daicos 3, Barham 2, Irwin, A Shaw, Worthington, Taylor, Kink
Fitzroy: Rendell 5, McMahon 4, Lawrie, Quinlan, Murnane, Poynton 2, Parish, Wilson

VENUE: MCG

DATE: Saturday 12 September

CROWD: 85,133

UMPIRES: Cameron, Dye

For full match details, click here.

Postscript

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The injury that probably cost Collingwood the 1981 Premiership occurred early in the second quarter when Moore (right) tore his hamstring and required two trainers to carry him off. Reportedly it was so bad that players nearby heard it pop! It was a race against time for the blonde champion. Back-up ruckman Stuart Atkin had showed promise and admirably filled in for the 1979 Brownlow Medallist for the rest of the Semi and the Preliminary Finals.

Against a quality ruckman in Fitzpatrick in the Grand Final, the inexperienced Atkin and a lame Moore had negligible impact. The decision to play Moore has been criticized ad nauseum. But who could blame the skipper for playing through in an effort to lead his side to the elusive flag that he and the club craved?

Man of the moment Ross Brewer was a classic example of the second string player the club notoriously recruited during the Hickey administration, in lieu of the acknowledged champion that might have assured the team of taking the final step. So as part of an inevitable clean-out and despite his heroics, Brewer left the next season to join several former Magpies at Richmond - the beginning of a trading war that would bring the two clubs to their knees.

What they said

“I remember thinking to myself, geez, everything we’d been through during the year, and we’d played in two previous Grand Finals. That year I really thought we had the team to go all the way. That actually went through my mind, and I was so disappointed as I thought we were out. I just couldn’t believe it. Probably in my career I can’t remember a game more so than that one in which I felt that the game had passed us by. I felt utter helplessness as we entered time-on.” - On the brink of despair, Peter Daicos candidly admits to a pessimistic state of mind.

“I thought the season was over. I wasn’t playing and was actually having a few beers. I played the next week despite having not played in the seniors much that year.” - Ian Cooper drowned his sorrows one week, only to be a key player the next.

"We got to work on the Monday and he wouldn't talk to me." - Brewer's euphoria wasn’t shared by Commonwealth Bank workmate and Fitzroy wingman Peter Francis.

"I was numb for three days." - Fitzroy’s full-back Laurie Serafini also took the loss hard.