Malthouse at the Doghouse - 1985: a (nearly) magic year
“I’m probably opening up my soul a bit here, but I find it very, very, difficult to talk publicly – and I’ve been doing it for thirty years” – Carlton coach Michael Malthouse – July 2014
Furious, feisty, frosty – any of these three adjectives could be used to describe Michael Malthouse’s recent post-match media conferences. Former Blues great, now media analyst Mark Maclure went as far as suggesting the sixty year old grandfather was “friendless” when it came to his relationship with the Fourth Estate.
The thirty years Malthouse refers to relates to his tenure as a VFL/AFL senior coach. On the 40th anniversary of his VFL debut for the St Kilda Football Club the good people of australianfootball.com posted my piece on Malthouse’s-174 game playing career and his initial coaching gig during which time he took Footscray, a perpetually under achieving club, within spitting distance of qualifying for what would be a fairytale finale.
Whilst the essay concentrated on the troubles the Dogs faced following their out of the blue charge at a title in 1985, it argued that Malthouse’s best work came during the middle of his six season stint on Barkly Street.
Most Doggie fans of my vintage get misty eyed whenever the conversation turns to season 1985. Earlier this month the two combatants from that year's Preliminary Final, Hawthorn and Footscray (since rebranded Western Bulldogs) renewed acquaintances in Launceston. The reigning premier left the Apple Isle with the four premiership points and a boost to its already healthy percentage following a comprehensive 62 point win. An interesting article by respected football journalist/commentator Tim Lane titled “Dog days since Hawks took off” appeared in the Sunday Age the day of the match. Lane’s piece focused on the 1961 Grand Final meeting between Hawthorn and Footscray and how the Hawks breakthrough victory that day would prove to be a turning point in the fortunes of the two clubs. Just over a half a century later eleven Premiership Cups sit proudly in the Gold & Brown trophy cabinet, and the one-time whipping boys of the competition would fancy their chances of taking their tally to twelve within the next month and a half.
If a 1-11 score line isn’t galling enough for those who bleed Red, White & Blue, six of the Hawks shiny title trinkets have been procured since 1985. I’d managed to avoid watching a replay of the penultimate contest of that season - for obvious reasons – for many years. Recently a good friend ran me a copy of the game and I felt the need to re-visit the game that represented the highpoint of the Malthouse era at the Western Oval.
Before I do, here’s a reminder of how the ‘Scray became the good news story of that year.
Entering his second year in charge at the Kennel, Michael Malthouse had his charges primed for a big season. The Dogs were sensational across the opening month of the campaign winning four of their first five encounters, the highlight being a seven-goal hammering it inflicted upon Essendon at home in late April. A hot start was complemented by a blistering second half of the season winning nine of their final eleven home and away matches. Accounting for every team in the competition at least once, something the club hadn’t achieved since entering the VFL in 1925, the sixteen wins included a “rare as hens teeth” trifecta of triumphs. The five goal thumping handed out to Carlton in the opening round was the first time the Bulldogs tasted victory at Princes Park against the Blues in more than two decades. A three goal triumph at Kardinia Park in June was the Bulldogs first win “down the road” in ten years. Even Victoria Park, a notoriously unhappy hunting ground for the Tri-Colours, was conquered with the Bullies destroying the hosts by 45 points in late August. Ironically Bob Rose, who’d returned for a second stint in charge of the Maggies at the start of the season had been the most recent Footscray coach to taste success at the Abbotsford snake pit some thirteen years earlier.
The last time the Puppies won at those three venues in the one season was 1945.
Finishing the home and away fixture in second place of the twelve team ladder, the Doggies' first task in what they hoped would be a September to remember would involve a sunny Sunday showdown with finals regulars Hawthorn at the concrete coliseum in Jolimont. The teams split their two earlier clashes with both contests going down to the wire. The first meeting at Princes Park saw the hosts cruise to a commanding seven goal lead at the long interval. Footscray hit back in the third term before the Hawks steadied to eventually prevail by 19 points. Terry Wallace (36 possessions) was outstanding for the victors, Les Bamblett (5 goals) best for the vanquished. The teams renewed acquaintances on a raid sodden Western Oval in August, the brilliant Doug Hawkins (26 touches) starring in front of an adoring home crowd. Hawkins’ third quarter goal, the only one registered at the Mt Mistake end of the ground all afternoon, in effect settled the dispute – Footscray (5.13-43) outlasting Hawthorn (5.8-38).
×
Left ▼
The ’85 Qualifying Final proved to be anything but a contest with the Hawks crushing their shell shocked opponent by a whopping 93 points. Shaken, stunned, but still standing, the Dogs responded in a manner that would’ve warmed the hearts of their diehard fans who’d stayed so loyal, so long for so little. After an even first half Footscray took control of its First Semi Final clash with North Melbourne to run out comfortable 30 point winners (19.23-137 to 16.11-107). Simon Beasley (7 goals) providing the individual highlight of an entertaining match when he reached the three figure mark for the campaign with his fifth major of the day. A day earlier minor premier Essendon advanced to its third Grand Final in a row with an ominous 40 point crushing of Hawthorn in the Second Semi Final.
If the Dogs were any chance of turning its dreams to reality, “Messiah” Mick would need to come up with a plan to overcome its tormentor of a fortnight prior.
The 1985 Preliminary Final marked the tenth anniversary of the competition’s penultimate playoff being staged at the Leagues headquarter stadium, VFL Park, for the first time. The perpetually overcast Waverley was anything but on September 21, the outer Eastern suburb bathed in brilliant sunshine as the two teams took the field. Kicking with the aid of the slight breeze favouring the main scoreboard end of the stadium, Jim Sewell provided the underdog with a dream start goaling within sixty seconds of the opening bounce. The decision to play Steve MacPherson as a loose man in defence paid handsome dividends early, the stocky Tasmanian racking up double digit possessions and to continually drive his side forward. In spite of Andrew Purser’s total dominance at the stoppages, the Bulldogs couldn’t capitalise and when the underrated John Kennedy goaled twice within the space of a couple of minutes to put his side in front and the warning bells were ringing loudly. Beasley was the recipient of some nice play from MacPherson and levelled the scores. The Doug Hawkins/Robert Dipierdomenico sideshow on the wing was entertaining a crowd that was slightly in excess of 55,000. A lovely snap from teenager Michael McLean saw the Dogs regain the lead. Entering the time on period Jason Dunstall marked strongly and from 25 metres out tied the match at 3.2 apiece. With seconds remaining in the first period Edmond was taken high and with the resultant free kick let fly with a massive torpedo punt. His 50 + metre bomb sailed through to provide his team with a thoroughly deserved 8 point break (4.4 to 3.2) at the first change.
The Bulldog brains trust would’ve been ecstatic with the position they found themselves in at the initial break considering Hawthorn had outscored Footscray (17.13 to 6.7) across the previous three first quarters of their 1985 meetings. Hardie had provided plenty of run from the back line and had shut Leigh Matthews out of the game to such an extent that Allan Jeans removed the veteran from the arena. Jim Sewell was busy up forward taking five marks and deserved a better return than his single goal from three shots. With their star forwards well held, the Hawks were best served by John Kennedy, the veteran’s two goals keeping his side within striking distance.
Les Bamblett cashed in on smart lead up work from McLean and Royal shortly after the re-start, his tap in goal pushed the lead out to 14 points. Bamblett had won the 1982 Morrish Medal (awarded to the Best and Fairest player in the Leagues under 19 competition) whilst playing for Melbourne, and transferred to the Western Oval the preceding winter. Season 1985 saw Bamblett establish himself amongst the best small forwards in the competition, providing magnificent support to Simon Beasley with 50 goals from a forward pocket. Just as the Dogs might have been forgiven for dreaming of bigger and better things, a team lifting tackle on MacPherson from Dunstall resulted in a gift goal to Peter Russo. This was quickly followed by a coast-to-coast effort completed by Ken Judge and the lead had been trimmed to less than a kick, Jeans’ men reminding their upstart opponent they weren’t going down without a fight. As the clock ticked down to end the first half, Judge chipped in with his second six pointer for the quarter to seize the advantage (7.4-46 to 6.6-42) for the pre-game favourites at the long interval.
The ‘Scray started the third term brightly but squandered a couple of scoring opportunities. Richard Loveridge, the most damaging small man on the ground to that stage, kicked truly from the forward pocket, Dunstall added another and the Hawks had a more than handy buffer. McLean goaled to register his side's first for the half, but almost immediately the three goal gap was restored thanks to another from Judge. Chris Langford and Michael McCarthy were holding their own against Purser in the ruck and with time-on looming the Bullies needed a to get a move on. Sewell (50 metre bomb), then Hawkins (set shot 45 metres dead in front) helped make it a “one score” game.
Just minutes before the three quarter time siren Jim Edmond - Glasgow born, Gippsland bred, gave teammates and supporters reason to believe that his club, wooden spooners a mere three years earlier, were on the brink of qualifying for the clubs first VFL decider in a generation. Edmond was the final link in a brilliant passage of play that started with the dashing Hardie intercepting an errant kick, avoiding an oncoming Raging Bull by the name of Robert Dipierdomenico, taking a bounce and hitting Brian Royal with a ten metre handpass. Royal’s 15 metre handpass found fellow Bairnsdaler Edmond, and when the skipper slammed home his shot from 40 metres out the crowd, at least those wearing Red, White and Blue - erupted. Three goals in five minutes had seen the Bullies grab the ascendancy. A couple of behinds prior to the bell saw the Hawks turn for home leading by the barest of margins (10.8-68 to 10.7-67).
“Now’s the time I’d bring Matthews on Lou, and, really, throw out the challenge to him to play on Hardie” – Bob Skilton HSV 7 Commentator at the completion of the third term.
Skilton had been part of the Channel Seven commentary team since he concluded a less than satisfactory four year shift as coach of Melbourne in September 1977. If Allan Jeans had a direct link to the television call of the match that afternoon I sincerely hope he placed the legendary triple Brownlow Medallist atop his Christmas card list a few months later.
×
Right ▼
The first indication that Skilton was onto something came less than two minutes into the last quarter. Michael McCarthy, hearing the call from Matthews at a boundary throw-in, palmed the ball behind him where the ageing veteran swooped, his shot on goal luckily (for the Bulldogs) touched on route to goal by Ricky Kennedy. From the kick-in a sensational end to end effort, initiated by Hardie with cameos from Neil Peart, Hawkins, MacPherson and Robert Groenewegen landed in the safe hands of Beasley. 35 metres out, no angle to speak of, full points. Beasley’s 105th for the campaign put the ‘Scraggers four points clear. McCarthy answered, his strong mark in the pocket and clever kick saw the lead change for the fourth time in ten minutes. Then Matthews hit Dunstall with a perfect pass and the Bulldogs trailed by eight points. With his sixth possession of the quarter Matthews slotted through his first goal of the afternoon and when he did likewise with his seventh the fat lady was clearing her throat. Buhagiar, quiet for most of the afternoon, marked and converted from just outside the goal square. Purser ventured forward and notched a rare major to bring the crowd to life. Dunstall outmarked Kennedy to notch his fourth, Judge added another and it was all over. Consolation efforts from Groenewegen and Royal reduced the gap to two kicks when time ran out.
Final Score – Hawthorn 16.13-109 defeated Footscray 15.9-99 (Click here for match details.)
The 1985 Preliminary Final is best remembered for the last quarter efforts of the greatest player of his generation, Leigh Matthews. A non-contributor to three quarter time, Matthews’ thirty minutes of magic single handedly willed his team to a fighting win. Lethal Leigh wasn’t able to conjure up a repeat performance seven days later, his brilliant 332 game career coming to a disappointing end the Hawks never really challenging Kevin Sheedy’s all-conquering Essendon, the Dons cruising to a resounding 85 point victory in the season finale. Hawthorn would recover and take three of the last four pennants before the decade ended. Conversely the Dogs wouldn’t reach the business end of the season again until 1992. A grand final drought of 53 years – the longest streak any team has endured in the 118 year history of the VFL/AFL – will be set by Footscray/Western Bulldogs upon completion of their commitments in late August.
Ask any fan who bleeds Red, White and Blue which, if any one in particular, Preliminary Final loss continues to haunt them and I’d confidently predict the ’97 fade out would top of the list of responses. I’ve witnessed all seven Preliminary Final defeats the Dogs have suffered since their last Grand Final appearance in 1961. As the old saying goes “you never forget your first time’ and I’m constantly reminded of that every time that September ’85 loss is mentioned. Hopefully I’ll be spared of any Pearl Anniversary celebrations that might be in the offing in just over twelve months’ time.
Comments
Andrew Gigacz 21 August 2014
Fantastic piece, Mic. Like you, I've been there for all seven of the Prelim Final losses that began with 1985. Painful memories of that day, the one 12 years later (1997) and the one 12 years later again (2009)! One day, we WILL get over that hurdle.
Shane Caldwell 22 August 2014
Great article Mic. I've seen all the Prelim finals except 1985 when I was on a plane returning from Italy after 4 months "On the continent" missing most of the Dogs great wins that year. My brother had assured me that Hawthorn were "over-rated" and the Dogs were certainties to play the next week but alas it was not to be. Maybe over-rated was not really the best word to choose.
Julien Peter Benney 20 October 2014
Before one of the most amazing upsets in league history – in the last round the Bulldogs were overrun by a St. Kilda team that had won only two matches – Footscray certainly were favourites to play Essendon in the second semi and grand finals.
The old ‘Every Game Ever Played’ argued that the problem began with the St. Kilda shock and that Footscray did not recover until the First Semi, but it’s possible given the way they were playing between Rounds 10 and 21 that the Bulldogs never recovered fully from their Moorabbin upset, which is a game I always discuss when asked about the biggest upsets in League history.
Peter Feehan 25 August 2014
Mic, wonderful piece,i felt compelled to read on though i knew the gruesome outcome. Had to hold myself in check from calling out a warning pontomime style 'look out..behind you!'. I too have witnessed all 7, excrutiating....funny though how the dogs fought tooth and nail to survive in 89, but the happy team almost rolled over to have their tummys scratched when a merger was in the offing with the Dees. Must be a different breed in the leafy suburbs.
Leigh Middlin 25 August 2014
Wonderful read Mic. Memories of the day of the '85 Qualifying Final are clear in mind but not directly related to footy, our family had made the trip down from Ballarat to the Melbourne Show that day. I distinctly remember hearing score updates as we made our way round the Showgrounds on a pretty warm day. As an avid footy card collector I had quite a few doubles of Captain Groenewegen's card. I'm sure they're still around the family home somewhere...
Michael Rees 26 August 2014
Andrew, Shane, Peter, Leigh - Thank you for your kind words, much appreciated.
Andrew - Any suggestions how we tackle 2021? Shane - Hope the trip was worth it, you missed a ripper season. I'll get you a copy of the Preliminary Final, great game - fortunately I don't believe in fairy tales. Peter - By the time Melbourne and Hawthorn members voted on the proposed merge we'd almost gone out of business a second time (post '96 season) Leigh - I'm sure your visit to the Showgrounds was more pleasurable than my trip to Jolimont on Qualifying Final day. Just a terrible performance, try as I may I can't forget it. Did you ride the "Mad Mouse"?
MCR
Carl Rayson 22 September 2014
What a year that was Mick. That huge pack of us rampaging around the suburban football grounds. I think the highlight of the season was the shellacking we gave Essendon at Western Oval.
Login to leave a comment.