Sunshine
After running third in 1970, Sunshine appointed former Footscray player Don McKenzie as captain-coach the following year and the players responded by qualifying for the second division finals for the ninth straight time before winning the premiership, and promotion to first division, in style. Only 3 losses were sustained all year, and on grand final day the Crows overwhelmed Brunswick in devastating fashion, 22.26 (158) to 16.8 (104) at Toorak Park.
1981 Season (VFA Division 2) Fixture
Sunshine's 1981 Fixture
| Rnd | H&A | Club | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | S | R | Opponent | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | S | Mgn | Grd | Date | SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981-04-05 1 | A | Sunshine | 3.1 | 4.1 | 5.4 | 8.5 | 53 | LOST | Waverley | 13.4 | 30.9 | 40.20 | 52.31 | 343 | -290 | CR2 | 1981-04-05 Apr 5 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1981-04-12 2 | H | Sunshine | 4.3 | 8.8 | 10.10 | 12.14 | 86 | LOST | Yarraville | 6.3 | 9.5 | 11.15 | 19.19 | 133 | -47 | SKI | 1981-04-12 Apr 12 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1981-04-19 3 | A | Sunshine | 3.3 | 3.3 | 4.5 | 7.5 | 47 | LOST | Werribee | 3.3 | 13.12 | 21.18 | 30.23 | 203 | -156 | CHI | 1981-04-19 Apr 19 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1981-04-26 4 | H | Sunshine | 4.3 | 5.6 | 7.10 | 11.12 | 78 | LOST | Mordialloc | 9.8 | 16.13 | 21.15 | 27.26 | 188 | -110 | SKI | 1981-04-26 Apr 26 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1981-05-03 5 | A | Sunshine | 2.4 | 4.8 | 7.17 | 10.24 | 84 | LOST | Box Hill | 4.8 | 10.18 | 14.19 | 19.23 | 137 | -53 | BOX | 1981-05-03 May 3 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1981-05-10 6 | H | Sunshine | 0.1 | 3.8 | 4.8 | 10.11 | 71 | LOST | Williamstown | 6.10 | 11.12 | 18.24 | 27.28 | 190 | -119 | SKI | 1981-05-10 May 10 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1981-05-17 7 | A | Sunshine | 6.3 | 8.6 | 8.7 | 12.8 | 80 | LOST | Oakleigh | 4.9 | 15.11 | 28.18 | 39.22 | 256 | -176 | WAR | 1981-05-17 May 17 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1981-05-24 8 | A | Sunshine | 1.1 | 3.3 | 4.4 | 9.5 | 59 | LOST | Northcote | 9.7 | 18.11 | 27.19 | 31.23 | 209 | -150 | NOR | 1981-05-24 May 24 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1981-05-31 9 | H | Sunshine | 6.3 | 11.5 | 13.9 | 13.11 | 89 | LOST | Camberwell | 3.4 | 7.11 | 11.23 | 17.34 | 136 | -47 | SKI | 1981-05-31 May 31 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1981-06-14 10 | H | Sunshine | 0.0 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 4.9 | 33 | LOST | Waverley | 10.9 | 16.13 | 25.22 | 27.25 | 187 | -154 | SKI | 1981-06-14 Jun 14 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1981-06-21 11 | A | Sunshine | 3.3 | 3.4 | 7.7 | 8.8 | 56 | LOST | Yarraville | 5.2 | 12.10 | 13.11 | 22.19 | 151 | -95 | YAR | 1981-06-21 Jun 21 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1981-06-28 12 | H | Sunshine | 2.3 | 4.6 | 5.7 | 7.8 | 50 | LOST | Werribee | 6.7 | 9.14 | 14.23 | 24.29 | 173 | -123 | SKI | 1981-06-28 Jun 28 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1981-07-05 13 | A | Sunshine | 1.1 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 25 | LOST | Mordialloc | 5.7 | 10.12 | 20.16 | 24.18 | 162 | -137 | BKR | 1981-07-05 Jul 5 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1981-07-12 14 | H | Sunshine | 3.2 | 5.5 | 7.6 | 8.6 | 54 | LOST | Box Hill | 4.4 | 5.8 | 9.12 | 14.14 | 98 | -44 | SKI | 1981-07-12 Jul 12 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1981-07-19 15 | A | Sunshine | 2.2 | 3.5 | 7.10 | 11.10 | 76 | LOST | Williamstown | 8.6 | 18.15 | 25.17 | 36.24 | 240 | -164 | WCG | 1981-07-19 Jul 19 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1981-07-26 16 | H | Sunshine | 4.3 | 6.9 | 11.10 | 13.15 | 93 | LOST | Oakleigh | 7.9 | 10.13 | 17.18 | 21.23 | 149 | -56 | SKI | 1981-07-26 Jul 26 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1981-08-02 17 | H | Sunshine | 2.2 | 7.6 | 7.9 | 8.14 | 62 | LOST | Northcote | 5.8 | 9.14 | 16.24 | 29.25 | 199 | -137 | SKI | 1981-08-02 Aug 2 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1981-08-09 18 | A | Sunshine | 2.1 | 2.2 | 3.2 | 6.4 | 40 | LOST | Camberwell | 4.5 | 11.14 | 19.20 | 27.25 | 187 | -147 | CBW | 1981-08-09 Aug 9 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |