1989 VFL GF > 2006 AFL GF

[spell_check]

I did buy the 1989 GF from K Mart a few months ago now, (only $16, too) and I have to say, it is an example of football at its purest. It wasn't often at all the ball was kicked sideways, and I can't recall a backwards kick at all. Attacking fooball = soft??? I don't think so in this match.

Last years Grand Final was one of the best, but it still had elements of the ugly football that is being played now.

[Brad]

1989 was just sensational, Ive watched it a few times over the last couple years and really enjoyed it, what a brutal game!

[Hondo]

I have always felt that Geelong would have won if they left the biff alone and just played their natural game from the start

We tend to remember Ablett & Geelong mostly from that game and Hawthorn's awsome start, despite the injuries, tends to get forgotten but it must rank as one of their greatest wins.

Easy to produce 'pure' football when you have 2 of the greatest forward lines in the history of the game at your disposal - Ablett, Brownless, Stoneham, Linder, Brereton, Buckenara, Dunstall, Curran & Co.

Still ranks as one of the greatest games of all time IMO.

Interestingly, the following year's GF was a low-scoring, dull game from memory ... unless you are a Pies supporter of course.

[Brad]

The Cat's over did it in the 1st QRT with the biff and couldn't quite catch the Hawks for the rest of the day, awesome game and I doubt we will see anything like it for a long time.

[Benchwarmer]

It's amazing to think that Geelong would come back from 40 points down at quarter time (8-4 to 2-0) and make it a classic. I actually missed quarters two and three because as a Carlton supporter, I was almost physically sick thinking that "bloody Hawthorn" would win back-to-back flags.

Unfortunately, they did and Geelong lost in 89, 92, 94 and 95 to miss out on their best chance in the modern era of winning a flag.

But I agree, it is probably the best ever (my bias allows me to sneak in 79 at number 2 - a match played in heavy mud when we pinched it from Collingwood by 5 points into time-on despite the side not having a coach for the last 20 minutes of the match after Jezza injured his ankle in the backline and headed straight for the changing rooms).

[Macca19]

It is generally considered the best Grand Final of the modern era, if not all time. Great game of football before it became too professional.

[rod_rooster]

The only good thing that came from 1989 Tough one for me. I support Hawthorn and North Adelaide. Part of me wants to forget that 1989 ever actually happened and another part of me wants to remember the VFL GF. As good a GF as it was and as great the result was nothing can heal the scars of 89 for me. I have to still think 1988 then 1990 to keep sane.

[am Bays]

When the commentators went ape dropping saying teh 2005 and 2006 GF where the greaest (*glances at Mr Hudson*), I fell on the floor in fits of uncontrollable laughter.

No way the last two games in the same ball park when it comes to great grand finals....1989 by a mile....

I have a vido of teh game with interviews from the key Hawthorn people, Dipper, Brereton, Jeans.

Last words Jeans said to Brereton in before the game in the team meeting before than run out, "Son your going to be challenged today, what sort of example are you going to set for these blokes....."

10 mins later.....

[rod_rooster]

When the commentators went ape dropping saying teh 2005 and 2006 GF where the greaest (*glances at Mr Hudson*), I fell on the floor in fits of uncontrollable laughter.

No way the last two games in the same ball park when it comes to great grand finals....1989 by a mile....

I have a vido of teh game with interviews from the key Hawthorn people, Dipper, Brereton, Jeans.

Last words Jeans said to Brereton in before the game in the team meeting before than run out, "Son your going to be challenged today, what sort of example are you going to set for these blokes....."

10 mins later.....

Say what you like about Brereton but a more courageous and inspirational piece of footy you won't see. The guy was born to play finals and his 5 Premiership medals confirm this. Off the field maybe he's a bit of a tosser but he would be one of the first picked in most sides.

[stampy]

dermies performance that day was guts personified, i laughed my head off when he got hammered at the start cos like all hawthorn haters dermie was no.1 enemy but just to get up was something in itself let alone play the way he did was something else, what i also recall of the game is that geelong were never really in the game and the final margin of 6 points flatters them - only by way of saying it was a close match, classic skills make no mistake about it but they were never gonna win it

[Hondo]

dermies performance that day was guts personified, i laughed my head off when he got hammered at the start cos like all hawthorn haters dermie was no.1 enemy but just to get up was something in itself let alone play the way he did was something else, what i also recall of the game is that geelong were never really in the game and the final margin of 6 points flatters them - only by way of saying it was a close match, classic skills make no mistake about it but they were never gonna win it

It's fair to say that it wasn't much of a contest until after 1/2 time ... whenever they play it on the GF marathon it usually starts at 3/4 time.

Dipper also put in a gutsy performance that day ... punctured lung from memory. Platten was off with concussion for most of the game.

Prob no wonder they ran out of legs in the end. 5 more minutes and Geelong had them.

[rod_rooster]

dermies performance that day was guts personified, i laughed my head off when he got hammered at the start cos like all hawthorn haters dermie was no.1 enemy but just to get up was something in itself let alone play the way he did was something else, what i also recall of the game is that geelong were never really in the game and the final margin of 6 points flatters them - only by way of saying it was a close match, classic skills make no mistake about it but they were never gonna win it

It's fair to say that it wasn't much of a contest until after 1/2 time ... whenever they play it on the GF marathon it usually starts at 3/4 time.

Dipper also put in a gutsy performance that day ... punctured lung from memory. Platten was off with concussion for most of the game.

Prob no wonder they ran out of legs in the end. 5 more minutes and Geelong had them.

Yep, Dipper played for 3 quarters with a punctured lung. Spent over a week in hospital. Platten was knocked out very early on and to this day remembers virtually nothing of the day. Some very tough men involved on both sides and a truly memorable game.

[Roylion]

Grand Final Day 1989 was a disastrous day for Geelong. They contested all three Grand Finals and lost all of them. From a neutral point of view the senior grand Final was an absolute classic.....one I would rate higher than any of the Grand Finals of the 21st century (and I've seen four of them in person).

Of course the 1989 Grand Final Day was memorable for another reason (maybe that's the reason I remember the day so fondly).

[Leaping Lindner]

Personally I'd take the last two Grand Finals (and maybe even 2002) over 1989. All those games were up for grabs. To me Geelong never looked winning in 1989 and were always going to run out of time.

[Benchwarmer]

I remember on the day thinking that if there were five more minutes that Geelong could have drawn level at least and could have nabbed it - Hawthorn seemed very tired in the last 25 minutes and they scrapped in the last two minutes to gain ball-ups to kill time.

Had the ball flowed in the last few minutes we may be talking about the day Geelong made a remarkable comeback from 40 down at quarter time and broke a 26-year drought ... but we don't!

The past two Grand Finals only had the fact that they were close on their side and very little else. The standard and physicality just cannot be compared IMHO.

[Tight_Lines]

I think last year was as physical its just wasnt as brutal as 89. 89 is highlighted by Yates of the square and dermmy's recovery but what about last year Judd popped his shoulder out and played an amazing last quarter and even Waters did his shoulder to and played his best game to that point and a courgous mark in front of Jolly as well in that last quarter. The games are indeed very similiar if you break it down just different tactics and eras obvious which is which. I couldn't take my eyes off either but being there last year and being an Eagles fan my tip may have been swayed

[JK]

89's stand out for me as an instant classic, and I agree with many of the sentiments on here.

Not sure though, that it's fair to say the Cats would have won had there been another 5 minutes ... Obviously we'll never know, but 1) That Hawthorn side could never lay down and 2) That Geelong side, being Geelong, probably could/would still have lost it despite their momentum.

Cats golden opportunites were 89 and 92, but IMHO they were never much of a chance in 94 and 95.

There's no denying that when they have been "on" they have played perhaps the most attractive footy of the last 20 years (even their current squad is playing great-to-watch footy)

[Hondo]

I heard an interview with Blighty a few years back (reflecting on the '95 GF loss) where he said words to the effect that "Geelong were never going to win a Premiership while certain players remained in the team". No names mentioned but we saw what he identified and rectified when he took over the Crows. Rumour (on this site) has it that he tried something similar on at St Kilda which lead, among other things, to his early demise there.

Maybe he was suggesting there were, in those days at Geelong, a couple of front-runners during the regular season who went missing when it counted?

[Booney]

I really thought REB would have been interested in reliving this magical day.For the life of me,cant understand why he hasnt had any input into this thread,which in all honesty gives us all a chance of reliving some of those memories.

Yates,Brereton,Buckenara,Ablett,Dipierdemenico,Dunstall,Bairstow,Stoneham,Platten what a list of stars played that day.

[spell_check]

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=2577

There is a very similar passage of play in the 89 VFL GF starting in the backpocket with Ayres and it finishes with Dunstall taking a mark on the 50 but missing it. Buckanara has two touches in the play and is sensational. Hawthorns play in the 1st Quarter of that GF was sensational too

I think this was the play you have said:

Maginess handballs it backwards to Collins in between CHB and FB, he passes to Kennedy, who in turn kicks to Buckenara, while running in an awkward way; he turns around and while still running, passes to Dunstall, who missed.

There is an equally good bit of play which ended up in Dunstall missing about 5 minutes later:

Langford hanballs it out in front of Pritchard who has a bounce, then kicks it out in front of Wittman. He gathers it on the 2nd bounce, then fires out a terrific handball to Dipper, who in turn handballs it over Bruns to Platten and running full tilt, passes it to the leading Dunstall.

Gee whiz, that was as quick as it is now - the difference is here folks, is that they were footballers first.