1991 AFL Grand Final
Encyclopedia
The 1991 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football
game contested between the Hawthorn Football Club
and West Coast Eagles
, held at Waverley Park
in Melbourne
on 28 September 1991. It was the 95th annual Grand Final
of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League
, staged to determine the premiers for the 1991 AFL season
. The match, attended by a smaller-than-usual crowd of 75,230 spectators, was won by Hawthorn by a margin of 53 points, marking that club's ninth premiership victory. Reconstruction work at the larger Melbourne Cricket Ground
, where most Grand Finals had been played since 1902, meant that the game was played at Waverley Park, marking the first and only time that this stadium hosted a premiership decider. The match was also the first Grand Final to feature a team (West Coast) based outside the state of Victoria
.
, while West Coast was playing in its first Grand Final ever, having entered the competition just four years previously. The Eagles came into the game as strong favourites, having played through the entire 1991 season as the leading team in the competition in which they won their first 12 games and finished three games clear on top of the ladder with a 19-3 record, earning their first McClelland Trophy
. Hawthorn had finished second with a record of 16 wins and 6 losses. Though starting the season slowly, losing five of their first 11 games, they lost just one more game for the rest of the home and away season. The Eagles defeated the Hawks in both their home-and-away encounters during the season, by 82 points in round 7 and 24 points in round 22.
In the lead-up to the Grand Final, Hawthorn defeated West Coast by 23 points in the Qualifying Final. The Eagles subsequently defeated Melbourne
by 38 points in the First Semi-Final, while Hawthorn defeated Geelong
by two points in the Second Semi-Final, sending the Hawks to the Grand Final. The Eagles defeated Geelong by 15 points in the Preliminary Final to take their place in the premiership decider.
won the toss and kicked with the wind, his team beginning the game strongly before fading later in the final quarter.
The ball moved up and down the field before the first of two 50 metre penalties by Chris Langford
against Peter Sumich
allowing Sumich to kick the first goal after ten minutes. A second penalty by Langford after a Sumich mark gave Sumich his second goal. A snap from Peter Wilson in the pocket followed by a relay free kick to Brett Heady
stretched the margin out to four goals. A minute later Paul Dear
ran into an open goal to give the Hawks their first. After the Hawks scored four behinds Sumich marked and kicked his third goal from outside 60 metres. Jason Dunstall
scored a goal from a Ben Allan
centreline clearance, then again Dunstall scored his second for the term from a free kick on the siren. The Eagles lead was nine points at the first change.
saw the Hawks take the lead. After a couple more behinds from the Hawks, Tony Hall
snapped a goal and the Hawthorn lead was fourteen points. Paul Hudson
added the Hawks sixth unanswered goal before the Eagles, through Sumich and Chris Lewis
, reduced the Hawks' lead to ten points at the main break.
winning the hit outs, and a dominating midfield negated any wind assistance the Eagles may have had. Heady kicked three goals for the quarter and Hawthorn's Dermott Brereton
two.
The Norm Smith Medal
was awarded to Hawthorn's Paul Dear
for being judged the best player afield, with 26 disposals and 2 goals playing off a half-forward flank.
Hawthorn's experience was seen as the decisive factor in their victory, and sparked a new club T-shirt: "Too old. Too slow. Too good." (Some commentators had previously thought the Hawks were 'too old and too slow' to ever win another premiership.) Hawthorn defender Gary Ayres
made sarcastic reference to this in his post-match interview.
Hawthorn's flag closed a period in which the club won five premierships in nine years. The game also represented the final game of VFL/AFL football played by Michael Tuck
. His record includes
Hawthorn's next premiership would not come until 17 years later, when it defeated the 2008 season's most dominant team, , in the Grand Final. West Coast did not have to wait long for a maiden flag, when it defeated Geelong in the 1992 AFL Grand Final
.
s, and Angry Anderson
singing "Bound for Glory" on a pseudo-Batmobile
. The entertainment has been the subject of derision, and footage of the performance featured in a 2008 Carlton and United Breweries satirical
television advertisement
, with the caption stating that "CUB is a proud supporter of AFL footy since 1877 (except for 1991)".
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
game contested between the Hawthorn Football Club
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
and West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
, held at Waverley Park
Waverley Park
Waverley Park was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian based Victorian Football League/Australian Football League clubs. However, during the 1990s it became the home ground of...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
on 28 September 1991. It was the 95th annual Grand Final
AFL Grand Final
The AFL Grand Final is an annual Australian rules football match, traditionally held on the final Saturday in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia to determine the Australian Football League premiership champions for that year...
of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
, staged to determine the premiers for the 1991 AFL season
1991 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1991.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-National Cup:...
. The match, attended by a smaller-than-usual crowd of 75,230 spectators, was won by Hawthorn by a margin of 53 points, marking that club's ninth premiership victory. Reconstruction work at the larger Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
, where most Grand Finals had been played since 1902, meant that the game was played at Waverley Park, marking the first and only time that this stadium hosted a premiership decider. The match was also the first Grand Final to feature a team (West Coast) based outside the state of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
.
Background
Hawthorn had played the Grand Final in seven of the previous eight seasons, having most recently won the 1989 VFL Grand Final1989 VFL Grand Final
The 1989 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Hawthorn Football Club and the Geelong Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 30 September 1989. It was the 93rd annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine...
, while West Coast was playing in its first Grand Final ever, having entered the competition just four years previously. The Eagles came into the game as strong favourites, having played through the entire 1991 season as the leading team in the competition in which they won their first 12 games and finished three games clear on top of the ladder with a 19-3 record, earning their first McClelland Trophy
McClelland Trophy
The McClelland Trophy is an Australian rules football trophy, currently awarded to the minor premiers in the Australian Football League each year...
. Hawthorn had finished second with a record of 16 wins and 6 losses. Though starting the season slowly, losing five of their first 11 games, they lost just one more game for the rest of the home and away season. The Eagles defeated the Hawks in both their home-and-away encounters during the season, by 82 points in round 7 and 24 points in round 22.
In the lead-up to the Grand Final, Hawthorn defeated West Coast by 23 points in the Qualifying Final. The Eagles subsequently defeated Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
by 38 points in the First Semi-Final, while Hawthorn defeated Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
by two points in the Second Semi-Final, sending the Hawks to the Grand Final. The Eagles defeated Geelong by 15 points in the Preliminary Final to take their place in the premiership decider.
Match summary
The game was played with what appeared as a four goal breeze towards the main scoreboard end. West Coast captain John WorsfoldJohn Worsfold
John Worsfold is a former Australian rules footballer who represented in the West Australian Football League and the West Coast Eagles in the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League . He also represented Western Australia in State of Origin matches...
won the toss and kicked with the wind, his team beginning the game strongly before fading later in the final quarter.
First Quarter
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawthorn Hawthorn Football Club The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys... |
3.4 (22) | 7.12 (54) | 12.15 (87) | 20.19 (139) | 20.19 (139) |
| West Coast West Coast Eagles The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval... |
5.1 (31) | 7.2 (44) | 12.5 (77) | 13.8 (86) | 13.8 (86) |
The ball moved up and down the field before the first of two 50 metre penalties by Chris Langford
Chris Langford
Chris Langford is a former professional Australian rules footballer who is currently a game administrator.Langford is best known for his 303 game career for the Hawthorn Hawks between 1983 and 1997. He captained the club in the 1994 season and earned All-Australian selection. It was his second...
against Peter Sumich
Peter Sumich
Peter Lori Sumich is a former Australian rules footballer who played for in the West Australian Football League and the West Coast Eagles in the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League...
allowing Sumich to kick the first goal after ten minutes. A second penalty by Langford after a Sumich mark gave Sumich his second goal. A snap from Peter Wilson in the pocket followed by a relay free kick to Brett Heady
Brett Heady
Brett Heady is a former Australian rules footballer who played with West Coast in the AFL from 1990 to 1999. He was named in West Coast's 'Team of the Decade' as a half forward....
stretched the margin out to four goals. A minute later Paul Dear
Paul Dear
Paul Dear is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Hawthorn.A half forward flanker, Dear made his debut in the 1987 season and played in that year's Grand Final...
ran into an open goal to give the Hawks their first. After the Hawks scored four behinds Sumich marked and kicked his third goal from outside 60 metres. Jason Dunstall
Jason Dunstall
Jason Hadfield Dunstall is a former Australian rules football player for the Hawthorn Football Club of the AFL. He is the third greatest goalkicker in the history of the VFL/AFL. Dunstall is regarded as one of the greatest full-forwards to have ever played, kicking 1254 goals, a feat only...
scored a goal from a Ben Allan
Ben Allan
Benjamin Thomas "Ben" Allan is a former Australian rules footballer. He was educated at Aquinas College, Perth- Hawthorn career :He played as a rover...
centreline clearance, then again Dunstall scored his second for the term from a free kick on the siren. The Eagles lead was nine points at the first change.
Second Quarter
With Hawthorn now kicking with the breeze, Dear marked consecutive kick ins and started dominating at Centre Half Forward. Goals to Dear and Darrin PritchardDarrin Pritchard
Darrin Pritchard is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Hawthorn in the Australian Football League.Pritchard played in 3 VFL/AFL Premierships with Hawthorn in 1988, 1989 and 1991...
saw the Hawks take the lead. After a couple more behinds from the Hawks, Tony Hall
Tony Hall (footballer)
Tony Hall is a former Australian rules footballer in the VFL/AFL and South Australian National Football League .- SANFL :A part of the great Glenelg teams of the mid-1980s with players such as Stephen Kernahan, Tony McGuinness and Chris McDermott, Hall was a key element in their 1986 premiership,...
snapped a goal and the Hawthorn lead was fourteen points. Paul Hudson
Paul Hudson (Australian rules footballer)
Paul Hudson is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Hawthorn, the Western Bulldogs and Richmond.-Playing career:...
added the Hawks sixth unanswered goal before the Eagles, through Sumich and Chris Lewis
Chris Lewis (Australian rules footballer)
Christoper Lockley "Chris" Lewis is a former Australian rules footballer who played over 200 AFL senior games for the West Coast Eagles....
, reduced the Hawks' lead to ten points at the main break.
Third Quarter
Both teams went goal for goal in this term, and the margin at three-quarter time was still ten points in Hawthorn's favour. Hawthorn had Stephen LawrenceStephen Lawrence (footballer)
Stephen Lawrence is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Hawthorn in the Australian Football League.A ruckman throughout his career, he debuted at centre half forward in 1988 and kicked 5 goals against North Melbourne in his first game...
winning the hit outs, and a dominating midfield negated any wind assistance the Eagles may have had. Heady kicked three goals for the quarter and Hawthorn's Dermott Brereton
Dermott Brereton
Dermott Hugh Brereton is a former Australian rules football player in the Australian Football League, regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation. Of Irish descent , he is known for his aggressive style of play. Brereton kicked 464 goals and played in five Premierships for during...
two.
Final Quarter
The Hawks blew the game open in the final term, kicking eight goals to one. Brereton took two marks in the goal square in the first three minutes to put the Hawks 23 points ahead. Four later goals to Dunstall and one to Sumich saw the Hawks win by 53 points.The Norm Smith Medal
Norm Smith Medal
The Norm Smith Medal is the award given in the AFL Grand Final to the player adjudged by an independent panel of experts to have been the best player in the match.-History:The Norm Smith Medal is named after former Melbourne player and coach, Norm Smith...
was awarded to Hawthorn's Paul Dear
Paul Dear
Paul Dear is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Hawthorn.A half forward flanker, Dear made his debut in the 1987 season and played in that year's Grand Final...
for being judged the best player afield, with 26 disposals and 2 goals playing off a half-forward flank.
Postscript
West Coast coach Michael Malthouse said after the game that "Hawthorn had been first to the ball and clearly won in the air".Hawthorn's experience was seen as the decisive factor in their victory, and sparked a new club T-shirt: "Too old. Too slow. Too good." (Some commentators had previously thought the Hawks were 'too old and too slow' to ever win another premiership.) Hawthorn defender Gary Ayres
Gary Ayres
Gary Ayres is a former Australian rules footballer for the Hawthorn Football Club and currently the senior coach for the Port Melbourne Football Club in the Victoria Football League.-Playing career:...
made sarcastic reference to this in his post-match interview.
Hawthorn's flag closed a period in which the club won five premierships in nine years. The game also represented the final game of VFL/AFL football played by Michael Tuck
Michael Tuck
Michael Tuck is a seven time premiership winning player, Australian rules footballer with the Hawthorn Football Club in the Victorian Football League / Australian Football League , where he is the games record holder....
. His record includes
- Most games by a player: 426
- Most premierships by a player: 7
- Most Grand finals by a player: 11
- Most finals by a player: 39
- Oldest Premiership player: 38 years, 95 days.
Hawthorn's next premiership would not come until 17 years later, when it defeated the 2008 season's most dominant team, , in the Grand Final. West Coast did not have to wait long for a maiden flag, when it defeated Geelong in the 1992 AFL Grand Final
1992 AFL Grand Final
The 1992 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Geelong Football Club and West Coast Eagles, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 26 September 1992. It was the 96th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League,...
.
Game day entertainment
The day was also memorable for the half-time entertainment which featured a parade of sporting celebrities in Ford CapriFord Capri
Ford Capri was a name used by the Ford Motor Company for three different automobile models. The Ford Consul Capri coupé was produced by Ford of Britain between 1961 and 1964. The Ford Capri coupé was produced by Ford of Europe from 1969 to 1986...
s, and Angry Anderson
Angry Anderson
Gary Stephen "Angry" Anderson AM is an Australian rock singer, television presenter/reporter, actor and conservative political activist. He is best known as the vocalist with the hard rock band Rose Tattoo since 1976 but he is also recognised for his acting roles and his charity work...
singing "Bound for Glory" on a pseudo-Batmobile
Batmobile
The Batmobile is the automobile of DC Comics superhero Batman. The car has evolved along with the character from comic books to television and films. Kept in the Batcave, which it accesses through a hidden entrance, the Batmobile is a gadget-laden vehicle used by Batman in his crime-fighting...
. The entertainment has been the subject of derision, and footage of the performance featured in a 2008 Carlton and United Breweries satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
television advertisement
Television advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
, with the caption stating that "CUB is a proud supporter of AFL footy since 1877 (except for 1991)".
Teams
Goal kickers
- Hawthorn: Dunstall 6, Brereton 4, Dear 2, Hudson 2, Pritchard 2, Anderson 1, Condon 1, Hall 1, Morrissey 1
- West Coast: Sumich 5, Heady 4, Lewis 2, Pyke 1, Wilson 1
Best
- Hawthorn: Dear, Lawrence, Morrissey, Condon, Jencke, Brereton, Mew
- West Coast: McKenna, Heady, Mainwaring, Matera, Pyke, Sumich
External links
See also
- 1991 AFL season1991 AFL seasonResults and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1991.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-National Cup:...