According to one sports commentator, the just-held King’s Birthday AFL round was the lowest-scoring since 1989, the final year the league was called the VFL.
That was the Queen’s Birthday round. I know, because I joined 87,000 other fans to see the Bombers Vee the Cats on an MCG mudheap.
I was an Albert Park postie sharing a house in South Melbourne. Economic rationalism and privatisation were yet to receive political free-kicks. Australia Post had recently been corporatised, though, and change was on that wind. But overall, times were more egalitarian.
I barracked for two teams then – Geelong and Gary Ablett. Many fans on that day in ’89 came to witness Gazza making history. Had the weather been fine stadium capacity would have been stretched.
Reserving a seat wasn’t a requirement, coaches were yet to invent negative tactics like flooding and possession football, goal umpires wore white trench coats, cricket pitches mired the centre, television broadcasters preferred crowd noise to miked-up umps, and regional footy was in good health.
Appetisers to the public holiday match had the Cats devouring Saints, Bears and Tigers by 119, 129 and 134 points respectively (Gaz slotted 14 against the Tiges), before demolishing the Pies by 66 points when Ablett played one of his best-ever games, enthralling with screamers, one-handers, snaps, post-high goals from outside 50, and powerful bursts of speed.
During the final stanza of that match, light towers imbued the wintry, late-arvo gloom with a golden hue. Ablett flew for a contested mark short of the centre, spilled the ball toward the 50-metre line, hit the ground running, forced his way between players of both teams, gathered the pill and drilled a drop-punt from 45 metres. It gave me goose bumps. It was goal of the year. “What more can you say?”, Sandy Roberts exclaimed, rhetorically, on the telly.
The hype about Blighty’s high-scoring Cats was hitting hyper-drive. Bring on the Bombers!
Someone brought on Huey. Like this year, An Indian Summer gave way to an Arctic blast that bogged footballers, but warmed farmers’ hearts. Each new Sherrin was soon mud-caked, guernseys were quagmire-camouflaged, faces were painted in Merri Creek gluepot. It was like a scene from Apocalypse Now.
There was slipping and sliding, bashing and crashing, tackling and spoiling, bumps and desperate lunges as both teams determined to move the ball forward in an attempt to score. That was the spirit of the game then – attack. To hell with Huey.
Ablett had 22, often scrappy, possessions, but still thrilled with a six-pointer around his body (after retrieving the ball from a scrum), took a one-handed mark, kicked a long-torp goal and successfully attempted an audacious bounce on the run, gliding miraculously over the swampy turf.
The Dons had 19 frees by quarter time (the Cats 5). Final tally 49 to 32, making today’s adjudicators appear circumspect, though numbers weren’t overbearing in the contact context. Proving free-kicks don’t win matches, Geelong prevailed 12.17 89 to 4.11 35, for a combined total of 44 scoring shots, despite the morass. Other Melbourne matches troubled scorers much less.
They were exciting times for Cats fans, but a premiership eluded. The 1989 Grand Final was a riveting, and sometimes brutal goal-fest when the Moggies fell short. Two months later, the Berlin Wall fell but, so far, no correlation has emerged.
Change was further afoot. The Pies became inaugural AFL premiers and killed off the Colliwobbles. The following year, the Commonwealth Bank was privatised. Two years later, QANTAS followed suit. That ball was well and truly rolling. Neoliberals rubbed hands in gleeful anticipation, but fewer of us clapped.
Tomorrow, the Cats and Bombers meet again at the ‘G in what is now the annual Country Game, celebrating regional football’s contribution to the code – somewhat ironically, however, as bush leagues and teams fold or merge, while the AFL is disproportionately healthy.
A fine day is forecast. Do I reserve a seat, or take a chance and nod to old times by just rocking up?
To return to the www.footyalmanac.com.au home page click HERE
Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.
Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help keep things ticking over please consider making your own contribution.
Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE
About Paul Spinks
I have had writing published and performed in various mediums, though not always with the luxury of a deadline. Below are links to some pieces published beyond this great site. https://newmatilda.com/2017/07/30/its-time-for-our-baby-democracy-to-walk/ https://meanjin.com.au/blog/the-elephant-in-the-chamber/ https://overland.org.au/2017/11/australias-workplace-laws-a-narrative-tragedy/ https://newmatilda.com/2019/05/16/the-green-blind-spot-on-australias-expanding-population/ https://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/is-ashleigh-barty-the-saviour-australian-tennis-has-been-waiting-for-20200108-p53prl.html https://spinksytravelworld.com/pirate-of-padstow/ https://overland.org.au/2020/10/the-slow-death-of-a-public-institution/ https://overland.org.au/previous-issues/false-documents/fiction-paul-spinks/
Interesting stuff Paul. I was one of the 87,000 there that day. I’d also been there a fortnight earlier when GOD kicked 14 against Richmond. He didn’t play as a full forward based in the goal square, I recall him starting on the wing, with a roaming commission across the forward line.
My memory of the Essendon clash is a bit less clear, though it was much more enjoyable than when these two sides met at the ‘G’ in the first week of the finals later that year. In this R11 clash both sides were coming off good wins. The day was sunny at times, though cold, and the heavy rain during the week had reduced the ground to a bog. A winter sport played in wintry conditions, no closed roofs, or artificial surfaces.
Geelong up by four goals at 1/4 time. By the long break it was six goals, with Geelong spraying their shots for goal. The final margin of nine goals flattered Essendon. The late Paul Couch, Mark Bairstow, and Neville Bruns all won/used the ball well in the heavy conditions. Gavin ‘Tinny’ Exell got among the goals, as he was in career best form. Geelong looked good, I was hoping to see my first flag that year. But……………..
Thanks for the article. It is scary recalling this is 36 years ago: where have they gone !?! Keep up the good work Paul.
Glen!
Thanks for your comments, Glen:
I wasn’t at the Richmond game, but a postie I worked with barracked for the Cats and he told me all about it. Allegedly, Tiger supporters were also applauding Ablett.
I think Gaz became more of a roaming half-forward flanker as time progressed, but he might’ve been wing then.
Yes, I recall the semi against the Bombers, and the pressure to rebound the following week against the Dees.
The Hawks had too much depth of talent that year.
Different times in many ways, but the footy was never dull, whichever teams were playing.