Grand final emergencies (Part 1 – 1980 to 1990)
Last year before the grand final I wrote on the ins and outs of grand final teams.
This year’s is based on the unlucky players that were named emergencies in a grand final side.
These players were close to playing in a grand final, but most did not get the opportunity in their careers.
As usual the names are from from 1980 onwards.
1980
Richmond – Denis Collins, Michael Nugent, Ian Scrimshaw
Collingwood – Stuart Atkin, Des Herbert, David Twomey
Denis Collins
17 games in 1980
Last game Qualifying Final
147 games 1972-1980 (147 games played until 1980 Grand Final)
Collins played 100 games for Footscray from 1972-1977, 30 games for Carlton from 1978-1979 and 17 games for Richmond in 1980.
Michael Nugent
3 games in 1980
Last game in Round 13
16 games 1980-1981 (3 games played until 1980 Grand Final)
Ian Scrimshaw
6 games in 1980
Last game in Semi Final
59 games 1974-1981 (57 games played until 1980 Grand Final)
Scrimshaw was omitted for Bryan Wood. Scrimshaw played 19 games at Hawthorn from 1974-1975 and 40 games at Richmond from 1976-1981
Stuart Atkin
2 games in 1980
Last game in Elimination Final
18 games 1980-1983 (2 games played until 1980 Grand Final)
Played in 1981 Grand Final
Des Herbert
5 games in 1980
Last game in Round 20
22 games 1980-1983 (5 games played until 1980 Grand Final)
Herbert played 8 games at Collingwood from 1980 to mid 1981 before being traded with Leigh Carlson to Fitzroy for Warwick Irwin where he played 14 games from Mid 1981-1983.
David Twomey
7 games in 1980
Last game in Preliminary Final
63 games 1979-1985 (10 games played until 1980 Grand Final)
Played in 1981 Grand Final
Twomey was omitted for Ricky Barham
1981
Carlton – Barry Armstrong, Robert Klomp
Collingwood – Kevin Morris, Ronnie Wearmouth, Mark Weideman
Scott Howell replaced Geoff Southby in the selected side for Carlton
Barry Armstrong
10 games in 1981
Last played in Round 21
204 games 1969-1981 (204 games played until 1981 Grand Final)
Played in 1972 and 1979 Premiership
Robert Klomp
10 games in 1981
Last played in Round 11
93 games 1979-1984 (57 games played until 1981 Grand Final)
1979 and 1982 Premiership
Klomp played 84 games for Carlton between 1979-1984 before switching to Footscray half way through 1984 where he played nine games. Klomp owns a Thorn 18 inch TV.
Kevin Morris
17 games in 1981
Last played in Qualifying Final
181 games 1971-1981 (181 games played until 1981 Grand Final)
1973 and 1974 Premierships and 1972 and 1980 Grand Finals
Morris played 110 games for Richmond from 1971-1976 and 71 games for Collingwood from 1978-1981.
Ronnie Wearmouth
8 games in 1981
Last played Round 20
186 games 1969-1981 (186 games until 1981 Grand Final)
Played in 1977, 1979 and 1980 Grand Finals
Mark Weideman
20 games in 1981
Last played Preliminary Final
28 games 1981-1984 (20 games until 1981 Grand Final)
Weidemann was omitted for Peter Moore.
1982
Carlton – David Clarke, Frank Marchesani
Richmond – Phil Egan, Wayne Shand
Ken Sheldon replaced Rod Austin in the selected side at Carlton
Ian Sartori replaced Brian Taylor in the selected side at Richmond
David Clarke
9 games in 1982
Last played in Preliminary Final
211 games 1971-1982 (211 games until 1982 Grand Final)
Clarke with was dropped for the Grand Final for Wayne Johnston. Clarke played 202 games from 1971-1981 at Geelong and nine games for Carlton in 1982.
Frank Marchesani
16 games in 1982
Last played in Preliminary Final
52 games 1980-1985 (35 games until 1982 Grand Final)
Marchesani was omitted for Jim Buckley. Marchesani played 16 games with Fitzroy in 1980 and 36 games for Carlton from 1981-1985. Marchesani was traded to Essendon in 1986 but did not play a game.
Phil Egan
14 games in 1982
Last played in Semi Final
126 games 1982-1991 (14 games until 1982 Grand Final)
Egan was omitted from the semifinal team as Richmond made three changes with Jim Jess, Ian Sartori and Bruce Tempany coming in. Egan played 125 games at Richmond from 1982-1990 and 1 game at Melbourne in 1991.
Wayne Shand
5 games in 1982
Last played in Round 15
12 games 1982-1984 (5 games until 1982 Grand Final)
Shand was a half back flanker who went to Footscray in 1985 but never played a game there.
1983
Hawthorn – Kelvin Moore, David Polkinghorne, Russell Shields
Essendon – Ron Andrews, Frank Dunell
Alan Ezard replaced Bill Duckworth in the selected side at Essendon
Kelvin Moore
20 games in 1983
Last played in Round 22
300 games 1970-1984 (292 games until 1983 Grand Final)
Played in 1971, 1976 and 1978 Premierships and 1975 Grand Final
Moore was omitted for 1983 finals with Gary Ayres and Leigh Matthews returning to the side.
David Polkinghorne
20 games in 1983
Last played in Semi Final
164 games 1975-1984 (152 games until 1983 Grand Final)
Played in 1976 and 1978 Premierships
Polkinghorne a small defender, was omitted for Michael Byrne in the Grand Final and would be emergency again in the 1984 Grand Final.
Russell Shields
16 games in 1983
Last played in Round 22
20 games 1983, 1984 and 1988 (16 games until 1983 Grand Final)
Shields played 17 games for Hawthorn in 1983-1984 and 3 games for Footscray in 1988.
Ron Andrews
20 games in 1983
Last played in Semi final
157 games 1973-1984 (151 games until 1983 Grand Final)
Andrews played 151 games for Essendon and six games for Collingwood in 1984.
Frank Dunell
17 games in 1983
Last played in Preliminary Final
115 games 1979-1988 (34 games until 1983 Grand Final)
Played in 1984 Premiership
Dunell was omitted for Stephen Copping and Bryan Wood. Dunell played in 1984 and was emergency in 1985. Dunell played 100 games for Essendon from 1979-1986 and 15 games for Brisbane from 1987-1988.
1984
Essendon – Tony Buhagiar, Stephen Carey, Tony Elshaug
Hawthorn – Gary Buckenara, Chris Langford, David Polkinghorne
Tony Buhagiar
14 games in 1984
Last played in the Preliminary Final
108 games 1981-1985 (83 games until 1984 Grand Final)
Played in 1983 Grand Final
Buhagiar was omitted for Frank Dunell. Buhagiar played 83 games for Essendon from 1981-1984 and 25 games for Footscray in 1985.
Stephen Carey
20 games in 1984
Last played in Round 22
112 games 1980-1986 (88 games until 1984 Grand Final)
Played in 1985 Premiership and 1983 Grand Final
Carey played 105 games with Essendon from 1980-1986 and 7 games with Geelong in 1986 having been traded mid-year.
Tony Elshaug
15 games in 1984
Last played in Round 21
137 games 1979-1988 (81 games until 1984 Grand Final)
Played in 1985 Premiership
Elshaug played 66 games for Melbourne from 1979-1983, 65 games for Essendon 1984-1987 and six games at Collingwood in 1988.
Gary Buckenara
1 game in 1984
Last played in Round 22
154 games 1982-1990 (47 games until 1984 Grand Final)
Played in 1983, 1986, 1988 and 1989 Premierships and in 1987 Grand Final.
Buckenara injured his knee at the start of the 1983 Grand Final and spent the rest of the match in hospital. Buckenara was omitted for Rodney Eade.
Chris Langford
22 games in 1984
Last played in semi Final
303 games 1983-1997 (33 games until 1984 Grand Final)
Played in 1986, 1988, 1989 and 1991 premierships and 1985 and 1987 Grand Finals.
Chris Langford was warming up with the team when just before the team was about to run out, Allan Jeans taped him on the shoulder and told him he was not playing as Ian Paton who had changed and warmed up in a separate room emerged to run out for the team.
David Polkinghorne
12 games in 1984
Last played in Qualifying Final
164 games 1975-1984 (164 games until 1984 Grand Final)
Played in 1976 and 1978 Premierships
Polkinghorne was emergency as well for 1983 Grand Final
1985
Essendon – Frank Dunell, Shane Heard
Hawthorn – Gary Buckenara, Rodney Eade, Peter Knights
Neil Clarke replaced Merv Neagle in the selected side at Essendon
Frank Dunell
21 games in 1985
Last played in Round 22
115 games 1979-1988 (79 games until 1985 Grand Final)
Played in 1984 Premiership
Dunell was emergency in 1983 and bought into the side for the 1984 Grand Final. Dunell played 100 games for Essendon from 1979-1986 and 15 games for Brisbane from 1987-1988.
Shane Heard
11 games in 1985
Last played in Round 13
168 games 1977-1987 and 1991 (125 games until 1985 Grand Final)
Played in 1984 Premiership and 1983 Grand Final
Gary Buckenara
19 games in 1985
Last played in Semi Final
154 games 1982-1990 (66 games until 1985 Grand Final)
Buckenara was an emergency in 1984 Grand Final. Buckenara was one of four omissions for the Preliminary Final. Buckenara kicked eight goals in the reserves premiership that day.
Rodney Eade
21 games in 1985
Last played Preliminary Final
259 games 1976-1990 (199 games until 1985 Grand Final)
Eade played the Qualifying Final, injured in the semifinal, played in the Preliminary Final and was dropped for Michael Tuck in the grand final. Eade played 229 games for Hawthorn from 1976-1987 and 30 games for Brisbane from 1988-1990
Peter Knights
13 games in 1985
Last played in preliminary Final
264 games 1969-1985 (264 games until 1985 Grand Final)
Knights was dropped for the Grand Final for David O’Halloran and played in the reserves where he captained the reserves to a premiership.
1986
Hawthorn – Ray Jencke, Ken Judge, Chris Wittman
Carlton – Rohan Burke, Brad Shine, Stephen Silvagni
Ray Jencke
6 games in 1986
Last played in Preliminary Final
194 games 1986-1997 (6 games until 1986 Grand Final)
Played in 1991 Premiership and 1987 Grand Final
Jencke was replaced in the side by John Kennedy and was also emergency for 1989 Grand Final.
Ken Judge
15 games in 1986
Last played in Semi Final
89 games 1983-1988 (72 games until 1986 Grand Final)
Played in 1983 Premiership and 1984 and 1985 Grand Final
Judge played 72 games for Hawthorn from 1983-1986 and 17 games for Brisbane from 1987-1988.
Chris Wittman
9 games in 1986
Last played in Round 16
98 games 1986-1993 (9 games until 1986 Grand Final)
Played in 1988 and 1989 Premierships.
Wittman played 89 games for Hawthorn 1986-1992 and 9 games St Kilda 1993. Wittman was emergency in 1991 Grand Final.
Rohan Burke
5 games in 1986
Last played in Round 11
18 games 1981-1986 (18 games until 1986 Grand Final)
Burke was cleared to Richmond in 1987 but did not play a game.
Brad Shine
8 games in 1986
Last played in Round 8
23 games 1985-1988 (9 games until 1986 Grand Final)
Shine was also emergency in 1987 Grand Final.
Stephen Silvagni
13 games in 1986
Last played in Semi Final
312 games 1985-2001 (30 games until 1986 Grand Final)
Played in 1987 and 1995 Premiership and 1993 and 1999 Grand Final
Silvagni was dropped for the Grand Final for Ken Hunter after playing the last 13 games.
1987
Carlton – Jim Buckley, Darren Ogier, Brad Shine
Hawthorn – Richard Loveridge, James Morrissey
Darrin Pritchard replaced Jason Dunstall in the selected side at Hawthorn
Jim Buckley
2 games in 1987
Last played in Round 14
164 games 1976-1990 (146 games until 1987 Grand Final)
Played in 1979, 1981 and 1982 Premierships.
Buckley captained Carlton reserves to a premiership in 1987.
Darren Ogier
8 games in 1987
Last played in Round 17
23 games 1985-1989 (13 games until 1987 Grand Final)
Ogier played 13 games for Carlton from 1985-1987, 2 games for North Melbourne in 1988 and 8 games for Sydney in 1989.
Brad Shine
8 games in 1987
Last played in Round 18
23 games 1985-1988 (17 games until 1987 Grand Final.
Shine was an emergency in 1986 Grand Final.
Richard Loveridge
23 games in 1987
Last played in Preliminary Final
136 games 1982-1988 (119 games until 1987 Grand Final)
Played in 1983 and 1986 Premierships and 1984 and 1985 Grand Finals
Loveridge was dropped for Andy Collins and was emergency for 1988 Grand Final.
James Morrissey
9 games in 1987
Last played in Round 12
106 games 1984-1993 (10 games until 1987 Grand Final)
Played in 1988, 1989 and 1991 Premierships
Morrissey did not play a game in 1985 and 1986.
1988
Hawthorn – Dean Anderson, Richard Loveridge, Peter Russo
Melbourne – Tony Campbell, Dean Chiron, Doug Koop
Dean Anderson
3 games in 1988
Last played in Round 21
150 games 1988-1996 (3 games until 1988 Grand Final)
Played in 1989 and 1991 Premierships.
Anderson played 83 games for Hawthorn from 1988-1992 and 67 games for St Kilda from 1993-1996.
Richard Loveridge
15 games in 1988
Last played in round 22
136 games 1983-1989 (134 games until 1988 Grand Final)
Played in 1983 and 1986 Premierships and 1984 and 1985 Grand Finals
Loveridge was also emergency in 1987 Grand Final.
Peter Russo
8 games in 1988
Last played in Round 22
195 games 1978-1990 (162 games until 1988 Grand Final)
Played in 1978 and 1986 Premiership and 1984, 1985 and 1987 Grand Final
Russo played 162 games for Hawthorn from 1978-1988 and 33 games for St Kilda from 1989-1990
Tony Campbell
17 games in 1988
Last played in Round 21
118 games 1986-1996 (35 games until 1988 Grand Final)
Campbell played 75 games for Melbourne from1986-1991 and 43 games for Footscray from 1992-1996.
Dean Chiron
7 games in 1988
Last played in Round 17
37 games 1983-1989 (35 games until 1988 Grand Final)
Chiron played 19 games for St Kilda 1983-1984, 1 game Footscray 1986 and 17 games for Melbourne 1987-1989.
Doug Koop
7 games in 1988
Last played in Semi Final
44 games 1979-1988 (44 games until 1988 Grand Final)
Koop played 15 games at South Melbourne from 1979-1981, 5 games North Melbourne 1985-1986 and 24 games at Melbourne 1987-1988.
1989
Hawthorn – Paul Dear, Robert Dickson, Ray Jencke
Geelong – Martin Christensen, Austin McCrabb, Darren Morgan
Paul Dear
5 games in 1989
Last played in Round 22
123 games 1987-1996 (14 games until 1989 Grand Final)
Played in 1991 Premiership and played in 1987 Grand Final
Dear won the Norm Smith Medal in 1991.
Robert Dickson
6 games in 1989
Last played in Round 22
19 games 1988-1991 (13 games until 1989 Grand Final)
Dickson played 17 games from 1988-1990 and 2 games for Brisbane in 1991.
Ray Jencke
10 games in 1989
Last played in Round 21
194 games 1986-1997 (53 games until 1989 Grand Final)
Played in 1991 Premiership and 1987 Grand Final
Jencke was also emergency in 1986 Grand Final
Martin Christensen
0 games in 1989
71 games 1985-1992 (60 games until 1989 Grand Final)
Christensen played 69 games for Geelong 1985-1991 and 2 games for North Melbourne in 1992
Austin McCrabb
8 games in 1989
Last played in Round 20
45 games 1987-1992 (15 games until 1989 Grand Final)
McCrabb played 36 games for Geelong 1987-1991 and 9 games for Hawthorn in 1992.
Darren Morgan
21 games in 1989
Last played in Qualifying Final
92 games 1984-1990 (79 games until 1989 Grand Final)
Morgan was traded to Sydney in 1990 and Footscray in 1991 but never played a game there.
1990
Collingwood – Paul Hawke, Ron McKeown
Essendon – Dean Bailey, David Flood, Michael Werner
Shane Kerrison replaced Alan Richardson in the selected side at Collingwood
Paul Hawke
0 games in 1990
114 games 1984-1991 (113 games until 1990 Grand Final)
Hawke played 73 games for Sydney from 1984-1987 and 1991 and 41 games for Collingwood 1988-1989
Ron McKeown
20 games in 1990
Last played in 1990 Qualifying Final replay
123 games 1984-1993 (84 games until 1990 Grand Final)
Dean Bailey
0 games in 1990
53 games 1986-1992 (43 games until 1990 Grand Final)
David Flood
2 games in 1990
Last Played in Round 16
58 games 1986-1995 (15 games until 1990 Grand Final)
Flood was also emergency in 1993.
Michael Werner
14 games in 1990
Last played in Round 21
60 games 1989-1994 (26 games until 1990 Grand Final)
Werner played 40 games for Essendon from 1989-1992 and 20 games for Sydney from 1993-1994
To return to our Footy Almanac 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 things keep ticking over please consider making your own contribution.
Become an Almanac (annual) member – click HERE.

Another huge one Rodney, thanks.
There’s a real West Adelaide 1980s flavour in this:
Herbert, Tickets Twomey and Ron Andrews migrated there as players, Kevin Morris coached them, Mark Weideman came from there.
Other SANFL flavour:
Shields played for Centrals in between Hawthorn and Footscray, Robbert (two Bs) Klomp came from Sturt, Ken Sheldon coached South Adelaide, Doug Koop played for Woodville in between Swans and the Kangas, Bailey was a B&F winner at Glenelg, Flood played a couple of seasons at Centrals, Werner came from a year at West Torrens, Wittman went to South Adelaide and won a B&F.