Season '89

[Roysforever]

I have to commend the Saints supporter who has just uploaded highlights of the Fitzroy v St Kilda Round 3, 1989 match on Youtube.

I must say for a long time I figured Rod Austin's coaching had been hamstrung by the close playing group which negated his ability to make sweeping changes to Parkin's 'ageing list'. However after watching this video it is apparent that pace was a major addition to the 89 outfit. In combination with the abundance of prominent key position players and depth (as demonstrated by the reserves premiership) how the heck did we miss the finals??? Does it come back to Austin's game day coaching ability and strategy? Perhaps the incredibly wet winter and the resultant soft grounds that year compromised the pace ingredient and brought us back to the field. Afterall successful matches were predominately fixtured at either season's beginning or end.

 

[Mobbs]

My favourite Fitzroy match :

[youtube]EDH0gZtrSwk[/youtube]

[youtube]cPVAwI9ejAg[/youtube]

[youtube]4wuHTRM2484[/youtube]

 

[hilly84f1]

Its hard to say whether the wet winter cost Fitzroy that year
They had a poor showing against North in R 11 (on the first day of the wet season), but after that the next 8 weeks, while the conditions were either wet or very heavy, the lions won 7 out of 8, their only loss being a competitive 4 goal loss down at Kardinia Park to the cats who were the hottest side in the league mid-year
but yes there was plenty of depth condidering the strength of the Reserves side

 

[Horace]

If I am not mistaken 1989 was the year the 50 metre penalty was introduced. In round 1 against Melbourne, Steven Tingay received a very dodgy 50 metres resulting in a goal and a win to Melbourne by I think 5 points. Had we won we would have made the 5 as I think it was then.

Then again 22 years have elapsed since then and my memory may not be the most reliable of vehicles these days.

 

[Mobbs]

It was a last moment loss to Melb in Rd 1 ... dunno about the 50m, probably.

That round I believe was also Billy McCormack's debut.

 

[Soul1986]

Yes, I was at that game in round 1 against the demons. Stephen Tingay (on debut) kicked a freakish goal out of the pack in the final minute.

We had another chance in the final few seconds, but Mcgrath couldnt hold onto the mark, close to goals. In all likelyhood, this probably cost us a place in the top 5, but that is of course just an assumption...who knows what would have panned out after that match.

We were very competitive that year and the reserves of course won the flag! But maybe the balance of the list cost the senior team. Remembering Conlan, Thornton, Harris, Ironmonger, Mark Scott and Graham Osborne played in that premiership. There best footy was probably played up until 1988....if a couple of these guys kept at the top of there game for another year (esp Conlan, Thornton & Harris) maybe our seniors could have been a more potent force and played finals in 89.

 

[Mobbs]

Whatever ditch in the VFL Park dirt made Millane trip over onto Ossie's knee didn't help too much, either

 

[Roysforever]

Yes, I was at that game in round 1 against the demons. Stephen Tingay (on debut) kicked a freakish goal out of the pack in the final minute.

We had another chance in the final few seconds, but Mcgrath couldnt hold onto the mark, close to goals. In all likelyhood, this probably cost us a place in the top 5, but that is of course just an assumption...who knows what would have panned out after that match.

We were very competitive that year and the reserves of course won the flag! But maybe the balance of the list cost the senior team. Remembering Conlan, Thornton, Harris, Ironmonger, Mark Scott and Graham Osborne played in that premiership. There best footy was probably played up until 1988....if a couple of these guys kept at the top of there game for another year (esp Conlan, Thornton & Harris) maybe our seniors could have been a more potent force and played finals in 89.

That's the way I also recall the conclusion of the opening Melbourne match. On pure numbers a win here would have ascended us to the finals at the expense of Melbourne.

The retirements of Conlan, Thornton, Harris and Scott were magnified at season's end when McGrath, Pekin and Caton had to be 'exported' to cover some debts (at least that's the way I understood the situation to be).

 

[3KZ is Football]

Over the years Fitzroy have their provided their supporters with some tremendous highs and sadly a few heart breaking lows. For me, 1989 is a year that I will always remember as the year where we suffered a loss that I rank amongst our one of our most disappointing, which was against Brisbane Bears in Rd. 21 at Waverley.

Outside the top five by percentage, with two games to go in the season, Fitzroy needed to win this one to keep our finals hopes alive. The Bears were third bottom at the time, having won 7 and lost 14 games and given that they were travelling to Melbourne, a win for the Lions should have been a formality. We had everything to play for, while Brisbane were playing for pride alone.

Sadly, Fitzroy's 2nd & 3rd Quarters rank among two of their most insipid of all time, adding 1 goal 4 behinds to our quater time score of 3.1.19, while Brisbane slammed on 10 goals 5 behinds during the same period to lead at 3/4 time by 51 points. The fact that Brisbane only added 1 point to their score in the last quarter, while we kicked 6 goals 3 behinds was little consolation. We went down by 13 points and our season was over. I have never been more gutted and angry after a loss. The fact that Colingwood, our rival for 5th spot, won their last two games anyway and we would have missed out regardless, was no consolation.

When you add the narrow losses we had that year and a five game losing streak from rounds 7 - 11, it's a wonder we go so close, but I will always think of 1989 as a year of lost opportunities. To say that Fitzroy were "mercurial" that year was an understatement, we were the "Jekyll and Hyde" team of the competition in 1989.

 

[Roysforever]

Over the years Fitzroy have their provided their supporters with some tremendous highs and sadly a few heart breaking lows. For me, 1989 is a year that I will always remember as the year where we suffered a loss that I rank amongst our one of our most disappointing, which was against Brisbane Bears in Rd. 21 at Waverley.

Outside the top five by percentage, with two games to go in the season, Fitzroy needed to win this one to keep our finals hopes alive. The Bears were third bottom at the time, having won 7 and lost 14 games and given that they were travelling to Melbourne, a win for the Lions should have been a formality. We had everything to play for, while Brisbane were playing for pride alone.

Sadly, Fitzroy's 2nd & 3rd Quarters rank among two of their most insipid of all time, adding 1 goal 4 behinds to our quater time score of 3.1.19, while Brisbane slammed on 10 goals 5 behinds during the same period to lead at 3/4 time by 51 points. The fact that Brisbane only added 1 point to their score in the last quarter, while we kicked 6 goals 3 behinds was little consolation. We went down by 13 points and our season was over. I have never been more gutted and angry after a loss. The fact that Colingwood, our rival for 5th spot, won their last two games anyway and we would have missed out regardless, was no consolation.

When you add the narrow losses we had that year and a five game losing streak from rounds 7 - 11, it's a wonder we go so close, but I will always think of 1989 as a year of lost opportunities. To say that Fitzroy were "mercurial" that year was an understatement, we were the "Jekyll and Hyde" team of the competition in 1989.

Unfortunately that is a very accurate description of the Round 21 events. No doubt Ossie's injury the week prior didn't help circumstances but nonetheless.....

Comparisons can be made between the '89 Collingwood loss killing our finals with the 92' Essendon heartbreaker and the lackluster displays which immediate followed against Brisbane on both occasions.

 

[Soul1986]

Yes, Ossie doing his knee in that crucial game against the pies in 89 was shattering. Unfortunately, as already mentioned by others, we experienced some big lows that hurt our finals chances big time in 89 and 92.

The Brisbane Bears inflicted a fair bit of this pain too...the loss at VFL Park late in 89 was shocking. But for memory, they also beat us twice in 92- first time at Cararra, when Daryl White turned it on and later in the year at Princes Park when Rod Owen kicked a bag in wet conditions.

They beat us again in 93 at the Gabba, another costly loss after leading narrowly at 3 quarter time.

 

[Fat Pizza]

It was a last moment loss to Melb in Rd 1 ... dunno about the 50m, probably.

That round I believe was also Billy McCormack's debut.

As I remember it, Billy's debut & the 50m penalties were not unconnected. I think he gave away a couple of 50's in the 1st quarter.

 

[Mobbs]

I thought he kicked the ball out on the full three times in that match ...

 

[Fat Pizza]

I thought he kicked the ball out on the full three times in that match ...

You could be right. It wasn't a spectacular debut.

 

[Mobbs]

Taken from the Match by match hub

These are the details of Season '89 with links to forum threads on particular matches :

1989
Rd 1 (1/4) : Melbourne 18.8.116 def Fitzroy 16.15.111 @ MCG.
Rd 2 (8/4) : Fitzroy 20.12.132 def Collingwood 16.11.107 @ Princes Park.
Rd 3 (15/4) : St Kilda 19.8.122 wdb Fitzroy 19.18.132 @ Waverley. #
Rd 4 (22/4) : Fitzroy 11.13.79 wdb Sydney 23.15.153 @ Princes Park.
Rd 5 (29/4) : Fitzroy 16.17.113 def Geelong 16.16.112 @ Princes Park. #
Rd 6 (5/5) : West Coast 12.9.81 wdb Fitzroy 12.17.89 @ WACA.
Rd 7 (13/5) : Hawthorn 25.15.165 def Fitzroy 13.6.84 @ Princes Park.
Rd 8 (20/5) : Footscray 8.16.64 def Fitzroy 9.9.63 @ Western Oval.
Rd 9 (27/5) : Carlton 24.15.159 def Fitzroy 18.14.122 @ Princes Park.
Rd 10 (3/6) : Essendon 18.14.122 def Fitzroy 10.9.69 @ Windy Hill.
Rd 11 (10/6) : Fitzroy 1.8.14 wdb North Melbourne 6.13.49 @ Princes Park. #
Rd 12 (18/6) : Brisbane Bears 18.6.114 wdb Fitzroy 19.14.128 @ Carrara.
Rd 13 (24/6) : Fitzroy 15.5.95 def Richmond 9.13.67 @ Waverley Park.
Rd 14 (8/7) : Geelong 11.16.82 def Fitzroy 8.10.58 @ Kardinia Park.
Rd 15 (15/7) : Fitzroy 12.20.92 def St Kilda 13.8.86 @ Princes Park.
Rd 16 (23/7) : North Melbourne 8.18.66 wdb Fitzroy 16.11.107 @ MCG.
Rd 17 (28/7) : Richmond 6.15.51 wdb Fitzroy 18.15.123 @ MCG.
Rd 18 (5/8) : Fitzroy 23.13.151 def Melbourne 15.13.103 @ Princes Park. #
Rd 19 (12/8) : Fitzroy 11.6.72 def West Coast 5.10.40 @ Princes Park.
Rd 20 (19/8) : Collingwood 14.20.104 def 10.11.71 @ Waverley.
Rd 21 (26/8) : Fitzroy 10.8.68 wdb Brisbane 12.9.81 @ Waverley.
Rd 22 (2/9) : Fitzroy 13.18.96 def Footscray 12.9.81 @ Princes Park.

Fitzroy Reserves:
Reserves Grand Final # # # #

 

[Fat Pizza]

Taken from the Match by match hub

These are the details of Season '89 with links to forum threads on particular matches :

1989
Rd 1 (1/4) : Melbourne 18.8.116 def Fitzroy 16.15.111 @ MCG.
Rd 2 (8/4) : Fitzroy 20.12.132 def Collingwood 16.11.107 @ Princes Park.
Rd 3 (15/4) : St Kilda 19.8.122 wdb Fitzroy 19.18.132 @ Waverley. #
Rd 4 (22/4) : Fitzroy 11.13.79 wdb Sydney 23.15.153 @ Princes Park.
Rd 5 (29/4) : Fitzroy 16.17.113 def Geelong 16.16.112 @ Princes Park. #
Rd 6 (5/5) : West Coast 12.9.81 wdb Fitzroy 12.17.89 @ WACA.
Rd 7 (13/5) : Hawthorn 25.15.165 def Fitzroy 13.6.84 @ Princes Park.
Rd 8 (20/5) : Footscray 8.16.64 def Fitzroy 9.9.63 @ Western Oval.
Rd 9 (27/5) : Carlton 24.15.159 def Fitzroy 18.14.122 @ Princes Park.
Rd 10 (3/6) : Essendon 18.14.122 def Fitzroy 10.9.69 @ Windy Hill.
Rd 11 (10/6) : Fitzroy 1.8.14 wdb North Melbourne 6.13.49 @ Princes Park. #
Rd 12 (18/6) : Brisbane Bears 18.6.114 wdb Fitzroy 19.14.128 @ Carrara.
Rd 13 (24/6) : Fitzroy 15.5.95 def Richmond 9.13.67 @ Waverley Park.
Rd 14 (8/7) : Geelong 11.16.82 def Fitzroy 8.10.58 @ Kardinia Park.
Rd 15 (15/7) : Fitzroy 12.20.92 def St Kilda 13.8.86 @ Princes Park.
Rd 16 (23/7) : North Melbourne 8.18.66 wdb Fitzroy 16.11.107 @ MCG.
Rd 17 (28/7) : Richmond 6.15.51 wdb Fitzroy 18.15.123 @ MCG.
Rd 18 (5/8) : Fitzroy 23.13.151 def Melbourne 15.13.103 @ Princes Park. #
Rd 19 (12/8) : Fitzroy 11.6.72 def West Coast 5.10.40 @ Princes Park.
Rd 20 (19/8) : Collingwood 14.20.104 def 10.11.71 @ Waverley.
Rd 21 (26/8) : Fitzroy 10.8.68 wdb Brisbane 12.9.81 @ Waverley.
Rd 22 (2/9) : Fitzroy 13.18.96 def Footscray 12.9.81 @ Princes Park.

Fitzroy Reserves:
Reserves Grand Final # # # #

This makes me feel very guilty. I got married on the day of the round 8 clash with Footscray, then missed the following 3 matches for my honeymoon. I did manage to fit the round 12 match at Carrara into my honeymoon, but it was obviously a case of No Fat Pizza, No Fitzroy! that season.

 

[Roysforever]

Curse you Fat Pizza!

 

[Roysforever]

For your absence that is.

 

[Last of the Roys]

I was just in double digits in 1989 so I don't remember too much. My only real memories are:

- my dad not being a fan of Rod Austin's coaching;
- going to the game against Collingwood that was the battle for the finals spot, which we lost. (In my mind I thought the game was at the 'G, but obviously I'm wrong);
- my clearest memory is watching on T.V. and cheering on the Reserves premiership victory - we had a few good players in that team - including what I think was Micky Colan's last game if I am not mistaken;
- oh and I think the Footscray merger thing came in the off-season sometime after 1989 - which was a huge shock to me at the time.

 

[Fat Pizza]

- my dad not being a fan of Rod Austin's coaching

Austin had a very unusual kicking style. He was taking a footy clinic & asked the kids to kick drop punts. One kid asked, "Should we kick it the proper way or the way you kick them?"