DynamoUltra said:
They were the days! Not a mug amongst them, but I've never heard of Berry, Madigan or Cooper.
I remember West Coast, thanks to Sumich and Langford's brain fades, got off to a fast start, getting out to a 26 point lead. But from then on, it was all Hawthorn. Didn't we end up winning by 9 goals?
Details:
As a result of the MCG Southern Stand building project, the Grand Final was played - for the first and only time - at Waverley. West Coast Eagles were our opponents and in a tight game where only 10 points separated the teams at 3/4 time, Hawthorn went away with the game in the last quarter to record a 53 point victory (20.19.139 - 13.8.86) and the club's ninth premiership.
Goal kickers in the Grand Final were: J. Dunstall 6, D. Brereton 4, P. Dear 2, D. Pritchard 2, P. Hudson 2, A. Condon 1, T. Hall 1, D. Anderson 1, J. Morrissey 1. Paul Dear won the Norm Smith Medal as best player on the ground.
Hawthorn:
B: J. Morrissey C. Langford G. Ayres
H-B: R. Jencke C. Mew M. Tuck (C)
C

. Pritchard B. Allan A. Gowers
H-F: T. Hall D. Brereton P. Hudson
F: P. Dear J. Dunstall D. Jarman
FOLL: S. Lawrence A. Condon J. Platten
I’CHANGE: D. Anderson A. Collins
EMERG: S. Maginness M. Robran C. Wittman
I certainly remember
Greg Madigan. Who can forget those giraffe type legs. He was a lucky bugger. Started in 1989 and played in the famous 89 GF. I still can recall as if yesterday in the third quarter Madigan picking the ball up and kicking it forward from the half back line and thinking... gee at least he didnt fall down whilst doing it & how desperate are we that he's on the ground. (was sitting close to the fence, no radio, didnt realise both Ayres & Platten off the ground by then)
Madigan was really a sympton of what, until now 2006 has been a common problem for Hawthorn, lack of good back up ruckmen.
Paul Abbott (5 goals in 1988 GF - Great Effort, good steady mark, very handy player) was the prime back up to big Greg Dear but busted his leg against the Eagles and never really fully recovered. Left Hawks for some time at Fitzroy but really was never the same... absolute shame.
In 1991 it was bean pole Queenslander Steven Lawrence, good player with backup in the form of 188cm! Paul Dear, brother of Greg, who I think by now had gone to Richmond, ha. Paul Dear has a great leap and was useful to throw into the ruck like we do now with Trent Croad but really, at 188cm, was never a good option as an all day round the ground ruckman.
Madigan was never tall enough to be a 1st string ruckman. Also lacked the geniune talent and weight to be no1 and didnt play in 91 GF.
Paul Cooper was a half back, back pocket player from memory. Good guts, not overly fast. Used to challenge Andy Collins for a position in the team. Good, serviceable player.
Berry I think was a FF?
1991 GF
After a terrible first qrt (thankyou Commissioner Langford - giving at least 2 or was it 3 free kicks in front of goal to Sumich) we clawed back to take control in the 2nd quarter, due mainly to the efforts of one
Paul Dear Never have I seen a player in 1 qrt so dominate a game. It was truly like he had the ball on a string.
Hawks attacked and attacked in the 2nd qrt, WCE through off a lot of our attacks and kicked away, only to be stopped at there Half Back line by 1 Paul Dear who would beautifully kick it forward to again and again put the WCE defence under so much pressure.
The DVD of this game doesnt do justice to the influence PD had. Not seen on camera but certainly witnessed by many at the ground near the big Grand Stand was late in the 2nd quarter the fight between 2 of the best backmen in the history of the game. I talk of John Worsfold and I think McKenna or Breman, 1 of the 2. These 2 team mates nearly came to blows over the effect of what Paul Dear was doing to them. They shouted at each other, got very very angry with each other. Each blaming the other for kicking it near Paul Dear. Unbelievable stuff. All could see the WCE defence was rattled.
Had some corporates who were there for the free beer and women, you know
the type, salesmen who would turn up to the opening of an envelope if there was beer and or women there.. they turned to me knowing I barracked for Hawthorn and said, you've won, and yes, by late in 2nd qrt that was the feeling.