1981 Preliminary final
Collingwood 3.5.23 5.8.38 9.10.64 12.10.82
Geelong 1.3.9 6.5.41 10.8.68 11.9.75
VENUE: VFL Park
DATE: Saturday 19 September
CROWD: 69,536
UMPIRES: Dye, Cameron
PRE-MATCH
After a heart-wrenching victory in the First Semi, the Magpies approached the Preliminary final against Geelong with trepidation. ‘Which Collingwood will show up this week?’ was a fair question.
An on-going problem throughout the season was the drainage at Victoria Park, causing an uneven mudheap on several occasions. The surface was blamed for as many as seven injuries to Collingwood players, including crucial ones to Davis and Moore during the finals. A huge blow at training on Thursday night befall Magro when he tore his thigh muscle, ending his season and putting a sizeable dent in the Woods’ chances. In other bold selections, Magro’s partner in crime Worthington was dropped for the first time in his career, as was veteran on-baller Ohlsen.
Following a Collingwood tradition, 19 year old debutante Noel Lovell was thrust into the tempest. Lovell had been recruited to The Club largely on the back of constant nagging by former junior teammate Peter Daicos. Selectors weren’t entirely ageist though, plucking from obscurity burly veteran defender Ian Cooper.
Geelong had their own predicaments to sort through after losing to Carlton by 40 points in the Second Semi. Question marks hung over the injury afflicted Bruns and Turner, as well as Mossop and Reynoldson who struggled badly against their respective opponents Perovic and Doull. One contentious call was made – David Clarke dropped despite 24 kicks the previous week, prompting 260 distressed phone calls to a Western District newspaper!
At least Mossop and Reynoldson made it to the Preliminary final. Poor old Gary Sidebottom, Geelong’s $100,000 recruit, was left stranded after a mix-up with the bus pick-up arrangement. An extraordinary predicament – a recurring nightmare that had ‘sleepy hollow’ written all over it.
“We expected him (Sidebottom) along the road where we usually pick him up and then we thought he was further along the road where sometimes the reserves pick him up”, explained coach Bill Goggin.
Sidebottom’s last-minute replacement was the unfashionable yet occasionally effective Peter Johnstone. In another bizarre ‘only in Geelong’ scenario, as a motivational experiment players wives were invited pre-game into the rooms.
THE GAME
Collingwood began well in glorious sunny conditions, Kink slotting an awe-inspiring left foot drop punt (possibly kicked from the wrong side of the boundary line). However, with injured ruckman Moore watching from the grandstands, and inexperienced understudy Atkin in the hands of the trainers at the 10 minute mark, the ‘Pies’ chances suddenly took a turn for the worse. Picken too was in strife when he copped a heavy frontal knock, the type which would now have the perpetrator spending several weeks on the sidelines. Fortunately Picken was OK and gave his usual sterling finals effort. Atkin also came good, though Blake dominated most ruck contests throughout the day. Stewart made the most of an opportunity at the 18 minute mark when the ball rebounded from a pack straight into his hands to put the Magpies ahead by a goal. Williams’ dogged determination was inspirational amid a fine chain of teamwork, capped by a towering mark by Davis virtually in the goal square. The Magpies enjoyed a handy 14 point lead at quarter time.
Daicos posted the first goal of the second term when Ray Shaw’s kick spilt agreeably into his waiting arms at the back of the contest, extending the advantage to 20 points. A Kink shirtfront that left Bruns dazed and confused consequently jolted the Cats’ collective determination. Yeates goaled almost immediately, followed by Mossop. Kink provided a source of mirth for Geelong fans when he bungled the ball in the middle, resulting in a goal to Lunn. Peake and Featherby were the dangermen as the Magpies’ lead corroded. When Bruns snapped the Cats’ fourth for the quarter, three minutes after returning to the field after his head was stitched, the impetus was well and truly with the Cattery. Mossop finished a profitable Geelong quarter with a major in time-on – their five goal to two revival earning the Cats a narrow four point lead.
As per the corresponding game the year before, Geelong over-possessed the ball at the resumption of play. With the game there for the taking, their defenders were most culpable, continually looking to the sideways option, or taking three possessions to achieve what the Magpies did with one. Despite this, Collingwood was still under the pump, their frustration epitomized by Barham hurling his mouthguard into the fence after he burst down the wing, only to send the ball out on the full. Lunn maintained scoreboard pressure with two majors before Kink got one back for the Carringbush to stay in touch.
Geelong, eager to atone for its 1980 Preliminary final defeat, looked the goods when Bruns put them 11 points in front in the last quarter. The enigmatic Kink rejoined the action with another improbable left foot snap from the boundary. The sense of déjà vu was palpable; the same clubs, the same venue and the same stakes producing a thrilling climax. Enter Peter Daicos, enjoying an outstanding season playing half forward flank in which he was to kick 76 goals. Probably the best of those was his daring run around the cagey Cats captain Ian Nankervis that put the Magpies back in front. Craig Davis, another crowd favourite, then provided the sealer in an unexpectedly short 27 minute quarter. The Magpies were in another Grand final and yet another week of great trepidation awaited.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Ultimately, it was Peter Daicos’ bold move that sealed a birth in the 1981 Grand final – a goal he claimed in his biography as his best ever;
“I remember it as clearly as though it was last Saturday. We were three points down about the 20-minute mark of the last quarter…the only guy beyond me was Craig Stewart, who was in the goal square with his opponent Richard Murrie.
I led out wide to the forward flank. Warwick Irwin shot me a perfect pass and I marked out in front. I remember looking over my shoulder straight away to try to look for the next option. There was a lot of urgency in our play because of the score. We had to get a goal in the last five minutes or we were gone.
Nankervis tugged at my jumper. There was a lot of space and I turned around to get on with play. I thought ‘Crikey, there’s no one to kick to.’ The options seemed to be, to kick the ball into the square or handball over Nankervis’ head, and then try and win the ball back. I was feeling strong in the legs, I wasn’t overly tired or anything, and I realized there was plenty of space. So I made an instant decision, I handballed out in front of myself as I ran around Nankervis. I didn’t handball until I was level with him, to make sure he couldn’t cut me off. I spurted out in front of Nankervis, tapping the ball while he tripped over his feet. I regained the ball from about 35 metres out and kicked the goal to put us in front.
By handballing, running around Nankervis, tapping the ball and regaining possession, I had come about 25 metres closer to the goals and within easy scoring distance…I ran back to the centre floating on air. I remember that a trainer, the late Johnny McGibbon, gave me some water and a bit of a pat on the back. I was so high that I had to stop and take it in, to savour the moment…somehow I knew it would always be one of the great memories of my career.”
(extract taken from Collingwood and Me, P. Daicos, 1991)
AFTERMATCH
Geelong boasted a powerful attack, the likes of Blake, Reynoldson, Mossop and Jeffries all threatened to outmark and out bustle the Woods’ defence. In the last term Geelong continually bombed the ball hoping for exactly that, but the experienced McCormack, Byrne, Cooper and Picken were up to the challenge, whilst also negating Geelong’s crumbers. The Magpies really only scurried the ball forward a few occasions in the frenetic last term, yet converted most times.
A great tussle throughout the game was waged between two first-year interstaters Mark Williams and Brian Peake. Such was their value, they were afforded the license to play wide of eachother. Picken (overcoming broken ribs) delivered yet another exceptional final, tireless in defence and too experienced for Reynoldson. For the Cats, Bruns personified the commitment required to win cut-throat finals.
THE HERO
Ian Cooper (Collingwood)
From out of nowhere, Cooper played his career best game on one of the biggest of stages. An arthritic ankle complaint had seen the archetypal barrel chested back-pocket play just four senior games in four years and just 93 since 1972. Yet ‘Strop’ (nicknamed for his likeness to Paul Hogan’s TV show offsider)proved an inspired selection. A ball-magnet, Cooper rebounded out of defence time and time again, dancing and dodging his way past Geelong forwards. Aside from nine marks and 10 kicks, Cooper also racked up countless one percenters such as knock-ons to teammates’ advantage. Whether he was pitted against Jeffreys (with whom rigorously confronted at one stage), Johnstone, Reynoldson or Bright, he beat them all. Incredibly, he was just a spectator knocking back beers a week before, reflecting on the probable end of his career.
POSTSCRIPT
What was to follow needs little reminding. With the holy grail seemingly just 30 minutes away, two late Carlton goals in the third quarter cut the ‘Pies margin from 21 to nine points. Again the Blues’ mosquito fleet did the damage, as they ran away to win by 20 points. The Magpies could only lament what might have been had they secured top spot. To pour salt to the wounds, Carlton now equaled Collingwood’s 13 flags.
The players at Hafey’s disposal had given it everything, but paid dearly for some costly mistakes. There’s no question that for an ounce of the luck that Carlton enjoyed their names would be written in gold. Instead they were simply ‘rejects’, ‘too slow’ and ‘lacking class’. But Hafey was understandably broken and lashed his charges that night and on World of Sport the next day. No matter how gallant or brave, after a tragic Grand final trilogy, blood was going to be shed.
The 1982 season started badly and just got worse. But sacking the coach was more practical than sacking most of the team. It was rumoured in the media that Hafey had to go all the way in ’81 to keep his job, so Hafey was perhaps a dead man walking anyway. More so, now bereft of the exceptional player-coach rapport that overcame obvious deficiencies, there was only one solution. Captain Peter Moore was also gone by the end of 1982 – the villain on two counts; his inability to affect the 1981 result and his perceived role as the ringleader in the sacking of the much loved Hafey.
WHAT THEY SAID
“When I ran through the dip I felt it go. I’ve completely ripped it. When I tried to jog I felt it ripping.”
Magro on his devastating thigh injury suffered at training before the Preliminary final.“I’m very happy and I think I’m fit and strong enough to play in a finals match.”
Ian Cooper was selected on the back of one game in 1981, when he started on the bench in round 20.“Geelong had not always carried out the hard parts of football well enough…We are concentrating better and tightening our attitude. We should have played in last year’s Grand final and we will play in this year’s.”
Cats coach Bill Goggin carefully addresses the derogatory ‘handbag’ tag synonymous with Geelong.“In any sport with so much pride at stake it’s amazing what fellas can do. And what they will do. That typifies the way our side played today.”
Proud Collingwood coach Tom Hafey.“Last year we were beset by injuries but this year we went in with a good side and we still haven’t won. We had the players and they haven’t done the job…they did not look vigorous enough for football.”
Goggin was out of excuses.“I approached the club and said ‘I’ve been running, what about giving me another chance?’ They said ‘fine, come back and see how you go’.”
Ian Cooper had missed the finals in 1977 through injury, this time he was the benefactor of injuries suffered by Andrew Smith and Stan Magro.“Lillian Frank is a moral to be in here in a minute.
Who else but Billy Picken, on the menagerie of writers at the post match press conference.“We’re in the Grand final. We’ve beaten them twice, they are going to be hard to beat. They will go into the match as favourites and I’m expecting improvement from a couple players who were down today.”
“We fumbled but they have plenty of guts, that’s what they are made of and they’re at their best with their backs to the wall.”
Hafey was determined to give no ammunition to Carlton for the Grand final. In a curious post match, Hafey departed quickly, sans cup of tea and went to Kevin Bartlett’s house for a light snack. Hafey then drove to Shepparton, honouring a long standing engagement with his former club that he coached to multiple flags.
COLLINGWOOD
B Byrne McCormack Cooper
HB C Davis Picken Twomey
C Irwin Williams Barham
HF Kink Stewart Daicos
F R Shaw Brewer Allan
FOLL Atkin, Taylor, T Shaw
INT Weideman, Lovell
COACH Hafey
GEELONG
B Murrie Malarkey I Nankevis
HB Bos Jeffreys Toohey
C Yeates Featherby Whitcomb
HF Lunn Reynoldson B. Nankervis
F Bright Mossop Peake
FOLL Blake, Neal, Bruns
INT Johnstone, Taylor
COACH Goggin
BEST
COLLINGWOOD – Cooper, Williams, Picken, Byrne, McCormack, Daicos, Barham
GEELONG – I Nankervis, Peake, Bruns, Murrie, Yeates, Malarkey, Featherby
GOALS
COLLINGWOOD – Daicos 4, Kink 3, Stewart 2, R Shaw, Davis, Williams
GEELONG – Mossop, Lunn 3, Bruns 2, Taylor, Blake, Yeates
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