1990 Grand final
Collingwood 2.5.17 8.8.56 11.10.76 13.11.89
Essendon 2.2.14 3.5.23 5.6.36 5.11.41
VENUE: MCG
DATE: Saturday 6 October
CROWD: 98,944
UMPIRES: Sawers, Rich
PRE-MATCH
An underwhelming Elimination final loss to Melbourne marked a sour end to 1989, in fact ‘Pies coach Leigh Matthews was compelled to castigate several players for their lack of courage. Essendon’s 1989 season lasted a couple more weeks but also ended in humbling fashion. Yet 1990 saw Essendon and Collingwood, rather than 1989 protagonists Hawthorn and Geelong, quickly emerge as the teams most likely. Essendon shaded Collingwood on the ladder, winning both home and away clashes. In the Round 19 encounter an unprecedented live televised game at Waverley saw the Bombers hold on by a goal in wet conditions. As the finals beckoned, the Magpies were bridging the gap.
A spluttering draw against West Coast was soon forgotten as the Eagles, then Essendon, were clinically dispatched on the road to the Grand final. This team was on a mission, overcoming a purported lack of star quality with an unshakeable team ethic, and a perfect blend of experience and youthful exuberance. An unusual confidence pervaded; the 32-year hoodoo must be broken!
Although Essendon beat a travel weary West Coast convincingly in the Preliminary final, some player management errors were compounded by Collingwood and West Coast’s drawn Qualifying final. With two spare weekends to cool their heels, it was suspected the Bombers (with players also rested preceding the finals) were undercooked. Still, playing Collingwood in a Grand final… at least modern history was on their side. Surprisingly, despite their rivalry and success, the Magpies and Bombers had not met in the decider since 1911.
Collingwood made a late, if not unexpected change when emergency Shane Kerrison came in for the injured Alan Richardson. A Lethal test on the Thursday night re-cracked his suspect collarbone. Also disappointed was popular backman Ron McKeown. So good throughout the year, the burly full back was the victim of team balance. With Paul Salmon’s intimidating height, Michael Christian was deemed the safer match-up. Essendon brought in much-maligned ruckman Paul Somerville as back up for Madden.
Magpie fever gripped Melbourne, as the intense expectation and belief ignored the weight of the Colliwobbles curse. There seemed to be a universal resolve that this year would somehow be different. With membership far in excess of club allocations, tickets were akin to a Willie Wonka golden pass. As many as 33 scalpers were arrested before the game, and 70 tickets were forged and confiscated.
In light of the circumstances, Matthews handed a piece of paper to his charges in the days leading into the big day with the poignant words;
“Accept the challenge without reservation or doubt, so that you can experience the exhilaration of victory.”
THE GAME
A long kick from Kerrison from the opening ball-up bounced and bounced, almost through for a goal. Until he took a breather at the 20 minute mark, Manson’s dynamic vigour in the ruck and around the ground caused headaches for Essendon, as did Francis and Shaw at ground level. As both teams tested each other physically, Essendon eventually seized the early breaks; Salmon twice outmarked Christian in front of goal against the run of play. What Collingwood had in speed and relentless attack on the ball was counterbalanced by Essendon’s greater poise and an ominous spearhead. The Magpies lacked fluid forward line movement, however when Starcevich entered the fray halfway into the quarter the issue began to resolve. The match changed complexion with some nerve settling Daicos magic 21 minutes in. A subsequent Brown major from point blank range just before the siren put the ‘Pies in front. The sunny, swirly conditions stifled the blockbuster’s aesthetic appeal as both teams struggled to maintain possession and mount coherent attacks.
The undercurrent of tension had yet to find an outlet, but just as supporters began thinking about a calming drink, all hell broke loose. The quarter time ruckus outdid the 1985 Essendon-Hawthorn stoush, the friendly push and shove on Essendon’s forward pocket becoming a bar room brawl. Most players became involved and some big hits landed. Seeing teammate Denis Banks go down, Gavin Brown felled Sporn and Terry Daniher sought swift retribution, concussing his direct opponent. Essendon bootstudder Graham Menola incurred the wrath of Collingwood team manager Eddie Hillgrove whilst football manager Graeme Allan attempted to dint Essendon runner Peter Power’s head, only to find that his hand was made of softer stuff. ‘Gubby’ would watch the game from the bench, his hand swathed in bloody bandages. Even Channel 7 commentator Bernie Quinlan was caught up in the brouhaha. As the prostrate figure laying on the MCG turf was identified, a collective groan could be imagined emanating from the thousands of ‘Pie fans glued to their TV’s and at the ground. ‘Not Gavin Brown, here we go again!’
Despite 20 sets of eyes spinning like poker machines, Magpie coach Leigh Matthews was able to settle his charges and refocus their attention on the ball. Starcevich was the first beneficiary of the Bombers’ misplaced exuberance with a goal in the first minute, aided by a 50 metre penalty. Madden then spoilt a teammate’s attempt to mark, Crosisca swooping in with a 45 metre goal on the run. He backed up with a mark, drifting in from the side of the pack to double the dose, and then Scott Russell chimed in with another via a free. Ezard, Kickett and Terry Daniher’s poor discipline and the umpires’ desire to reclaim charge was working in the Magpies’ favour. In one instance, Essendon’s plight was demonstrated by Tony Daniher’s foolhardy handpass to Ezard on the flank, disregarding Russell standing next to him. The tackle and free were givens, the scragging by Ezard and 50m penalty made the goal a certainty.
Capitalising on Essendon’s frayed nerves, Collingwood piled on five goals in the first ten minutes, and only an unorthodox snap by Kickett arrested the hemorrhaging. The ‘Pies continued to harass the Bombers, forcing fumbles and fuzzy thinking. McGuane, Francis, Millane and Shaw showed the way, the latter racking up 22 possessions by half time. The Magpies’ superiority was reinforced just before the siren. Barwick goaled from a 50m penalty, having been crudely punched in the kidneys by Darren Bewick after marking. Essendon found itself plugging holes; Salmon in the ruck to cover for Madden, who was being beaten by Monkhorst; Anderson was struggling, as were Harvey and Thompson; Watson was gallantly trying to address other problem areas; and besides rare cameos, Kickett’s value in the centre was negligible.
As the teams left the field, Leigh Matthews grabbed Gavin Brown and dramatically gestured towards Terry Daniher. In the rooms Gavin Brown, who sat dazed on the bench during the second quarter, talked himself out of his groggy state, determined to get back on the ground in what he could only deduce as being ‘an important game’.
Starcevich, potentially in Norm Smith Medal form, became Daniher’s second victim five minutes after the recommencement of hostilities. McGuane converted the consequent 50m penalty whilst a concussed Starcevich was helped off the field. 
Daicos goaled from an old party trick at the 17-minute mark but Essendon’s running game began to click, soon yielding goals to Somerville and Grenvold. For a brief period the Dons actually resembled a top of the ladder side. But Collingwood’s fierce will and determination to get numbers to the contests wouldn’t allow too much rope. Just when a lift was required, enter stage left Gavin Brown. His remonstrations with Daniher ignited the crowd, and more so when he kicked an inspirational goal from a defensive error. A 40 point lead at the final change was surely enough?
To Essendon’s credit, they fought the game out but Simon Madden’s comical efforts at goal epitomized their fate. And little consolation was found in Kickett’s screamer over the perfect step-ladder, Tony Shaw. With the game in hand, Shaw continued leading by example and teammates put their head over the ball with scant regard to personal safety. A snap by Barwick, assisted by Banks, brought the house down with seven minutes to go. A set shot from 40 metres by Monkhorst in time-on made it eight goals, prompting Leigh Matthews’ march down to the bench, fists pumping in celebration. Meanwhile in the ABC radio box, Peter Booth was so moved he deferred all calling duties to his cohort Tim Lane. Ruck coach ‘Crackers Keenan’ was in tears. The Black and White Army could have saved the construction company the trouble of removing the roof off the old Southern Stand. What had earlier been an eerie quiet in the stands was now a cacophony of noise, and the song. The clock wound down to zero and Shaw fell to his knees with ‘the emotions of 13 years all coming out’. Try 32!
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Possibly the seeds of the flag were sewn when Leigh Matthews moved Daicos from half back to the forward line in Round 2, as he and the team struggled against Carlton. Seven goals in the second half and a great victory later, and ‘Daics’ owned the forward line thereafter.
Paul Salmon’s two early goals threatened to realise the ‘Pies’ worst fears. Aching for a breakthrough 21 minutes in, Daicos took possession deep in the right forward pocket at the Punt Road end. Under pressure from Peter Cransberg, Daicos threaded an amazing goal – just one of many miracles he performed in the latter stages of his career. A good player would have accepted their limitations and centered the ball. But Daicos was not good, but great, and quiet game aside, that goal reinforced the belief that it was Collingwood’s day.
Gavin Brown’s Grand final stats were ordinary, and his two goals not overly difficult, but Terry Daniher knocking ‘Rowdy’ unconscious at the quarter time break precipitated a chain of events that led to the Bombers’ demise. As the mayhem subsided, the young tyro remained in trouble. At half time Matthews made an example of the dazed Brown, exhorting to Daniher “He’ll be back”. True to his coach’s word, Brown returned eight minutes into the third quarter. His team-mates, already inspired, lifted again to see the fearless Brown. When he accepted a stray Bomber handpass from Thompson in the goal square, the game was to all intents over, if it hadn’t already been when Daicos kicked his second goal, a cheeky banana seven minutes earlier.
The final nails in the coffin were two embarrassing misses by the usually reliable Simon Madden, perhaps a side effect of his infected shin. One, a poster from just 15 metres out in the opening stages of the final quarter, the other a kick into the man on the mark from a similar distance.
AFTERMATCH
After a 11,704 day wait, black and white euphoria gripped Melbourne. As Bomber fans went underground or sought plane tickets to ‘anywhere but here’, Collingwood fans embarked on the party to end all parties. Victoria Park became the site of a tribal frenzy, when the players were introduced one by one. Hoddle Street experienced gridlock as an estimated 25,000 thousand fanatics descended on the Magpies’ nest, and anywhere else in the vicinity where there was a drink or ten to be had. Police made 67 arrests on Grand final night. As the bus carrying the heroes slowly departed back to the official function, ‘Gubby’ Allan could be seen with a satisfied smirk, his hand still swathed in bloody bandages from his quarter time exertions.
Thousands more attended the Sunday family day, the somewhat seedy players reintroduced. Most had barely slept a wink. Supporters queued for Premiership memorabilia and anything else black and white. The song was sung ad nauseum and Tony Shaw claimed the Cup was the ‘best thing he had ever slept with’ (and of course apologised to his wife Deb).
At last the Colliwobbles had been laid to rest, and for older, lifelong supporters and former players, it was an emotional experience. To have lived the ultimate in football pain time and time again, and to remain a true believer, the release and exaltation was immeasurable. For some it took weeks to truly sink in. In typical over-the-top Collingwood style, an official burial of the Colliwobbles was conducted at the ground, Lou Richards the centre of attention as always.
An often-held misconception was that Collingwood ‘got lucky’ and barely deserved the 1990 flag with a so-called ordinary team. The statistics show that every one of the Premiership 20, as well as those unlucky to miss out (Richardson and McKeown), were to play at least 100 VFL/AFL games – an extremely rare occurrence. What’s more, over the season and particularly in the finals, Collingwood’s results spoke volumes.
A startling 13 reports were made in the game. The tribunal was particularly harsh on Terry Daniher who received 11 weeks for his Starcevich – Brown double. Brown himself copped several weeks for striking Sporn. Kickett (striking McGuane), Bewick (striking Shaw and other charges), Van Der Haar (striking Kelly in his last game) and Kelly (striking Van Der Haar) also faced the truth. For their part in the brawl, Collingwood officials ‘Gubby’ Allan and Eddie Hillgrove copped $15,000 and $7500 fines respectively, and both were banned from entering the field for one year. Much talk centered around the huge quarter time ‘wrestlemania’ that disgusted notables such as Ron Barassi, who called for a sin bin to be introduced.
THE HERO
Darren Millane (Collingwood)
It was a stellar year for Tony Shaw. Premiership captain, Norm Smith Medal, and his second Copeland Trophy to boot. Despite a bulging trophy cabinet, Shaw’s hero status was shaded by audacious wingman Darren Millane.
Media ‘Player of the Season’, Millane terrorized opponents all year. The ‘Raging Bull’ set the bar for courage and was the inspiration behind succeeding where so many others failed. Having broken his thumb in Round 21, Millane refused to miss a single week, and played through the finals in incredible pain. Simply removing his guernsey was excruciating. Millane wasn’t just there for inspiration sake, he continued to play with the same intimidation, skill and brawn. His duels with Greg Anderson, in career best form himself, were an enthralling sub-contest. In the Grand final Millane amassed 24 kicks, and fittingly in the game’s most enduring image, had the ball in his mits before tossing it in the air as the siren blared.
In the bitterest of postscripts, almost a year to the day, in the early hours of October 7, Millane was killed in a car crash on Queens Road at just 26 years of age. Just as he had reached his peak and had vowed to be more responsible off the field, he went past the point of no return in a post season night out at his favorite haunt, The Tunnel nightclub. The seemingly indestructible, larger than life character would leave a lasting legacy. Both to the team that lost its heartbeat, and as a cautionary tale to the wider community.
POSTSCRIPT
After a week of non-stop partying, perhaps an even greater miracle occurred the following week in London when the still very tired and emotional Magpies found a way to beat Essendon in an exhibition game at The Oval.
For veterans Daicos, Shaw and Banks, the only players left to experience the 1979-81 triumvirate of September misery, the Flag was just reward. Daicos had an amazing season – no other non-key forward has ever kicked as many goals (97). Shaw had proved the critics wrong once again – he may have been short and slow with the kicking power of a loud sneeze, but he won the ball and marshaled his troops like no other. By the end of 1990, he had another Copeland Trophy to vindicate his worth. And Banks had persevered despite an injury-plagued career, evidenced in coming back from a broken arm late in the season.
Unfortunately, Collingwood let 1991 slip too far before rediscovering their 1990 form. A strong Millane inspired 1992 came to an unlucky end, and then things went south. Some Premiership heroes lingered too long, others traded when they had lost their market value. Poor recruiting and failure to keep pace with the national competition saw the club plunge into mediocrity, and then abject failure.
WHAT THEY SAID
“Just remember that yes, you’re going to go out there today and play in the Grand final. But the sun’s still going to come up tomorrow if you lose.”
Coach Leigh Matthews keeps it real to his charges.“Thirteen years it’s been and, after 13, you don’t think you’re ever going to get there.”
Captain and Norm Smith Medallist, Tony Shaw reflects on a long and winding road.“Who is in charge here, in case we have to make an arrest?”
Such was the ferocity of the brawl, a policeman felt compelled to ask this of Leigh Matthews.“What game is this? What happened?
Dazed and confused Gavin Brows was to ask Dr Conway over and over whilst on the bench.“Darren Millane can still speed down the flank, and he marks with a broken thumb. He will feel no pain tonight.”
In light of Millane’s last night exactly one year later, ironic commentary from Sandy Roberts just before the siren sounds. Millane finished the game with 28 possessions.“The players who go out there and do it on the day – they’re the heroes.”
Leigh Matthews downplays his role in the triumph.
“Something that has been a part of Australian sport is now no longer. The Collingwood guernsey that had unfairly been given the derogatory Colliwobble thing for failing in the finals – these guys over the past month have played magnificent football when they had to, in the finals, and that is just a great credit to them.”
Matthews again, full of praise for his players.“We’ll be looking at some pretty hard commando type training and if you can’t handle it, don’t’ try”.
Kevin Sheedy already preparing his players for next season.“It’s not easy to take defeat and it’s not easy to take defeat at the hands of Collingwood”.
Essendon President Ron Evans speaks for all supporters for whom the hatred of all things black and white runs deep.“I had a terrible sinking feeling on the Thursday night it would be a struggle. There was no spark the way there had been for us in 1984 and 1985.”
Tim Watson’s gut feeling was proved correct.“Jack was watching over us today. Don’t you worry about that. He put the jinx on Simon Madden and Keiran Sporn when they missed those goals in the last quarter. And look up there now. The sun’s shining isn’t it?”
An emotional Ron Richards was convinced that his old teammate Jack Hamilton who tragically lost his life in a car accident in June, played a part in the win. Disappointed the crowd didn’t storm the ground as they had in 1953, Richards believed ‘little goblins’ in the form of Breen, Hopkins and Harmes were to blame for the club’s infamous losses, not the ‘Colliwobbles’.
“I’ll tell you a fact; if we had lost that Grand final, I probably wouldn’t have been playing the next year. And maybe Peter Daicos and Banksy too. I wasn’t thinking that at the time, but the disappointment if we’d lost would have been crushing. I don’t know if we would have come up again.”
Many supporters would have identified with Tony Shaw’s frank admission.“To be honest, I didn’t ever think it would happen. A couple years back, a mate of mine and I were having a drink and he said to me ‘I don’t reckon you’ll ever win a Flag.’ It really hurt but it made me think, I can tell you.”
Peter Daicos collecting a Premiership medallion was a magic moment for others too.“As far as these guys are concerned, they will be written up at Collingwood in letters of gold. They are going to be Gods.”
Former captain Wayne Richardson, who deserved to experience a flag during his great career.
COLLINGWOOD
B Kerrison Christian Morwood
HB Banks Kelly Gayfer
C Millane Shaw Wright
HF Starcevich Crosisca Barwick
F Daicos Brown Russell
FOLL Monkhorst, McGuane, Francis
INT Turner, Manson
COACH Matthews
ESSENDON
B Thompson A. Daniher Hamilton
HB Grenvold T. Daniher O’Donnell
C Anderson Kickett Long
HF Harvey Van Der Haar Cransberg
F Ezard Salmon Sporn
FOLL Madden, Watson, Bewick
INT C. Daniher, Somerville
COACH Sheedy
BEST
COLLINGWOOD – Shaw (Norm Smith Medal), Millane, Russell, Francis, Monkhorst, Wright
ESSENDON – Watson, Sporn, O’Donnell, Salmon, T. Daniher, Thompson
GOALS
COLLINGWOOD – Daicos, Brown, Barwick, Russell, Crosisca 2, Monkhorst, McGuane, Starcevich
ESSENDON – Salmon 2, Kickett, Somerville, Grenvold
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