1990 - The season that could easily have been ours

[iv'a worn smith 1,979]

When the Dees are playing interstate on a Sunday, my routine is to watch all of the Sunday footy review shows, plan as lazy a day as possible - to the displeasure of she who must be obeyed - and generally sit back and watch Channel 7’s Footy Flashbacks, before the live footy begins.

Last Sunday, it featured the history of the surviving Collingwood Captains. While I despise our mortal enemy, I found myself getting quite nostalgic. The consolation was how the earlier part of the show concentrated on Collingwood’s regular finals appearances in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, without ever taking the major prize - a flag. They were masters at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Names like Terry Waters, Max and Wayne Richardson, Barry Price, Twiggy Dunne and of course Peter McKenna featured heavily in the early part of the show. While I detested the black and white, I always had a begrudging admiration for Bobby Rose; a true gentleman, whose time as coach was blighted by so many near misses.

Inevitably, the show then featured the 1990 season. The toothless brigade had not won a flag since 1958, when they upset a much more fancied Melbourne and Barry “Hooker” Harrison whacked Ronald Dale. They performed highway robbery and stole the consecutive flag record from us.

At the end of the 1990 season, Melbourne finished 4th, with 16 wins and 6 losses. Essendon finished minor premiers and in what was then a final 5, Collingwood finished second.

The Dees season started spectacularly with a 53 point win over North. In round 3, we beat Essendon by 27 points at the ‘G. There were many stunning highlights for the Dees during the 1990 season. In round 7 we beat West Coast by 55 points and the following week demoralised Richmond by 53 points.

Come round 9 we were soundly beaten by a Hawthorn team, whose glory days were showing signs of going into hibernation, albeit, as history shows, temporarily. Hawthorn would eventually finish 5th in 1990. Back to back losses would come in the form of a 52 point thrashing at the hands of Collingwood in round 10. Mid season saw the Dees lose their focus and the season was in danger of going off the rails. Our slump reached its lowest ebb with a 127 point demolition by Kangaroos in round 14, which represented a 180 point turn around from our win over North in round 1.

In round 16, we finally got our season back on track, with our second win for the year against the Bombers.. Trailing by 27 points at 3 quarter time and with Essendon kicking the first goal of the final term, the Dees went on to kick 8 goals to 2, with Darren Bennett rising to the challenge, to run out 8 point winners at Windy Hill. Oh what a sweet victory that was. In round 19 we trounced the Swans by 67 points, followed by another win over the West Coast at Subiaco by 36 points.

Our last game of the year witnessed a do or die struggle with Hawthorn at the ‘G, where we ultimately prevailed by 2 goals.

The following week saw us pitted against the Hawks again in the Elimination final on Sunday. The first half was a tight tussle, with the Hawks leading at half time by 7 points. The 3rd quarter saw the Dees come out and slam on 6 goals to the Hawks 1, to see the Demons go into the the final term with 4 goal lead. The final stanza was a desperately tight struggle, with skipper Sugar Healy showing plenty of courage and determination. The Hawks would kick 3 goals to our 1 in the last quarter, but with Sugar running with the flight of the ball, at the Punt Road end, deep in the last quarter, he marked and sealed the win for the mighty Demons.

It seemed we had our Mojo back.

The day before, Collingwood was having its own problems out at Arctic Park against West Coast. The game was tight all day, but Peter Sumich had a chance to steal it with a kick right on the siren.

Had the Colliwobbles struck again?

The angle tight, Sumich lining up from the non-preferred pocket, he kicked a point making the game a draw. In those days, there was no extra time, so the 2 sides had to get themselves up again, for a rematch the following week, effectively giving Melbourne a weeks rest. Not a bad luxury for a team that only made the elimination final. The replay saw Collingwood have it all over the Eagles and the Pies ran out winners by just under 10 goals.

So it was with confidence that we went to Waverley the following Saturday to take on what surely must have been a demoralised and battle weary West Coast side. From the first bounce this was a fiery affair and from my perspective, it seemed we fell for West Coast’s 3 card trick. In the second quarter, West Coast kept us goalless while they piled on 6 majors. Honours were split in the premiership quarter, with both sides booting 6 apiece. It would seem though, the damage had been done and our hopes of a preliminary final berth were all but gone. The final term saw us kick 7 goals to the Eagles 3, but the margin was too great to overcome. I remember Rod Grinter trying his best to fly the flag, but unfortunately he had few mates on the day and it was all too late.

The fact that we were totally sucked in by the Eagles’ aggression and that bar for the second quarter brain fade, we matched them in all other aspects, meant that we let a precious chance slip.

History records that in 1990, the crowd from Hoar Frost Park in Collingwood won their first flag in 32 years. It was the year that saw the Dees participate in the finals for the 4th consecutive year.

But for me, out of those 4 years, I had the sense that 1990 was the year that got away. Of course the mid season jitters did not help our cause, but I reckon, we were as good as anyone come the business end of the season. We were more mature and battle hardened than we were in ’87, no-one was going to beat omnipotent Hawthorn in ’88 and although it was a credit to us to back up again in ’89, we weren’t in the same class at the Hawks and the Cats that year.

To this day, I certainly believe we would have run Collingwood close for that Premiership Cup.

Oh, what could have been for the MFC in 1990!!!!

Edited June 2, 2015 by iv'a worn smith

[Sir Why You Little 36,628]

The team ran out of Gasoline after playing 8 quarters of Civil war against Whorethorn

Once again we let ourselves down mid season

[iv'a worn smith 1,979]

The team ran out of Gasoline after playing 8 quarters of Civil war against Whorethorn

Once again we let ourselves down mid season

True WYL, but by dent of the draw in qualifying final, we did get that weeks rest. We ran out the game against WC very well. It was our failure not to fall for the biffo that failed us in my view.

[loges 6,767]

I know I bang on about this every time it comes up but should have at the very least payed off this year. Beat Essendon twice during the season and were gifted a weeks break. Really let ourselves down.

[Anders 14]

The reality is the 4 other finals participants can feel equally aggrieved they did not take out the 1990 flag.

Hawthorn because they clearly had the talent (beating the Pies by 80 points in the lead up to the finals) + winning bookend flags of 1990

West Coast for missing an unmissable goal to progess to a second semi

Essendon for saving their two worst performances of the year for finals

Us for having a good record against all the finalists that year and blowing it on the second hurdle

We also had a the inferior % of all finalists.

The Eagles become a horror match-up for us in finals that we could never seem to avoid. In 1990, 91, and 1994 WC met us in three finals (knocking us out three times) in finals we never should have played them. 1990 obviously the missed Sumich kick, but in Round 22 at Kardinia Geelong allowed the Weagles to run over the top of them in the last quarter and grab 3rd spot over us, '91 the Weagles finished 3 games clear and lost the Hawthorn at home which meant we had to play them the following week. In '94 Mick McGuane dropped an absolute sitter at Subiaco (for a shot on goal) which would have catapulted North and Geelong straight to prelims and WC having to play 3 weeks in Melb. All three years we showed great form up until playing the bloody Weagles.

[MadAsHell 4,209]

For me 1998 is still the year that got away.

Had the perfect balance of youth and experience. Were on an absolute role heading into the Prelim having beaten the previous years Grand Finalists in the first two weeks of the finals by 40+ points.

Yet we get drawn to play the equally hot North Melbourne while Adelaide who we thumped in the first week get the 2nd ranked Bulldogs! We also let ourselves down in the Prelim. Had all the play for the first 10-15min to register 1.3 early I think it was and then let North outmuscle us.

Your commentary about 1990 does bring back some childhood memories though. Thanks for the trip!

Edit: Spelling

Edited June 2, 2015 by AngryAtCasey

[iv'a worn smith 1,979]

For me 1998 is still the year that got away.

Had the perfect balance of youth and experience. Were on an absolute role heading into the Prelim having beaten the previous years Grand Finalists in the first two weeks of the finals by 40+ points.

Yet we get drawn to play the equally hot North Melbourne while Adelaide who we thumped in the first week get the 2nd ranked Bulldogs! We also let ourselves down in the Prelim. Had all the play for the first 10-15min to register 1.3 early I think it was and then let North outmuscle us.

Your commentary about 1990 does bring back some childhood memories though. Thanks for the trip!

Edit: Spelling

Good get. Another year where we had a mid year slump. Different finals system back then. Could never get over flogging the Crows by 48 points, yet they went on to win the flag.

[Maldonboy38 6,379]

1994 for mine. That side had everything. Best Melbourne team I have had the pleasure to follow. Here are the 32 listed players from that season. It hurts like hell to see this list and know it didn't get us a flag. And in the long run it was only the West Australian state team that could beat us. It hurts even more when I think of the carp being served up over the past 7 years.

2 Stephen Tingay
3 Garry Lyon
4 Chris Sullivan
5 David Schwarz
6 Glenn Lovett
7 Darren Kowal
8 Graeme Yeats
9 David Nietz
10 Martin Pike
11 Jim Stynes
12 Todd Viney
13 Allen Jakovich
14 Rod Grinter
15 Paul Hopgood
16 Andy Lovell
17 Brett Lovett
18 Sean Charles
19 Paul Prymke
20 Matthew Febey
21 Steven Febey
22 Jeff Hilton
23 Kevin Dyson
24 Phil Gilbert
25 Jason Norrish
26 Greg Doyle
27 Sean Wight
28 Glenn Molloy
29 Andrew Obst
34 Dean Irving
35 Bradley Campbell
37 Andrew Lamprill
41 Peter Rohde

[praha 11,119]

1990 was really the same sort of season as 2004 and 2005: poor mid-year showing that ruined our placing in the finals.

[iv'a worn smith 1,979]

1990 was really the same sort of season as 2004 and 2005: poor mid-year showing that ruined our placing in the finals.

A little different in so far as the draw was concerned between the wobbles and WC. Our form into the finals was fantastic, but we failed to capitalise on the weeks rest.

[Whispering_Jack 29,186]

Spilt milk

[iv'a worn smith 1,979]

No doubt WJ, just reminiscing.

[hells bells 2,023]

Agreed that 1994 side was incredible.

[John Crow Batty 8,770]

Rubbing it in after beating WC at their dung heap in round 20, 1990 did not help. We gave them far too much ammunition for revenge and the unexpected 2' week layoff did not help. Since then we have been their bitchez..

Edited June 2, 2015 by america de cali

[Demonsone 1,951]

1990 was a carbon copy from 87-91 we just couldn't make top 4 & get a double chance.... We seem to have lapses for a month or so & scramble to make the final 5 & have to play cut throat elimination finals....but 1990 was the best chance to win a flag as the it was a very even year for the teams in the finals..

[bush demon 1,999]

When the Dees are playing interstate on a Sunday, my routine is to watch all of the Sunday footy review shows, plan as lazy a day as possible - to the displeasure of she who must be obeyed - and generally sit back and watch Channel 7’s Footy Flashbacks, before the live footy begins.

Last Sunday, it featured the history of the surviving Collingwood Captains. While I despise our mortal enemy, I found myself getting quite nostalgic. The consolation was how the earlier part of the show concentrated on Collingwood’s regular finals appearances in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, without ever taking the major prize - a flag. They were masters at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Names like Terry Waters, Max and Wayne Richardson, Barry Price, Twiggy Dunne and of course Peter McKenna featured heavily in the early part of the show. While I detested the black and white, I always had a begrudging admiration for Bobby Rose; a true gentleman, whose time as coach was blighted by so many near misses.

Inevitably, the show then featured the 1990 season. The toothless brigade had not won a flag since 1958, when they upset a much more fancied Melbourne and Barry “Hooker” Harrison whacked Ronald Dale. They performed highway robbery and stole the consecutive flag record from us.

At the end of the 1990 season, Melbourne finished 4th, with 16 wins and 6 losses. Essendon finished minor premiers and in what was then a final 5, Collingwood finished second.

The Dees season started spectacularly with a 53 point win over North. In round 3, we beat Essendon by 27 points at the ‘G. There were many stunning highlights for the Dees during the 1990 season. In round 7 we beat West Coast by 55 points and the following week demoralised Richmond by 53 points.

Come round 9 we were soundly beaten by a Hawthorn team, whose glory days were showing signs of going into hibernation, albeit, as history shows, temporarily. Hawthorn would eventually finish 5th in 1990. Back to back losses would come in the form of a 52 point thrashing at the hands of Collingwood in round 10. Mid season saw the Dees lose their focus and the season was in danger of going off the rails. Our slump reached its lowest ebb with a 127 point demolition by Kangaroos in round 14, which represented a 180 point turn around from our win over North in round 1.

In round 16, we finally got our season back on track, with our second win for the year against the Bombers.. Trailing by 27 points at 3 quarter time and with Essendon kicking the first goal of the final term, the Dees went on to kick 8 goals to 2, with Darren Bennett rising to the challenge, to run out 8 point winners at Windy Hill. Oh what a sweet victory that was. In round 19 we trounced the Swans by 67 points, followed by another win over the West Coast at Subiaco by 36 points.

Our last game of the year witnessed a do or die struggle with Hawthorn at the ‘G, where we ultimately prevailed by 2 goals.

The following week saw us pitted against the Hawks again in the Elimination final on Sunday. The first half was a tight tussle, with the Hawks leading at half time by 7 points. The 3rd quarter saw the Dees come out and slam on 6 goals to the Hawks 1, to see the Demons go into the the final term with 4 goal lead. The final stanza was a desperately tight struggle, with skipper Sugar Healy showing plenty of courage and determination. The Hawks would kick 3 goals to our 1 in the last quarter, but with Sugar running with the flight of the ball, at the Punt Road end, deep in the last quarter, he marked and sealed the win for the mighty Demons.

It seemed we had our Mojo back.

The day before, Collingwood was having its own problems out at Arctic Park against West Coast. The game was tight all day, but Peter Sumich had a chance to steal it with a kick right on the siren.

Had the Colliwobbles struck again?

The angle tight, Sumich lining up from the non-preferred pocket, he kicked a point making the game a draw. In those days, there was no extra time, so the 2 sides had to get themselves up again, for a rematch the following week, effectively giving Melbourne a weeks rest. Not a bad luxury for a team that only made the elimination final. The replay saw Collingwood have it all over the Eagles and the Pies ran out winners by just under 10 goals.

So it was with confidence that we went to Waverley the following Saturday to take on what surely must have been a demoralised and battle weary West Coast side. From the first bounce this was a fiery affair and from my perspective, it seemed we fell for West Coast’s 3 card trick. In the second quarter, West Coast kept us goalless while they piled on 6 majors. Honours were split in the premiership quarter, with both sides booting 6 apiece. It would seem though, the damage had been done and our hopes of a preliminary final berth were all but gone. The final term saw us kick 7 goals to the Eagles 3, but the margin was too great to overcome. I remember Rod Grinter trying his best to fly the flag, but unfortunately he had few mates on the day and it was all too late.

The fact that we were totally sucked in by the Eagles’ aggression and that bar for the second quarter brain fade, we matched them in all other aspects, meant that we let a precious chance slip.

History records that in 1990, the crowd from Hoar Frost Park in Collingwood won their first flag in 32 years. It was the year that saw the Dees participate in the finals for the 4th consecutive year.

But for me, out of those 4 years, I had the sense that 1990 was the year that got away. Of course the mid season jitters did not help our cause, but I reckon, we were as good as anyone come the business end of the season. We were more mature and battle hardened than we were in ’87, no-one was going to beat omnipotent Hawthorn in ’88 and although it was a credit to us to back up again in ’89, we weren’t in the same class at the Hawks and the Cats that year.

To this day, I certainly believe we would have run Collingwood close for that Premiership Cup.

Oh, what could have been for the MFC in 1990!!!!

Particularly galling, because we had the 'wood' on the pies, having beaten them in the 1989 final series (not to mention our consecutive finals wins over them dating back to 1939). I was at the WCE game at the Jackson's Rd end there was a solitary fat guy yelling for WCE all afternoon amongst us polite Dee supporters. West Coast bamboozled us with their trick of switching the ball to either side of the ground.

[dee-luded 2,959]

When the Dees are playing interstate on a Sunday, my routine is to watch all of the Sunday footy review shows, plan as lazy a day as possible - to the displeasure of she who must be obeyed - and generally sit back and watch Channel 7’s Footy Flashbacks, before the live footy begins.

Last Sunday, it featured the history of the surviving Collingwood Captains. While I despise our mortal enemy, I found myself getting quite nostalgic. The consolation was how the earlier part of the show concentrated on Collingwood’s regular finals appearances in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, without ever taking the major prize - a flag. They were masters at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Names like Terry Waters, Max and Wayne Richardson, Barry Price, Twiggy Dunne and of course Peter McKenna featured heavily in the early part of the show. While I detested the black and white, I always had a begrudging admiration for Bobby Rose; a true gentleman, whose time as coach was blighted by so many near misses.

Inevitably, the show then featured the 1990 season. The toothless brigade had not won a flag since 1958, when they upset a much more fancied Melbourne and Barry “Hooker” Harrison whacked Ronald Dale. They performed highway robbery and stole the consecutive flag record from us.

At the end of the 1990 season, Melbourne finished 4th, with 16 wins and 6 losses. Essendon finished minor premiers and in what was then a final 5, Collingwood finished second.

The Dees season started spectacularly with a 53 point win over North. In round 3, we beat Essendon by 27 points at the ‘G. There were many stunning highlights for the Dees during the 1990 season. In round 7 we beat West Coast by 55 points and the following week demoralised Richmond by 53 points.

Come round 9 we were soundly beaten by a Hawthorn team, whose glory days were showing signs of going into hibernation, albeit, as history shows, temporarily. Hawthorn would eventually finish 5th in 1990. Back to back losses would come in the form of a 52 point thrashing at the hands of Collingwood in round 10. Mid season saw the Dees lose their focus and the season was in danger of going off the rails. Our slump reached its lowest ebb with a 127 point demolition by Kangaroos in round 14, which represented a 180 point turn around from our win over North in round 1.

In round 16, we finally got our season back on track, with our second win for the year against the Bombers.. Trailing by 27 points at 3 quarter time and with Essendon kicking the first goal of the final term, the Dees went on to kick 8 goals to 2, with Darren Bennett rising to the challenge, to run out 8 point winners at Windy Hill. Oh what a sweet victory that was. In round 19 we trounced the Swans by 67 points, followed by another win over the West Coast at Subiaco by 36 points.

Our last game of the year witnessed a do or die struggle with Hawthorn at the ‘G, where we ultimately prevailed by 2 goals.

The following week saw us pitted against the Hawks again in the Elimination final on Sunday. The first half was a tight tussle, with the Hawks leading at half time by 7 points. The 3rd quarter saw the Dees come out and slam on 6 goals to the Hawks 1, to see the Demons go into the the final term with 4 goal lead. The final stanza was a desperately tight struggle, with skipper Sugar Healy showing plenty of courage and determination. The Hawks would kick 3 goals to our 1 in the last quarter, but with Sugar running with the flight of the ball, at the Punt Road end, deep in the last quarter, he marked and sealed the win for the mighty Demons.

It seemed we had our Mojo back.

The day before, Collingwood was having its own problems out at Arctic Park against West Coast. The game was tight all day, but Peter Sumich had a chance to steal it with a kick right on the siren.

Had the Colliwobbles struck again?

The angle tight, Sumich lining up from the non-preferred pocket, he kicked a point making the game a draw. In those days, there was no extra time, so the 2 sides had to get themselves up again, for a rematch the following week, effectively giving Melbourne a weeks rest. Not a bad luxury for a team that only made the elimination final. The replay saw Collingwood have it all over the Eagles and the Pies ran out winners by just under 10 goals.

So it was with confidence that we went to Waverley the following Saturday to take on what surely must have been a demoralised and battle weary West Coast side. From the first bounce this was a fiery affair and from my perspective, it seemed we fell for West Coast’s 3 card trick. In the second quarter, West Coast kept us goalless while they piled on 6 majors. Honours were split in the premiership quarter, with both sides booting 6 apiece. It would seem though, the damage had been done and our hopes of a preliminary final berth were all but gone. The final term saw us kick 7 goals to the Eagles 3, but the margin was too great to overcome. I remember Rod Grinter trying his best to fly the flag, but unfortunately he had few mates on the day and it was all too late.

The fact that we were totally sucked in by the Eagles’ aggression and that bar for the second quarter brain fade, we matched them in all other aspects, meant that we let a precious chance slip.

History records that in 1990, the crowd from Hoar Frost Park in Collingwood won their first flag in 32 years. It was the year that saw the Dees participate in the finals for the 4th consecutive year.

But for me, out of those 4 years, I had the sense that 1990 was the year that got away. Of course the mid season jitters did not help our cause, but I reckon, we were as good as anyone come the business end of the season. We were more mature and battle hardened than we were in ’87, no-one was going to beat omnipotent Hawthorn in ’88 and although it was a credit to us to back up again in ’89, we weren’t in the same class at the Hawks and the Cats that year.

To this day, I certainly believe we would have run Collingwood close for that Premiership Cup.

Oh, what could have been for the MFC in 1990!!!!

I always felt we were knocked out at the end by the last few games from Rnd 20, & the early finals games, played all the tough clubs & we tired.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990_AFL_season#Finals_Series

Rnd 20 @ subiaco West Coast v Melbourne

Rnd 21 @ waverley Richmond v Melbourne

Rnd 22 @ mcg Melbourne v Hawthorn

Elimination final @ mcg Melbourne v Hawthorn

First Semi-Final @ waverley Melbourne v West Coast

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990_AFL_season#Finals_Series

I thought we could win it that year... started to feel a bit negated after that year.

[Deemonic 7]

Agree that this was our best chance under Northey to win a flag. Strawbs lost us the game by colliding with Garry Lyon at training and causing Lyon to miss the game.

[markc 975]

memories , I hate these ones, i want new ones !

i was at work in a video shop in Brighton ... paid a staff member to cover my shift , raced into to G , no ticket.

made it to the G saw a customer standing at the gate , gave me a ticket behind the goals , watched as we beat hawthorn for the second week in a row

I still rate it as one of the best finals I have been to watching melbourne win .

sadly we lost the next game , but i will always remember the hawthorn game.

[Moonshadow 17,501]

Not me. I scored big time that year. Hmmmmm.......

[Biffen 12,823]

Not me. I scored big time that year. Hmmmmm.......

Own goals don't count.

[Moonshadow 17,501]

Own goals don't count.

Touché Biff.

[radar 1,865]

I was at the Eagles loss. Not a great effort by us as they had to fly to Victoria three weeks in a row.

Not sure where they played R22 - may have been in Vic as well.

Recall also that VFL Park was notorious for tiring sides out cos of its huge dimensions.

So all the more credit to WCE.

Dammit.

[Mazer Rackham 14,971]

Last I heard, we didn't win it in 1990, or 1994, 1998, or any other year since 1964.

It's all ancient history and irrelevant.

Look forward, not back.

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,749]

One of the things about 1990 that galls me is that we helped Collingwood by eliminating reigning premiers,Hawthorn.

Hawthorn had the "wood" over the Woods even more than we did. They were very much Hawthorn 's nemesis, and we saved them from having to beat them to win the premiership.

Damn the Sumich kick in 1990 and the Milne bounce in 2010. They'd be still thinking back to the highway robbery of '58.