By Richard Jones

 

FINALS scheduling presented a much different picture in the 1980s as the clubs with the double chance did not enjoy an extra day’s grace as they do today.

 

The second and third-placed clubs played in the qualifying final on the Sunday giving the players from the losing side just six days to recover before contesting the first semi-final.

 

These days the clubs finishing with the double chance play on the Saturday leaving the two sides which just made it into the top five, finishing fourth and fifth, with the Sunday fixture.

 

And so under the old rules in 1984 Eaglehawk and Sandhurst were listed to play their qualifying final on the Sunday. The cut-throat elimination final featuring South Bendigo and Golden Square was set down for the Saturday.

 

Injuries and illness hit the four competing clubs. Northern United, which finished on top of the ladder, enjoyed the rest during the first week of the 1984 finals series. 

 

GOLDEN Square was forced to replace injured playmaker Robert Smith for the knockout clash with South.

 

Tap ruckman Alan Patterson had been ill in the week leading up the first weekend of finals and was tipped to play at full-forward, if he played at all.

 

Newspaper pundits of the time were confident Steve Conlin would be able to shoulder the rucking duties for the Dogs with Patterson stationed in the goal square.

 

In the August 4th home-and-away match at the Wade Street ground, Conlin had booted the goals which mattered against the Bloods.

 

He had landed one beauty from the Maple Street half-forward flank in the tense final quarter.

 

Meanwhile it was expected South selectors would alternate Stephen Hoiles and Mal Balnaves in the ruck for their side.

 

For what was termed “The Battle of the Crocks” Eaglehawk had key players Robert O’Connell and Ronnie Pangazio in doubt with ankle injuries.

 

Sandhurst had concerns with Martin Sloan and Noel Belsar. Ruckman Sloan was struggling with a hamstring tear while Belsar was in bed with a severe winter cold.

 

As it turned out Sloan and Belsar did not play. Andrew Douglas was a late replacement for the Hurst, but the loss of two key players plus the pouring rain which fell during the second quarter did not deter the Dragons.

 

Sandhurst scored close to a five-goal victory over the Two Blues with Bridgewater pair Frank Coghlan and David Collins in great form.

 

Coghlan was named as best on ground while Collins booted three goals. Paul Johnston, the late Tim Ledwidge and Ron Blackmore all nailed two goals.

 

For the Hawks O’Connell and spearhead Daryl Gilmore kicked two majors. Captain-coach Jeff Fehring kicked the “point of the year” during the game.

 

Kicking to the Barnard Street end, Fehring lined up not far forward of centre-half-back at the city end and let fly with an 80 metre bomb. The shot just missed.

 

The Dragons led 10.11 to 7.7 at half-time but only 12.12 to 10.12 at three-quarter time.

The Two blues could manage just a single point in the last term with the final scores: Sandhurst 14.18 (102) def. Eaglehawk 10.13 (73).

 

Sandhurst’s best included Coghlan, centreman Kent Ward, ruck-rover Mark McErvale, wingman Stephen Rohde plus Greg Holl and Phil Pickering.

 

Fehring, Brendan Keane, O’Connell, Bert McIvor and Danny Slater were in Eaglehawk’s best.

•SOUTH thumped the Square in the elimination final after an even first half. The Bloods ended up with 35 scoring shots to Golden Square’s 19.

 

The late Graeme Wright was one of the best for the Bloods, with his dash and anticipation from his half-back flank.

 

Centre half-forward Shane Ryan was elusive in attack. He booted two goals with full-forward Des Charles adding five six-pointers, while Ricky Boyd chipped in with three.

 

Ken Smith, Patterson, Malcolm Cowling and Mick Gallagher all booted two for the Bulldogs. Best for the Square were Tony Cowling, Paul McGrath, Mal Cowling, Gallagher and O’Shea.

 

South Bendigo centreman Marty Graham, who went on to tie in the 1984 Michelsen medal count with United’s Garry Mountjoy, was named best on ground.

 

Other good players for the Bloods were Wright, Ryan, Balnaves, Steve Hoiles and Wayne Hoiles.

 

South led 9.7 to 7.4 at half-time but kicked 10 goals to four in the run home. Final scores: South Bendigo 19.16 (130) def. G. Square 11.8 (74).

 

That set up the second week of the 1984 finals --- Saturday’s knockout first semi-final: South Bendigo vs. Eaglehawk. Sunday, second semi-final: Northern United vs. Sandhurst.

 

•The Swallows went on to beat Eaglehawk in the grand final that season with Ron Best booting a match-winning 11 goals. The Two Blues led by seven points at one stage of the second term while scores were level three times during this stanza.

 

And then at one stage in the third term United’s lead was cut to two, straight kicks before Best made sure of the flag for the Swallows as United stormed home in the last period.

The big United spearhead finished with 11.2 for the match. Northern United won the ’84 flag: 18.16 to 12.10.

 

 

RICHARD’S TIP FOR FIRST WEEK OF FINALS: South Bendigo, Sandhurst. Progress tally: 75.