For the first time a non-Victorian team lined up in the season decider determined to end the reign of one of the greatest sides in history. Too old? Too slow? The flag-festooned Hawks were out to prove the old dog still had enough bite to silence the young upstart Eagles from the west.
Two clubs that hated yet respected each other, the Hawthorn and Essendon rivalry of the 1980's is the stuff of footy legend. The last teams to clash in three consecutive Grand Finals ('83-'85), the Bombers were desperate to avenge a humiliating record loss in the 1983 flag decider when they came up against the Hawks a year later.
Regarded as the most physical Grand Final ever played. 40 Years On: The Final Story provides a unique insight into the feelings and experiences of those who've played at the highest level.
Seven successive Grand Finals, four premierships and a string of champion players.
September 30, 1981 - the day generally regarded as the greatest day in VFL/AFL Grand Final history. On this day no word other than 'epic' accurately describes the encounter between Geelong and Hawthorn. '1989' The Final Story has been produced to appeal to all football lovers no matter who they support, with its portrayal of the impact - both positive and negative - on the lives of all those directly involved.
At least DO SOMETHING! Don't think, DO!... These are the famous words of Hawthorn coach John Kennedy during half time of this epic 1975 encounter between Hawthorn and North Melbourne. Not only did Ron Barassi's Kangaroos have to contend with the powerhouse of Hawthorn but also a legacy of failure within, as this was a club that had never won a single Premiership in its history.
Hawthorn aiming at back to back Premierships for the first time, Geelong under Malcolm Blight looking for it's first Premiership since the days of Polly Farmer in 1963. This is the story of the battle for the 1989 Premiership by the men who played such a major role. The behind the scenes story of one of the best footy matches ever played.
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