There are games that we remember for various reasons. Some for the spectacle of the day and what it meant, itself, others for the intensity of the contest, and others still, for the result.
I find that the 1990 Qualifying Final between the Eagles and the Magpies covered all three.
It is worth remembering that at this stage, the Eagles had not won a final.
They’d entered the league in 1987, made finals in 1988, but were ousted by Melbourne in a tight, and even a little controversial game. I wrote about it HERE.
In 89, they missed finals completely, before bouncing back in 1990 under the guidance of Mick Malthouse.
And here they faced the Magpies.
It’s now funny to think about the drought the Magpies endured, leading up to the 1990 finals. Their previous flag was in 1958, with the club choking in Grand Finals in 1960, 64, 66, 70, 77, 79, 80, and 81. There had been a premiership drought, but success never seemed too far away. And now you look at Carlton… it’s already been 30 years since their 95 win. Far out…
And success would also come knocking for West Coast, starting just 12 months later… to a degree.
For now, however, we had the perennial bridesmaids coming about against the new kids on the block, and it provided a finish that none will forget.
Here at The Mongrel, I love going back and studying games that meant something. For the Eagles, this was the win where they hung with the eventual premiers. Though they lost the rematch, finishing level with the Pies, in the wash up of the season, would have filled them with confidence.
As for the Pies, the feeling that they got out of jail could have left them thinking they were a team destined for bigger things than a Qualifying Final loss.
Funny how things turn out.
In those days, official AFL stats were basic – marks, kicks, handballs, tackles… that’s about it. I’m an intrepid fella, and I like to dive a little deeper, so as part of this review, I am keeping stats for quite a few of the other key indicators now used to gauge performance – inside 50s, clearances, contested marks, rebound fifties, intercepts, one-percenters, goal assists… I’ve got you covered.
Let’s jump into the Eagles and Pies in the Qualifying Final from 1990.
STARTING AT THE END
We all remember that Peter Sumich had a chance to win this with seconds remaining. A contested mark against Ronnie McKeown in the forward pocket gave the Eagles a chance to win their first-ever finals game.
That would have to wait another couple of weeks, though.
Sumich’s kicking had been an issue all season, and would continue to be the case into 1991, as well. He kicked a ton of goals, and like Lance Franklin, looked natural when he was able to wind up and go for home from a long way out, but put him closer to goal, and things got a little iffy.
And so it was that this kick was iffy.
Sumich had slotted a couple of beautiful long goals earlier in the game, but 25 metres out on a tough angle was always going to test him. It makes you wonder what could have been, not just for the Eagles, but for the remainder of the finals, had that kick sailed through. Collingwood would have got their second chance, whilst the Eagles would have gone on to face the Bombers in the Semi Final.
As it stands, the Pies backed up, won the rematch quite handily, and despatched the Bombers in the Grand Final.
All, but for one kick…
A QUICK RECAP
The game itself was frenetic. Not the most polished display of footy you’ll ever see, but there was no easy footy to be had in this contest.
One thing that really stood out was how tough it was to win a clearance. I reckon I could count on one hand how often a player was able to cleanly take a tap from the ruckman, and run forward… and I think three of those times, it was Chris Lewis doing it. It was just a scrap in the middle, with players hurling themselves into the contest and nobody able to get clean hands on it – a mad scramble.
The game only ever opened up by two goals, with the opposition immediately pulling it back to within a kick. Players started fast and faded quickly. Mick McGuane was everywhere in the first half, and nowhere in the second. Gavin Brown dominated early, but was subdued after halftime, and Chris Mainwaruing was quiet early before bursting to life in the second half.
We had great individual matchups – John Worsfold on Peter Daicos, Guy McKenna on Gavin Brown, and Mick Gayfer running with Chris Lewis, but the star of the show was the contest – unrelenting, powerful and, at times, threatening to bubble over.
With that thrilling finish to top it off, this was a hard, tough game of Aussie Rules footy. I miss it.
THE STARS
CHRIS LEWIS
Chris was angry this day. Right from the outset, you could see the fire in him, and he walked a very fine line at stages, between what was acceptable, and what was not.
If some of his actions were committed in today’s game, they would be automatic reports, such as the occasion where he dropped the knees into Doug Barwick in the first quarter. Funny thing was, it wasn’t even paid a free kick… it was like the 80s extended into the new decade for a little while.
Lewis also put Jamie Turner in a world of hurt, right on the three-quarter time siren, as he cannoned into him and left him laying on the deck, holding his back and ribs.
Yes, Chris was angry this day, my friends, but even his aggression how damn good he is when he had the footy in his hands.
You see, in a tight game, there are some people you just want to have the footy – Lewis was one of them. The difference between him kicking the footy, and someone at random… let’s just say Craig McGrath (sorry Craig… it was a random pick) is night and day. Lewis is a maestro, and his six inside 50s made a huge difference. That he split time between the middle and half-forward, having Mick Gayfer for company, only makes his efforts seem even better. And they were capped with a goal I’ll get to a little later.
Oh, and before I finish on Lewis (I’m a bit of a fan), I want to add something else.
The development in him as a player, and in terms of his mindset, from 1988 to 1990 is remarkable. I reviewed the Eagles’ loss to the Dees in the 88 Prelim a while back, and Lewis was this bright-eyed, bushy-tailed kid, with all the skill and all the promise. He was also heavily targeted by the Demons, when it came to the physical stuff.
Fast forward two years, and he has progressed from being the hunted to the hunter. He has an edge about him at this stage, and he looks and acts the part of a genuine dangerous superstar.
DARREN MILLANE
Millane’s 1990 finals series was a ripper, and this game was the pick of the bunch.
Playing on the wing, he consistently found space between the arcs, worked the footy up and down the ground, and his physical work was, as always a highlight.
At one point, John Worsfold extracted a fifty-metre penalty against Millane, but looking at it, the Collingwood Bull was doing what needed to be done. Worsfold had just roughed up Tony Francis, and Millane was having none of it. As we all know Woosha is no shrinking violet, but Millane is immediately in his face, and the two bulls went at it.
Almost in a panic, the ump waits a minute, then plucks the 50-metre penalty out of thin air as things seem to be settling of their own accord. Not sure it was completely necessary, as there had been multiple instances where 50s could have been paid all through the game, but were let go.
Millane’s game was not reflected well with advanced stats. He did the bulk of his work through the middle, and ended up with 34 touches, five intercepts, one clearance, two rebound 50s, and one inside 50. Not mind blowing, but he was consistently present when the footy needed to be won across half-back and through the guts, and his presence made those around him walk taller.
DWAYNE LAMB
Geez, he had a funny little running style – like Quasimodo in an Eagles jumper… but far out he could find the footy.
Lamb topped the disposal count for the Eagles, picking up 32, which included four clearances, five intercepts, and four inside 50s. He was the workhorse for the Eagles, doing the hard yards and feeding the footy to their better ball users.
BRETT HEADY
I have always loved watching Brett Heady play footy – I always thought he was playing chess whilst others were busy playing checkers, and you can actually see him working through situations in this game while others are simply reacting.
He’s quiet early, but once he warms up, every time he touches it, the Eagles look threatening.
He finished the game with three direct goal assists (two to Sumich), and always seemed to be able to find the ball outside fifty and punch the ball to meaningful positions. He had eight inside 50 deliveries amongst his 16 touches, and added two goals, himself.
Players like Heady (and to lesser degrees, Blake Caracella at Essendon, later on) were the type of players capable of bobbing up and tearing a team to bits, whilst not being the most potent individual forward on the ground. This game is evidence of this. He is classy, and demonstrates poise and skill in a game that had little room for either.
TONY SHAW
Just a ball magnet.
Early in the contest, Mick McGuane was everywhere – had the footy ona string, but it felt like he ran himself into the ground. The Pies needed a steady hand in the midfield, and they got it from Shaw.
He had 34 touches in a full four-quarter performance, and when you watch him, you wonder how this stubby-legged little bloke is covering ground and finding the footy all over the park.
Work ethic.
That’s how.
Shaw just wills himself to where the footy will be. Not many can do that – he doesn’t just run at the footy; he runs to the spot it’ll be next. One of our writers, Matt Parnell, recently wrote a column about Tim Mitchell, and said he had similar attributes. He is spot on, and it is a talent that very few possess.
Shaw had only three clearances, but added four rebound 50 disposals, six intercepts, and three inside 50s to a fine afternoon’s work.
CRAIG STARCEVICH
He was probably the equivalent player the Eagles needed in their forward line to get them over the line.
Played the role of a lead up half-forward brilliantly, to record 11 marks for the game, and with only one coming via the contest, it’s evident that his leading patterns and ability to get distance on his opponent quickly, gave Starcevich the room he needed to find the footy without an opponent hanging all over him like a cheap suit.
The only blemish on his game was that he was wayward in front of goal, slotting 0.2 for the game.
THE MATCHUPS
GUY MCKENNA VERSUS GAVIN BROWN
Oh, this was brilliant. Just two great footballers going at it in a one-on-one contest.
I have not seen someone get the better of Bluey McKenna the way Gavin Brown did in the first half of this game. In short, Brown gave him the business, took strong contested marks, bobbed up to find the footy at ground level, and even flew for a monster grab in the goal square.
And yet… Mick Malthouse refused to move McKenna because he knew he was the best man for the job on Brown. He persevered with him.
And McKenna repaid the faith by turning things around.
The defender’s ability to halve a contest and recover quickly became vital as the Eagles charged hard at the Pies, and with Brown doing the most of his damage in the first half, it is fair to say McKenna had the better of the second.
The stat lines for both players are impressive.
Brown had 24 touches, took eight grabs, and kicked three goals. McKenna had 16 touches, eight intercepts, six spoils, and four rebound 50s. It may seem on paper that this is a clear win to Brown, but it was truly a game of two halves between them.
MURRAY RANCE VERSUS BRIAN TAYLOR
Michael Brennan had the first crack at BT, and after Taylor took a couple of marks inside 50, Malthouse made the change and switched Rance onto the full forward.
It worked a treat… right up until it didn’t.
Rance was so good on Taylor for the remainder of the first quarter, and into the second, that BT was dragged, and it was on the pine he remained until halfway through the last quarter.
Then, as though he got tired of having splinters in his arse, BT leapt off the bench, re-entered the fray, took a wonderful, diving contested mark against Rance, and kicked two goals in rapid succession.
It was a great cameo from Taylor, who was incredible pumped to be back on the ground and contributing.
JOHN WORSFOLD VERSUS PETER DAICOS
At the end of the day, Daicos is an opportunist. You give him an inch, he’ll take a mile. You give him some rope, he won’t hang himself… he’ll tie you in knots with it.
Not that he was able to do that against Worsfold, but he did make the most of his chances, slotting four goals in a tight contest.
Woosha was able to run from defence on a few occasions, but the wily old Daicos, with that low centre of grvity, and his fakes and feigns, was able to wrong-foot Worsfold, and anyone who had the misfortune of playing on him.
Realistically, they would have spent around a half of footy playing opposite each other, but for footy purists, seeing a champion of the game being manned up by an emerging leader and star in his own right, is something that is worth having a look at.
THE MOMENTS
THE LEWIS GOAL
I’ve seen replay of the goal described below a hundred times. Daicos, on the boundary… gets the handball from Millane and checksides it through.
You know the one.
And yet, I had no memory of the Chris Lewis goal at the same end, half an hour before, that was every bit as good!
In a two-on-one, Lewis collects, fends off Scott Russell, and threads the needle from the opposite pocket to the Daicos goal. It is a mercurial piece of play from a brilliant player, and I am going to find the footage again and upload it, because it deserves to be shared. Just as good as the next one.
Edit – found it!
THE DAICOS GOAL
The above glosses over the Daicos goal, but it is one of his signature moments in a glorious career.
I loved the actions that led to it – a big Darren Millane bump to knock the ball loose, a Gavin Brown handball, Millane back onto it and a handball over the top to the mulletted Daicos, and then that unlikely (for the time) outside of the foot shot that is picture perfect.
Daicos was so rough around the edges, but with the footy in hand, he was something else. That goal was brilliant, but he also had a nice barrel from 55 metres out to hang his hat on in this game. Not his greatest game, but as was his penchant at the time, he always had something special for those watching.
THE DISAPPOINTMENTS
BRIAN TAYLOR’S LAST GAME
This was BT’s final game. Given the way he responded to his benching, it looked as though he could have really added something to the Pies for the remainder of the finals, but it wasn’t to be.
Much has been written and discussed about the relationship between BT and coach, Leigh Matthews, with the final straw apparently coming when Matthews ordered Taylor and several others off the training track in Grand Final week. It makes a great story, but the fact remains that Taylor’s knees were pretty shot by this stage, and the way they impacted his ability to perform was likely the largest reason he was removed from the team.
What a way to go out…
THE OAK TREE IN THE ACORN
The 1991 season saw the Eagles bolt out of the gate, and you can see why in this game. Blokes like Chris Lewis, I have already heaped praise on, but you can see the next generation coming through and ready to break out in this game.
Brett Heady, Dean Kemp and Craig Turley all have pivotal moments in this game, and they would become part of the nucleus of multiple premiership teams with West Coast. With McKenna, Lewis, and Chris Mainwaring already establishing themselves, this is the growth of a list that would become dominant in the first half of the 1990s, and in this game, you can almost see them blossoming into stars before your eyes.
THE STATS THAT DIDN’T MATTER… BACK THEN.
CLEARANCES
Tony Francis led the way with five for the Pies, and was equalled by Cris Lewis for West Coast. Interestingly, halfway through the first quarter, Francis completely forgot which way he was kicking, and won a clearance whilst kicking the wrong way. I can understand it happening at the first bounce, but 15 minutes in?
INSIDE 50S
Brett Heady was the number one man, registering eight for the game, with Chris Mainwaring adding seven. Lewis gave the Eagles the three top players in this category, as he added six.
For the Pies, Graeme Wright picked up five
ONE-PERCENTERS
John Worsfold gave a sign of things to come, registering seven in this game, with Bluey McKenna close behind, with six.
Ronnie McKeown matched McKenna at the other end with six, playing on Sumich.
INTERCEPTS
McKenna was the best at this aspect, picking up eight for the game. Following him was a group all with six, including McKeown, Shaw, Mainwaring, Rance, and Craig Kelly.
CONTESTED MARKS
Gavin Brown led the way with four, including a towering grab in the goal square in the second quarter. Sumich had three for the Eagles.
In total, 31 contested grabs were taken in this game. Given the leaders in the 2025 season averaged 11.3 per game (Western Bulldogs), you can markedly see how the game has changed away from a contested marking spectacle.
REBOUND 50S
Surprisingly low totals, with a lot of rebound opportunities not forthcoming due to spils, or the ball being buffeted over the 50 metre arc without anyone taking possession.
The leaders were Scott Watters, McKenna, and McKeown, all with four apiece.
GOAL ASSISTS
Brett Heady had three for the Eagles, whilst Greame Wright had two for the Pies.
QUICKIES
I’ve not given Gavin Brown enough credit for the versatile player he was, over the years. He was a footballer – not an athlete – and could play anywhere. Watching him in this one reminded me to take more notice.
Seeing Michael Gayfer playing as the first-release player at stoppages was interesting. He changed his role as years went on to become the “wet blanket” in defence, but he was a much more than people make him out to be.
This was also the final game of Steve Malaxos, who started well and then… was gone. He sat on the bench for over two quarters before reading back on in the last quarter. The way coaches used the interchange back then was crazy, in comparison to the more strategic use that would creep in over the next few years.
I thought the Eagles got a real raw deal from the umpires in the first half. Plenty of holding the ball decisions unpaid, only to have something similar paid against them. There were only 57 thousand people at Waverley for this game, and the Eagles didn’t have a vocal Victorian supporter base, but had they, I reckon a few more free kicks may have been awarded to them. The final result was 19-16 in the Pies’ favour.
Graeme Wright really lifted for the Pies in the last quarter. He was brilliant early, but faded through the middle of the game. In the last, however, he was all-guns-blazing, as his hard run returned to power the Pies forward.
BT trying to get in Chris Lewis’ face after slotting a last quarter goal just seemed unnecessary, but I suppose that is part of who Taylor was, as a player. Just made a big effort to seek out Lewis (who wasn’t benched for two and a half quarters) and made a scene. Lewis just walked away.
Strong game from Gavin Crosisca in defence. It seemed like every time the Pies needed a big spoil, or a body cracking in, Crosisca would do the job. Underrated performer.
Loved the way Chris Mainwaring willed himself into the contest in the last quarter. He was probably the Eagles’ most important player in the final 15-20 minutes, as he continually got to the footy both in the air and on the ground. Far out, he was a great wingman.
Finally, nice to see the recently retired Robert Wiley staying involved as the West Coast runner, getting absolutely in the way of a handball at one stage, as he ran off the ground. Professional mistake, that one.
THE WRAP UP
Was it a classic game? Or was it made a classic by the nailbiting ending?
Tough to say. It was close all day, had a few genuine highlights, and the finish added to it, but I just felt it lacked… something, and I am not even sure what that was. A dominant individual performance, perhaps? Maybe I’ve been conditioned to want that…
What is important to note is that this was Mick Malthouse’s first year at West Coast. He’d bring in Ashley McIntosh in the next 12 months, and that would change the way the West Coast back six operated.
The Pies would rally the next week and give the Eagles a whack as they geared up for a tilt at the flag. Whilst they would face Essendon twice over the rest of the finals, West Coast were their toughest obstacle, as was reflected in this game. Once they got over that hurdle, the premiership was theirs for the taking.
More from The Mongrel Time Machine here
As always, massive thanks to those who support this work. You can see the amount of care that goes into it. I love footy, I love writing about it, and I hope you enjoy reading it. Without you, this whole thing falls over. Sincerely… thank you – HB
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