HORN ON WEDNESDAY – A SECTION GRAND FINALS – A RECENT HISTORY

Back in the early 80s, Uni Blues were the hot-pops for several grand finals but fell at the last hurdle. Fast forward several years and Ormond were far from all the rage heading into their seven consecutive grand finals but they won five of them. It’s not a phenomenon exclusive to the amateurs but there’s no doubt that A Section grand finals really can leave tipsters looking like mugs.

A lot of people will disagree with me here but I reckon the gap between an amateurs home and away match and an amateurs finals match is wider than any other competition. Put it this way, when you’re getting paid, you’re pretty much expected to perform at a similar intensity, week in, week out. As an amateur, well, you never go half pace of course, but you don’t run out every week like Nathan Buckley either. You’re probably working 50 hour weeks, missing the odd training session, having a punt, fighting with your girlfriend and footy gets relegated down the list of priorities for a month or so. Come September however, it’s game on. Again, coaches and some players will hate me saying that. But the upside down results and increased standard gives the theory some merit.

The first A Section grand final I saw was in 1991. That year, North Old Boys were the dominant side during the home and away season. But when De La Salle went in the rooms at half time more than 50 points the better, they could be forgiven for cracking open the bubbly. But on a rotten old spring day, the NOBS came storming home. My memory is never good on such things but I think their coach Robert Hyde was on crutches and had to negotiate about a thousand people to deliver his three quarter time address. The last quarter was one of the greats, with the NOBS falling short by five points. I was about 12 at the time supporting my brother’s NOBS team and remember it as the first time I have ever seen a group of grown men in tears.

A Collegians side littered with club legends then snared the next two A Section flags and an equally star-studded Old Melburnians side saluted in 1994. Then the Xaverian show rolled into the town. They won in a canter in 1995, before their famous premiership in 1996. The following year was one of the best grand finals I have seen. A brave Scotch side was just thwarted by a couple of miracle Matthew Bourke goals from the boundary line. They did a number on the Cardinals the following year and followed suit with a ten goal annihilation of Old Melburnians in 1999. As per my earlier point, Old Melburnians were one of the better sides I have seen in the home and away season but come September, they were made to look second rate.

The St Bernards side of 2000 were a pretty formidable line up as well. At three quarter time, they looked good things to secure their first top flight flag since 1975. But the Xaverians rattled home with a ten goal to one final term and the mystique grew a leg. In a famous game of amateur footy the following year, St Kevins put an end to the six-year premiership run in an epic first semi final. It was Marcellin who would bring home the pennant however, securing their first ever A Section flag. St Bernards finally extracted revenge over Xavs the following year, with Danny Byrne playing one of the best games ever seen at Elsternwick Park.

The Xaverians bounced back in 2003 (after seemingly being gone for all money a week before in the preliminary final) against a St Bernards side oozing with talent. Several of what are now Melbourne’s highest paid suburban footballers were part of that side but it counted for zip when Xavs pantsed them. St Bernards drew the short straw the following year as well, going down to Uni Blues, who broke a 44-year premiership drought in the process.

The same core group fronted up again the following year and went into the grand final against Xavs as hot favourites. But the red and blacks, who had come via the first semi final, played out of their skins, shut down the much touted students and pulled off one of the most remarkable wins ever seen at Sportscover Arena. There were no miracles the following year, when a Haileybury side littered with ex league players finally brought home a long awaited A Section premiership. I was standing next to the Haileybury coaching box and will never forget the performance of Peter Nicholson that day. He coached well and didn’t miss a beat but how he didn’t have a heart attack remains one of the great mysteries of VAFA football. And how the little kids who kept leaping into his box and shouting in his ear escaped with their lives never ceases to amaze me as well. Last year’s grand final between Xavs and Brighton was as good as over at the fifteen minute mark of the first term, with the newcomers given a lesson in grand final footy in an opening term barrage.

So there you have it – a quick précis of A Section grand finals over the last couple of decades. Like I said, odds-on favourites don’t have the best of records, games can turn in the blink of an eye and winning a granny via the preliminary final is not unusual. On Sunday, they’ll be four different clubs taking part. That, combined with the fact that St Bedes/Mentone have arguably the largest supporter base in the amateurs, should ensure a bumper crowd. It could be one of the last grand finals ever played at Elsternwick Park so don’t miss it for quids!