“LOVELL is there, Williams is there, he throws it out to Lyon. He shoots, he goals. Melbourne are in front.” – Sandy Roberts, Melbourne v West Coast Eagles, elimination final, Waverley, 1988.
That classic piece of commentary by one of the doyens of footy broadcasting, was one of Melbourne’s most exciting finals win.
The ’88 elimination final – West Coast’s first VFL/AFL final – was won by the red and blue in the dying stages. A classy right-foot snap by the great Garry Lyon ensured the Demons advanced into the second week of the finals – and an eventual Grand Final against Hawthorn.
But with seven seconds remaining, Eagle Murray Wrensted had the opportunity to seal the victory for his side, but his shot on the run, from just inside 50 metres, sailed through for a point.
It was elation for Melbourne and heartbreak for West Coast.
Red and blue fans will remember Alan Johnson’s performance that day. A much-loved Demon, Johnson won two club best and fairest awards, and produced one of his best games in that final.
And quirkily, Jim Stynes, who was wearing No.11 by then, donned a long-sleeved No.26 jumper that day (which was Jay Viney’s number at the time – the younger brother of Todd).
Jim Stynes competes for the ball with West Coast's Laurie Keene in the 1990 first semi-final at Waverley
It was also the first of four finals between the two sides in six seasons, resulting in a genuine rivalry in the late 1980s/early 1990s
That two-point victory on a wet Waverley day remains Melbourne’s only win against the Eagles in finals.
Interestingly, Melbourne and West Coast played three finals at Waverley Park, with the other two being back-to-back first semi-finals in 1990-91.
Eagle Chris Lewis and Demon Glenn Lovett during the 1990 first semi-final at Waverley
The other – and most recent final between the two sides – was at the WACA, which like Waverley Park, is no longer used for AFL matches.
That match at the WACA came on the back of a magical couple of finals from the Melbourne class of ’94.
The Demons produced a 27-point win over the Blues in the third qualifying final – back when seventh (Melbourne) played second (Carlton) in the inaugural year of the final eight.
It was a stunning win, and it was backed up by a brilliant victory over the Bulldogs, highlighted by Lyon’s 10 goals. Only Carlton’s Harry ‘Soapy’ Vallence (twice), Collingwood’s Ron Todd (twice) and Geelong’s George Goninon, who all kicked 11 goals each, have booted more in a VFL/AFL final than Lyon.
David Schwarz was scintillating against the Blues and Dogs, and was genuinely pushing claims as the best key forward in the game. His form was Wayne Carey-like, before he underwent three knee reconstructions in the ensuing years. Upon reflection, Schwarz’s ability to return to the game and eventually represent Victoria in State-of-Origin and win a best and fairest was a remarkable achievement.
Other forwards shone too. The exciting Sean Charles kicked five goals and Martin Pike, who eventually became a four-time premiership player (one with North Melbourne and three with the Brisbane Lions), booted four against the Blues.
Allen Jakovich also produced some outstanding performances in 1994, but he didn’t play in the finals, due to a back injury, which ended his year after he kicked eight goals against Hawthorn at Princes Park in round 17. That game against the Hawks was also his last for the Demons.
Glenn Lovett, Andy Lovell, David Neitz, Matthew Febey, Andrew Obst, Todd Viney, Stephen Tingay, Brett Lovett, Jim Stynes and Sean Wight were just some of the Melbourne names to standout during the 1994 finals series.
Melbourne coach Neil Balme in the early 1990s with the team
But even the class of ’94 – which was arguably the best Melbourne team since 1964 (although today’s side could top it) – came up against one of the finest West Coast line-ups, featuring the likes of Glen Jakovich, Peter Matera, Guy McKenna, Dean Kemp, John Worsfold and Chris Mainwaring.
Although West Coast led by just 12 points at half-time, the Eagles dominated the second half and ran out 65-point winners.
It was a tough end to an otherwise exciting finals series – and season – as Neitz remembers.
“There were a few things to come out of the ’94 finals. There was a rampaging David Schwarz early in the finals campaign and Garry Lyon’s kicked 10 goals in three quarters of footy, so there were some real highlights in that year, which was Neil Balme’s second year as coach of the Dees,” he said.
“Unfortunately, it came crashing down in Perth, as the game didn’t go as we would’ve liked, and to top it off, they only had cold showers at the ground, so we walked from the ground back to our hotel, copping it from all of the punters hanging out in bars on the way home.
“It wasn’t a great finish to what was a reasonably good season.”
Neitz rated the class of ’94, alongside the team of 1998, which was Neale Daniher’s first in charge of the Demons, as the two standout teams of his career. Daniher’s team made a preliminary final against the Kangaroos at the MCG, before falling to the Roos by 30 points.
Neale Daniher took over the reins in 1998
“The ’94 side was a great team, but I thought the ’98 side was a pretty impressive side as well. Both had Jim Stynes, Garry Lyon, Todd Viney, but in ’98 we had a young group coming through, so I thought that was a pretty impressive side,” he said.
“This year, I think it’s a different side all together. In some ways, they’ve got elements of our 2000 [Grand Final] side, which is a young team coming through. But it just seems that they’ve got enough of those mid-tier, experienced players who can carry them through for some longevity.
“The game style that they’re playing is right on trend of where the game’s going, and they’re a group of hard-nuts. They’ve probably got as much depth as I’ve ever seen in a Melbourne footy club side.”
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Melbourne has played West Coast 50 times: 21 at Subiaco, 16 at MCG, four at the WACA, three at Waverley Park, two at Docklands, two at Princes Park, one at TIO Stadium (Darwin) and one at Optus Stadium.
On 17 occasions, the Demons have won.
Seven have come in Perth; six at Subiaco (round eight, 1989 by two points; round 20, 1990 by 36 points; round 14, 1998 by 17 points; round 22, 2000 by 70 points; round 19, 2002 by six points and round 14, 2017 by three points) and one at Optus Stadium (round 22, 2018 by 17 points).
There have been some great moments, and some key individual performances, against West Coast: Jakovich kissing his older brother Glen during Melbourne’s 13-point win at the MCG in round nine, 1994 still gets highlighted today.
High-flyer Russell Robertson played some excellent games against the Eagles, kicking 45 goals from 14 games – his best effort against any AFL team. In fact, no Demon has booted more goals against the Eagles. Robertson secured 27 in his last seven appearances against the Eagles, at almost an average of four goals per game.
Although there have been other wins over West Coast at the ‘G to enjoy, it’s been the ones in the west that have really stood out.
In fact, some of the victories across the Nullarbor, against the Eagles, have been among Melbourne’s finest victories in the past 30 years.
In round 20, 1990, Melbourne ended West Coast’s 15-game winning streak at home (Subiaco and WACA). At the end of an excellent win, 1982 Brownlow Medal winner Brian Wilson gave it back to the Subiaco crowd, as he came from the field. It was an emotion-charged win.
Melbourne’s win in round 14, 1998 was against the odds. The Demons had come off two heavy losses: a 95-point and 85-point loss against Geelong and St Kilda respectively, both at the MCG, before heading west. Without the likes of David Neitz, David Schwarz, Jeff Farmer, Glenn Lovett, Anthony Ingerson, Jamie Shanahan and Paul Hopgood, Melbourne notched up an excellent win.
And although he wasn’t part of the win, Neitz has fond recollections of that match.
“There were a whole lot of injured guys for that game and they were all over at my house playing cards. We were thinking ‘we’re no chance to win, with all of us not playing’,” he said with a laugh.
“We went over to Perth with a bunch of kids and some old hands, including Garry Lyon, Stephen Tingay and Todd Viney, who played a cracker of a game. All of these young fellas just came good – they were amazing. They played a phenomenal game and got the win.
“It was in trying circumstances and in a hostile environment, but they helped get our season back on track. It was one of the best wins with our group, with almost half the regulars not being there.”
In round 22, 2000, Melbourne blasted the Eagles. Adem Yze starred with 29 disposals, five goals and three Brownlow votes. The Demons kicked a score of 26.14 (170) – only 10 times have they kicked a higher score than that. The Demons came off a three-game losing streak to overcome the Eagles by a goal. Neitz kicked four as Melbourne went on to make the finals.
David Neitz and Eagles skipper Guy McKenna - playing his last match - prior to R22, 2000
It proved to be the red and blue’s last win over the Eagles in Perth until 2017.
Which brings us to Tom McDonald’s moment in round 14, last year.
McDonald kicked a then career-best five goals, including the sealer – over his head – in the dying stages, while co-captain Jack Viney had a blinder with 38 disposals. Not only was it Melbourne’s first win over West Coast in WA in 15 years, it was the red and blue’s first victory over the Eagles since 2009.
In many respects, it was a breakout game for McDonald up forward, although he was producing good form in attack in the lead-up, after switching from defence. Still, that performance was massive – not only for him, but the team.
McDonald celebrates his match winner against the Eagles in 2017 (Photo: Will Russell)
And his efforts this season, after missing the opening five rounds through injury, have been brilliant. He has kicked 53 goals this year from 19 games. He was outstanding with four goals against Hawthorn in last Friday night’s semi-final win.
McDonald also played a key role when he kicked three goals in Melbourne’s cracking victory in its first visit to Optus Stadium – just a tick over a month ago.
After Mark LeCras put the Eagles in front for the first time – by one-point at the 18-minute mark of the final term – Melbourne steadied via Jake Melksham, who kicked two of the last three goals, and Dean Kent, who kicked truly.
Melksham was outstanding with four goals, while Max Gawn, James Harmes and Angus Brayshaw were super in the win. Mitch Hannan, Nathan Jones, Clayton Oliver and Dom Tyson were others to shine.
Melksham was massive in round 22, 2018 (Photo: Daniel Carson)
Not only was it a memorable victory, it secured Melbourne’s first finals appearance since 2006.
As a supporter, there that day, Neitz said he wouldn’t forget it.
“We’ve had some memorable victories over in the west and I went over for the most recent victory in the new stadium – the noise was phenomenal,” he said.
“West Coast came back and the noise that erupted around the stadium, you thought ‘gee, it’s going to be hard to come back from here’. But that resilience to steady and go again, get the victory, and get us into a finals series, was just absolutely enormous.
“No doubt, that’ll hold the boys in really good stead.”
Which brings us to this Saturday afternoon.
Melbourne will take on West Coast at Optus Stadium for a place in this year’s Grand Final – against either Richmond or Collingwood.
Neitz said if Melbourne got the win and secured its first Grand Final since 2000 – when he was captain – it would mean the world to him and so many others.
“It’ll be absolute excitement for me, if we win,” he said.
“Like every Melbourne supporter, you just hope that these young guys can fulfil a dream – their own dream, and the dreams of us all. But there has just been pure excitement for what they’ve been able to do.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to get to feel those feelings while we’re over in Perth and enjoy a memorable victory.”
A sentiment shared by everyone who bleeds red and blue.
