1989 VFA season

108th season of the Victorian Football Association December 2017 December 2017 1989 9 April – 24 September 19891989 VFA Premiership Season https://australianfootball.com/seasons/season/vfa/193/premiership%2Bseason/8/8/1989/advanced Australian Football 7 April 2025 https://australianfootball.com/seasons/season/vfa/193/premiership%2Bseason/8/8/1990/advanced 7 April 2025 15 (14 from round 10 onwards) 6 8 Ian Rickman( – 125 goals) Saade Ghazi( – 22 votes) 132 23,272 (D1 Grand Final, vs ) white 1988 VFA season 1988 white 1990 VFA season 1990 The 1989 VFA season was the 108th season of the Victorian Football Association (VFA), an Australian rules football competition played in the state of Victoria.Player Lists for 1989 https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Season/1989Players.php The VFA Project 20 June 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250518195250/https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Season/1989Players.php 18 May 2025 The season began on 9 April and concluded on 24 September, comprising an 18-match home-and-away season over 20 rounds, followed by a four-week finals series.Victorian Football Association Season 1989 - Division One https://www.elitetograssroots.net/vfa/ww/1989.htm Elite to Grassroots 7 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20241213142158/http://www.elitetograssroots.net/vfa/ww/1989.htm 13 December 2024Game by Game for 1989 https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Season/1989.php The VFA Project 7 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20241207214744/https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Season/1989.php 7 December 2024 won the premiership for the second year in a row and the sixth time overall, defeating by 20 points in the 1989 VFA Grand Final.Coburg celebrates its history and welcome 14 new Life Members https://coburgfc.com.au/2019/07/15/coburg-celebrates-its-history-and-welcome-14-new-life-members/ Coburg Football Club 7 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250330080120/https://coburgfc.com.au/2019/07/15/coburg-celebrates-its-history-and-welcome-14-new-life-members/ 30 March 2025 15 July 2019 As of 2025, it is the last time Coburg has won a senior VFA/VFL premiership.Coburg Premiership Teams https://websites.mygameday.app/club_info.cgi?client=0-118-10471-150676-14515131&sID=55904&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=5432913 GameDay Coburg Football Club 7 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250407054432/https://websites.mygameday.app/club_info.cgi?client=0-118-10471-150676-14515131&sID=55904&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=5432913 7 April 2025 13 July 2008 This was the first season since 1960 in which the VFA operated as a single-division competition, having operated as a two-division competition with promotion and relegation for the previous 28 years.Baum Greg Whatever goes down stays up, sometimes https://www.smh.com.au/sport/whatever-goes-down-stays-up-sometimes-20150522-gh7jp7.html Sydney Morning Herald 16 June 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20190209234258/https://www.smh.com.au/sport/whatever-goes-down-stays-up-sometimes-20150522-gh7jp7.html 9 February 2019 22 May 2015Wilson Ian 30 Years On https://www.werribeefc.com.au/news/41-30-years-on Werribee Football Club 16 June 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20221114161531/https://www.werribeefc.com.au/news/41-30-years-on 14 November 2022 24 May 2021 Association membership and structure End of Division 2 and withdrawal of Geelong West After several years of speculation, the Association's second division was dissolved for the 1989 season and competition was re-combined into a single division, ending 28 years of partitioned competition. The future of Division 2 had been uncertain for most of the 1980s, and both the temporary competition restructures of 1982,The Age Melbourne Marc Fiddian 26 12 September 1980 New VFA may save 'doomed' and the proposals of the FORT review of December 1986The Age Melbourne Len Johnson 39 6 December 1986 Radical plan to cut VFA to 12 teams had sought to remove promotion and relegation between the divisions because the gap in both on-field performances and off-field viability between the strongest and weakest teams had widened. Talk of the imminent demise of Division 2 began following the folding of Waverley in March 1988, at which point the size of the Association had reduced to 17 teams;The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Linda Pearce 70 30 March 1988 One VFA division in 1989 – chief Mordialloc's withdrawal a month later reduced the size to sixteen. By the end of the year, president Brook Andersen confirmed that the 1989 season would operate as a single division; and, that while his preference was for a twelve- or fourteen-team competition, all sixteen teams would be given the opportunity to justify their positions in the competition.The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne 11 October 1988 67 VFA make-up due out in a month The only club to withdraw between the end of 1988 and the beginning of 1989 was Geelong West. The club was heavily in debt, in large part because population growth had boosted the popularity of the Geelong Football League above that of the Association in Geelong, and it was unable to secure the $50,000 in sponsorship it needed to remain viable; and, throughout the 1980s it had been unable to field a competitive Thirds teamThe Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Linda Pearce 22 October 1988 95 Roosters face chop due to difficulties in attracting juniors players willing to play in Melbourne every second week, rather than in the local Geelong competitions.The Age Melbourne Sam Prenesti 26 16 April 1987 Juniors the hope for club on the outer The club decided that it needed to return to the local competition, where operating costs were lower, and where it would attract stronger support by performing at a more competitive level, and it formally withdrew from the Association on 27 October.The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Linda Pearce 29 October 1988 103 Ailing Geelong West quits VFA The club was not permitted to join the GFL in its own right due to its proximity to the existing St Peters Football Club,Geelong Advertiser Geelong, VIC Ondrej Foltin 25 October 1988 28 Geelong West faces strict GFL deadline but St Peters saw its own long-term viability as uncertain, so was willing to enter a merger. The resultant club was known as the Geelong West St Peters Football Club.Geelong Advertiser Melbourne Glen Quartermain 28 October 1988 28 Roosters out of VFA – merger with St Peters Consequently, the size of the Association was reduced to fifteen teams, the smallest since 1957. With fifteen clubs in one division, the Association introduced the McIntyre final five system to replace the Page–McIntyre final four system. Uncompetitiveness of former Division 2 clubs and the withdrawal of Sunshine During the two-division era, the Division 2 premiers had usually struggled to be competitive in their first season in the Division 1; so, in 1989, it was an unprecedented challenge for clubs who were already weak in Division 2 to adapt to playing former top division clubs in the single-division competition. The top two from the 1988 home-and-away season, Oakleigh and Werribee, were reasonably competitive, finishing with records of 8–10; but the other three clubs, Dandenong, Camberwell and Sunshine, were completely uncompetitive, and quickly risked causing embarrassment to the Association.The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 10 April 1989 83 Bullant surge fires Box HillThe Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 8 May 1989 86 Crisis looms for VFA The Association board of management began discussing plans to reduce the size of the Association to twelve teams,The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 9 May 1989 75 VFA plans to cut out three clubs but the board needed a two-thirds majority in a vote of club delegates to gain the power to set the number of clubs in the competition, and the vote was only 7–8 in favour of granting the powers.The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 6 June 1989 66 Clubs knock back VFA relegation plan The weakest club was Sunshine.Ruotsalainen Meike Skinner Reserve, Braybrook (Sunshine VFA), Victoria https://scoreboardpressure.com/2014/03/07/skinner-reserve-braybrook-sunshine-vfa-victoria/ Scoreboard pressure 16 June 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20240822141722/https://scoreboardpressure.com/2014/03/07/skinner-reserve-braybrook-sunshine-vfa-victoria/ 22 August 2024 7 March 2014 The step up from Division 2 to the combined division was too great for it to manage, and after eight games, it was winless with a percentage of 31,The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 5 June 1989 80 Dolphins torpedo Oaks and had twice conceded scores in excess of 300 points. On 8 June, Sunshine announced its withdrawal from the seniors and reserves competitions for the rest of the season.Smithers Patrick Sunshine pulls out of VFA https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=L5ZVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EZcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1336%2C6891778 The Age 7 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250407050051/https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=L5ZVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EZcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1336%2C6891778 7 April 2025 26 9 June 1989 It intended to use the remainder of the season to regroup, secure local sponsorships, and target strong Footscray District Football League players and fringe Footscray Football Club League players to recruit a competitive playing list for the 1990 season. The club granted unconditional clearances to its players, hoping they would return to the club in 1990; and it continued to field an Under-19s team for the rest of the season, against the protests of some teams.The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 22 June 1989 77 Talks on future of VFA The eight games Sunshine had played were expunged from the records, and the rest of the senior and reserves fixture was redrawn to give all teams an equal number of games.The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 9 June 1989 72 Sun sets on CrowsThe Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Linda Pearce 10 June 1989 72 Sunshine allows Crows to fly away At the end of the year, Sunshine was confident that it had rebuilt itself to be a viable and competitive club; but the Association disagreed and terminated its licence permanently at the end of the season.The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 26 October 1989 91 Sunshine licence terminated Camberwell and Dandenong were a little more competitive than Sunshine. Camberwell defeated Sunshine, but since that game was expunged from the records, the club went on to officially finish the season winless in all three grades;Recorder Victorian Football Association fixture program season 1989 Victorian Football Association 35 24 September 1989 its seniors conceded more than 200 points in each of its first six games of the season (excluding the game against Sunshine) and eight times overall. Dandenong's sole win for the season came against Camberwell, and it conceded 200 points six times during the year.Recorder VFA ladders Victorian Football Association 40 24 September 1989 Home-and-away season In the home-and-away season, each team played eighteen games over 20 rounds. The fixture after Round 9 was redrawn following the withdrawal of Sunshine from the senior and reserves competition (the under-19s fixture was unchanged). The top five then contested the finals under the McIntyre final five system. The primary finals venue was North Port Oval, and the grand final was played at Windy Hill. Round 1 Round 1 Sunday, 9 April (2:10pm) Dandenong 7.8 (50) A Springvale 32.25 (217) Shepley Oval Dandenong v Springvale https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1989-R01-G01.php The VFA Project 8 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20240808032545/https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1989-R01-G01.php 8 August 2024 9 April 1989 Sunday, 9 April (2:10pm) Oakleigh 17.12 (114) A 30.17 (197) Warrawee Park Oakleigh v Williamstown https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1989-R01-G02.php The VFA Project 8 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20241126191037/https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1989-R01-G02.php 26 November 2024 9 April 1989 Sunday, 9 April (2:10pm) 10.6 (66) A 25.17 (167) North Port Oval Port Melbourne v Coburg https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1989-R01-G03.php The VFA Project 8 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20241126175317/https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1989-R01-G03.php 26 November 2024 9 April 1989 Sunday, 9 April (2:10pm) Prahran 18.11 (119) A 18.15 (123) Toorak Park Prahran v Frankston https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1989-R01-G04.php The VFA Project 8 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20241127010335/https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1989-R01-G04.php 27 November 2024 9 April 1989 Sunday, 9 April (2:10pm) Preston 16.14 (110) A 22.7 (139) Preston City Oval Preston v Box Hill https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1989-R01-G05.php The VFA Project 8 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250408151015/https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1989-R01-G05.php 8 April 2025 9 April 1989 Sunday, 9 April (2:10pm) 16.15 (111) A 26.17 (173) Beach Road Oval Sandringham v Werribee https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1989-R01-G06.php The VFA Project 8 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20210517101548/https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1989-R01-G06.php 17 May 2021 9 April 1989 Sunday, 9 April (2:10pm)(result expunged) Brunswick 53.15 (333) H Sunshine 12.6 (78) Gillon Oval VFA https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=4U8pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DJcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2025%2C9117238 The Age 7 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250407015201/https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=4U8pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DJcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2025%2C9117238 7 April 2025 32 10 April 1989 Camberwell captain Glenn Brown kicked a goal after the final siren to defeat .Prenesti Sam Frankston fights of Prahran to grab victory after the final siren https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=4U8pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DJcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4015%2C9107839 The Age 7 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250407014639/https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=4U8pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DJcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4015%2C9107839 7 April 2025 31 10 April 1989 Prior to the result being expunged, 53.15 (333) was Brunswick's highest-ever score, surpassing the record of 46.31 (307) it had set in the 1983 Division 2 season (also against ).VFA-VFL - RECORDS https://www.hardballget.net/leagues-vfa-vfl-records.html Hard Ball Get 6 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20231206142225/https://www.hardballget.net/leagues-vfa-vfl-records.html 6 December 2023Brunswick v Sunshine https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1983-D2-R12-G02.php The VFA Project 22 June 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250622002415/https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1983-D2-R12-G02.php 22 June 2025 3 July 1983 Round 2 Round 2 Sunday, 16 April (2:10pm) 27.19 (181) H 13.10 (88) Coburg City Oval VFA football https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=upVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CJcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4369%2C5816339 The Age 7 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250407021418/https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=upVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CJcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4369%2C5816339 7 April 2025 37 17 April 1989 Sunday, 16 April (2:10pm) 20.22 (142) H Dandenong 17.14 (116) Box Hill City Oval Sunday, 16 April (2:10pm) 32.19 (211) H Camberwell 11.9 (85) Frankston Park Sunday, 16 April (2:10pm) 17.13 (115) H Preston 8.10 (58) Williamstown Cricket Ground Smithers Patrick Seagulls get going but the going was tough https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=upVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CJcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2661%2C5765751 The Age 7 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250407021803/https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=upVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CJcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2661%2C5765751 7 April 2025 33 17 April 1989 Sunday, 16 April (2:10pm) Brunswick 19.17 (131) H Oakleigh 13.15 (93) Gillon Oval Ruotsalainen Meike Alex G. Gillon Oval (Brunswick VFA), Victoria https://scoreboardpressure.com/2014/03/21/alex-g-gillon-oval-brunswick-vfa-victoria/ Scoreboard pressure 16 June 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20240822141801/https://scoreboardpressure.com/2014/03/21/alex-g-gillon-oval-brunswick-vfa-victoria/ 22 August 2024 21 March 2014 Sunday, 16 April (2:10pm) 19.12 (126) A 19.18 (132) Chirnside Park Sunday, 16 April (2:10pm) Springvale 31.19 (205) H Prahran 12.9 (81) Springvale Reserve Sunshine Round 3 Round 3 Sunday, 23 April (2:10pm) Oakleigh 16.11 (117) A 23.20 (158) Warrawee Park 5,000 Sunday, 23 April (2:10pm) Dandenong 10.10 (70) A 25.29 (179) Shepley Oval 1,000 Sunday, 23 April (2:10pm) Preston 13.13 (91) A Springvale 24.18 (162) Preston City Oval 2,400 Sunday, 23 April (2:10pm) 18.18 (126) A 19.14 (128) North Port Oval Sunday, 23 April (2:10pm) 7.15 (57) A 28.16 (184) Beach Road Oval 4,500 Sunday, 23 April (2:10pm) Prahran 18.15 (123) A Brunswick 24.18 (162) Toorak Park 3,000 Sunday, 23 April (2:10pm)(result expunged) Camberwell 27.14 (176) H Sunshine 18.17 (125) Camberwell Sports Ground 2,000 VFA https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=2pZVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EJcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3336%2C3466896 The Age 7 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250407022039/https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=2pZVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EJcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3336%2C3466896 7 April 2025 28 24 April 1989 *Sunshine led Camberwell by 45 points midway through the third quarter before Camberwell scored the final eighteen goals of the game to win by 51 points.Prenesti Sam Camberwell does it simply https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=2pZVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EJcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4109%2C3454449 The Age 7 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250407022438/https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=2pZVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EJcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4109%2C3454449 7 April 2025 26 24 April 1989The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 24 April 1989 76 Cobras strike, Crows stoned Round 4 Round 4 Sunday, 30 April (2:10pm) Brunswick 28.20 (188) H 17.15 (117) Gillon Oval 3,500 Sunday, 30 April (2:10pm) 34.14 (218) H Camberwell 18.9 (117) Chirnside Park 2,500 Sunday, 30 April (2:10pm) 22.18 (150) H Preston 7.16 (58) Coburg City Oval 2,500 Prenesti Sam Bullants lose their bite in mediocre display https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=rJVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FJcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1329%2C284921 The Age 7 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250407025712/https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=rJVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FJcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1329%2C284921 7 April 2025 31 1 May 1989 Sunday, 30 April (2:10pm) 10.17 (77) A Springvale 19.20 (134) North Port Oval 2,000 Sunday, 30 April (2:10pm) 20.19 (139) H 15.15 (105) Box Hill City Oval Sunday, 30 April (2:10pm) 36.22 (238) H Prahran 8.6 (54) Williamstown Cricket Ground 3,481 Sunday, 30 April (2:10pm)(result expunged) Oakleigh 34.16 (220) H Sunshine 19.12 (125) Warrawee Park 1,000 VFA https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=rJVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FJcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4210%2C294991 The Age 7 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250407030705/https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=rJVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FJcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4210%2C294991 7 April 2025 32 1 May 1989 Dandenong Round 5 Round 5 Sunday, 7 May (2:10pm) Springvale 17.14 (116) A 22.11 (143) Springvale Reserve Sunday, 7 May (2:10pm) Camberwell 8.9 (57) A 46.21 (297) Camberwell Sports Ground Sunday, 7 May (2:10pm) 25.19 (169) H Prahran 9.15 (69) Chirnside Park Sunday, 7 May (2:10pm) 18.14 (122) A 19.15 (129) Beach Road Oval Sunday, 7 May (2:10pm) Dandenong 17.7 (109) A 33.25 (223) Shepley Oval Sunday, 7 May (2:10pm) 27.13 (175) H 12.12 (84) Williamstown Cricket Ground Sunday, 7 May (2:10pm) (result expunged) Sunshine 9.5 (59) A Preston 49.21 (315) Skinner Reserve Sunshine v Preston https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1989-R05-G07.php The VFA Project 7 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20240221054756/https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1989-R05-G07.php 21 February 2024 7 May 1989 Brunswick 's 46.21 (297) against is the club's highest-ever score, and the 240-point margin is also the club's biggest win. At half-time, and were tied at 8.7 (55) each, before Williamstown kicked 19 goals in the second half to win by 91 points.Round 5, 1989 https://vflfooty.com/round-5-1989 VFL Footy 20 June 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250620022136/https://vflfooty.com/round-5-1989 20 June 2025 6 May 2009 Prior to the result being expunged, 49.21 (315) was Preston's highest-ever score, surpassing the record of 38.21 (249) it had set in the 1986 Division 1 season against Camberwell.Northern Bullants - Biggest Wins https://australianfootball.com/clubs/biggest_wins/northern%2Bbullants/178/season_from/1858/season_to/2026/league/all/competition/all/division/All/division_type/all/round_type/all/limit/500/filter/show Australian Football 7 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250407031940/https://australianfootball.com/clubs/biggest_wins/northern%2Bbullants/178/season_from/1858/season_to/2026/league/all/competition/all/division/All/division_type/all/round_type/all/limit/500/filter/show 7 April 2025 The 256-point margin was also Preston's biggest win, surpassing the 204-point margin it had also set against Camberwell in 1986. Preston forward Jamie Shaw kicked a career-high 19 goals.Annual Report and Financial Statements 2008 http://www.northernbullants.com.au/media/2008%20Annual%20Report.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20090916081117/http://www.northernbullants.com.au/media/2008%20Annual%20Report.pdf Northern Bullants 22 June 2025 16 September 2009 19 17 March 2009 Jamie Shaw kicked 19 in one match against Sunshine in 1989 but the game along with all others Sunshine had played was annulled when they dropped out after eight rounds.Almanac Teams: Altered states, 28 (1980- ) https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/almanac-teams-altered-states-28-1980/ The Footy Almanac 7 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20240807090915/https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/almanac-teams-altered-states-28-1980/ 7 August 2024 14 February 2022 Round 6 Round 6 Saturday, 13 May (2:10pm) Brunswick 20.9 (129) A 18.25 (133) Gillon Oval Sunday, 14 May (2:10pm) 31.26 (212) H Camberwell 15.17 (107) Box Hill City Oval Sunday, 14 May (2:10pm) Oakleigh 27.13 (175) H 16.16 (112) Warrawee Park Prenesti Sam 12 to Pretto as Oakleigh wallops Werribee https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=wZVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CZcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6249%2C4265684 The Age 7 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250407034625/https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=wZVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CZcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6249%2C4265684 7 April 2025 31 15 May 1989 Sunday, 14 May (2:10pm) Springvale 22.19 (151) H 16.12 (108) Springvale Reserve Sunday, 14 May (2:10pm) 9.14 (68) A 24.17 (161) Frankston Park Sunday, 14 May (2:10pm) Prahran 30.23 (203) H Dandenong 14.13 (97) Toorak Park Sunday, 14 May (2:10pm) (result expunged) 20.16 (136) H Sunshine 9.13 (67) North Port Oval VFA https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=wZVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CZcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2748%2C4273529 The Age 7 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250407034344/https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=wZVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CZcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2748%2C4273529 7 April 2025 32 15 May 1989 Preston Round 7 Round 7 Sunday, 21 May (2:10pm) 30.10 (190 H 10.12 (72) Williamstown Cricket Ground 4,832 Sunday, 21 May (2:10pm) Dandenong 9.10 (64) A Brunswick 29.27 (201) Shepley Oval 1,000 Sunday, 21 May (2:10pm) 22.15 (147) H Preston 14.13 (97) North Port Oval 1,500 Prenesti Sam Port win a triumph for Condon and learning https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=53k1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=D5cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3477%2C287341 The Age 7 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250407035857/https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=53k1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=D5cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3477%2C287341 7 April 2025 31 22 May 1989 Sunday, 21 May (2:10pm) 13.19 (97) H 10.15 (75) Coburg City Oval 1,800 Sunday, 21 May (2:10pm) 18.19 (127) A Oakleigh 26.12 (168) Beach Road Oval 3,000 Sunday, 21 May (2:10pm) Camberwell 15.10 (100) A Prahran 31.15 (201) Camberwell Sports Ground 2,000 Sunday, 21 May (2:10pm) (result expunged) Sunshine 2.12 (24) A Springvale 24.26 (170) Skinner Reserve 1,000 VFA https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=53k1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=D5cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1528%2C292735 The Age 7 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250407035504/https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=53k1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=D5cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1528%2C292735 7 April 2025 32 22 May 1989 Round 8 Round 8 Sunday, 28 May (2:10pm) 14.18 (102) A 19.19 (133) Chirnside Park Sunday, 28 May (2:10pm) Brunswick 25.17 (167) H 20.18 (138) Gillon Oval Sunday, 28 May (2:10pm) Preston 43.12 (270) H Camberwell 13.14 (92) Preston City Oval Sunday, 28 May (2:10pm) Oakleigh 23.13 (151) H Dandenong 13.11 (89) Warrawee Park Sunday, 28 May (2:10pm) 20.16 (136) H Prahran 18.18 (126) Beach Road Oval Sunday, 28 May (2:10pm) 13.14 (92) A 24.14 (158) Coburg City Oval Sunday, 28 May (2:10pm) (result expunged) ?.? (233) H Sunshine ?.? (65) Frankston Park Springvale With the result in its round 5 victory over Sunshine expunged, 43.12 (270) became Preston's highest-ever score. Round 9 Round 9 Sunday, 4 June (2:10pm) 25.16 (166) H Camberwell 4.10 (34) Williamstown Cricket Ground 1,368 Sunday, 4 June (2:10pm) Prahran 4.15 (39) A 19.15 (129) Toorak Park 2,200 Sunday, 4 June (2:10pm) 14.12 (96) H 13.8 (86) North Port Oval 2,000 Sunday, 4 June (2:10pm) Oakleigh 11.17 (83) A 16.8 (104) Warrawee Park 1,000 Sunday, 4 June (2:10pm) Dandenong 4.11 (35) A Preston 8.14 (62) Shepley Oval 700 Sunday, 4 June (2:10pm) Springvale 24.17 (161) H Brunswick 18.11 (119) Springvale Reserve 2,500 Springvale finally revealed as top-five material https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=LJZVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EZcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6215%2C4361171 The Age 7 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250407045347/https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=LJZVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EZcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6215%2C4361171 7 April 2025 41 5 June 1989 Sunday, 4 June (2:10pm) (result expunged) 30.26 (206) H Sunshine 3.5 (23) Box Hill City Oval 1,325 VFA https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=LJZVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EZcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2604%2C4368844 The Age 7 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250407044307/https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=LJZVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EZcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2604%2C4368844 7 April 2025 42 5 June 1989 Although the result was expunged, this was Sunshine's last senior VFA game before the club withdrew from the 1989 season and subsequently folded. Round 10 Round 10 Sunday, 18 June (2:10pm) 17.15 (117) H 8.7 (57) Frankston Park Sunday, 18 June (2:10pm) 7.9 (51) H 6.12 (48) Preston City Oval Sunday, 18 June (2:10pm) 7.4 (46) A 15.18 (108) Camberwell Sports Ground Sunday, 18 June (2:10pm) 9.10 (64) H 3.8 (26) Toorak Park Sunday, 18 June (2:10pm) 7.9 (51) H 5.8 (38) Coburg City Oval Prenesti Sam Coburg balance rises above the heavy going https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=zZVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GpcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2510%2C5896822 The Age 20 June 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250620020731/https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=zZVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GpcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2510%2C5896822 20 June 2025 38 19 June 1989 Sunday, 18 June (2:10pm) 2.10 (22) A 10.12 (72) Shepley Oval VFA https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=zZVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GpcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3474%2C5892762 The Age 20 June 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250620020939/https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=zZVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GpcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3474%2C5892762 20 June 2025 38 19 June 1989 , Round 11 Round 11 Sunday, 25 June (2:10pm) 10.13 (73) H 6.6 (42) North Port Oval Sunday, 25 June (2:10pm) 11.7 (73) A 18.11 (119) Camberwell Sports Ground Sunday, 25 June (2:10pm) 20.15 (135) H 15.8 (98) Beach Road Oval Sunday, 25 June (2:10pm) 6.5 (41) A 13.10 (88) Chirnside Park Sunday, 25 June (2:10pm) 8.8 (56) H 8.3 (51) Coburg City Oval Sunday, 25 June (2:10pm) 14.9 (93) A 18.11 (119) Warrawee Park Sunday, 25 June (2:10pm) 13.12 (90) D 14.6 (90) Williamstown Cricket Ground Round 12 Round 12 Sunday, 2 July (2:10pm) 21.12 (138) H 9.13 (67) Box Hill City Oval Sunday, 2 July (2:10pm) 12.7 (79) H 9.9 (63) Gillon Oval Sunday, 2 July (2:10pm) 12.9 (81) A 27.17 (179) North Port Oval Sunday, 2 July (2:10pm) 26.25 (181) H 11.11 (77) Beach Road Oval Sunday, 2 July (2:10pm) 13.11 (89) H 6.7 (43) Springvale Reserve Sunday, 2 July (2:10pm) 16.10 (106) H 10.11 (71) Chirnside Park , Round 13 Round 13 Sunday, 9 July (2:10pm) 10.4 (64) H 7.8 (50) Coburg City Oval Sunday, 9 July (2:10pm) 16.14 (110) A 18.12 (120) Camberwell Sports Ground Sunday, 9 July (2:10pm) 21.24 (150) H 9.9 (63) Box Hill City Oval Sunday, 9 July (2:10pm) 11.11 (77) H 8.9 (57) Preston City Oval , , , , , Round 14 Round 14 Sunday, 16 July (2:10pm) 14.16 (100) A 16.14 (110) Gillon Oval Sunday, 16 July (2:10pm) 5.5 (35) A 22.15 (147) Shepley Oval Sunday, 16 July (2:10pm) 15.14 (104) A 20.12 (132) Toorak Park Sunday, 16 July (2:10pm) 28.16 (184) H 20.15 (135) Frankston Park Sunday, 16 July (2:10pm) 27.13 (175) H 24.7 (151) Chirnside Park Sunday, 16 July (2:10pm) 11.11 (77) A 23.19 (157) Camberwell Sports Ground Sunday, 16 July (2:10pm) 15.15 (105) H 14.14 (98) Springvale Reserve Round 15 Round 15 Sunday, 23 July (2:10pm) 9.8 (62) A 10.6 (66) Preston City Oval Sunday, 23 July (2:10pm) 18.20 (128) H 13.12 (90) Box Hill City Oval Sunday, 23 July (2:10pm) 20.19 (139) H 11.14 (80) Toorak Park Sunday, 23 July (2:10pm) 38.18 (246) H 13.15 (93) Beach Road Oval Sunday, 23 July (2:10pm) 12.9 (81) A 22.15 (147) Warrawee Park Sunday, 23 July (2:10pm) 6.8 (44) A 10.10 (70) Williamstown Cricket Ground Sunday, 23 July (2:10pm) 19.12 (126) H 12.18 (90) Chirnside Park Round 16 Round 16 Sunday, 30 July (2:10pm) 18.12 (120) H 14.15 (99) Gillon Oval Sunday, 30 July (2:10pm) 13.11 (89) A 23.11 (139) Warrawee Park Sunday, 30 July (2:10pm) 24.22 (122) H 12.8 (80) North Port Oval Sunday, 30 July (2:10pm) 19.12 (126) H 17.17 (119) Frankston Park Sunday, 30 July (2:10pm) 26.21 (177) H 19.15 (129( Beach Road Oval Sunday, 30 July (2:10pm) 8.16 (64) A 17.17 (119) Shepley Oval , Round 17 Round 17 Sunday, 6 August (2:10pm) 15.23 (113) A 24.14 (158) Box Hill City Oval Sunday, 6 August (2:10pm) 13.14 (92) A 24.13 (157) Toorak Park Sunday, 6 August (2:10pm) 17.9 (111) H 15.9 (99) Frankston Park Sunday, 6 August (2:10pm) 6.7 (43) H 5.6 (36) Preston City Oval Sunday, 6 August (2:10pm) 18.18 (126) H 7.8 (50) Coburg City Oval Sunday, 6 August (2:10pm) 7.9 (51) A 22.15 (147) Shepley Oval Sunday, 6 August (2:10pm) 25.15 (165) H 10.4 (64) Springvale Reserve Round 18 Round 18 Sunday, 13 August (2:10pm) 31.14 (200) H 12.8 (80) Williamstown Cricket Ground Sunday, 13 August (2:10pm) 6.11 (47) A 31.19 (205) Camberwell Sports Ground Sunday, 13 August (2:10pm) 17.23 (125) H 10.7 (67) Springvale Reserve Sunday, 13 August (2:10pm) 6.11 (47) A 13.14 (92) Gillon Oval Sunday, 13 August (2:10pm) 20.18 (138) H 7.14 (56) Skinner Reserve Coburg v Port Melbourne https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1989-R18-G05.php The VFA Project 12 March 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20250409121833/https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1989-R18-G05.php 9 April 2025 13 August 1989 Sunday, 13 August (2:10pm) 23.12 (150) H 16.16 (112) Warrawee Park Sunday, 13 August (2:10pm) 23.14 (152) H 8.11 (59) Frankston Park *The v match was moved to 's home ground, Skinner Reserve, after wet weather turned Coburg City Oval into a mudheap. Round 19 Round 19 Saturday, 19 August (2:10pm) 14.13 (97) A 15.9 (99) North Port Oval Sunday, 20 August (2:10pm) 14.7 (91) A 16.19 (115) Chirnside Park Sunday, 20 August (2:10pm) 30.21 (201) H 23.12 (150) Beach Road Oval Sunday, 20 August (2:10pm) 16.14 (110) H 12.13 (85) Springvale Reserve Sunday, 20 August (2:10pm) 15.21 (111) H 11.9 (75) Preston City Oval Sunday, 20 August (2:10pm) 7.12 (54) A 39.19 (253) Camberwell Sports Ground Sunday, 20 August (2:10pm) 27.17 (179) H 21.8 (134) North Port Oval Round 20 Round 20 Sunday, 27 August (2:10pm) 8.13 (61) A 22.16 (148) Camberwell Sports Ground Sunday, 27 August (2:10pm) 30.7 (187) H 14.13 (97) Frankston Park Sunday, 27 August (2:10pm) 19.15 (129) A 22.10 (142) Toorak Park Sunday, 27 August (2:10pm) 8.14 (62) A 16.14 (110) Preston City Oval Sunday, 27 August (2:10pm) 22.18 (150) H 14.15 (99) Box Hill City Oval Sunday, 27 August (2:10pm) 21.16 (142) H 20.11 (131) Gillon Oval Sunday, 27 August (2:10pm) 17.13 (115) H 9.18 (72) Williamstown Cricket Ground Ladder main WDL Q 5 true points y 4 2 COB Coburg WIL Williamstown BOX Box Hill SPR Springvale FRA Frankston BRU Brunswick NBU Preston PMB Port Melbourne WER Werribee OAK Oakleigh SAN Sandringham PRA Prahran DAN Dandenong CAM Camberwell SUN – Sunshine 17 1 0 2271 1260 P 14 3 1 2819 1716 14 3 1 2360 1716 13 5 0 2244 1580 12 6 0 2218 1844 9 9 0 2140 1941 9 9 0 1667 1742 9 9 0 1953 2112 8 10 0 2122 2001 8 10 0 2057 2169 7 11 0 2411 2509 4 14 0 1782 2382 1 17 0 1430 2815 0 18 0 1351 3336 0 8 0 566 1785 W Premiers Club withdrew, record expunged QF QF QF QF QF green2 Finals series #CCCCCC WD 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for. complete Progression by round Ladder positions until the end of round 9 reflect the ladder prior to 's withdrawal and its match results being expunged. table y #ccffcc #aaa Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 5. #99ccff #aaa Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round. #ffcccc #aaa Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in last place on the ladder in that round. #CCCCCC #aaa Grey indicates that the team had withdrawn from the season. none Underlined numbers indicate that the team had a bye during that round. #99ccff #ccffcc #CCCCCC #ffcccc 4G/8G/12G/16G/20B/24G/28G/28G/32G/36G/40B/40G/44B/48B/52B/52B/56B/60B/64B/68B 4G/8G/12G/16B/20G/24B/28B/32B/36B/36B/38G/42B/42G/42G/42G/42G/46G/50G/54G/58G 4G/8G/12G/16G/20G/24G/24G/28G/32G/28G/30G/34G/38G/42G/46G/50G/50G/54G/54G/58G 4B/8B/12B/16G/16G/20G/24G/24G/28G/24G/28G/32G/32G/36G/36G/40G/44G/48G/52G/52G 4/4/4/8/8/12/12/16/20/20/20/20/24/28/32G/36G/40G/44G/44G/48G 4G/8G/12G/16G/16/16G/20G/24G/24G/24G/24G/28G/28G/28G/28/32/32/32/32/36 0/0/0/0/4/4/4/8/12/12/16/20/20/24/24/24/28/32/36/36 0/4/4/4/4/8/12/12/16/16/20/20/20/20/24/28/28/28/32/36 4/4/8/12/16G/16/16/16/16/16/16/16/20/24/28/28/28/28/28/32 0/0/0/4/8/12/16/20/20/16/16/16/16/20/20/20/24/28/32/32 0/0/0/0/0/0/0/4/4/4/8/12/12/12/16/20/24/24/28/28 0/0/0/0/0/4/8/8/8/12/12/12/12/12/16/16/16/16/16/16 0/0/0/0R/0/0/0/0/0/0/4/4/4/4/4/4/4/4/4/4 0R/0/4/4/4/4/4/4/4/0R/0R/0R/0R/0R/0R/0R/0R/0R/0R/0R 0/0R/0R/0/0R/0R/0R/0R/0R/–W/–W/–W/–W/–W/–W/–W/–W/–W/–W/–W Finals Qualifying and elimination finals Qualifying final Saturday, 2 September Williamstown 14.15 (99) A Box Hill 17.9 (111) North Port Oval 7,231 The Sunday Sun Melbourne Phil Cleary 106 3 September 1989 Box Hill stuns them all Elimination Final Sunday, 3 September Springvale 23.11 (149) H Frankston 16.9 (105) Beach Road Oval The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 4 September 1989 76 Grand old footbrawl Semi-finals Second semi-final Saturday, 9 September Coburg 13.16 (94) H Box Hill 7.10 (52) North Port Oval 3,020 The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 11 September 1989 75 Lions, Gulls shape up First semi-final Sunday, 10 September Williamstown 18.11 (119) H Springvale 6.11 (47) North Port Oval 4,150 Preliminary final Preliminary final Sunday, 17 September Box Hill 17.12 (114) A Williamstown 19.15 (129) North Port Oval 8,431 The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 18 September 1989 75 Gulls clip Box Hill Grand Final 1989 VFA Grand Final Sunday, 24 September (2:10pm) Coburg 3.2 (20) 5.6 (36) 8.10 (58) 10.13 (73) Reynoldson 3, Allison 2, Doyle, Ingram, Kaakour, Langhan, Weatherald Evans, Langhan, Nimmo H Williamstown 1.1 (7) 2.6 (18) 4.7 (31) 7.11 (53) Rickman 3, Aziz, Dimartino, Ghazi, Smith Windy Hill 23,272 The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 89 25 September 1989 Coburg clearly best Peter Cameron, Rowan Sawers Norm Goss Memorial Medal Tim Rieniets (Coburg) Awards The leading goalkicker for the season was Ian Rickman (Williamstown), who kicked 125 goals during the season, including finals.Seagulls over Williamstown Marc Fiddian 2003 Williamstown Football Club Williamstown, VIC 176 The J. J. Liston Trophy was won by Saade Ghazi (Williamstown), who polled 22 votes in his first season in the Association. Robert Cunningham (Oakleigh) was second with 17 votes, and Robert Mace (Frankston) was third with 14 votes.The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 31 August 1989 88 Seagull Ghazi cleans up in Liston contest The inaugural Fothergill–Round Medal was won by Chris Owen (Preston).http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=0-118-0-0-0&sID=54554&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=4834467 Fothergill–Round Medallists 20 December 2014 29 October 2014 Sportingpulse Frankston won the second premiership. Frankston 17.16 (118) defeated Williamstown 11.14 (80) in the grand final, held as a curtain-raiser to the Seniors Grand Final on 24 September. Notable events Interleague matches In 1989, the Association competed in and won the NFL Shield, the NFL's interstate competition among the minor states, held in Tasmania over the Queen's Birthday weekend. Phil Cleary (Coburg) was coach of the Association team,The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 9 June 1989 75 High stakes for VFA and Brett McTaggart (Williamstown) was captain. Because Tasmania unexpectedly finished last in the qualifying matches, attendances and takings at later matches dropped, resulting in all six competing states losing $40,000 in expenses over the event.The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 12 June 1989 57 VFA mean machine runs rampant into final Rino Pretto (Oakleigh) kicked a VFA representative record of twelve goals in the grand final. 1989 NFL Shield Qualifying matches Friday 9 June (4:15pm) V.F.A. 20.11 (131) H New South Wales 5.6 (36) West Park Oval, Burnie The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 10 June 1989 72 VFA it is – "Cowboy" Saturday 10 June (10:00am) V.F.A. 11.11 (77) H Queensland 2.10 (22) York Park, Launceston The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 12 June 1989 48 VFA draw Grand final Monday 12 June (2:00pm) V.F.A. 21.15 (141) H Australian Amateurs 2.3 (15) North Hobart Oval, Hobart The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 13 June 1989 83 VFA shields its honor Other notable events In November 1988, the Association signed a new control agreement with the Victorian Football League, the first agreement between the competitions since the Association's expulsion from the Australian National Football Council in 1970. Under the agreement, the two bodies reciprocally recognised each other's clearances, uncontracted players from the League could switch directly to the Association without a transfer payment, and the League would pay a delayed transfer payment to an Association club if it recruited a player who went on to play fifty VFL games.The Canberra Times Canberra, ACT 16 11 November 1988 VFL and VFA bury the hatchet As part of the new co-operation between the League and Association, the umpiring panels of the two competitions were consolidated into a single body.The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Bruce Matthews Linda Pearce 3 November 1988 78 Central umpiring for next season As a result, experienced League umpires Rowan Sawers and Peter Cameron officiated the Association Grand Final.The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 22 September 1989 77 Coburg recalls elusive Darby The Association increased the number of players on the field to eighteen per side in the Under-19s competition only, consistent with the national standard rules; the Seniors and Reserves continued to field sixteen per side,The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Linda Pearce 15 October 1988 93 VFA may go for 16 teams as they had done since 1959.The Sun News-Pictorial VFA will play 16 a side 62 17 March 1959 Melbourne In March 1989, Association president Brook Andersen, who had been re-elected in November 1988 to serve a fifth term as president, took a paid job as the business development director at the League's Footscray Football Club. Many delegates within the Association saw this as a conflict of interest, and as a breach of the requirement for the Association's board of management to be independent, and pressure was put on Andersen to give up one of the roles;The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 21 March 1989 VFA's boss in doubt consequently, he stepped down as president on 22 March.The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 23 March 1989 87 VFA axe falls on chief Vice-president John Grieve, who had been on the VFA executive committee since 1975 and was a director of the Williamstown Football Club from 1973 until stepping down in 1988 as a requirement of serving on the new independent board of management, became the new president on 10 April.The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 11 April 1989 76 Grieve steps up to top VFA job The Association followed the NFL in adopting the new reportable offence of assault for the 1989 season, which was intended to apply to a severe physical attack more serious than the existing charge of striking. In Round 2, field umpire Geoff Morrow misinterpreted this new rule, incorrectly believing that the charges of assault and striking were equivalent; so, he reported both Jamie Shaw (Preston) and Saade Ghazi (Williamstown) for assault when he should have reported them for striking. Shaw and Ghazi were summarily cleared of the assault charges on this technicality, and were not forced to face striking charges because tribunal procedures did not allow for amendments to the match-day reports. Ghazi went on to win the Liston Trophy; he would have been ineligible had he been reported and suspended for striking in this match.The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 19 April 1989 81 'Umpire bungle' saves 2 The Association established a new award, the Fothergill–Round Medal, awarded to the most promising young player in the Association, and named after Barry Round and Des Fothergill, who both won Brownlow Medals in the VFL before winning an Association best and fairest. The inaugural medal was presented to Chris Owen (Preston) in April 1989; the medal is now awarded at the end of the season.The Sun News-Pictorial Amanda Buivids 14 April 1989 Owen is simply full of promise 66 Melbourne Preston was almost forced into receivership during the season after its main source of income, a bingo licence, was cancelled in May. The licence was restored in October, helping the club to survive into the 1990s.The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 19 October 1989 76 Ants win battle Wet weather throughout the winter turned several Association grounds into mudheaps.Melbourne Highest to Lowest Seasonal Rainfall Coburg City Oval was one of the worst affected; Coburg could not train on the ground after mid-June, dividing its training sessions between Skinner Reserve and Coburg Lake, and it moved its Round 18 home game against Port Melbourne to Skinner Reserve; the club sought compensation from the council after estimating that the moving the match cost the club an estimated $10,000 in revenue in takings, since the game against Port Melbourne was usually one of its largest home crowds of the year.The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 7 September 1989 73 Mudpile thwarts Coburg North Port Oval, which was overused due to staging both Port Melbourne home games and the televised match of the round, was also badly affected, which was one motivation for moving the Elimination Final to the Beach Road Oval; its proximity to the competing clubs, Springvale and Frankston, was another motivation.The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 11 August 1989 75 VFA offers help for troubled Bullants The Elimination Final became notorious for its violent incidents. A total of five players were reported on twelve charges and were suspended for a combined 26 matches, including: Jeff Sarau (Frankston), who was reported five times, ordered off, suspended for eight matches, and broke Alex Marcou's (Springvale) jaw; and Robert Mace (Frankston), who was suspended for ten weeks on two charges.The Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 4 September 1989 91 Ugly end to VFA finalThe Sun News-Pictorial Melbourne Amanda Buivids 7 September 1989 76 26 matches Neither Sarau nor Marcou played in the Association again. References Category:Victorian Football League seasons VFL