1984 AFC STERLING CUP

*Bombers win the double - having suffered a record 83-point thrashing in the 1983 VFL Grand Final the Bombers entered the 1984 Night Series final seeking redemption. Their 51-point win in the Sterling Cup final restored their belief, and just two months later they became the first club to win the night and day double.


*Cup presentation goes underground - in a controversial move the AFC chose to move the Grand Final post-match presentation ceremony from an on-field podium to the winning team's dressing rooms. This was done after problems with rowdy fans who had jeered administrators the previous year. After a backlash from fans and media alike the ceremony returned to its traditional location out on the ground for the 1986 series.


*Now you see it, now you don't - an unfortunate side-effect of the in-rooms presentation was the subsequent theft of the trophy. Photos exist of Essendon captain Terry Daniher holding the Sterling Cup (see below) but somewhere in the chaos of the celebrations, with jubilant club patrons and fans filling the rooms, the cup vanished and has never been seen again.

Club historian, Barb Cullen launched a search for the trophy in 2001 but it remains missing, with the club having a replica made to fill the void in the trophy display at their Hall of Fame.
Picture
1984 Sterling Cup programme (private collection)
*Swans still on the bench - Swan Districts (1983 WAFL Premiers) again qualified for the series by winning the WAFL premiership, but were forced to serve the final year of their two-year ban for playing a Reserves/Colts side against Richmond in the 1982 series. They were replaced in the competition by South Fremantle (1983 WAFL 3rd).


*Swans grounded - Sydney's opening match in the series on April 17 had to be cancelled 90 minutes before the opening bounce due to their flight to Melbourne being heavily delayed. Had they eventually boarded the flight the Swans would have arrived at Waverley at half-time. The match was played on May 22nd instead.


*Adelaide nights - the 1984 season was the first to feature night matches at Football Park. Two opening round matches were played under the SANFL's newly-constructed light towers: West Adelaide vs Footscray on April 3rd and Sturt vs Melbourne on May 29th.


*Queensland so close - a qualification match was played in Brisbane between Queensland (the winner of the 1983 Escort Shield contested by the developing states – TAS, QLD, NSW, ACT) and St Kilda (the last-placed team in the 1983 VFL premiership). St Kilda scraped-in by just 11 points and advanced to the first round of the Night Series.


*Interstate teams crash - the 1984 series was the first since the 1981 Escort Championships to have no SANFL or WAFL teams advance to the quarter finals.


*Leading goalkicker of the series - Tony Lockett (St Kilda) led all scorers with 10 goals from 3 games.

Date

Teams

1/4

1/2

3/4

Final

Margin

Venue

Day/Time

Crowd

QUALIFYING

Mar-18

Queensland (Escort Shield)

1.3 (9)

1.4 (10)

5.6 (36)

11.9 (75)

11

Keath Beavis Oval,

Sun

8,000

St Kilda (VFL 12th)

2.3 (15)

6.8 (44)

9.10 (64)

12.14 (86)

Windsor

(D)

ROUND 1

Mar-06

Essendon

4.5 (29)

5.7 (37)

7.14 (56)

15.20 (110)

63

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

9,178

North Melbourne

2.2 (14)

4.2 (26)

6.5 (41)

7.5 (47)

(8:30pm)

Mar-13

Collingwood

2.2 (14)

4.4 (28)

8.8 (56)

12.12 (84)

36

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

4,194

Claremont (WAFL 2nd)

2.1 (13)

3.8 (26)

3.16 (34)

5.18 (48)

(8:30pm)

Mar-20

Richmond

3.2 (20)

4.2 (26)

7.5 (47)

11.8 (74)

47

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

7,813

Hawthorn

3.2 (20)

6.8 (44)

12.9 (81)

18.13 (121)

(8:30pm)

Apr-03

West Adelaide (SANFL 1st)

1.5 (11)

3.6 (24)

7.9 (51)

8.12 (60)

27

Football Park,

Tue

3,291

Footscray

1.6 (12)

6.9 (45)

11.12 (78)

11.21 (87)

Adelaide

(8pm)

Apr-10

Fitzroy vs Sydney was moved to April 17 because Sydney were playing a premiership match on Sunday, April 8th

Apr-17

Fitzroy vs Sydney was cancelled 90 minutes before the start due to the Swans' flight being delayed (postponed to May 22)

May-01

South Fremantle (WAFL 3rd)*

2.3 (15)

3.7 (25)

9.9 (63)

12.15 (87)

15

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

3,206

St Kilda

2.3 (15)

4.6 (30)

8.11 (59)

15.12 (102)

(8:30pm)

May-08

Geelong

2.2 (14)

4.6 (30)

6.9 (45)

9.11 (65)

1

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

7,898

Carlton

1.1 (7)

2.2 (14)

7.5 (47)

10.6 (66)

(8:30pm)

May-22

Fitzroy

3.1 (19)

3.3 (21)

4.5 (29)

4.8 (32)

69

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

3,873

Sydney

1.2 (8)

4.7 (31)

10.11 (71)

14.17 (101)

(8:30pm)

May-29

Sturt (SANFL 2nd)

1.6 (12)

1.9 (15)

9.15 (69)

13.19 (97)

9

Football Park,

Tue

3,709

Melbourne

2.2 (14)

6.7 (43)

9.8 (62)

16.10 (106)

Adelaide

(8pm)

QUARTER FINALS

Jun-05

Essendon

3.3 (21)

5.7 (37)

9.11 (65)

12.14 (86)

51

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

13,776

Collingwood

0.1 (1)

0.2 (2)

2.3 (15)

5.5 (35)

(8:30pm)

Jun-12**

Sydney

2.3 (15)

3.5 (23)

9.8 (62)

12.13 (85)

39

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

3,521

St Kilda

4.0 (24)

5.0 (30)

5.2 (32)

7.4 (46)

(8:30pm)

Jun-19**

Hawthorn

1.4 (10)

3.9 (27)

9.11 (65)

14.20 (104)

31

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

3,763

Footscray

3.2 (20)

4.4 (28)

5.4 (34)

11.7 (73)

(8:30pm)

Jun-26

Carlton

2.2 (14)

5.4 (34)

8.6 (54)

14.9 (93)

15

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

5,779

Melbourne

4.3 (27)

7.4 (46)

10.9 (69)

11.12 (78)

(8:30pm)

SEMI FINALS

Jul-03

Essendon

1.2 (8)

1.3 (9)

8.3 (51)

10.12 (72)

15

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

5,849

Hawthorn

2.4 (16)

4.6 (30)

5.12 (42)

7.15 (57)

(8:30pm)

Jul-10

Sydney

2.4 (16)

4.5 (29)

10.11 (71)

15.12 (102)

21

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

5,303

Carlton

4.1 (25)

8.3 (51)

11.4 (70)

12.9 (81)

(8:30pm)

GRAND FINAL

Jul-24

Essendon

1.2 (8)

4.6 (30)

7.9 (51)

13.11 (89)

51

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

30,824

Sydney

1.4 (10)

1.5 (11)

2.6 (18)

5.8 (38)

(8:30pm)

FIXTURE NOTES

Mar-27

No match due to the opening round in the VFL premiership competition

Apr-10

Fitzroy vs Sydney was moved to April 17 because Sydney were playing a premiership match on Sunday, April 8th

Apr-17

Fitzroy vs Sydney was cancelled 90 minutes before the start due to the Swans' flight being delayed (postponed to May 22)

Apr-24

No match due to the Easter split-round in the VFL premiership competition

May-01

*The WAFL's reigning premiers (Swan Districts) did not participate due to their suspension for sending a Reserves/Colts team to
play Richmond in the 1982 AFC series. Their place was taken by the 3rd-ranked WAFL team, South Fremantle.

May-15

No match due to the South Australia vs Victoria state game played that day in Adelaide

June

**The original schedule for June 12 and 19 was:

June 12 - Hawthorn vs Footscray
June 19 - Sydney vs St Kilda

However, Hawthorn and Footscray were playing on the Monday of the Queen's Birthday VFL split-round (June 11).

Sydney and St Kilda were playing on the Saturday of the split round (June 9) so their night series match was moved forward to
June 12 and the Hawthorn-Footscray match was pushed back to June 19.

Jul-17

No match due to the Western Australia vs Victoria state game played that day in Perth

 

Action from the 1984 Sterling Cup Grand Final - at left, Sydney's Wayne Carroll outmarks Essendon's Steve Carey. At right, Essendon rover Tony Elshaug heads goalward. (Inside Football)

MATCH REPORTS

Listed below are match reports for all 16 games played during the series. This is the first time these reports have been collated and published online or in print.
Unless otherwise noted the information was sourced from The Age and The Sun News Pictorial newspapers.

QUALIFYING

Match 3 - Sunday, March 18

ST KILDA

2.3 (15)

6.8 (44)

9.10 (64)

12.14 (86)

QUEENSLAND

1.3 (9)

1.4 (10)

5.6 (36)

11.9 (75)

BEST PLAYERS:

St Kilda

Burns, Crow, Sarau, Elphinstone, Mace, Cross

Queensland

O'Neill, O'Keefe, Maddison, McIvor, Beckett, Morrison, Magarey

GOALKICKERS:

St Kilda

Cross 2, D. Cunningham 2, G. Cunningham 2, Foschini 2, Cowie, Lane, Lockett, Sarau

Queensland

Housley 4, Maddison 2, McIvor, Pie, Morrison, Gibson, Smith

UMPIRES:

unknown

CROWD:

8,000

SOURCE:

AGE/SUN/ Courier Mail

NOTES:

Qualification match between the winner of the 1983 Escort Shield (played between the "developing states" – TAS, QLD, NSW, ACT) and the

last-placed team in the 1983 VFL premiership. The winner of this match advanced to the first round of the Night Series.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROUND 1

Match 1 - Tuesday, March 6

ESSENDON

4.5 (29)

5.7 (37)

7.14 (56)

15.20 (110)

NORTH MELBOURNE

2.2 (14)

4.2 (26)

6.5 (41)

7.5 (47)

BEST PLAYERS:

Essendon

Hawker, Daniher, Watson, Buhagiar, Salmon, Madden

North Melbourne

Smith, Ramsay, Cowton, Dench, Dunstan, McCann

GOALKICKERS:

Essendon

Buhagiar 4, Salmon 2, Daniher 2, Hawker 2, Neagle, Dunell, Williams, Copping, Madden

North Melbourne

Glendinning 2, P. Krakouer, Kelly, McCann, Fairley, Jonas

UMPIRES:

Cameron, Morrow

CROWD:

9,178

SOURCE:

SUN/AGE

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 2 - Tuesday, March 13

COLLINGWOOD

2.2 (14)

4.4 (28)

8.8 (56)

12.12 (84)

CLAREMONT

2.1 (13)

3.8 (26)

3.16 (34)

5.18 (48)

BEST PLAYERS:

Collingwood

Browne, Russell, Fellowes, Morwood, Phillips, G. Shaw, Cloke, Barham, Williams

Claremont

Malaxos, M. O'Connell, Daniels, Barns, Kickett, Monteath

GOALKICKERS:

Collingwood

Russell 4, Daicos 3, Cloke, Fellowes, Williams, G. Shaw, M. Beers

Claremont

Kickett 2, Daniels, Monteath, Rowe

UMPIRES:

Johnson, Sawers

CROWD:

4,194

SOURCE:

SUN

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 4 - Tuesday, March 20

HAWTHORN

3.2 (20)

6.8 (44)

12.9 (81)

18.13 (121)

RICHMOND

3.2 (20)

4.2 (26)

7.5 (47)

11.8 (74)

BEST PLAYERS:

Hawthorn

Matthews, Tuck, Judge, Mew, Wallace, Kennedy

Richmond

Jess, Landy, Walsh, Rioli, Lee, Roach

GOALKICKERS:

Hawthorn

Matthews 5, Judge 4, Tuck 3, McCarthy 2, Wallace, Greene, Shields, Kennedy

Richmond

Roach 2, Pickering 2, Landy 2, Rolfe 2, Williams, Walsh, Rioli

UMPIRES:

unknown

CROWD:

7,813

SOURCE:

SUN/AGE

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 5 - Tuesday, April 3

FOOTSCRAY

1.6 (12)

6.9 (45)

11.12 (78)

11.21 (87)

WEST ADELAIDE

1.5 (11)

3.6 (24)

7.9 (51)

8.12 (60)

BEST PLAYERS:

Footscray

Sewell, Edmond, Purser, Kellett, Royal, Wallis, Egan

West Adelaide

Falting, Conlen, Watson, Grosser, Herbert, Kantilaftas

GOALKICKERS:

Footscray

Edmond 3, Dunne 2, Bennett 2, Royal 2, N. Cordy, Groenewegen

West Adelaide

Falting 2, Patterson 2, Davoren, Grosser, Conlen, Herbert

UMPIRES:

R. Kinnear (SANFL), N. Nash (VFL)

CROWD:

3,291

SOURCE:

SUN/Advertiser

NOTES:

Played under the newly installed lights at Football Park in Adelaide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 6 - Tuesday, May 1

ST KILDA

2.3 (15)

4.6 (30)

8.11 (59)

15.12 (102)

SOUTH FREMANTLE

2.3 (15)

3.7 (25)

9.9 (63)

12.15 (87)

BEST PLAYERS:

St Kilda

Burns, Lockett, Smith, Foschini, Cowie, Pirrie

South Fremantle

Hart, Hardie, Vigona, Dorotich, Borthwick, Gillies

GOALKICKERS:

St Kilda

Lockett 6, Foschini 4, D. Cunningham 2, Burns, Smith, Muir

South Fremantle

Vigona 4, Hart 3, Dorotich 3, Hardie, Gillies

UMPIRES:

T. Bryant (VFL), M. Ball (WAFL)

CROWD:

3,206

SOURCE:

SUN

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 7 - Tuesday, May 8

CARLTON

1.1 (7)

2.2 (14)

7.5 (47)

10.6 (66)

GEELONG

2.2 (14)

4.6 (30)

6.9 (45)

9.11 (65)

BEST PLAYERS:

Carlton

Johnston, Rohde, Reid, Doull, Blackwell

Geelong

Reed, Williams, Yeates, Bright, Bews, Bourke

GOALKICKERS:

Carlton

Johnston 3, McConville 2, Blackwell, Howell, Austin, Murphy, Rohde

Geelong

Williams 3, Bright, Turner, Bolton, M. Jackson, D. Jackson, Bews

UMPIRES:

Howe, Rich

CROWD:

7,898

SOURCE:

SUN

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 8 - Tuesday, May 22

SYDNEY

1.2 (8)

4.7 (31)

10.11 (71)

14.17 (101)

FITZROY

3.1 (19)

3.3 (21)

4.5 (29)

4.8 (32)

BEST PLAYERS:

Sydney

Davis, Hawke, Rhys-Jones, Capper, Round, D. Carroll, Chilcott, Braddy

Fitzroy

Pekin, Cooper, Lokan, Roos, Coleman, Carlson

GOALKICKERS:

Sydney

Davis 4, Braddy 3, Rhys-Jones 2, Capper 2, Round, Whitzell, Condon

Fitzroy

Roos 2, Scott, Gotch

UMPIRES:

Robinson, Vasiliou

CROWD:

3,873

SOURCE:

SUN

NOTES:

Originally April 17 but postponed due to a flight delay which would have caused the Swans to arrive 90 minutes late.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 9 - Tuesday, May 29

MELBOURNE

2.2 (14)

6.7 (43)

9.8 (62)

16.10 (106)

STURT

1.6 (12)

1.9 (15)

9.15 (69)

13.19 (97)

BEST PLAYERS:

Melbourne

Smith, Cordner, Greg Healy, Icke, Williams, O'Sullivan, Tossol

Sturt

Hargraves, Motley, Fielke, Derrington, Heinrich, Paynter

GOALKICKERS:

Melbourne

Cordner 6, Greg Healy 4, Williams 3, Battiston, Tossol, Gerard Healy,

Sturt

Fielke 4, Barbary 2, Smith 2, Brown 2, Davies 2, Derrington

UMPIRES:

D. Foster (SANFL), P. Howe (VFL)

CROWD:

3,709

SOURCE:

SUN

NOTES:

Played at Football Park, Adelaide

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

QUARTER FINALS

Match 10 - Tuesday, June 5

ESSENDON

3.3 (21)

5.7 (37)

9.11 (65)

12.14 (86)

COLLINGWOOD

0.1 (1)

0.2 (2)

2.3 (15)

5.5 (35)

BEST PLAYERS:

Essendon

Elshaug, Daniher, Waterson, Thompson, Duckworth, Wood

Collingwood

Abernethy, Kelly, T. Shaw, N. Shaw, Browne

GOALKICKERS:

Essendon

Elshaug 3, Eustice 2, Salmon, Daniher, Merrett, Madden, Watson, Waterson, Duncan

Collingwood

Kelly 2, Abernethy, T. Shaw, Woodhall

UMPIRES:

unknown

CROWD:

13,776

SOURCE:

AGE

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 11 - Tuesday, June 12

SYDNEY

2.3 (15)

3.5 (23)

9.8 (62)

12.13 (85)

ST KILDA

4.0 (24)

5.0 (30)

5.2 (32)

7.4 (46)

BEST PLAYERS:

Sydney

Evans, Smith, Scott, Capper, Frangalas, Condon

St Kilda

Cronan, Odgers, Morwod, Temay, Frawley, Cunningham

GOALKICKERS:

Sydney

Capper 5, Braddy 2, McBroom, Evans, Smith, Scott, Davis

St Kilda

Lockett 3, Temay 2, Grant, Jenkin

UMPIRES:

unknown

CROWD:

3,521

SOURCE:

AGE

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 12 - Tuesday, June 19

HAWTHORN

1.4 (10)

3.9 (27)

9.11 (65)

14.20 (104)

FOOTSCRAY

3.2 (20)

4.4 (28)

5.4 (34)

11.7 (73)

BEST PLAYERS:

Hawthorn

Tuck, Dipierdomenico, Schwab, Polkinghorne, Loveridge, Greene

Footscray

Williams, Sewell, Kennedy, Egan, N. Cordy, Gorozidis, Baxter

GOALKICKERS:

Hawthorn

Tuck 3, Dipierdomenico 3, Flintoff 3, McCarthy 2, Byrne, Loveridge, Curran

Footscray

Williams 3, Sewell 2, Bennett 2, Kennedy, Atkins, Gorozidis, R. Macpherson

UMPIRES:

unknown

CROWD:

3,763

SOURCE:

SUN

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 13 - Tuesday, June 26

CARLTON

2.2 (14)

5.4 (34)

8.6 (54)

14.9 (93)

MELBOURNE

4.3 (27)

7.4 (46)

10.9 (69)

11.12 (78)

BEST PLAYERS:

Carlton

Kourkoumelis, Meldrum, Montgomery, McConville, Gumley, Muller

Melbourne

Connolly, Boland, Dickson, Williams, Bailey, Gerard Healy

GOALKICKERS:

Carlton

Meldrum 2, Muller 2, Alvin 2, Honybun, Kourkoumelis, McConville, Robertson, Williams, Madden, Gumley, Kennedy

Melbourne

Connolly 2, Gerard Healy, Giles, Williams, Battiston, Richards, Bailey, Boland, Reynolds (missing 1)

UMPIRES:

K. Smith, Mitchell

CROWD:

5,779

SOURCE:

AGE/Football Record

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEMI FINALS

Match 14 - Tuesday, July 3

ESSENDON

1.2 (8)

1.3 (9)

8.3 (51)

10.12 (72)

HAWTHORN

2.4 (16)

4.6 (30)

5.12 (42)

7.15 (57)

BEST PLAYERS:

Essendon

Williams, Van der Haar, Harvey, Parker, Dunell, Bradbury, Merrett, Thompson

Hawthorn

Matthews, Mew, Tuck, Brereton, Curran, Ayres, Schwab

GOALKICKERS:

Essendon

Van der Haar 3, Neagle, Clarke, Parker, Williams, Kink, Harvey, Ezard

Hawthorn

Curran 2, Matthews, Brereton, Schwab, Greene, Judge

UMPIRES:

Howlett, Robinson

CROWD:

5,849

SOURCE:

SUN

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 15 - Tuesday, July 10

SYDNEY

2.4 (16)

4.5 (29)

10.11 (71)

15.12 (102)

CARLTON

4.1 (25)

8.3 (51)

11.4 (70)

12.9 (81)

BEST PLAYERS:

Sydney

Morwood, Daniher, Smith, Whitzell, Browning, Holden

Carlton

Madden, Hartney, Kourkoumelis, Ashman, Hunter, Doull

GOALKICKERS:

Sydney

Morwood 4, Smith 2, Mitchell 2, Daniher 2, W. Carroll, Holden, Foy, Whitzell, Siddons

Carlton

Hunter 2, Ashman 2, Murphy 2, Madden 2, Johnston 2, Montgomery, Kourkoumelis

UMPIRES:

Nolan, Bryant

CROWD:

5,303*

SOURCE:

SUN

NOTES:

*AFL has a crowd of 5,303, The Sun has 5,503

 

1984 AFC NIGHT SERIES - GRAND FINAL

ESSENDON

SYDNEY SWANS

Kevin Sheedy

COACH

Ricky Quade

 

Actual line-up not announced pre-match.

BACKS

Actual line-up not announced pre-match.

Squad of 28 published in The Sun:

HALF-BACKS

Squad of 24 published in The Sun:

CENTRES

Baker, Banfield, Bradbury, Clark, Carey,

HALF-FORWARDS

Ackerley, Braddy, Browning (C), Capper, D. Carroll,

T. Daniher (C), Duckworth, Dunell, Elshaug,

FORWARDS

W. Carroll, Carter, Condon, Daniher, Evans, Foy,

Eustice, Ezard, Hannebery, Harvey, Hawker,

FOLLOWERS

Frangalas, Hawke, Holden, Kruse, Mitchell,

Madden, Merrett, Neagle, Parker, Thomson,

ROVER

Morwood, Rhys-Jones, Roberts, Siddons, Smith,

Thompson, Van der Haar, Walsh, Waterson,

 

Taubert, Whitzell, Wright

Watson, West, Williams, Winton, Wood

INTERCHANGE

EMERGENCIES

 

Match 16 - Tuesday, July 24

ESSENDON

1.2 (8)

4.6 (30)

7.9 (51)

13.11 (89)

SYDNEY

1.4 (10)

1.5 (11)

2.6 (18)

5.8 (38)

BEST PLAYERS:

Essendon

Ezard, T. Daniher, Clarke, Neagle, Thompson, Carey, Duckworth, Merrett

Sydney

Evans, W. Carroll, Holden, Wright, Hawke, Roberts

GOALKICKERS:

Essendon

Merrett 3, Baker 3, Ezard 2, Neagle, Elshaug, Eustice, Thompson, Madden

Sydney

Hawke, Wright, Mitchell, Rhys-Jones, Capper

UMPIRES:

Sawers, James

CROWD:

30,824

SOURCE:

SUN

NOTES:

In a break from tradition, the trophy presentation took place in the dressing rooms rather than on a

podium out on the field.

 
Picture
Terry Daniher with the 1984 Sterling Cup (Pinterest)

MATCH FOOTAGE
Written and researched by David Eastman
First published 15/2/2017
Last updated 17/11/2018