The Hawks and Cats at a packed MCG…just like the good old days!
1989 – what a year! George W Bush’s daddy succeeded Ronald Reagan as US president, Seinfeld made its debut on American television, Madonna was rocking the world with Like A Prayer and Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell were stinking up movie theatres the world over in Tango & Cash…though I’m sure we all wish this didn’t happen!
Hawthorn and Geelong or Tango and Cash? Which would you prefer to watch tonight?
But 1989 is fondly remembered by footy followers as the year of the greatest grand final ever played…though there has been at least one worthy challenger in recent times. Hawthorn defeated Geelong by six points in a classic despite Gary Ablett (Senior) going mental to kick a record nine goals.
With these two teams facing off again in a blockbuster encounter at the MCG tonight, Half Back Flanker is launching Party Like It’s 1989 round as we celebrate what should be a great match played in a finals-like atmosphere against two re-established powerhouse clubs.
One vital aspect of modern day life that had yet to be introduced in 1989 is, of course, the World Wide Web. Therefore, as part of the celebrations for Party Like It’s 1989, we will be switching off the computer on Friday night, busting out the trusty old tranny radio and going ‘old-school’ this weekend! We will rejoin the 21st century on Monday with a look back at all the action of round 17!
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TEAM NEWS
- Gary Ablett to miss the Friday night blockbuster…and Luke Hodge might be joining him on the sidelines!
- Richmond’s hopes of finishing ninth receive a massive boost – Matthew Richardson returns for the Tigers!
- Be afraid…be very afraid! Barry Hall is back and coming to an AFL ground near you!
- A massively important weekend for Adelaide…and they drop Graham Johncock? What is going on there?
- And now Peter Burgoyne is dumped by Port Adelaide? Did he and Johncock get up to no good together?
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FRIDAY NIGHT
Dermott re-enacting the events of 1989…though he seems to spend every day behaving like he’s still in the late eighties!
MCG, Melbourne – 7:40pm (local): Hawthorn v Geelong (SEVEN)
CATS by 38: Geelong may not be indestructible but they will turn the tables from the ’89 grand final…with Max Rooke trying to do his best Mark Yeates impersonation on Buddy Franklin!
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SATURDAY AFTERNOON
Collingwood were still suffering a long, painful premiership drought in 1989…until the Bombers ruined everything the following year by losing the 1990 grand final!
MCG, Melbourne – 2:10pm (local): Essendon v Collingwood (TEN)
MAPGIES by 21: Essendon are struggling to put a team together so the Pies should get up unless they have a big lapse in concentration…which is not beyond this Collingwood side!
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The evergreen Robert Harvey had only just turned 30 years of age in 1989!!!
Subiaco, Perth – 2:10pm (local): West Coast v St Kilda (FOX)
SAINTS by 18: Shame that Michael Gardiner won’t get to play against the club that dumped him…would have been the most interesting thing about this game!
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SATURDAY NIGHT
In the mid-80’s, the Swans had Tommy Hafey, Dr. Geoffrey Edelston and a shitload of money. But by 1989, all of it was gone!
SCG, Sydney – 7:10pm (local): Sydney v Adelaide (FOX)
SWANS by 18: Neil Craig might want to steer clear of the boundary line this week…particularly if Barry Hall gets a little frustrated, as he tends to do…
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The old ‘Bad News Bears’ were stinking up Carrara in 1989…and it could be bad news for Brisbane on Saturday night if they don’t win!
TIGERS by 18: Richmond would hate to lose such an important game, their finals hopes and their major sponsor all in the same week!
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SUNDAY
Neither the Power or Dockers even existed back in 1989 but Port Adelaide is the only one have had any reason to party since joining the AFL!
POWER by 18: It has been a bleak old year for Port Adelaide and things are fairly negative over there…two wins in a row should cheer them up! Or not…
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Jim Stynes caused Melbourne a fair bit of pain in the late 80’s when he ran over the mark…now he’s inflicting more pain on the Dees!
MCG, Melbourne – 2:10pm (local): Melbourne v North Melbourne (SEVEN)
ROOS by 48: The Kangas must have the right people in place…look at how well they are coming along! But the Demons just can’t get it right at all…
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Since 1989, fortunes have changed dramatically for the battling Footscray Bulldogs and the Carlton Blues…in particular for their president John Elliot!
Telstra Dome, Melbourne – 4:40pm (local): Western Bulldogs v Carlton (FOX)
DOGS by 24: The Bulldogs are just happy enough to have avoided financial ruin so the win will be a nice bonus!
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