There has been tremendous community response to this bushfire season and the AFL is no exception, having revived the State of Origin concept for a fundraiser.
As such, it’s a good time to reflect on past glories. One such event has it’s 30th anniversary this year.
Victoria vs South Australia, or Western Australia? No! In May 1990, New South Wales recorded one of the greatest Origin victories – a win for the ages – against Victoria.
Yes, that’s right, a NSW side defeated Victoria in AFL.
Don’t remember? You are not alone, it’s not something the parochial Victoria press revel in.
On Wikipedia you can find pages on almost any topic, such as “List of animals with fraudulent diplomas”, or “The origin of rubber ducks”, but you won’t find one on the 1990 NSW vs Victoria Origin match.
The national comp was only in its first ‘official’ year as a national competition. NSW may regularly win the rugby league Origin (league actually took its showpiece event to Melbourne that year for the first time), but surely they wouldn’t have the players to topple the mighty Vics.
Bookies had them at $7 outsiders, with a 50-point line, yet while a torrential downpour at the SCG on that Tuesday night made conditions difficult, the win was no fluke.
The NSW side contained many, shall we say, handy players, including North Melbourne youngsters Wayne Carey and John Longmire, with Brett Allison roving at their feet.
The four Daniher brothers from Ungarie – Terry (captain), Neale, Chris and Anthony – played together for the first time in their career, before they also did for Essendon.
No room in the forward line for Bill Brownless, he was sent to defence to take on Dermott Brereton.
As was the case back in the day, eligibility rules were a bit rubbery, with anyone who played for the Sydney Swans deemed eligible.
Big West Australian John Ironmonger was huge in the ruck against Paul Salmon. Victorians Gerard Healy, Stephen Wright, Tony Morwood and Glenn Coleman played for NSW. The cover photo of that day’s match program featured Gerard Healy, who would later go on to become a Victorian selector.
None of this detracted from the sprit displayed. John Longmire booted eight goals and said, “Winning tonight for NSW was tremendous and one of my biggest thrills in football.”
Anthony Daniher, a 233-game veteran with a plethora of highlights, nominated it as his greatest moment on the football field.
A great day for AFL in NSW. An even greater day for State of Origin.
Score
NSW: 13.8 (86)
Victoria: 10.16 (76)
Rhylie
Guest
Great read! Thanks Alan.
Stuart
Guest
Never knew about this. Great read !
Mick Jeffrey
Roar Rookie
The 85 SA team was seriously loaded. Malcolm Blight was captain (kicked 6.5), the remainder of the 22 was: Platten, Naley, Motley (30 touches, 12 marks), Aish, McIntosh, Bradley (31 touches), Anderson, McDermott, S.Kernahan (kicked 7), Campbell, Lindsay, Warhurst, Schneebichler, Whittlesea, Bubner, Redden, Cousins, A.Jarman, Thomas, Helyar. By my count there's 8 Magarey Medallists (Blight, Platten, Naley, Aish, McIntosh x2, Anderson, Whittlesea, Jarman), a number of All Australians, arguably one of the great "What If" players of the era, the CEO of Port and a few others who probably were either happy to be there or in awe of Blighty.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I think WA v SA games were good games. Like younger twins of the nasty evil big brother. I enjoyed WA beating the Big A, l mean, Big V as much as SA.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
No SA's first SOO win over Victoria. South Australia felt like it's own country for a month.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Ah, so. So at least a semblance of integrity between the 3 major states. But even that was compromised when a SA v WA match was going to played VFL clubs said their Origin players were injured. ----- Qld & NSW only think Victoria are arrogant. SA, WA & Tas know they are arrogance personified.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
No. Until the early 90s (1993?) it was possible to qualify for a second state via residency. The final rules where based on where you spent most time in formative years (defined as an age bracket, I think 10-16 but am not sure), and it was only then that players had one State or Territory only. So, Dunstall and Crosisca lined up for Victoria despite being Queenslanders. Pritchard lined up for Victoria on the same weekend Tasmania were playing, despite being Tasmanian. Its under those rules that some originally Victorian Swans were eligible for the NSW/ACT team. Generally, a tier two state player (ACT, NSW, NT, Qld, Tas) could play for their first first tier one state and vice versa. Hence, Carey (NSW) and Buckley (NT) became SA eligible via North Adelaide and Port Adelaide. But, for example, a WA player could not play for Vic or SA as those three were tier one states.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Was that not before 1977?
Alan Graham
Roar Rookie
If you thought it was just going to be a practise match then think again - game on!
Alan Graham
Roar Rookie
Yes, it's a disgrace.
Antony Pincombe
Roar Rookie
Do you know the Vics have buried footage of that game. There are full matches, highlights and snippets of any game before or after but non of that particular game anywhere. Not on YouTube or any other Video format. Certainly not on the AFL site. I wonder if AFLNSW has a copy? Probably not now it has been taken over by the AFL.
Alan Graham
Roar Rookie
Thanks Rocket
Alan Graham
Roar Rookie
Victoria thought they had something that they could say they were better at then NSW, then it all came crumbling down into a big heap of ...
Alan Graham
Roar Rookie
You would shoot Bambi @RichieTiger
Alan Graham
Roar Rookie
There are also many examples of interstaters playing for Victoria because they happened to be playing in the VFL at the time.
Alan Graham
Roar Rookie
In the 1984 Vic vs SA match a tall, thin lad from Glenelg named Stephen Kernahan kicked 10, playing on the great Bruce Doull. Fast forward a few years and he would captain Carlton to the 1987 premiership.
Rocket W
Guest
Great article, one of the great wins.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
The rules up until some time around 1993 were a bit naff, mostly working in Victoria's favour. There was some weird thing where being a resident allowed a secondary (or primary if resident in a "big 3" state and from a minor state) Originb eligibility. Queenslanders and Tasmanians were picked for Victoria, sometimes even when their actual state was playing on the same weekend. Some of the NSW players went on to lose to Tasmania, playing for Victoria B in the same year. Including actual New South Welshmen such as Longmire. There are those who claim the change came because SA could pick Carey due to his time at North Adelaide. I'm not so sure this is true, but I don't rule it out.
Seymorebutts
Guest
I dont see how it can be a NSW SO side when it had so many Victorians playing in it. The whole point of State of Origin is you play for the state where you grew up playing footy. So it doesnt qualify IMO. That doesnt detract from what a massive achievement it was, up there with Tasmania rolling the Vics .. cant remember the year, Ross Lyon played in the Losing Vic side. As for the best game of all time... well Im biased so it would have to be one featuring WA playing the Big V... the day Ablett kicked 9 is hard to beat. The footy program had him as Graham Ablett from memory.. no one had any idea who he was before the first bounce... we sure knew who he was by the end. To this day Ive never seen a better performance.. it was almost WA versus Ablett he was that good.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Grenville hailed from Mildura, Vic. A bush footy legend if ever there was! He could really roost the Sherrin. Never the fittest player out there, but jeez, he had a kick on him.