1992 AFL Grand Final

1992 AFL Grand Final
West Coast Geelong 16.17 (113) 12.13 (85)
1 2 3 4 WCE 2.6 (18) 6.8 (44) 11.15 (81) 16.17 (113) GEE 5.5 (35) 8.8 (56) 9.10 (64) 12.13 (85)
Date	26 September 1992
Stadium	Jock McHale Medallist	Mick Malthouse
Broadcast in Australia
Network	Seven Network
Commentators	Bruce McAvaney (host) Dennis Cometti (commentator) Sandy Roberts (commentator) Ross Glendinning (expert commentator) Bernie Quinlan (boundary rider) Tim Watson (boundary rider) Don Scott (analyst) Peter McKenna (analyst)
← 1991 AFL Grand Final 1993 →

The 1992 AFL Grand Final was an

.

Background

This was Geelong's first appearance in a grand final since losing the

At the conclusion of the

) with 15 wins, 6 losses and a draw.

In the finals series leading up to the game, West Coast defeated Hawthorn in the elimination final, before convincingly defeating Geelong by 38 points in the second semi-final to advance to the grand final. Geelong defeated Footscray in the qualifying final, and after their loss to the Eagles in the second semi-final, defeated Footscray once again in the preliminary final to advance to the grand final.

Match summary

First quarter

In a repeat of three years prior, the Cats signalled their intent to attack both man and ball early when, two minutes into the quarter, Ablett bumped into Pyke with a raised forearm to the side of the face deep in Geelong's forward pocket, knocking Pyke out and needing to be stretchered off. Amazingly he was back on the ground less than ten minutes later.^[1]
After

respectively kicked their first goal for the game.

Second quarter

Geelong were first on the scoreboard two minutes into the second quarter when Ablett finished off a fine sequence of midfield play by slotting a wonderful set shot from outside the 50-metre arc on the right half-forward flank. From the resulting centre bounce, Ablett was again in the action, marking a quick pass from Couch and unleashing a big torpedo punt which was marked by Brownless nearly on the goal line, only to miss the set shot from a tight angle. The Eagles continued to create chances but with little reward,

kicked two consecutive goals, Geelong's 24-point lead had been cut to ten points. Couch gave the Cats breathing space again when he goaled from point blank range after being awarded a 50-metre penalty, but with seconds remaining Sumich capped off a desperate passage of play with a freakish over-the-shoulder snap for his second goal to make the margin 12 points at half time.

Third quarter

In a repeat of the second quarter, Ablett kicked the first goal (his second for the game) to give Geelong a 17-point buffer four minutes into the term. But West Coast replied just two minutes later when Evans followed up another attacking foray and benefited from courageous play by Langdon to kick his third goal, and when Wilson, who had just come back onto the field, gathered the ball in the forward pocket, shook off a diving tackle around the ankle and snapped a freakish goal over his head, leading to commentator Dennis Cometti's iconic expression "like a cork in the ocean", the Eagles were now just four points behind the Cats and had seized the initiative. From the centre bounce following Wilson's goal, the Eagles again won the clearance, with Kemp and Heady combining to find Matera clear on the right half-forward flank. Matera marked and played on immediately, his glorious kick on the run from outside the 50-metre arc curling back between the big sticks for his third goal to give West Coast a lead they would never again relinquish. The Eagles extended the lead further when Sumich converted his set shot from a free kick for his third goal and Matera kicked his second for the quarter, picking up a loose ball as the Eagles again willed the ball forward through the middle of the ground, getting away from several Geelong defenders and finishing on his left foot. The siren sounded for the last change with West Coast 17 points ahead and holding all the momentum, having kicked the last five goals of the match.

Fourth quarter

Geelong fans were hoping for a repeat of their team's last quarter heroics from 1989, but it was West Coast who got the important first goal within the opening minute when Mainwaring and Lewis combined superbly to find Sumich on a lead. Instead of taking the set shot, Sumich cleverly handballed over the man on the mark to the oncoming and unmarked Matera, who ran into an open goal.
Brownless, who had been relatively quiet since the second quarter, finally broke the Eagles' run of goals with a superb set shot from the forward pocket after Kemp had been penalized for deliberate out of bounds. From the restart, the Cats again went into attack through Hocking. Ablett used his strength to bring the ball to ground and hand pass to Bairstow, whose running shot at goal from 40 metres out was touched on the line by McIntosh. West Coast steadied and replied with the next three goals via Sumich (two) and Wilson to extend the margin to 34 points at the 12-minute mark. Ablett scored a late consolation goal after a flop which earned a free kick, resulting in his third goal for the game.

Aftermath

The Norm Smith Medal was awarded to Eagles player Peter Matera for being judged the best player afield, with 18 disposals and 5 goals from the wing. One of these goals was a stunning right-foot 60-metre running goal from the right forward flank to put the Eagles in front.

Teams

West Coast

Geelong

West Coast B: 17 Guy McKenna 14 Michael Brennan 10 Don Pyke HB: 24 John Worsfold (c) 27 Glen Jakovich 31 Mitchell White C: 30 Peter Matera 2 Dean Kemp 39 Chris Waterman HF: 3 Chris Mainwaring 19 Karl Langdon 28 Chris Lewis F: 11 Ashley McIntosh 4 Peter Sumich 5 Dwayne Lamb Foll: 23 Paul Harding 7 Craig Turley 18 Tony Evans Int: 9 Peter Wilson 1 Brett Heady Coach: Mick Malthouse

Geelong B: 37 Sean Simpson 28 Tim Darcy 20 Andrew Rogers HB: 29 Ken Hinkley 17 Tim McGrath 24 Trevor Poole C: 15 Peter Riccardi 7 Paul Couch 8 Robert Scott HF: 5 Gary Ablett 26 Barry Stoneham 13 Russell Merriman F: 2 Geoff Miles 16 Billy Brownless 21 Michael Mansfield Foll: 6 John Barnes 3 Mark Bairstow (c) 32 Garry Hocking Int: 4 Andrew Wills 19 Neville Bruns Coach: Malcolm Blight

Match scorecard and Details

	1992 AFL Grand Final
Saturday, 26 September 2:30pm	West Coast	def.	Geelong	MCG (crowd: 95,007)	Report
	2.6 (18) 6.8 (44) 11.15 (81)  16.17 (113)	Q1 Q2 Q3  Final	5.5 (35) 8.8 (56) 9.10 (64)  12.13 (85)	Umpires: Carey, Rich Norm Smith Medal: Peter Matera Television broadcast: Seven Network
Evans 3 Wilson 2		Goals	3 Brownless, Ablett 1 Couch, Riccardi, Bruns, Poole, Stoneham, Hinkley
Evans, McIntosh		Best	Hinkley, McGrath, Bairstow, Mansfield, G. Hocking, Couch, Brownless
Mainwaring (foot), Langdon (knee)		Injuries	nil
nil		Reports	nil

^[2]

References

Bibliography

• Atkinson, Graeme; Atkinson, Brant (2009). The Complete Book of AFL Finals (4th ed.).
  ISBN 9781742112756
  .

External links

• "1992 AFL Grand Final Match Day Edition".
  State Library of Victoria
  .
• 1992 AFL Grand Final - Geelong Vs West Coast (Extended Highlights) on
  YouTube
• 25 in 25 - Moment #2 on
  YouTube

See also

• 1992 AFL season