# 1987 VFL finals series

The 1987 Victorian Football League finals series was the 91st annual edition of the VFL/AFL final series, the Australian rules football tournament staged to determine the winner of the 1987 VFL Premiership season. The series ran over four weekends in September 1987, culminating with the 1987 VFL Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 26 September 1987.

## Matches

The 1987 VFL finals series was contested using the McIntyre final five system, which had been in use since 1972.

### Week one (Qualifying and Elimination finals)
#### Elimination final (North Melbourne v Melbourne)

Melbourne were making their first VFL finals appearance since 1964, while North Melbourne had last appeared in 1985. This was the second final between the two sides, having previously met in the first semi-final in 1954 which was won by Melbourne.

##### Teams

This shows the teams as listed in The Football Record. Melbourne centreman Brian Wilson was a late withdrawal and was replaced by Russell Richards, while for North Melbourne Jim Krakouer was replaced by Shaun Smith.
| North Melbourne | Melbourne |
10 David Ackerly :
| HB: | 07 Darren Steele | 13 John Law (c) | 15 Ross Smith |
| C: | 28 Andrew Demetriou | 29 Peter German | 46 Jeff Chandler |
| HF: | 08 Phil Krakouer | 34 Mark Hepburn | 31 Paul Spargo |
| F: | 57 Alastair Clarkson | 16 Stephen McCann | 25 Donald McDonald |
| Foll: | 04 John Mossop | 09 Matthew Larkin | 03 Jim Krakouer |
| Int: | 39 Jason Love | 45 Peter Jonas | |
| Coach: | John Kennedy | John Kennedy | John Kennedy |
29 Dean Chiron :
| HB: | 17 Brett Lovett | 35 Earl Spalding | 34 Stephen Newport |
| C: | 18 Steven Stretch | 07 Brian Wilson | 08 Graeme Yeats |
| HF: | 12 Todd Viney | 23 Warren Dean | 02 Robert Flower (c) |
| F: | 45 Ricky Jackson | 15 David Williams | 40 Tony Campbell |
| Foll: | 37 Jim Stynes | 24 Bret Bailey | 33 Greg Healy |
| Int: | 39 Doug Koop | 25 Simon Eishold | |
| Coach: | John Northey | John Northey | John Northey |

##### Scorecard

| | Elimination Final | Elimination Final | Elimination Final | | |
| Sunday, 6 September (2:30pm) | North Melbourne | def. by | Melbourne | MCG (crowd: 72628) | Report |
| | 3.2 (20) 4.4 (28) 4.8 (32) 5.10 (40) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 3.6 (24) 9.11 (65) 16.16 (112) 22.26 (158) | Umpires: Clayton, Robinson Television broadcast: ABC TV | Umpires: Clayton, Robinson Television broadcast: ABC TV |
| 2: P Krakouer 1: Smith, Steele, Hepburn | 2: P Krakouer 1: Smith, Steele, Hepburn | Goals | 5: Flower 3: Dean, Jackson, Williams, Campbell 2: Stynes 1: Richards, Bailey, Viney | 5: Flower 3: Dean, Jackson, Williams, Campbell 2: Stynes 1: Richards, Bailey, Viney |
| P Krakouer, Steele, Law | P Krakouer, Steele, Law | Best | Wight, Spalding, Dean, Bailey, Newport, Stynes, Jackson, Flower | Wight, Spalding, Dean, Bailey, Newport, Stynes, Jackson, Flower |
| Ackerly (ankle), Jonas (hamstring) | Ackerly (ankle), Jonas (hamstring) | Injuries | | |
| | | Reports | Chiron (striking) | Chiron (striking) |

#### Qualifying Final (Hawthorn v Sydney)

The Qualifying Final saw second-placed Hawthorn host third-placed Sydney at VFL Park. The game was significant for Sydney coach Tom Hafey as he reached 500 games as coach. In what was a crushing victory for Hawthorn, Warwick Capper booted four goals to become the second player after Tony Lockett to reach 100 goals for the season, but suffered a hamstring injury which ruled him out of the semi-final. Wingman Merv Neagle also suffered a knee injury.

##### Scorecard

| | Qualifying Final | Qualifying Final | Qualifying Final | | |
| Saturday, 7 September (7:25pm) | Hawthorn | def. | Sydney | VFL Park (crowd: 47,752) | Report |
| | 5.7 (37) 9.10 (64) 16.13 (109) 23.18 (156) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 2.4 (16) 5.7 (37) 7.9 (51) 8.9 (57) | Umpires: Sawers, Dore Television broadcast: ABC TV | Umpires: Sawers, Dore Television broadcast: ABC TV |
| 6: Brereton 5: Dunstall, Buckenara 2: DiPierdomenico, Russo 1: Schwab, Kennedy, Tuck | 6: Brereton 5: Dunstall, Buckenara 2: DiPierdomenico, Russo 1: Schwab, Kennedy, Tuck | Goals | 4: Capper 1: Bayes, Healy, Wright, Mitchell | 4: Capper 1: Bayes, Healy, Wright, Mitchell |
| Buckenara, Morris, DiPierdomenico, Tuck, Kennedy, Brereton, Collins | Buckenara, Morris, DiPierdomenico, Tuck, Kennedy, Brereton, Collins | Best | Capper, Mitchell, Williams | Capper, Mitchell, Williams |
| Robinson (hamstring) | Robinson (hamstring) | Injuries | Capper (hamstring), Neagle (knee) | Capper (hamstring), Neagle (knee) |
| Nil | Nil | Reports | Nil | Nil |

### Week two (semi-finals)
#### First Semi-final (Sydney vs Melbourne)

The First Semi-final saw Melbourne host Sydney at the MCG. This was the second VFL final contested between the two clubs, having met for the first time back in the 1936 Preliminary Final, when Sydney were formerly based in South Melbourne. South Melbourne won that encounter 13.11 (89) to 8.15 (63).

##### Scorecard

| | First semi-final | First semi-final | First semi-final | | |
| Saturday, 13 September (2:30pm) | Sydney | def. by | Melbourne | MCG (crowd: 80,292) | Report |
| | 3.3 (21) 6.6 (42) 8.12 (60) 10.13 (73) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 2.4 (16) 10.13 (73) 17.18 (120) 21.23 (149) | Umpires: Cameron, Howlett Television broadcast: ABC TV | Umpires: Cameron, Howlett Television broadcast: ABC TV |
| Gerard Healy, Carroll, Morwood 2 Williams, Scott, Coleman, Wright 1 | Gerard Healy, Carroll, Morwood 2 Williams, Scott, Coleman, Wright 1 | Goals | 4 Flower 3 Greg Healy, Campbell 2 Gaff 1: Petruccelle, Ryan, Hickey, Masten, Kennedy | 4 Flower 3 Greg Healy, Campbell 2 Gaff 1: Petruccelle, Ryan, Hickey, Masten, Kennedy |
| Gerard Healy, Mitchell, Williams, Bolton, Carter, Browning | Gerard Healy, Mitchell, Williams, Bolton, Carter, Browning | Best | Stretch, Lovett, Yeats, Flower, Jackson, Greg Healy, Eishold, Dean, O'Dwyer | Stretch, Lovett, Yeats, Flower, Jackson, Greg Healy, Eishold, Dean, O'Dwyer |
| Nil | Nil | Injuries | Nil | Nil |
| Nil | Nil | Reports | Nil | Nil |

#### Second Semi-final (Carlton vs Hawthorn)

The Second Semi-final saw minor premier Carlton play Hawthorn at VFL Park. This marked the seventh VFL final contested between the two clubs, having previously met in the 1986 VFL Grand Final which was won by Hawthorn. The two teams met twice during the 1987 home-and-away season in Rounds 1 and 14, with the Hawks winning both encounters.

##### Scorecard

| | Second semi-final | Second semi-final | Second semi-final | | |
| Saturday, 12 September (2:30pm) | Carlton | def. | Hawthorn | VFL Park (crowd: 64,333) | Report |
| | 1.2 (8) 2.11 (23) 6.12 (48) 11.14 (80) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 3.2 (20) 6.2 (38) 9.3 (57) 10.5 (65) | Umpires: Clayton, Sawers Television broadcast: ABC TV | Umpires: Clayton, Sawers Television broadcast: ABC TV |
| Kernahan 3 Evans 2 Johnston, Hunter, Naley, Sartori, Madden, McKenzie 1 | Kernahan 3 Evans 2 Johnston, Hunter, Naley, Sartori, Madden, McKenzie 1 | Goals | 2 Dunstall, Platten 1 Curran, Buckenara, Loveridge, DiPierdomenico, Brereton, Kennedy | 2 Dunstall, Platten 1 Curran, Buckenara, Loveridge, DiPierdomenico, Brereton, Kennedy |
| Naley, Johnston, Hunter, Bradley, Alvin, Madden, Aitken, Silvagni | Naley, Johnston, Hunter, Bradley, Alvin, Madden, Aitken, Silvagni | Best | Platten, Tuck, Langford, Kennedy, Ayres, Schwab | Platten, Tuck, Langford, Kennedy, Ayres, Schwab |
| | | Injuries | Dunstall (ankle) | Dunstall (ankle) |
| Nil | Nil | Reports | Nil | Nil |

### Week three (Preliminary Final)
#### Preliminary final (Hawthorn vs Melbourne)

The Preliminary Final saw Hawthorn play Melbourne at VFL Park on Saturday 19 September for the right to contest the grand final against Carlton. Among the spectators was Wimbledon champion and Hawks fan Pat Cash, who had interrupted a holiday in Queensland with family to attend the match.

##### Teams

The line-ups as announced on the Thursday before the game were as published in The Football Record.
Hawthorn :
| B: | 39 Paul Abbott | 24 Chris Langford | 07 Gary Ayres (vc) |
| HB: | 17 Michael Tuck (c) | 02 Chris Mew | 01 Ray Jencke |
| C: | 04 Peter Russo | 30 Peter Schwab | 09 Robert DiPierdomenico |
| HF: | 11 Gary Buckenara | 15 Russell Morris | 34 John Kennedy Jr. |
| F: | 25 Peter Curran | 23 Dermott Brereton | 22 Richard Loveridge |
| Foll: | 14 Greg Dear | 29 Russell Greene | 44 John Platten |
| Int: | 13 Paul Dear | 41 Darrin Pritchard | |
| Coach: | Allan Jeans | Allan Jeans | Allan Jeans |
Melbourne :
| B: | 29 Dean Chiron | 10 Danny Hughes | 27 Sean Wight |
| HB: | 17 Brett Lovett | 35 Earl Spalding | 34 Stephen Newport |
| C: | 18 Steven Stretch | 07 Brian Wilson | 08 Graeme Yeats |
| HF: | 12 Todd Viney | 23 Warren Dean | 02 Robert Flower (c) |
| F: | 45 Ricky Jackson | 40 Tony Campbell | 37 Jim Stynes |
| Foll: | 32 Steven O'Dwyer | 24 Bret Bailey | 33 Greg Healy (vc) |
| Int: | 25 Simon Eishold | 14 Rod Grinter | |
| Coach: | John Northey | John Northey | John Northey |
There were no late changes for either side.

##### Match Summary

Although kicking against the wind, it was Hawthorn who controlled most of the play early in the game until Demons took the lead. The lead for most of the many until the frenetic final minutes, Hawthon’s Gary Bukenara marks just before the final siren. A 15-meter penalty, due to Melbourne’s Jim Stynes running over the mark, helped him kick a goal, with Hawthorn winning by 2 points.

##### Scorecard

| | Preliminary Final | Preliminary Final | Preliminary Final | | |
| Saturday, 19 September (2:30pm) | Hawthorn | def. | Melbourne | VFL Park (crowd: 71,298) | Report |
| | 1.4 (10) 3.6 (24) 7.8 (50) 11.14 (80) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 2.3 (15) 6.10 (46) 10.12 (72) 10.18 (78) | Umpires: Robinson, Howlett Television broadcast: ABC TV | Umpires: Robinson, Howlett Television broadcast: ABC TV |
| Buckenara 5 Jencke, Morris, Curran, Brereton, Pritchard, Kennedy 1 | Buckenara 5 Jencke, Morris, Curran, Brereton, Pritchard, Kennedy 1 | Goals | 3 Jackson 2 Wilson, Grinter 1 Viney, Stynes, Dean | 3 Jackson 2 Wilson, Grinter 1 Viney, Stynes, Dean |
| Schwab, Buckenara, Tuck, Russo, Langford, Ayres | Schwab, Buckenara, Tuck, Russo, Langford, Ayres | Best | Jackson, Wight, Viney, Hughes, Spalding, Healy, Chiron | Jackson, Wight, Viney, Hughes, Spalding, Healy, Chiron |
| DiPierdomenico (bruised shoulder), Kennedy (bruised thigh), Mew (slight concussion) | DiPierdomenico (bruised shoulder), Kennedy (bruised thigh), Mew (slight concussion) | Injuries | Wilson (dislocated shoulder), Flower (bruised shoulder) | Wilson (dislocated shoulder), Flower (bruised shoulder) |
| Morris (striking) | Morris (striking) | Reports | Nil | Nil |

### Week four (Grand Final)

This was the second consecutive Grand Final involving Carlton, who were chasing a League record 15th VFL premiership, and Hawthorn, who were chasing their 7th premiership and aiming for their first set of back-to-back flags.
| | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | | |
| 26 September (2:50 pm) | Carlton | def. | Hawthorn | MCG (crowd: 92,754) | Report |
| | 3.5 (23) 6.8 (44) 10.11 (71) 15.14 (104) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 4.2 (26) 4.9 (33) 7.13 (55) 9.17 (71) | Umpires: Robinson, Sawers Norm Smith Medal: David Rhys-Jones Television broadcast: ABC National anthem: Daryl Somers | Umpires: Robinson, Sawers Norm Smith Medal: David Rhys-Jones Television broadcast: ABC National anthem: Daryl Somers |
| Kernahan, Bradley 3 Johnston 2 Dorotich, Gleeson, Murphy, Hunter, Naley, McKenzie, Meldrum 1 | Kernahan, Bradley 3 Johnston 2 Dorotich, Gleeson, Murphy, Hunter, Naley, McKenzie, Meldrum 1 | Goals | 3: Kennedy 1: Curran, Collins, Pritchard, Platten, DiPierdomenico, G Dear | 3: Kennedy 1: Curran, Collins, Pritchard, Platten, DiPierdomenico, G Dear |
| Rhys-Jones, Johnston, Glascott, Aitken, Madden, Alvin | Rhys-Jones, Johnston, Glascott, Aitken, Madden, Alvin | Best | Langford, DiPierdomenico, Tuck, Collins, Ayres, Greene | Langford, DiPierdomenico, Tuck, Collins, Ayres, Greene |
| Nil | Nil | Injuries | Nil | Nil |
| Johnston (striking), Madden (striking) | Johnston (striking), Madden (striking) | Reports | Nil | Nil |