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.

1987 premiership season
Date	5–26 September 1987
Teams	5
Premiers	Carlton (15th premiership)
Runners-up	Hawthorn (11th grand final)
Minor premiers	Carlton (16th minor premiership)
Attendance
Matches played	6
Total attendance	429,057 (71,510 per match)
Highest	92,754 (Grand Final, Carlton vs. Hawthorn)
← 1986 1988 →

Qualification

See also: 1987 VFL season

Matches

See also: McIntyre system

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.^[1]

Teams

This shows the teams as listed in The Football Record.^[2] 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

B: 27 Darren Crocker 26 Darren Harris 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

B: 27 Sean Wight 10 Danny Hughes 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

Scorecard

	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
2: P Krakouer 1: Smith, Steele, Hepburn		Goals	5: Flower 3: Dean, Jackson, Williams, Campbell 2: Stynes 1: Richards, Bailey, Viney
P Krakouer, Steele, Law		Best	Wight, Spalding, Dean, Bailey, Newport, Stynes, Jackson, Flower
Ackerly (ankle), Jonas (hamstring)		Injuries
		Reports	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
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
6: Brereton 5: Dunstall, Buckenara 2: DiPierdomenico, Russo 1: Schwab, Kennedy, Tuck		Goals	4: Capper 1: Bayes, Healy, Wright, Mitchell
Buckenara, Morris, DiPierdomenico, Tuck, Kennedy, Brereton, Collins		Best	Capper, Mitchell, Williams
Robinson (hamstring)		Injuries	Capper (hamstring), Neagle (knee)
Nil		Reports	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
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
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
Gerard Healy, Mitchell, Williams, Bolton, Carter, Browning		Best	Stretch, Lovett, Yeats, Flower, Jackson, Greg Healy, Eishold, Dean, O'Dwyer
Nil		Injuries	Nil
Nil		Reports	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
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
Kernahan 3 Evans 2 Johnston, Hunter, Naley, Sartori, Madden, McKenzie 1		Goals	2 Dunstall, Platten 1 Curran, Buckenara, Loveridge, DiPierdomenico, Brereton, Kennedy
Naley, Johnston, Hunter, Bradley, Alvin, Madden, Aitken, Silvagni		Best	Platten, Tuck, Langford, Kennedy, Ayres, Schwab
		Injuries	Dunstall (ankle)
Nil		Reports	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.^[3]

Teams

The line-ups as announced on the Thursday before the game were as published in The Football Record.^[4]

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

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

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.^[5]

Scorecard

	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
Buckenara 5 Jencke, Morris, Curran, Brereton, Pritchard, Kennedy 1		Goals	3 Jackson 2 Wilson, Grinter 1 Viney, Stynes, Dean
Schwab, Buckenara, Tuck, Russo, Langford, Ayres		Best	Jackson, Wight, Viney, Hughes, Spalding, Healy, Chiron
DiPierdomenico (bruised shoulder), Kennedy (bruised thigh), Mew (slight concussion)		Injuries	Wilson (dislocated shoulder), Flower (bruised shoulder)
Morris (striking)		Reports	Nil

Week four (Grand Final)

Main article: 1987 VFL 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
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
Kernahan, Bradley 3 Johnston 2 Dorotich, Gleeson, Murphy, Hunter, Naley, McKenzie, Meldrum 1		Goals	3: Kennedy 1: Curran, Collins, Pritchard, Platten, DiPierdomenico, G Dear
Rhys-Jones, Johnston, Glascott, Aitken, Madden, Alvin		Best	Langford, DiPierdomenico, Tuck, Collins, Ayres, Greene
Nil		Injuries	Nil
Johnston (striking), Madden (striking)		Reports	Nil