1989 VFL Grand Final — The Greatest Ever Played

The 1989 VFL Grand Final saw Hawthorn defeat Geelong 21.18 (144) to 21.12 (138) at the MCG — a 6-point margin in what is widely regarded as the greatest Grand Final ever played. Played on 30 September 1989 in front of 94,796 fans, Hawthorn’s premiership extended their late-1980s dynasty. Paul Hudson was the Norm Smith Medal contender; Allan Jeans collected his fourth Jock McHale. The Yeates-Brereton incident in the opening seconds is one of the most-replayed moments in VFL/AFL history.

The Build-Up: Hawks vs Cats Heritage

Hawthorn entered 1989 as defending premiers (1988 win over Melbourne). Allan Jeans’s coaching tenure was at its peak. Dermott Brereton, Robert DiPierdomenico, Gary Ayres, John Kennedy, Jason Dunstall — multiple players in their respective primes.

Geelong, under Malcolm Blight, had built a finals-grade squad. Gary Ablett Sr was the AFL’s most-feared key forward; Garry Hocking was the midfielder. The Cats hadn’t won a flag since 1963.

The Match: Six-Point Heartbreaker

The opening seconds produced one of the most-replayed moments in VFL/AFL history: Mark “Jacko” Yeates of Geelong launched a flying knee-first hit on Dermott Brereton, leaving Brereton temporarily winded but ultimately playing on. The Yeates incident was meant to set a tone of physicality; Brereton’s defiant response (he kicked 4 goals during the day) became Hawthorn folklore.

The match was a contested-ball war from start to finish. Hawthorn led at half-time by 7 points; Geelong fought back; the lead changed multiple times. Gary Ablett Sr kicked 9 goals — one of the greatest individual Grand Final performances in losing efforts.

The fourth quarter was extraordinary. Both teams had chances. Hawthorn’s depth was decisive in the final 10 minutes.

Final score: Hawthorn 21.18 (144) defeated Geelong 21.12 (138) — a 6-point margin in the highest-scoring Grand Final ever played.

The Norm Smith Medal: Paul Hudson

The 1989 Norm Smith went to Paul Hudson of Hawthorn. Hudson’s 18 disposals, 3 goals, and class around the contest earned the recognition. The 1989 Norm Smith voting was contested — Gary Ablett’s 9-goal effort had strong support but the medal went to a winning team’s player.

The Premiership Coach: Allan Jeans (Third)

Allan Jeans collected his third Jock McHale Medal in 1989 (after St Kilda 1966, Hawthorn 1986, 1988). He’d add a fourth in 1991.

Famous Moments

• Mark Yeates’s opening-seconds hit on Dermott Brereton — most-replayed VFL moment.
• Brereton’s defiant 4 goals in response.
• Gary Ablett’s 9 goals — Cats’ spearhead in losing effort.
• Paul Hudson’s Norm Smith.
• Robert DiPierdomenico’s pressure.
• Jason Dunstall’s 3 goals.
• Garry Hocking’s 26 disposals — Cats’ midfielder.
• The 6-point margin — closest in modern memory at the time.
• The 282 total points — highest-scoring Grand Final ever.
• Allan Jeans’s emotional Cup lift — third flag.

Trivia for the Pub

• Date: 30 September 1989, MCG.
• Final: Hawthorn 21.18 (144) defeated Geelong 21.12 (138).
• Margin: 6 points.
• Crowd: 94,796.
• Norm Smith: Paul Hudson.
• Jock McHale: Allan Jeans (third).
• Hawthorn’s 8th VFL/AFL premiership.
• The match’s 282 total points are the highest-scoring Grand Final ever.
• Gary Ablett’s 9 goals are the most by a losing-team forward in any Grand Final.
• Yeates’s hit on Brereton remains one of the most-controversial Grand Final moments.

The Verdict

The 1989 VFL Grand Final is widely regarded as the greatest Grand Final ever played. The Yeates-Brereton incident, Gary Ablett’s 9 goals in defeat, the 6-point margin, the 282 total points — every element combined for a Grand Final whose mythology grows with every retelling. Long live 1989.

Forty-plus years on, footy fans of a certain age can recite the 1989 Grand Final from memory. The Yeates incident replays at every “greatest Grand Finals” countdown; the Ablett 9-goal effort sits as one of the great individual performances in losing causes; the 6-point margin separated two of the best teams of the era.

For Hawthorn, the 1989 win extended a dynasty (1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991). For Geelong, the loss extended a drought (1963 to 2007 — 44 years).