When it comes to Hampden league football, Warrnambool has always been the heavyweight. The Blues have regularly won premierships. But in the 1980s, this dominance was taken to another level, with Warrnambool winning five flags and creating some history along the way.
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1984
Warrnambool 9. 15. (69) defeated Cobden 4. 5. (29)
GOALS: Warrnambool: G. McLeod 4, P. Forbes 2, J. O’Connor, W. Couch, D. Salmon 1. Cobden: C. Hammond 2, F. Twynstra, J. Driver 1.
BEST: Warrnambool: G. Delaney, Paul Couch, B. Couch, J. O’Connor, A Trompf, M. Fedley, P. Forbes, C. Dowsett, Peter Couch, G. McLeod, M. Delaney. Cobden: W. Askew, P. Mason, P. Anson, P. Cornelissen, C. Hammond.
Going into the 1984 season, no team had been senior football premiers and champions in the Hampden league. But under the coaching of Ray Hawthorne, Warrnambool went through undefeated. They backed up a perfect home-and-away season with a big win over Cobden in the second semi-final. The Blues then sealed the deal with a 40-point grand final win.
The youngest player in the Blues’ historic grand final win was teenage rover Wayne Billings. It was the first of eight senior premierships Billings was to be a part of. Billings said he felt fortunate to be part of such a strong side.
“As a young bloke, playing in a team like that sort of blew me away a bit. There were so many good players, the three Couch boys, there were good players everywhere you looked. I can’t remember much talk about the premiers and champions thing going into the grand final, I think everyone just wanted to win.”
1986
Warrnambool 19. 9. (123) defeated Camperdown 10. 10. (70)
GOALS: Warrnambool: K. McLeod 6, J. O’Connor 4, G. Delaney 3, M. O’Keeffe 2, G. Thomas, D. Fenton, G. McLeod, W. Billings 1. Camperdown: T. Phillipe 6, D. Meade, B. Hinkley, N. Brown 1.
BEST: Warrnambool: L. McCorkell, K. McLeod, J. O’Connor, W. Couch, A. Smedts, M. Fedley. Camperdown: B. Anderson, T. Phillipe, C. Meade, M. Russell, P. Broderick, S. Lucas.
The arrival of former St. Kilda star Grant Thomas to coach Warnambool was the big talking point at the start of the 1986 season. It was an inspired appointment, with Thomas leading the Blues to four straight premierships, a record at that time.
Thomas remembers the 1986 grand final win, and his five years at Warrnambool, as a life-shaping time.
“Given I had not experienced grand finals since junior footy, I personally had little experience and played quite poorly in 1986, happy to admit I was completely overawed by the occasion. Thankfully, the players were complete pros and played magnificently. The first premiership was amazing. It taught me so much in relation to dealing with pressure, along with confirmation around the fundamentals of team ethics. We wanted to create our own history, a legacy for the next group. We agreed that football was not about football, it’s an expression of who you are and what you represent. In a relatively isolated country town, that was important. We wanted to stand for something and express our personalities and characters on the footy field. We were incredibly united and connected. It meant a lot to be able to look at each other pre-game and say ‘yeah I’ve got you’ and post game and say ‘I gave everything for you.’ Warrnambool taught me more about life and football than any other singular experience in my life.”
1987
Warrnambool 14. 12. (96) defeated Camperdown 12. 10. (82)
GOALS: Warrnambool: J. Mahony 3, G. Delaney, S. Colquhoun, D. Cassidy 2, G. Thomas, W. Billings, J. O’Connor, D. Howard 1. Camperdown: C. Fleming 3, J. Rutland, P. Reilly 2, P. Meath, C. Meade, L. McMahon, P. Broderick, P. Meade 1.
BEST: Warrnambool: M. Fry, D. Cassidy, G. Delaney, M. Fedley, W. Billings, D. Fenton, J. Mahony, L. McCorkell. Camperdown: B. Hinkley, C. Sinnott, G. Kane, P. Meade, P. Meath, P. Reilly, N. Brown, K. Russell, D. Meade, B. McSween.
Mark Ludeman was one of seven players to play in all four flags from 1986-89.
Ludeman recalls there was plenty of hard toil needed to claim the 1987 premiership cup.
“When you played against Camperdown, they were hard, tough games, especially those grand finals. As a team we had a lot of belief, we never felt like we were beaten, we were always in the game. Thommo was very good at getting the best out of players, he gave you a lot of confidence and instilled self belief.”
1988
Warrnambool 12. 10. (82) defeated South Warrnambool 10. 15. (75)
GOALS: Warrnambool: W. Billings 3, D. Cassidy, L. McCorkell, P. Cornelissen 2, G. Thomas, M. O’Keeffe, S. Colquhoun 1. South Warrnambool: T. Russell 4, M. Sinnott, L. Lee 2, L. Cameron, N. Mugavin 1.
BEST: Warrnambool: Team effort. South Warrnambool: M. Sinnott, L. Johnstone, J. O’Connor, C. Lee, L. McCluskey, M. Taylor, N. Mugavin.
Warrnambool didn’t stand still in its pursuit of more success, recruiting Hamilton Imperials full-back Roy Sutherland in 1988.
Sutherland said rejuvenation was a key to the Blues’ sustained success.
“There was a really strong nucleus and the club was very good at bringing in new players when needed, each year one or two might drop off and a couple of new ones would come in. When someone came in, they picked up very quickly what we were all about.”
1989
Warrnambool 21. 14. (140) defeated South Warrnambool 11. 11. (77)
GOALS: Warrnambool: G. Thomas 4, D. Bradshaw, P. Cross, M. O’Keeffe, W. Billings 3, J. O’Connor, T. Chatfield 2, W. Couch 1. South Warrnambool: T. Russell 4, N. Mugavin 2, P. Bradmore, P. Hawthorne, S. Anderson, R. Anderson, S. Duffiled 1.
BEST: Warrnambool: P. Cornelissen, R. Sutherland, M. McKinnon, D. Pearson, D. Cassidy, L. McCorkell, M. O’Keeffe. South Warrnambool: L. Marris, M. Taylor, L. Johnstone, P. Hawthorne, S. Anderson, A Hardiman.
An injury to star half-back Mark Fedley opened the door for 20-year-old Wally Steere to play in the 1989 grand final.
Steere said it was an opportunity he remains extremely grateful for.
“I hadn’t played seniors all year and when Feds got hurt in the last home-and-away game, I got the call up. I copped an elbow early on so it was a bit fuzzy after that. I grew up across the road from Reid Oval so I always thought it would be great just to play one senior game for Warrnambool. I’m forever thankful to have played in a premiership.”