Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Sunday 25 September 1983, page 28


Victory eludes Magpies again

MELBOURNE: Essendcsn yesterday added another chapter to Collingwood's losing grand final rccord.

Co! ling wood, regular grand finalist but frequent loser, went down 15.9 (99) to Essendon's 19.14 (128) in the reserves grand final.

Yesterday's win was Essendon's first reserve-grade premiership since 1968.

Collingwood raced away to a firstquarter lead of 31 points but Essendon fought back in the second term and was 19 points ahead at half time.

Collingwood showed some fight after a tough four-minute opening to the third quarter when Noel Lovcll added its ninth goal, but it was another 16 minutes before Collingwood scored again.

Steve Richardson and Wayne Beddison extended Essendon's lead and by three-quarter time Essendon had a firm grip on the game.

However, the Magpies kept battling

and two quick goals in the first three minutes had rcduccd the leeway to 22

points. j

But Esscndon managed to stay ahead. In the closing stages Frank Dunell scored twice for the Bombers - surprising fans with his second.

At the 21-minute mark he went down j with severe cramp and was attended by

a group of trainers for some time. j

But when the ball came near him he j

struggled to his feet, grabbed it and

scored.

A short time later he took a pass from Peter Banficld to add another point.

Yesterday's premiership was a j

triumph for 32-year-old Kevin Morris, j

who returned from Werribee this season

to take over coaching Esscndon.

The Richardson family had mixed

feelings over the game - 24-year-old j

Steve was prominent for Esscndon yes- j tcrday, while his twin brother Mike was a member of the Collingwood senior side this year.

The balloons go up and the crowd chccrs at the Melbourne Cricket Grc

for the grand final between Esscndon and Haw

Picturcgram*

Ground yesterday to set the scene

Hawthorn.