Hawthorn 20.20.140 d Essendon 8.9.57

Coach: Allan Jeans
Captain: Leigh Matthews

Backs: Gary Ayres (7), Chris Mew (46), David O’Halloran (8)
Half-backs: Russell Greene (29), Michael McCarthy (20), John Kennedy Jnr (34)
Centres: Rodney Eade (26), Terry Wallace (16), Peter Schwab (30)
Half-forwards: Peter Knights (24), Dermott Brereton (23), Gary Buckenara (11)
Forwards: Leigh Matthews (3), Michael Byrne (21), Richard Loveridge (22)
Followers: Ian Paton (12), Michael Tuck (17), Colin Robertson (32)

Interchange: Ken Judge (1), Robert DiPierdomenico (9)

Goals: Matthews 6, Byrne 3, Greene 2, Judge 2, Kennedy Jnr 1, Knights 1, Loveridge 2, O’Halloran 1, Tuck 1, Wallace 1

Best Players: Greene, Kennedy Jnr, Knights, Matthews, Robertson, Tuck,

Norm Smith Medal: Colin Robertson

Umpires: Neville Nash, Kevin Smith (at MCG, Saturday, September 24, 1983)

Attendance: 110,332

Hawthorn and Essendon went into the game as equal favourites. The Hawks intensity was shown right from the start when Leigh Matthews and Peter Knights collided as they charged for the ball.

The Hawks suffered an early blow when forward Gary Buckenara went down with a serious knee injury but, fortunately there was a more than adequate replacement in Ken Judge on the bench.

Hawthorn dominated the first quarter but Essendon’s accuracy in front of goal saw the lead reduced to only two goals early in the second term, when the Dons kicked their fourth for the match. Between Essendon’s fourth and fifth goals Hawthorn added 13 in a brilliant display of running football.

By early in the final term, Hawthorn led by over 100 points and, despite allowing Essendon the consolation of some late goals, still won by a then-record Grand Final margin of 83 points, Leigh Matthews kicked 6 goals and was credited with the mark of the game and kicked the goal of the year.

Much to the ire of the Essendon fans Colin Robertson won the Norm Smith Medal; they were upset after a clash that Robertson had with their favourite son, Tim Watson early in the game.