In an entertaining exhibition of fiery football it was a highly disciplined Springvale combination that took out the 1983 Second Division Grand Final last Sunday.
In heavy conditions with Umpires Stabb and Phillips in control of Springvale Skipper Laurie Fowler won the toss and kicked to the State Rivers end of Toorak Park.
Brunswick were first into attack and at the 2 minute mark Brunswick’s Frank Gumbleton marked strongly in the goal square and put the first goal on the board.
Grand Final pressure was quickly evidenced when the first of many skirmishes erupted on the Springvale half forward line. As a result Springvale hero Teddy Carroll was freed and kicked truly from a long way out.
Springvale had opened with pace and vigor and moved to a 7 point lead when veteran Brian Woodman snapped truly with a long left footer after breaking a strong tackle- it was inspirational stuff.
At the 15 minute mark Andrew Radchenko took a pass and kicked a long goal to level the scores in what was proving an even encounter.
The Magpies quickly gained a 2 goal break as Skipper Mal Toy marked unopposed and kicked truly followed quickly by another from the quick thinking Peter Sahlberg on the run.
Brunswick appeared to have settled down more quickly than Springvale and were playing confidently until Russell Dickson kicked a real “ball buster” goal from the centre of the ground to recharge the Springvale batteries.
Springvale took the initiative and players broke free of the close checking Brunswick defenders.
Kieran Holden leveled scores for Springvale when his long kick bounced over the pack to go through and a minute later the dynamic Geoff Anderson roving the pack snapped another.
Brunswick went forward and Frank Gumbleton scored his second goal when Springvale full back Rodney Smith fell over at the crucial moment leaving at quarter time at 5-3 apiece
The Second Quarter was a tough and rugged affair in which Springvale gained a match winning lead. Skipper Laurie Fowler was providing Springvale with constant drive from the centre and a pass was marked by Ted Carroll at half forward and converted. A minute later Neville Steele was heavily tackled and the upfield free kick into a swirly wind was marked strongly in the square by Carroll and converted.Barry Nolan was leading his side by example as always and a stupid Springvale tackle on the Magpie Skipper resulted in a goal from the resultant free kick.Springvale were quick to reply through Woodman who broke down the flank and put another long one through for full points.
Springvale were leading Brunswick to the ball and the Magpie players were content to dwell on their opponents rather than take initiative and attack the ball.Springvale moved to a 15 point lead when Steel was crashed to the ground and the ball moved quickly upfield for Holden to run into an open goal.Steel was carried off on a stretcher and this lifted Springvale team further, exemplified by Anderson’s courageous mark over the pack at full forward and subsequent conversion.At half time Springvale had crept away to a 21 point lead with scores reading Springvale 10-4-64 to Brunswick 6-7-43.
Brunswick had many players down in the first half and the crowd expected a much closer second half.
The Third Term opened with Fowler passing to Graeme Dempster in the forward pocket and he goaled from a tight angle.Springvale had moved to a 27 point lead and it appeared Brunswick would slip further behind but this was not to be.
A brilliant passage of play saw Steve McGhie’s kick-off land on the wing- be passed to Robert Lawson and he ran down the outer flank to kick a long goal- no Sprimgvale player had touched the ball as just three kicks took it from full back to a goal for the Magpies.
Lawson repeated the effort a few minutes later when he converted from a towering mark and Radchenko marked to add another.Brunswick were only 9 points down and had really lifted as a team.A number of physical clashes marred the game and with rain falling as well as many players Jim Fotiniotis took an upfield free to goal and put Springvale 15 points in front.
With Radchenko already sent from the field Alan Hamilton was reported and sent off leaving the Magpies two men short. Springvale could not capitalize on this advantage as Brunswick players became more determined than at any stage of the game.
A great solo effort by Skipper May Toy got the ball forward where Ronnie Thornton marked strongly in the pack and goaled to again bridge the gap to 9 points. Minutes later in another skirmish Thornton was reported leaving Brunswick with only 13 players on the field- a situation which probably cost them the game.Springvale were finally able to take advantage and added two quick goals via snapshots by Anderson and Carroll from the goal square.
Brunswick came back through Toy who took a quick hand pass and snap truly from the boundary. Then Alan Brand of Springvale replied as he ran through centre of half forward and goaled right on the siren.In a quarter marred by many senseless physical confrontations Brunswick had done well not to be outscored and be 21 points down at the last break.Three quarter time scores were- Springvale 15-6-96 to Brunswick 11-9-75.
The Final Term saw Springvale open with a goal when Dempster hand passed to Fowler who speared a long hand pass to Holden on the run and his long kick sailed through.Thornton replied with a brilliant left-foot snapshot over his shoulder and the difference was 20 points.
Both sides were finding it hard to score in the heavy conditions and players were visibly tired. Brunswick had more of the play but a number of shots were off line in a combinations of poor kicking and desperate defence. Finally Peter Judge managed to snap truly from a pack and
the Magpies had moved to within 10 points but time was running out.
A goal by Jim Fotiniotis from a mark in the time on period sealed the match for the Vales as they ran out winners by 17 points, 17-9-111 to Brunswick 13-16-94
| | | Q1 | | | | Q2 | | | | Q3 | | | | Q4 | |
| Springvale | 5 | 3 | 33 | | 10 | 4 | 64 | | 15 | 6 | 96 | | 17 | 9 | 111 |
| Brunswick | 5 | 3 | 33 | | 6 | 7 | 43 | | 11 | 9 | 75 | | 13 | 16 | 94 |
Goals, Springvale: Carrol 4, Anderson 3, Holden 3, Woodman 2, Fotiniotis 2, Dempster, Brand, Dickson.
Best, Springvale: Fowler, Anderson, Dempster, Carrol, Freeman, Woodman.
Goals, Brunswick: Gumbleton 2, Lawson 2, Radchenko 2, Toy 2, Thorton 2, Sahiberg, Nolan, Judge.
Best, Brunswick: Doyle, Nolan, Lynch, Radchenko, Gumbleton, Scully
The Club 
