What do you think?
Rate this book
1989: The Great Grand Final
The 1989 Grand Final between Hawthorn and Geelong is considered one of the greatest of all. Hawthorn, seeking to go back-to-back for the first time was against a Geelong team that had not been in a Grand Final since 1967. The match had everything: unbridled violence, high scoring, Gary Ablett’s nine goals, and a Geelong fightback that saw it claw back a six-goal deficit at the last change to lose by a goal. At the end of the match, had it been a draw, a dozen players could not have turned out for the rematch. Injuries included broken ribs, multiple concussions, ripped muscles, punctured lungs.
In 1989: The Great Grand Final, Tony Wilson takes a look back on one of the most spectacular games in footy history.
In 1989: The Great Grand Final, Tony Wilson takes a look back on one of the most spectacular games in footy history.
- GenresNonfiction
224 pages, Paperback
Published March 9, 2020
1 person is currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Tony Wilson
79 books18 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 18, 2020
Full disclosure: I'm a Hawthorn supporter, so naturally, a book about my team winning a grand final with the team of champions I remember from my youth is right up my alley.
That said, this is a non-stop thrillride of a book, drawing on the match itself (which was filmed), interviews with players, coaches, trainers, journalists and more, plus the author's own recollections (as a young hopeful who played for Hawthorn's thirds that year and dreamed of making it to the firsts). I read it in a single sitting, and after I watch the game again, I'll want to read it again :)
That said, this is a non-stop thrillride of a book, drawing on the match itself (which was filmed), interviews with players, coaches, trainers, journalists and more, plus the author's own recollections (as a young hopeful who played for Hawthorn's thirds that year and dreamed of making it to the firsts). I read it in a single sitting, and after I watch the game again, I'll want to read it again :)
March 16, 2020
I finished this feeling exhausted having relived particular moments of this match. It gives insights into the psyches of the stakeholders and is meticulously researched. There's something for getting supporters and all fans of sport.
March 20, 2020
I’m not much of a Aussie Rules fan but I LOVED this book. Strong character development, fast paced and great insight into the strategy of the game. I laughed out loud at the start and shed a few tears at the end - always a good sign!
August 25, 2020
This is written by a not really an insider - Tony Wilson. He was playing under 19s at the time for Hawthorn. I remember him, he could take a decent mark.
He interviews many of the key players from both sides of the game (admittedly mainly Hawk players) and writes a more balanced account than I was expecting.
Cats fans will get something out of this. There is, obviously, a lot written about Gary Ablett and the insights given by his peers and the praise by the author will be appreciated by Cats fans. Coach Blight and the Cats second best player on the day, Darren Flanigan, are contributors and provide interesting stories.
I personally think that the match itself deserves the accolades it gets. It serves as an end of the era match. The violence that happens on the field could not possibly happen now and the professionalism of the players and, in particular, the coaches would not allow the free flowing scoring that happened. Team defence rules now, not the glorious man on man action we saw in this game. There is no way that Ablett would be left one out in modern footy.
The book brought back wonderful memories for me. I was a 17 year old at the time and living in Geelong but am a Hawk supporter. I watched the game at a mates place and can distinctly remember walking along Pakington St bravely singing the Hawthorn theme song.
Also got smile at the mention of Baliang Sanctuary - I was there last weekend.
He interviews many of the key players from both sides of the game (admittedly mainly Hawk players) and writes a more balanced account than I was expecting.
Cats fans will get something out of this. There is, obviously, a lot written about Gary Ablett and the insights given by his peers and the praise by the author will be appreciated by Cats fans. Coach Blight and the Cats second best player on the day, Darren Flanigan, are contributors and provide interesting stories.
I personally think that the match itself deserves the accolades it gets. It serves as an end of the era match. The violence that happens on the field could not possibly happen now and the professionalism of the players and, in particular, the coaches would not allow the free flowing scoring that happened. Team defence rules now, not the glorious man on man action we saw in this game. There is no way that Ablett would be left one out in modern footy.
The book brought back wonderful memories for me. I was a 17 year old at the time and living in Geelong but am a Hawk supporter. I watched the game at a mates place and can distinctly remember walking along Pakington St bravely singing the Hawthorn theme song.
Also got smile at the mention of Baliang Sanctuary - I was there last weekend.
May 18, 2020
Thanks for the memories Tony Wilson. Although I am a die hard Cats supporter, I have an appreciation for the game that goes beyond my team. Although I would have loved a different result that day, what a game. You have brought it all back.
I worried that as an ex-Hawthorn man the author would show some bias towards his team but there was absolutely none of that. The first half of the book focused on the path to the final for both teams. Very insightful and full of knowledge I didn’t have as a 16 year old. I can certainly appreciate that now as a 47 year old.
So many chills and thrills in that game, brought to life through words and memories of players, coaches and commentators. A thoroughly researched book that will be enjoyed for many years to come. It also inspires fans, mostly me, to re-watch this magnificent match...the last of it’s kind, now overtaken by the modern era and style of play.
I probably shouldn’t say this, least I offend fans of the modern day, but thank you especially for reminding me of how hard core these players were. How committed to their teammates and the game that they played with broken ribs, punctured lungs and missing teeth! Good times (although thank goodness we understand player safety so much more now)!
I worried that as an ex-Hawthorn man the author would show some bias towards his team but there was absolutely none of that. The first half of the book focused on the path to the final for both teams. Very insightful and full of knowledge I didn’t have as a 16 year old. I can certainly appreciate that now as a 47 year old.
So many chills and thrills in that game, brought to life through words and memories of players, coaches and commentators. A thoroughly researched book that will be enjoyed for many years to come. It also inspires fans, mostly me, to re-watch this magnificent match...the last of it’s kind, now overtaken by the modern era and style of play.
I probably shouldn’t say this, least I offend fans of the modern day, but thank you especially for reminding me of how hard core these players were. How committed to their teammates and the game that they played with broken ribs, punctured lungs and missing teeth! Good times (although thank goodness we understand player safety so much more now)!
October 20, 2025
Tony Wilson’s 1989: The Great Grand Final captures the raw heart and spirit of one of the most unforgettable matches in Australian football history. With vivid storytelling and a keen sense of drama, Wilson brings the reader straight onto the field where courage, rivalry, and sheer endurance collide. Through sharp detail and emotional resonance, he revives not only the game itself but the era it defined, reminding readers why sport, at its best, transcends scores and statistics.
What makes this book remarkable is its balance of grit and humanity. The chaos, pain, and glory of that fateful match are illuminated through a lens of respect and insight, showing the personal sacrifices and fierce determination that make champions legendary. Wilson’s writing doesn’t just recount history it celebrates the human stories that shaped one of the most iconic moments in sporting memory.
What makes this book remarkable is its balance of grit and humanity. The chaos, pain, and glory of that fateful match are illuminated through a lens of respect and insight, showing the personal sacrifices and fierce determination that make champions legendary. Wilson’s writing doesn’t just recount history it celebrates the human stories that shaped one of the most iconic moments in sporting memory.
December 30, 2020
My favourite book this year. The story of the wonderful 1989 VFL (AFL) Grand Final. A brutal, skillful, intense game of Aussie rules.
Very well written and early chapters set up the story of the final brilliantly.
Very well written and early chapters set up the story of the final brilliantly.
April 25, 2023
What a way to take you back to the 1989 Grand Final and to relive the storylines at play in it, post it, but also leading up to it. Tony Wilson has written a masterpiece.
May 14, 2023
A great read. Promptly watched the game with my 7 year old son upon finishing the book... PG right?
May 25, 2020
It's been a while since I've been much of a football fan. These days I enjoy the odd game on TV, but most of the time, I'm barely aware of which teams are doing well.
The 1980s were a different story. I grew up a mad keen Hawthorn supporter, living the highs and highs of Hawthorn's dominance. Hawthorn's characters were a big part of my life - Tuck, Platten, Dunstall, Dipper, Brereton, Langford. Like it has for Wilson, the 1989 grand final has long occupied a place in my mind as one of the great moments in football history.
Reading Wilson's book took me back, reminding me of what I used to love. He's a genuinely fantastic writer, and has done a great job developing characters and building tension. While it was 100+ pages until the actual game started, it was gripping, even though I already knew the outcome. A great story, well told. Thoroughly recommended.
The 1980s were a different story. I grew up a mad keen Hawthorn supporter, living the highs and highs of Hawthorn's dominance. Hawthorn's characters were a big part of my life - Tuck, Platten, Dunstall, Dipper, Brereton, Langford. Like it has for Wilson, the 1989 grand final has long occupied a place in my mind as one of the great moments in football history.
Reading Wilson's book took me back, reminding me of what I used to love. He's a genuinely fantastic writer, and has done a great job developing characters and building tension. While it was 100+ pages until the actual game started, it was gripping, even though I already knew the outcome. A great story, well told. Thoroughly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews