1985 Articles

After the 1984 season, a new committee was elected. Michael “Doc” Varvounis did not stand after having served for seven of the past eight years and John Svigos was elected as President.  Gary Richardson was appointed Coach for the third year. George Evreniadis was named Coach of the A1 Reserves and Peter Moularas was Coach of the A10. 

Before the season started the Club’s future looked bleak as very few players had shown up for summer training.  The Club was in financial difficulties and six of last years players had left the Club.  Slowly a team began to take shape when new players Peter Morgan, Paul Ware, Bob Learhiman, David Beech, Tony Balfon, John Panagaris, Mark Moody and Gary Upton joined the Club. 

All three trial games were lost by big margins and the wooden spoon was looming as a distinct possibility. The first game of the season was against arch rivals Riverside who beat the Greeks in the 1984 Grand Final and although the pre-season efforts were dismal there was an air of revenge and a lot of prestige riding on this game. The Greeks won well by 26 points.

Success continued through the year and midway through the season the A1 and A10 were undefeated with nine wins (a Club record) and the A1 Reserves had won their last four games thus the chance of making the four was a reality.

The first game of the second round was against Riverside and this time Riverside won by 24 points. The score: one all.  At the end of the minor round the Greeks finished minor Premiers by a mere .7%. The A1 Reserves had incredibly won their last 13 games in a row (which they had to do to clinch the double chance.

So the minor round finished with: A1 top with 15 wins and 3 losses: A2 second with 14 wins and 4 losses: A10 second with 15 wins 2 losses and one game abandoned by the Glandore Football Club.

For the third time in the Club’s history, adverse publicity depicted the Greek Football Club in a bad light when it was alleged that birth certificates of some junior footballers had been falsified. As a result of the allegations, the Club’s junior teams were banned from competing for the rest of the season.

During the year, Tom Frossinakis assisted with the coaching of the A10 and played 5 games for the side thereby gaining the distinction of playing in 1961 and 1985 – A Jubilee Effort.

The first team to play in the major round was the A10 against St Michael’s Old Scholars in the second semi final.  Greeks ran out victors by seven goals in a most entertaining game which was well supported by the A and B teams. Final scores were 14-10 to 8-7.  

A week later the A and B teams journeyed to Alberton Oval to contest their second semi final against Riverside and Broadview respectively. The B team won their fourteenth game in a row and earned the right to play off in the Grand Final winning Greek’s 9-7 (61) to Broadview 6-6 (42).

In the A grade game the Greeks began slower but then “clicked” to out play Riverside 12-15 to 12-7 in a tough game. So history was created with all three teams in the Grand Final.

The A10 side played off in the first of the three Grand Finals defeating S.M.O.S.H 18-15 to 12-9 at Wingfield Reserve trailing by 6 goals just prior to half time. One down – two to go.

Greeks met Broadview at Alberton for the A1 Reserve premiership.  The B’s were too strong on the day and were never headed after Broadview kicked the first goal.  They won the 15th and most important game to give the Club its second Premiership.  A huge form reversal from 1984 when they finished bottom.  Two down – one to go.

2.15pm 21st September.  The moment of truth had arrived.  Before a record crowd of approximately 4,500 thousand people as reported in the press.

Gary Richardson won the toss and decided to kick against the wind, a decision that surprised most.  After a shaky start the Greeks stunned the opposition and at half time were leading 13-3 to 3-4, a lead of 59 points with Gary Richardson and John Panagaris kicking 10 if the 13 goals.  As expected Riverside came back after half time and kicked 5 goals to Greeks 1, but the Greeks steadied and held Riverside out to win the game 16-9 to 11-11. John Panagaris kicked 7 goals before he had to leave for his brother’s wedding 10 minutes into the last quarter. Gary Richardson also kicked 4 goals for the match.

Incredible! Three Grand Finals – 3 Premierships in the Club’s Jubilee Year.  

Peter Phillipou won the A Grade Best and Fairest, Cos Farinola won the B Grade and Steve Pryor and Harry Kyriacou tied for the C Grade. A remarkable effort considering the setback of the Juniors.