Collingwood 13.11 (89) d Essendon 5.11 (41)

THERE was always going to be a bit of feeling between traditional heavyweight clubs Essendon and Collingwood in the 1990 grand final, but no one could have predicted the size of the blue that erupted at quarter time.

Players and officials came from everywhere as chaos reigned for one mad minute at the MCG, but it was how each team responded when calm was restored that would prove decisive.

History shows it was the Magpies, under the direction of Leigh Matthews, who regained their focus the quickest and went on to record a famous victory, thanks in large part to a six-goals-to-one second term.

Collingwood's then coach, Leigh Matthews, and captain, Tony Shaw, reflect on the moment when they believed the flag was theirs.

The coach
"In 1990 it would probably be the second quarter when we established a bit of a margin and that came from some 50m penalties that were applied following the quarter-time brawl.

"You might say a few Essendon players were a bit hot under the collar and gave away three 50m penalties that made possible goals into certain goals. That was the period of that game I would have thought was important.

"I think we kicked six goals for the quarter and three of them were from 50m penalties which were really significant in the winning of the game."

Former Collingwood coach Leigh Matthews

The player
"I think Denis Banks might have starting tussling with Kieran Sporn, then it was on until Gavin Brown let Terry Daniher in and the rest is history. Terry knocked him out and he ended up getting 11 weeks, I think.

"After that we probably pulled together a bit better than Essendon. They were a bit undisciplined and gave away a few free kicks pretty early in that second quarter.

"We showed a bit of control to be able to attack the ball and put our heads over it. Maybe they were a little undisciplined in the way they went about it and the umpires tried to take control.

"You always put your head over the ball playing for Leigh, but I think he knew that the umpies were going to do that and he did mention it at quarter time. We got a good run-on and it was a very good quarter for us."

1990 Norm Smith medallist Tony Shaw